Help: I’m building a new wheelset
And now for a mish-mash of tire, tube and rim questions:
Questions, comments and criticisms
Light hands: It works, it really works!
Here’s a note from a stoked rider/reader.
Pump track within a pump track?
I had read a PDF of “Pumptrack Nation” a few years ago. If this question can be better answered in your print version I’ll have to order one of those.
I’m building a public track here in NYC and am planning a dual-slalom style set of rollers/camels around the perimeter of our track. I’d like the inside and outside lines to have roughly the same speed so as to not put either at a disadvantage after the berms.
What can I do? Also, If its not too much trouble, when I’ve finished my scale-drawings, would you mind taking a look at them?
— Thanks! Christopher
Lateral flex of Gary Fisher Fat Possum swingarm
Aloha Lee,
I have a 2007 Gary Fisher Fat Possum XT. I love this bike except that the swingarm flexes a lot when climbing. This seems to be a problem with heavier riders like me (I weigh 205). I can’t afford to buy a new bike and I’m pretty much stuck at my current weight-I can’t afford to lose weight cause I do a lot of heavy lifting at work. Is there anything I can do to alleviate this problem or do I just suck it up and keep riding?
Keoni
Top tube length on Bubba Harris cruiser?
I am about to get back into racing after a 23 year break and have the opportunity to buy a Redline Bubba Harris signature series 24″ cruiser (2007) but cannot seem to find any frame dimensions, specifically the top tube length.
Can you please help.
Kai
Intense 951 or Specialized Demo 8?
Just a quick question for you. I’m looking for a new bike and have the opportunity to get either a 2010 Demo 8 II or 2010 951 w/ SRAM build kit for nearly the same price. I’m kind of inclined to go with the Demo simply because it has a much better build for the $$$ (Boxxer WC, Elixir CR, etc.) but I’m just wondering if you had any thoughts on the matter.
Help: I want a new bike for everything
Hi Lee
I am in the process of getting a new bike. I have out grown my heckler and i want to get a 29r, but I love to jump bikes and when I land I land hard. I looked at a specialized stumpjumper 29r and a gary fisher rumblefish. I also looked at a specialized sx which my dad says that fits my personality very well, but I want to race and be competitive. i race xc a few times a year and we ride am/trail. the jumps are three to four feet that i build in the back yard. My dad offered me his 07 specialized enduro sl. What do you think? Thanks JD.
2008 vs. 2009 vs. 2010 Specialized Demo 8
Hi Lee,
If you would care to expound on the differences between the 08, 09, and 2010 Demo 8 I would be grateful. I am aware that the 2010 model has been dialed for world cup racing and that distinguishes it from its predecessors. I am looking at an ’08, but am not sure what changes occurred between ’08 and ’09.
Thanks,
Dan
Seat tube angles on DJ bikes!
Lee, was checking in and read How seat tube angle affects bike character. Have you ever ridden a Cannondale Chase 1 DJ? Both small and med frames have a 77 degree seat tube angle and 69 degree head tube angle. What would be the purpose of such an extreme ST angle unless perhaps it does not matter if you don’t use the seat as a peddle platform. BTW love my Chase!!!
Enjoy those kids- they grow up too fast.
Mike
How seat tube angle determines bike character
This bike comparison shows how seat tube angle can influence your bike’s purpose in life.
Part of the continuing seat-tube-angle saga.
Hopping the dreaded bucking log
Hey Lee,
First of all, congratulations on the twins, man!
I found your site and got your book near the beginning of summer. I’ve only been mountain biking for about 4 years, but I have improved tremendously this summer with your help! I’m no where near an expert, but I’m really enjoying the new found flow.
Anyways, this is probably a MTB 101 question. There are plenty of “large” logs on the trail. I haven’t dialed in a good bunny hop, so “large” is any log I can’t hop. At first I walked these. Later, I bashed the chain ring over them. Now, I can pull a quick manual, compress down when the front wheel is on the log, and hop enough to get the back wheel on the log (without bashing the chain ring – woo-hoo!).
To do that, I have to slow down and I decided that was ruining my flow. So, I decided to attempt it a bit faster. I kept getting bucked until one flipped me over the bars…
What is the technique for these “big” logs? How can I hit them faster without cramping my flow?
If you ever need advice on changing dirty diapers, please feel free to ask 😉 Braaaap!
Thank you sincerely,
– Eric
Jumping technique: Help, I’m tilting sideways
Hi Lee,
I’ve been mountain biking for years, but I just generally ride xc. After a trip to Whistler (I’m from New Zealand), I’ve got the DH bug, but I find I have real trouble jumping. Well, it’s getting sideways when jumping that’s my problem. I feel like I am hitting the jumps nice and square, but sometimes when I jump the bike starts to drift sideways in the air. I don’t feel like I do anything different when this happens, and it’s not constantly to one side or the other. The fact that I don’t know when it’s going to happen makes me nervous to try and progress to bigger jumps as the longer I’m in the air, the more sideways I’ll get. It seems to happen when I pop off the lip as well as just letting the bike drift off so to speak, but I think it happens more when I try to pop.
I know it’s hard without seeing me, but are there any things I should look for when jumping that may be causing me to drift sideways?
Thanks for any help you can provide. Cheers, Mark.