whats happened to my..
Discussion
confidence.
ive had several hardtail MTB's over the years but finally took the plunge to a full suss Trek fuel ex8 2 weeks ago.
ive done around 100 miles on it but i dont seem to have the confidence to feel happy at speed/corners etc.
i thought after my hardtails this would be a revelation.....its certainly more comfy,more modern,works well etc but i feel myself lacking confidence leaning in corners on loose surfaces and a general lack of appetite for speed(me,not the bike) unless on a good surface.
im going to go out on my old bike and compare...see if its my imagination.
im wondering if its because the new bike is taller/higher off the ground...sort of 4x4 v sports car.
should i ditch the clipless pedals and go for flats(had clipless for years)?
am i getting old and turning into a wuss!!?
ive had several hardtail MTB's over the years but finally took the plunge to a full suss Trek fuel ex8 2 weeks ago.
ive done around 100 miles on it but i dont seem to have the confidence to feel happy at speed/corners etc.
i thought after my hardtails this would be a revelation.....its certainly more comfy,more modern,works well etc but i feel myself lacking confidence leaning in corners on loose surfaces and a general lack of appetite for speed(me,not the bike) unless on a good surface.
im going to go out on my old bike and compare...see if its my imagination.
im wondering if its because the new bike is taller/higher off the ground...sort of 4x4 v sports car.
should i ditch the clipless pedals and go for flats(had clipless for years)?
am i getting old and turning into a wuss!!?
Tyres aside it can be a bit daunting having the bike move around so much underneath you. Try to remember that as the bike compresses it's keeping contact with the ground instead of kicking up into your legs / arms. This means you don't have to be so loose on the bike. Not that you should stiffen up and be rigid.
Edited by mk1fan on Wednesday 30th July 10:43
Another vote for tyres here, I run either Maxxis Minion 2.3s or some WTB Raptors in 2.1 and the difference in confidence on loose surfaces is unbelievable, the Maxxis are so much better.
FS does certainly have a period of adjustment though when coming from HT! Make sure you've spent plenty of time getting the shock and forks set up correctly for your weight and riding style too.
FS does certainly have a period of adjustment though when coming from HT! Make sure you've spent plenty of time getting the shock and forks set up correctly for your weight and riding style too.
Yup,
I sold my Orange 5 as it felt like crap compared to a racy hardtail. The feel of this soft flexy mushy bike beneath me made me feel slower as also the weight was up compared to a 9kg carbon hardtail. I used to ride Kleins so am a true believer in the feel a hardtail gives you connecting with the trail.
I have now bought a Santa Cruz Superlight to try the full suss thing again, as I think the XC specific FS bike with less travel is a better compromise. I have dropped its weight by adding lighter wheels, tyres and bits.
Already this makes a differnece and alot of people ride heavyduty parts when its completely unnecessary on a FS bike. Also the propedal on my RP23 rear shock makes it behave like a softtailed hardtail which again suits my riding style (fast flowing singletrack XC stylee)
Also consider dumping the riser bars off it also (if it has..) as the riser and width of them annoy the hell out of me. Flat bars keep the racy feel
I sold my Orange 5 as it felt like crap compared to a racy hardtail. The feel of this soft flexy mushy bike beneath me made me feel slower as also the weight was up compared to a 9kg carbon hardtail. I used to ride Kleins so am a true believer in the feel a hardtail gives you connecting with the trail.
I have now bought a Santa Cruz Superlight to try the full suss thing again, as I think the XC specific FS bike with less travel is a better compromise. I have dropped its weight by adding lighter wheels, tyres and bits.
Already this makes a differnece and alot of people ride heavyduty parts when its completely unnecessary on a FS bike. Also the propedal on my RP23 rear shock makes it behave like a softtailed hardtail which again suits my riding style (fast flowing singletrack XC stylee)
Also consider dumping the riser bars off it also (if it has..) as the riser and width of them annoy the hell out of me. Flat bars keep the racy feel
Sounds after years on a hardtail, getting used to a FS is going to take a bit of time to adapt to, it certainly is for me, I am curently happier on a hardtail, it feels faster, and good feedback from the frame. I am at the moment more cautious on My new FS, slower, as it is taking time to adapt to.
But it is more comfortable.
Good luck.
Check the tyre choice is a good tip too.
But it is more comfortable.
Good luck.
Check the tyre choice is a good tip too.
Also depends on the type of trails you're riding on; there are large sections of the trails I usually ride where I am definitely quicker on a lightweight FS bike but equally they are easily rideable on a HT. On these same trails I have trouble keeping up with better riders than me when they're on HTs.
Feeling faster and being faster are two different things. Perhaps ride with someone else, see how your speed compares down the trails and if you are slower, perhaps follow them and try to match their line and body position as you go.
Confidence is a weird thing though and it will take some practice before your completely cool with the new bike. For instance, i've ridden trails of some description every weekend this year, but i've had 4 weeks off recently, only to go to Eyam last Saturday with a mate and feel like an absolute lead weight on the bike with a major dent in confidence for no obvious reason, no falls, no mechanicals, no scary moments, I was just crap.
