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