FS to hardtail

On 2004-06-11, Joe Roach penned:

Quoted message said:

After 4 years with my Marin Rift Zone, I've downgraded/upgraded from
FS to hardtail. I finally got fed up with cleaning the (English) mud
off the rear sus gubbins (and I know it is one of the simpler, low
maintenance FS set-ups), no brakes after hitting mud and no sensible
frame bottle cage mount (I hate back packs). So I've bought a Kona
Caldera (expensive for what it is but the LBS gave me a 20% discount
without being asked - I've bought loads of kids bike from them over
the years) with Hayes disk brakes. Now, I almost go looking for mud
because the brakes are unaffected and the frame is easy to clean. I
can also get a drink from the bottle in the sensible frame cage.
Although the Marin frame is a 15+1/2, I think the stem was too long
for me and I was getting backache. The 16 inch Kona is much more
comfortable (for me) and I'm doing my standard ride a bit faster,
riding quite a few more miles overall and my climbing is definitely
better.

I'm not saying that the Kona is better than the Marin (I think it's a
bit heavier for one thing, probably the wheels, and I do get the odd
jolt where I would welcome a few inches of rear sus travel) but
overall, the fit and the simplicity suit my needs.

I might be one of the few people who have moved from a FS to a
hardtail and cured my backache.

I'm glad you're happy, but if you think a long stem was the problem on
the old bike, getting a whole new bike was the expensive solution!
(Yes, I know that wasn't why you got the new bike.)

Seriously, though -- find a place that will fit you to your bike. I
have an appointment in a few weeks for a three-hour full-up bike fit, up
to and including cadence analysis. (Probably overkill, but I want to
see what they come up with.) I didn't trust the shop where I bought my
new bike to give me my money's worth for a fit, so I went elsewhere.

--
monique

Joe Roach said:

After 4 years with my Marin Rift Zone, I've downgraded/upgraded from
FS to hardtail.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

The 16 inch Kona is much more
comfortable (for me) and I'm doing my standard ride a bit faster,
riding quite a few more miles overall and my climbing is definitely
better.

I'm not saying that the Kona is better than the Marin (I think it's a
bit heavier for one thing, probably the wheels, and I do get the odd
jolt where I would welcome a few inches of rear sus travel) but
overall, the fit and the simplicity suit my needs.

I might be one of the few people who have moved from a FS to a
hardtail and cured my backache.

I found myself also moving from a full suspension bike to a hardtail, but
for a slightly different reason. It was an efficiency issue for me... I
really dreaded riding my bike uphill, and I craved something efficient, so
I built up the lightest hardtail I could afford... and it was great!

The simplicity is nice, too. I'm glad the hardtail lives on for a few
people still. (Although there are more retro hardtail fans in this NG than
I would meet in a year on the trail)

John M

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

Quoted message said:

On 2004-06-11, Joe Roach penned:

Quoted message said:

After 4 years with my Marin Rift Zone, I've downgraded/upgraded from
FS to hardtail. I finally got fed up with cleaning the (English) mud
off the rear sus gubbins (and I know it is one of the simpler, low
maintenance FS set-ups), no brakes after hitting mud and no sensible
frame bottle cage mount (I hate back packs). So I've bought a Kona
Caldera (expensive for what it is but the LBS gave me a 20% discount
without being asked - I've bought loads of kids bike from them over
the years) with Hayes disk brakes. Now, I almost go looking for mud
because the brakes are unaffected and the frame is easy to clean. I
can also get a drink from the bottle in the sensible frame cage.
Although the Marin frame is a 15+1/2, I think the stem was too long
for me and I was getting backache. The 16 inch Kona is much more
comfortable (for me) and I'm doing my standard ride a bit faster,
riding quite a few more miles overall and my climbing is definitely
better.

I'm not saying that the Kona is better than the Marin (I think it's a
bit heavier for one thing, probably the wheels, and I do get the odd
jolt where I would welcome a few inches of rear sus travel) but
overall, the fit and the simplicity suit my needs.

I might be one of the few people who have moved from a FS to a
hardtail and cured my backache.

I'm glad you're happy, but if you think a long stem was the problem on
the old bike, getting a whole new bike was the expensive solution!
(Yes, I know that wasn't why you got the new bike.)

Seriously, though -- find a place that will fit you to your bike. I
have an appointment in a few weeks for a three-hour full-up bike fit, up
to and including cadence analysis. (Probably overkill, but I want to
see what they come up with.) I didn't trust the shop where I bought my
new bike to give me my money's worth for a fit, so I went elsewhere.

I confess that I fancied a new bike anyway (and the bottle thing had
always been a pain) but changing bikes convinced me that fit and feel
matter more than anything. I bought the Marin having done a lot of
analysis but not really much of a test ride – wrong way round.

The Marin has moved down the line to my eldest son and hopefully I'll
be able to keep up with him on the hills now. If he complains about
backache, I'll just tell him it's growing pains!

Joe

"Joe Roach" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

The Marin has moved down the line to my eldest son and hopefully I'll
be able to keep up with him on the hills now. If he complains about
backache, I'll just tell him it's growing pains!

Joe

Why not just buy a cheap generic shorter stem for him?

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

Quoted message said:

"Joe Roach" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

The Marin has moved down the line to my eldest son and hopefully I'll
be able to keep up with him on the hills now. If he complains about
backache, I'll just tell him it's growing pains!

Joe

Why not just buy a cheap generic shorter stem for him?

I'm not certain the stem length had anything to do with my backache it
but it's a likely suspect and it would be the first thing changed if
he gets the same problem. This wasn't my main reason for changing
bikes but was a very welcome additional benefit.

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

Quoted message said:

"Joe Roach" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

The Marin has moved down the line to my eldest son and hopefully I'll
be able to keep up with him on the hills now. If he complains about
backache, I'll just tell him it's growing pains!

Joe

Why not just buy a cheap generic shorter stem for him?

Let him buy his own stem. Kids today are just spoiled.
Why in my day...

Joe Roach said:

I'm not certain the stem length had anything to do with my backache it
but it's a likely suspect and it would be the first thing changed if
he gets the same problem. This wasn't my main reason for changing
bikes but was a very welcome additional benefit.

I have/had the same bike, and the overall length was quite long. I changed
the bars to something more swept back, and that cured it.

Steve

Quoted message said:

I found myself also moving from a full suspension bike to a hardtail, but
for a slightly different reason. It was an efficiency issue for me... I
really dreaded riding my bike uphill,

I just went from an FS to hardtail as well. My buddies tell me to get and Epic
with the "brain". They claim it climbs just like a hard tail but is FS for
bumps and down hill. You guys agree??