Newbie impressions of a suspension bike.

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just taken
delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my thoughts as
a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just sit
on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the hits...
now's your chance to work on being a dynamic rider, which
means you are still out of the saddle when anything
interesting is happening.

penny

On 2004-06-17, pas penned:

Quoted message said:

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just
taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my
thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just
sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the
hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic
rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when
anything interesting is happening.

penny

What she said. But also, you're aware that you can swap out
saddles, right?

--
monique

I only find it uncomfortable when I'm 'commuting' between
the interesting bits or doing the morning/afternoon ride
to/from work on the road. When the interesting stuff is
happening, I *am* out of the saddle.....sometimes not by
choice :-) I've been looking online for my options re a more
comfortable saddle.....just have to get the time to try a
couple and decide which one I want.

MrBonk www.mrbonk.com

"Monique Y. Mudama" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 2004-06-17, pas penned:

Quoted message said:

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just
taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my
thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just
sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the
hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic
rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when
anything interesting is happening.

penny

What she said. But also, you're aware that you can swap
out saddles, right?

--
monique

Rural QLD CC said:

I only find it uncomfortable when I'm 'commuting' between
the interesting bits or doing the morning/afternoon ride
to/from work on the road. When the interesting stuff is
happening, I *am* out of the saddle.....sometimes not by
choice :-) I've been looking online for my options re a
more comfortable saddle.....just have to get the time to
try a couple and decide which one I want.

Are you wearing bike shorts?

Barry

pas said:

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just
taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my
thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just
sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the
hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic
rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when
anything interesting is happening.

penny

Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on
it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is, let
the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. It'll do
this better against an opposing force, the rider's weight.
Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It still calls
for "dynamic riding" as you put it.

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

Zilla said:

pas said:

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just
taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my
thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just
sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the
hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic
rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when
anything interesting is happening.

penny

Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on
it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is,
let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps. It'll
do this better against an opposing force, the rider's
weight. Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It
still calls for "dynamic riding" as you put it.

up for discussion.

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit
on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that
is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps.
It'll do this better against an opposing force, the
rider's weight.

When I started riding last year, I read almost the exact
same thing you just wrote in a book called "Mountain Biking
Skills." Helpful book, but I'm still a bit suspiscious of
that statement, since when you stand up, the weight does not
disappear from the rear suspension. Yeah, it might shift
forward somewhat, but the suspension is still loaded as long
as you're standing on the pedals.

At any rate, I was in a similar position you are in now. I
rode my old hardtail for several months, then got a new FS
bike. The main area where I found I could sit vs the
hardtail was on bumpy trails with a relatively shallow
inclines (where I'd be pedaling regardless of going up or
downhill). On those type trails, I'd be able to go fast
enough on a hardtail that sitting down would be
uncomfortable, whereas on the FS, I can stay seated and
pedal away comfortably.

On "actual" downhills, I'd say I still stand about 90-100%
of the time that I would on a hardtail. Part of the reason
for that, I think, is that when you get a FS bike, you
quickly get used to the cushy feel, and then start riding
back at the same bumpiness comfort level you had on your
hardtail...that means it'll feel just as bumpy, but only
because you're now going faster (so be careful).

Yeah, I got some Netti bike shorts (the 'regular' looking
shorts). Certainly makes a big difference, but I don't wear
them on the commute to work. Doesn't matter from here on in
anyway......next week I'm moving to a different town and
I'll be commuting the 30kms to work on my motorbike
instead. I'll be using the Netti shorts when I'm on the
bike from then on.

MrBonk www.mrbonk.com

"Bonehenge" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rural QLD CC said:

I only find it uncomfortable when I'm 'commuting' between
the interesting bits or doing the morning/afternoon ride
to/from work on the road. When

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

interesting stuff is happening, I *am* out of the
saddle.....sometimes

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

by choice :-) I've been looking online for my options
re a more

comfortable

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

saddle.....just have to get the time to try a couple and
decide which one

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

want.

Are you wearing bike shorts?

Barry

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

pas said:

Rural QLD CC said:

Greetings, As I've previously posted here, I've just
taken delivery of a Giant VT3. I thought I'd post my
thoughts as a newbie to full suspension bikes.

* The seat supplied with this bike has to be the most
uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on. Good thing I
bought padded Neti shorts......

just because you have suspension does not mean you just
sit on the thing and let the suspension absorb all the
hits... now's your chance to work on being a dynamic
rider, which means you are still out of the saddle when
anything interesting is happening.

penny

Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit on
it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that is,
let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps.

Sitting means you can't use your balance and weight-shifting
as much as you could. Your legs are really good at doing
this, so if you are standing on the pedals, you can put them
to work doing those things you've trained them to do over
your whole life - weight-shift, balance, shock-absorption.
The bike's suspension helps in the latter, leaving you to
concentrate on the two former.

Quoted message said:

It'll do this better against an opposing force, the
rider's weight.

The rider's weight is still on the suspension, whether or
not your cheeks are planted on the ass-hatchet.

Quoted message said:

Notice I didn't say "sit on it all the time." It still
calls for "dynamic riding" as you put it.

I find I use the saddle much more climbing, even for steep
grinds. But when I'm descending, my butt hardly ever meets
the saddle.

Now, if I rode the uber-technical trails of Florida, I would
probably sit more.
🙂
--
Jonesy

Brett Jaffee said:

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Interesting. I thought the idea behind an FS is to "sit
on it as much as you can" and let it do the work, that
is, let the air or spring compress and absorb the bumps.
It'll do this better against an opposing force, the
rider's weight.

When I started riding last year, I read almost the exact
same thing you just wrote in a book called "Mountain
Biking Skills." Helpful book, but I'm still a bit
suspiscious of that statement, since when you stand up,
the weight does not disappear from the rear suspension.
Yeah, it might shift forward somewhat, but the suspension
is still loaded as long as you're standing on the pedals.

At any rate, I was in a similar position you are in now. I
rode my old hardtail for several months, then got a new FS
bike. The main area where I found I could sit vs the
hardtail was on bumpy trails with a relatively shallow
inclines (where I'd be pedaling regardless of going up or
downhill). On those type trails, I'd be able to go fast
enough on a hardtail that sitting down would be
uncomfortable, whereas on the FS, I can stay seated and
pedal away comfortably.

On "actual" downhills, I'd say I still stand about 90-100%
of the time that I would on a hardtail. Part of the reason
for that, I think, is that when you get a FS bike, you
quickly get used to the cushy feel, and then start riding
back at the same bumpiness comfort level you had on your
hardtail...that means it'll feel just as bumpy, but only
because you're now going faster (so be careful).

Well no on downhills, I don't sit - my butt is off the seat
toward the back. I'm talking about a rocky/rooty/bumpy flat
or hill, or a slight downhill.

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)