Rides.
After ten years with the Schwinn, but also after a five year hiatus, and after just six runs at Mammoth last week, I went and sprung for a new ride.
Those six runs were enough to make me remember why barreling down single track was my first love.
In the ten years since I bought my last bike (which was also my first full-suspension bike) mountain bike technology has advanced so much that a ride on this was more dramatic a shift than when I went from a rigid bike to suspension.
The new geometry, the new suspension, the new brakes. It's really that remarkable.
The new price, well, that was remarkable too.
Eh. Who needs a retirement when you are having fun.
Comments
Since you are flush with cash Jimmy, maybe you would like to contribute to the cataract surgery I will be having in the next two months in order to be able to read your blog.
Posted by: donna Parisi | July 9, 2009 06:51 AM
effing awesome! Go jim! Now reccomend one for me.
Posted by: KENJOEJ | July 9, 2009 04:54 PM
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ca/bikes/mountain/2603/32925/
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39200&eid=2
these bikes are great if you don't want to climb too often. get an all mountain bike. good downhill prowess, not TOO heavy for climbing. these are nice options and relatively easy to find. all mountain bikes are beefier, more suspension, and can take bigger hits. but they are light enough to still climb if you need to. because they are beefier, they won't be as nible on the single track as a XC trail bike (like mine).
if you want to ride single track trails like we typically do and finally DO want to start climbing rather than just riding lifts all day, well, my new bike (or a downscaled model) is a great bike. look for a XC trail bike.
you want to pay attention to the suspension (air is usually better, fox forks are the shit), look for disk brakes (all new models come with this), and personally, i like spending the $$$ on a better component package. try to buy used. i'll keep an eye out for a bike for you.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39192&eid=95
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/fuel_ex/fuelex8/
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ca/bikes/mountain/2600/32916/
Posted by: the mighty jimbo | July 10, 2009 12:20 PM