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#1
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Steel hardtail question
I've been contemplating selling my hardtail and buying a higher end full
suspension frame this winter and building it up myself. I originally thought that I wanted a 5 inch travel front and rear trail bike. I am, however, afraid of loosing the excellent climbing ability and pin point handling of my hardtail. My reason for wanting to try another full suspension bike is mostly to ease the hits from the rear end while riding more techincal sections of trail which abound here in PA. I have read alot of your comments about how great steel hardtails are. Does a steel frame offer better shock absorbtion? I was looking at either a Marin Pine Mountain or a Kona Explosif if a steel frame may remedy some of the harshness I feel on the aluminum framed bike. |
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#2
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Steel hardtail question
"MTBScottie" wrote in message
... I've been contemplating selling my hardtail and buying a higher end full suspension frame this winter and building it up myself. I originally thought that I wanted a 5 inch travel front and rear trail bike. I am, however, afraid of loosing the excellent climbing ability and pin point handling of my hardtail. My reason for wanting to try another full suspension bike is mostly to ease the hits from the rear end while riding more techincal sections of trail which abound here in PA. I have read alot of your comments about how great steel hardtails are. Does a steel frame offer better shock absorbtion? I was looking at either a Marin Pine Mountain or a Kona Explosif if a steel frame may remedy some of the harshness I feel on the aluminum framed bike. My SS is fully rigid steel. It rides like its on clouds. You have to remember, its not only the material that will affect the ride of the bike, a lot has to do with also the geometry of the frame and combo of wheels/tires that you use on the bike. - CA-G Can-Am Girls Kick Ass! |
#4
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Steel hardtail question
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:14:43 +0000, MTBScottie wrote:
I've been contemplating selling my hardtail and buying a higher end full suspension frame this winter and building it up myself. I originally thought that I wanted a 5 inch travel front and rear trail bike. I am, however, afraid of loosing the excellent climbing ability and pin point handling of my hardtail. My reason for wanting to try another full suspension bike is mostly to ease the hits from the rear end while riding more techincal sections of trail which abound here in PA. I have read alot of your comments about how great steel hardtails are. Does a steel frame offer better shock absorbtion? I was looking at either a Marin Pine Mountain or a Kona Explosif if a steel frame may remedy some of the harshness I feel on the aluminum framed bike. Alu bikes can offer harsh rides, but you're unlikely to notice a huge difference in the ride characteristics by switching to steel. Yes, it takes a little buzz out of the trail, but it certainly doesn't offer shock absorption (note spelling), and can't even be compared to rear suspension. Titanium on the other hand... -- a.m-b FAQ: http://www.j-harris.net/bike/ambfaq.htm a.bmx FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/bmx_faq.htm |
#5
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Steel hardtail question
"Carla A-G" wrote in message ... "MTBScottie" wrote in message ... snip My SS is fully rigid steel. It rides like its on clouds. You have to... Isn't that feeling from the endorphin rush you get from being in so much pain on a rigid SS? ;^) Mike |
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Steel hardtail question
"Michael Dart" wrote in message
... Isn't that feeling from the endorphin rush you get from being in so much pain on a rigid SS? ;^) Funny thing is, it doesn't even feel like a fully rigid bike. The tires, wheels, slack frame geometry and steel, somehow combine to make the bike ride quite plushly (I think don't think that's really a word). - CA-G Can-Am Girls Kick Ass! |
#7
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Steel hardtail question
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:55:02 -0500, Carla A-G
wrote: "Michael Dart" wrote in message ... Isn't that feeling from the endorphin rush you get from being in so much pain on a rigid SS? ;^) Funny thing is, it doesn't even feel like a fully rigid bike. The tires, wheels, slack frame geometry and steel, somehow combine to make the bike ride quite plushly (I think don't think that's really a word). - CA-G Can-Am Girls Kick Ass! Take the bike to South Mountain park in AZ. There's a trail that runs around the base of the mountain. It's almost all rocks. When I used to ride my 18-speed unsuspended bike there, I would get killed from the jarring. The first thing I bought when I could afford it was front suspension. -- Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply |
#8
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Steel hardtail question
Well I was in the Jamis dealership today, and he had a base full suspension
Dakar, and a Dakar Sport with Hayes mech disc brakes. When I was thinking about ditching my current hardtail, I had gone by this shop and seen the base model Dakar in the window, and thought of purchasing it as a complete bike and making gradual upgrades instead of buying a frame and starting from scratch and having an incomplete bike for an undetermined amount of time. I was impressed with both of them. I would go for the Sport more though, because it has the disc brakes and better (reletively speaking) fork. If I get the Sport, I may just have him swap the fork before I take it home, because I have had so much good luck with Marzocchi. |
#9
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Steel hardtail question
"Carla A-G" wrote in message ... "Michael Dart" wrote in message ... Isn't that feeling from the endorphin rush you get from being in so much pain on a rigid SS? ;^) Funny thing is, it doesn't even feel like a fully rigid bike. The tires, wheels, slack frame geometry and steel, somehow combine to make the bike ride quite plushly (I think don't think that's really a word). It may be that the geometry feeds well into your body's natural suspension. Mike |
#10
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Steel hardtail question
"Carla A-G" wrote in message ... "Michael Dart" wrote in message ... Isn't that feeling from the endorphin rush you get from being in so much pain on a rigid SS? ;^) Funny thing is, it doesn't even feel like a fully rigid bike. The tires, wheels, slack frame geometry and steel, somehow combine to make the bike ride quite plushly (I think don't think that's really a word). It may be that the geometry feeds well into your body's natural suspension. Mike My guess is that there's a fair amount of "new bike magic stuff" still on it that hasn't worn off yet. What's really great about the substance is not only does it make a new bike ride smoother/faster/more stable/more responsive AND make you more attractive to the opposite sex, but it regenerates on an old bike when it's new to you. Cool stuff indeed. -Andrew |
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