I had given up on light weight XC bikes. I had decided they were
fragile, expensive, maintenance intensive and unforgiving in ones choice
of lines. I had decided that one needed to own a sturdy steed and just
get stronger by riding it.
Then I broke my joker frame. So, I stripped it and sent every
serviceable part out since the whole thing was dead until I got the
frame back anyways.
The funny thing is that in the mean time, I picked up a loaner, an old
specialized M4, V-brakes, but full XTR, that's about 10 lbs lighter than
my joker. Minimal travel, but light, very light. It's like I have rocket
assist now.
I can fly on this thing. I catch more air on this than on the joker.
Granted I don't lauch it off the bigger stuff, but I feel like I got
wings. Every little bump is an opportunity for a tail kick. Yeah, sure,
at first I was landing like I didn't care and getting that nasty wheel
tacoing sound when you tire rubs a seat or chain stay, but I'm getting
the hang of the finesse thing. I no longer land sideways and tweak
everything to within a hair of their designed stress tolerances, I go
around rocks, (yeah, I know, what a concept), and I can hang with all my
buddies on their freeride 5+ inch rigs, well with a few exceptions, the
pumpkin patches that I can't clear in a single bound :-)
I swear this thing is making me a better rider by forcing me to pay
attention to lines, try fly over the nasties, not through them.
I'm just so confused now. I don't what I want.
I hope I can still ride my pig when I get it back.
-Bruce