Send questions to lee@leelikesbikes.com
The Fix team in Boulder, CO, is going to ride Specialized in 2007 (which is rad), but it has parents and kids wondering: Which downhill bike do you ride when your inseam is only 26.5 inches? The answer sure surprised me.
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Someone asks this question every five minutes. As with all things, the answer depends on your style:
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Lee,
Thanks to your e-book digging has commenced (who really needed a garden anyway). I have a lot of tight radius turns and was curious if going with a shorter wheel based (42″ish) bike would help? Does a slack head angle say 67-68 ride a lot different than say a 69-70deg. I guess looking for the ultimate Geometry #s for a pump track machine. Thanks!
Marshall
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Hi, Lee.
I’ve been living in Germany for three years now. My favorite trails have loose gravel in a lot of places. I can feel my tires get kind of loose on the turns and I’m wondering if there is a tire that really sticks in gravel.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
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This reader wants to know whether 1. Specialized has built his dream bike and 2. what they mean by “yaw.”
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Lee,
Is [your new Enduro] the one that’s carbon and uses Specialized’s proprietary shocks and forks?? If it does, my question is how good is it, and aren’t companiess like Fox not going to like it since that’s one bike their stuff isn’t going on?? Or is that just ONE model and all the others will still get off the shelf 3rd party shocks and forks??? And lastly, if I had a Specialized fork and shock on my Enduro, do they let you put another brand of fork/shock on there if I choose??
ok ok… too many damn questions!!! 🙂
take care,
Brian
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Hi Lee,
I have a 2006 Stumpjumper FSR Comp. I love the bike ‘cept for one thing: the Deore LX front Derailleur will not drop into the granny ring under a load (my 175lb load…) The mechanics at my LBS tell me it is tuned perfectly, but all they are doing is riding around the parking lot where of course it works fine. Nothing is worse than railing a nice turn into a steep climb, trying to drop the chain…please, puh-lease, ohhh Gawd Puh-leeeease drop, only to have it stick in the middle ring. Find a different mechanic or ditch it for XT or SRAM?
Michael
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Hi, Lee.
I just went through your book, and I have a question. I was wondering why motorcycle road racers always get off their seats to the inside (trying to keep the bike vertical) in corners, but mountain bikers do the opposite?
Cheers,
Eric
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Lee,
I am considering purchasing an SX Trail Frame and I would like to hear your thoughts on the durability of the Specialized Pivot Bearings and the seat height adjustability with the interrupted seat tube design. The SX looks like there might be 4 inches or so of adjustment. I currently ride an 03 5 Spot that I love. I really like the bushing pivots. BTW, you have a great website and I appreciate all the info you out out.
Thanks,
John
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hey lee,
i’m thinking about buying a bike (mainly for jumps and drop offs), should i buy a hardtail or a bike with front and back suspension.
Robbie
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Our man Ed in Whistler presents an interesting case:
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Hey Lee,
I love the book — every time I ride, I pick out something to work on and try to nail it. But I’m curious…
I want to try a shorter/higher stem to improve my descending and (small) drops. The book says to try 40-70mm and 10-15 degree rise for this purpose. My bike (a large Stumpjumper FSR) came with a 105mm, 8 degree stem. Since I live in NorCal and still have to be able climb for hours after this swap, I went to a shop to look for a 70mm, 15 degree stem. The shop told me I was crazy — they said that was a huge change and I’d regret it. I wound up buying a 90mm, 10 degree stem, which they swear will be perfect for me.
So are those figures you quoted for a freeride bike or something? How short and high can you go on a trailbike without ruining the all-purpose handling? Or should I go tell the shop Lee and I respectfully disagree with their advice?
Thanks Lee… keep it coming…
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