Re: "Actually you are the first person to bring up this issue"

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On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 09:19:02 -0500, "Doug Taylor"
<dtaylor@dreamscape.com> wrote:

><jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org> wrote in message
>news:Xua9c.2157$Fo4.23456@typhoon.sonic.net...
>
>> My bicycle, of which you have surely seen pictures, is my MTB, my
>> touring bicycle, and formerly my racing bicycle, although my legs and
>> arms are my suspension. I keep meeting MTB riders who tell me that I
>> can't ride "rough stuff" with that bicycle, completely missing that we
>> are out in the rough and I am riding "that bicycle".
>
>Sorry, Jobst, but this comment reveals that that you are out of touch, which
>sheds doubt on the relevance of any of your observations as they concern
>mountain biking.

>A "rider suspended" bicycle, even if that suspension is supplied by an
>experienced bicycle god like yourself, is an utterly inadequate tool in this
>new age of freeriding over what is currently considered "rough stuff." If
>you don't believe or understand this, ask a 20 or 30 -something freerider to
>give you a guided tour over some real "rough stuff" and maybe you'll get a
>glimpse. I personally WON'T go along for the ride; I'll just watch and be
>ready to dial 911 on my cell phone.
>
>As my pappy used to say, the right tool for the right job. Long travel dual
>suspension + disc brakes + rider experience + rider skill = ability to ride
>in "rough stuff."

You certainly are a tool. While having gobs of suspension travel can
be an advantage and can allow higher speeds in many cases, it is by no
means an absolute necessity. You'd have us believe that a Marzocchi
Super Monster is a prerequisite for riding across the neighbour's
lawn! The most impressive cases of riding up, onto, over and off
difficult terrain that I've seen have been experienced by watching
skilled trials riders and yes, this includes large drops 'to flat' and
'to transition' (dude). Of course the irony here is that suspension
is often (not always, often) used as a crutch to allow someone with
less than fantastic skills to tackle very difficult terrain and then
out come the equipment junkies who are the first to insist that x is a
neccessity for y, x being something new and expensive and y being just
about anything other than breathing.

So anyway dude, like, do the dew!