Confidence is a weird thing though and it will take some practice before your completely cool with the new bike. For instance, i've ridden trails of some description every weekend this year, but i've had 4 weeks off recently, only to go to Eyam last Saturday with a mate and feel like an absolute lead weight on the bike with a major dent in confidence for no obvious reason, no falls, no mechanicals, no scary moments, I was just crap.
thanks guys for all the feedback.
my hardtail is a Klein..about 27lb....the Trek is similar weight.
as for tyres,i suspected these from the outset but then thought surely they cant be that bad.
there Bontrager Jones..front and rear specific.
ive slid off it once and come over the top once also(hidden deep hole,one of those things)so maybe i need a few untroubled hours in the saddle.
reason i mentioned pedals is although i really like being 'fastened' on, sometimes i think id be braver if i could easily 'dab' a foot down.
anyway off out again tommorrow.......
my hardtail is a Klein..about 27lb....the Trek is similar weight.
as for tyres,i suspected these from the outset but then thought surely they cant be that bad.
there Bontrager Jones..front and rear specific.
ive slid off it once and come over the top once also(hidden deep hole,one of those things)so maybe i need a few untroubled hours in the saddle.
reason i mentioned pedals is although i really like being 'fastened' on, sometimes i think id be braver if i could easily 'dab' a foot down.
anyway off out again tommorrow.......
WildCards said:
Feeling faster and being faster are two different things...
If were talking about proper rough off-raod trails here... He has a point. It will take some getting used to. Once you get to the stage where your getting that same feeling on your Trek, you'll likely find that your going 50% faster in real terms than you were on the Hardtail. Anyone who tells you that you can ride a Hardtail as fast over properly rough ground as you can a sorted suspension frame has no grasp on physics or common sense.
[quote=snotrag Anyone who tells you that you can ride a Hardtail as fast over properly rough ground as you can a sorted suspension frame has no grasp on physics or common sense.
[/quote]
You have got point there, and I have to agree with you.
When I have ridden a mates DH FS bike down a rough section, it did not feel to bad, and i did not realise how much faster I was going untill, I got to the twisty's, when I went down on the same route on my HT (cove stiffee) it felt faster and more on the edge in terms of handling, but in realiy it was slower, and I had to work harder. It was more thrilling on my hardtail (at the pace I was riding) but if I had to get down the hill as fast as i could, a FS would be my weapon of choice. I just am a bit wary, due to my lack of experience of riding FS bikes, you can rack up some serious speed and be lulled in to the comfortable way the bike is absorbing everything being thrown at it untill, it all goes very pete tong, and you find your self parting company with the bike at one hell of a speed.
Its just I do not bounce as well now as i did when fell when I was Younger.
I am enjoying having my first FS bike though and getting used to it, but it will take time.
[/quote]
You have got point there, and I have to agree with you.
When I have ridden a mates DH FS bike down a rough section, it did not feel to bad, and i did not realise how much faster I was going untill, I got to the twisty's, when I went down on the same route on my HT (cove stiffee) it felt faster and more on the edge in terms of handling, but in realiy it was slower, and I had to work harder. It was more thrilling on my hardtail (at the pace I was riding) but if I had to get down the hill as fast as i could, a FS would be my weapon of choice. I just am a bit wary, due to my lack of experience of riding FS bikes, you can rack up some serious speed and be lulled in to the comfortable way the bike is absorbing everything being thrown at it untill, it all goes very pete tong, and you find your self parting company with the bike at one hell of a speed.
Its just I do not bounce as well now as i did when fell when I was Younger.
I am enjoying having my first FS bike though and getting used to it, but it will take time.
Totally.
My adive would firstly be to make sure you have the bike setup properly, this is CRITICAL. Get so many customers in work complaining about their ride, who have just twisted all the knobs randomly and made the bike ride like crap. If your at all unsure about this ask.
Then just ride it and learn its ways. Do some really long day rides and you'll see the benefits more clearly, riding faster for longer and you wont get beat up as much.
Enjoy.
My adive would firstly be to make sure you have the bike setup properly, this is CRITICAL. Get so many customers in work complaining about their ride, who have just twisted all the knobs randomly and made the bike ride like crap. If your at all unsure about this ask.
Then just ride it and learn its ways. Do some really long day rides and you'll see the benefits more clearly, riding faster for longer and you wont get beat up as much.
Enjoy.
To the OP...I have an '07 Fuel EX7 on Bontrager Jones tyres and you just show it some slightly moist earth and it's all over the place. At this time of year they seem to be OK, but at the first sign of autumn they are in the bin to be replaced with something a bit more gnarly.
I came back to MTBing after a very long break and I agree, the Trek does take some getting used to, but as soon as you get comfy on it when it's set up properly on the really rough stuff I think you'll be amazed at what it can do compared to a hardtail.
I fully agree that hardtails are great bikes and I'd really like one, however Trek full sussers are wideley regarded as very good indeed so just stick with it!
I came back to MTBing after a very long break and I agree, the Trek does take some getting used to, but as soon as you get comfy on it when it's set up properly on the really rough stuff I think you'll be amazed at what it can do compared to a hardtail.
I fully agree that hardtails are great bikes and I'd really like one, however Trek full sussers are wideley regarded as very good indeed so just stick with it!
snotrag said:
WildCards said:
Feeling faster and being faster are two different things...
If were talking about proper rough off-raod trails here... He has a point. It will take some getting used to. Once you get to the stage where your getting that same feeling on your Trek, you'll likely find that your going 50% faster in real terms than you were on the Hardtail. Anyone who tells you that you can ride a Hardtail as fast over properly rough ground as you can a sorted suspension frame has no grasp on physics or common sense.
... unless you're a DH racer...
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