Questions, comments and criticisms

Basic bike for big guy

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Hi, I am just doing my research on a new bike and came across your article on what you considered a big guy riding that kept breaking frames. Well I am 280 lbs and want a bike to ride down simple trails and roads with my kids. I was looking at the Iron horse Maverick 3.0 and the Norco Mountineer … not sure which one would work best for me? Also the guy at the bike shop has me worried I will bend the back axle on these 2 bikes just going off a curb and suggested the Norco Bush pilot which is a little more thant I want to spend. Is there another bike that you could recommend that is around the $400 mark. Thanks
Sean

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Longer shock on SX? Just leave it alone!

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Lee,
Interesting thought, I’ve got an 05 Specialized SX Supercross with 107 mm of travel. The eye to eye and stroke are different than that of the SX Trail, is the geometry totally different on the 2 bikes or can I increase my travel to 150 mm by upping the shock size? What kind of crazy math goes into determining compatability of different eye to eyes and stroke, as well as resulting travel? I need to replace my shock and can get a 7.5″ x 2″, will it wack out my ride?
Thanks,
Dave

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Coil shock on 2003 Enduro?

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Hey Lee,

Firstly, let me express my adoration for your writing. Being a mountain bike journalist is an admirable career, and you are the best of the selected few. I enjoy reading your blog (and your book) very much – that is when I do not ride my bike.

And it is the bike about which I have a question. I would like to have a coil rear shock on my old Enduro 2003. Although this bike is not the latest word from Specialized, it is so great I do not intend to change it for anything – it just rocks. However, I would like to have a plushy coil at the back, such as Vanilla R.

The problem is that Enduro shocks come at unusual eye-to-eye length (7.765 to be exact). So I wonder whether it would be feasible to put a longer eye-to-eye shock, e.g. 7.875, or maybe a shorter one (7.5 e2e).

The other question is what kind of a shock would fit the Enduro. Is it feasible to install a Vanilla shock? Wouldn’t the piggy back reservoir be a problem on the frame?

Sincerely Yours,
Omer Shapira

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How do you define “light stunts?”

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Lee,
Can you define light stunts??? It would be cool to understand bike companies’ idea of light stunts as not to void warranty!
Thanks,
John

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Suspension tips from Fitz

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Howdy Lee,
So last summer I lived up in Whistler and if there’s one thing I did a lot, it was hit berms filled with teeth-chattering holes and braking bumps. I ran a DHX 5 on a VP free with the propedal at its lightest setting and the bottom-out resistance at its firmest setting. I felt that max bump complicance + sturdy bottom out worked well, but i didn’t really try any other settings. Reading the recent piece on propedal (FOX PropPedal and suspension bracketing) got me thinking that perhaps this set up is bad for bumpy berms: perhaps the lack of propedal was allowing my suspension to blow through the first half of travel in response to the G forces in the berm and forcing it into the heavily damped end-of stroke.
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FOX ProPedal and suspension bracketing

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Hey Lee,
I saw the ProPedal on my FOX DHX 5.0. What does this do?
Zach

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Holy pinch flats, Batman!

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Lee,
I got a 3 pinch flats running Azonic Outlaws, Kenda Kinetics 2.35 and Maxxis 1.5mm DH tubes at 40psi this weekend at bootleg canyon on my new vp free. Never had any problems running my singletracks with standard tubes on my Giant DH. Any idea what is going on?

BTW, I just switched the tires to Maxxis mobster 42Duros 2.7s…hopefully it was the thin sidewall on the Kendas…thanks!

Erich

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Goofy-footed cornering question

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Hi Lee,

I’ve been perusing your site for awhile now, mostly browsing through your skills sections. I’ve got to say it’s great. Thanks for posting such useful info.

I’ve got a quick question regarding a little problem I’m trying to overcome lately. I was reading your article on leaning the bike (Leaning: street motos vs. mountain bikes) and trying to put it into practice. I’ve found that I can really rail left hand turns now using this technique, much better than before. It really works. But I still feel really awkward going right.

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Good all-around tire: Specialized Resolution Pro

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Or: “Of tires and fishing rods”

Lee,
What do you think is the best all around tire out there??? fast rolling, great grip etc, oh fearless leader of the tech declined!
John

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Let’s get our terms straight

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hi lee, i’m from malaysia. want to ask you about the real meaning of freeride. some say it’s north shore style, some say it’s just riding anywhere anyskill like the red bull rampage. and also i want to know the differences between freeride, all mountain and extreme XC.

thanks,
yikerk
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Carbon or aluminum Enduro SL?

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Lee,
Ok, so, since my last post, I have decided to go with a size “large” Enduro SL. With a laid back seat post, the ride felt just right and it is going to haul balls on the downhill.

My new problem is deciding between either the Expert model (aluminum), or the Carbon Pro Model (not s-works). Because this is coming from insurance, money isn’t too big a factor. What is your opinion about the FACT 9M carbon frame, and do you feel that it is really worth the price premium? Or will the aluminum expert model be the best bang for the buck?
Adam

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All-mountain rims: DT Swiss 5.2 vs. 4.2?

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Hey Lee,

This sounds like a dilemma you could have a nice insight on. I own a 2004 Enduro and am giving it some sweet love and upgraded parts after almost two and a half years of abuse. I ride the bike on anything; from 50km XC loops to day-long epic rides including pretty rough downhillish descents in lift-serviced terrain in the Alps. Anything but full-on downhill and bikepark usage really. I weigh about 90 kilos, so I need my parts to be tough, but like to keep ’em as light as is functional and makes sense (carbon is for fishing rods and F1 racecars IMHO). …
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