Observations on a MTB...

[Aaroneous]

...after a month of riding my fixed gear almost exclusively.
Backstory: I started a new job downtown at the beginning of September and started riding to work every day on my fixie. Since the bike is always set up and under me every morning, it's become my everything bike. Commuting, shopping, trails, everything... So yesterday I thought I'd do some REAL MTBing, dusted off my 9sp disc-brake hardtail and headed over to Wirth. These are some random caveman-like thoughts (as all my thoughts while riding are):

{On the way there}
>ACK! My chain! *looks down* Oh, yeah - freewheel...
>Ungh... Chubby tires sooo slow... me steer now... turn... slow...
>Bad, bad riding position. Move seat forward. Need stubby stem.
>*screech* Whoa, disc brakes work good...
>*ching* *ching* Me hate disc brakes.
>(approaching intersection and attempting to backpedal) Crap, can't stop!! Oh, yeah. Brakes.

{On the trail}
>Mmm. Fatties nice, make hands happy.
>*thud* Mmm. Fancy suspension fork appreciated.
>*crash* Ack, my skills!! Wha happen?
>Coasting thru turns feel like cheating.
>*pedal strike* Me guess coasting okay.

{On the way home}
>So. *grunt* Much. *grunt* Drag... Derailer drag, tires drag, chain drag, brakes drag... Blech.
>Stupid bike! Why you not go faster?!?
>Me hungry. Want beer.

So I had fun, but I definitely need to mess with my MTBs setup. And tune up the brakes.
And I've decided a rigid steel 29er SS will be my next bike.

[Wolfchimp]

Great post! Very descriptive. I could visualize everything.

[ppgc]

Well put!!

[destrago]

I had a, less dramatic change, but similar experience today. I've been commuting ~10 miles each way to the U of MN on a Rockhopper with slicks@80psi, a fully locked out (and fairly wrecked in general) front suspension, old worn V-Brakes, and 26's. Today I rode to Leb and rode on my Fisher 293 - 29er with Disc and Full Suspension.

On the Road:
> Fricking Knobbies. Fricking low tire pressure. Fricking shocks eating all my acceleration. Wait, smooth ride. Very smooth. 29" tires so very nice. Suspension so smooth. Yet so unbearably slow. Listen to those knobbies SING!

On the trail:
>Oh yeah, this is what it's like to ride trails! Leb singletrack is smoother than the roads at the U of M!
> HOLY DISC BRAKES BATMAN!!! (Note to self: Feather the brakes, they're a lot touchier!). *Removes handlebars from mouth*
> AArgh!! Turn you cow!!!! TURN!!!!! NO!! NOT THE TREE!! 29er not quite as maneuverable as 26er. Ow. Mmmmm... .yummy leaves and crunchy branches!

-Tony

[At the Gates 2121]

I had something like that happen too. I purchased a car and after taking a 30 mile ride to go to salem hills and a lap then going home was a lot of work here was my thinking.



AAAAh my legs are fresh no more going up robert street to trail head feels good legs still fresh after 5 laps not mental headcase on trail think of $%^&ing
ride back to cottage Grove. take a nother lap darn I didn't almost get hit by a car 10 times bummer I miss riding one section at battle creek on my way there.

[drmrboyalex]

AAAAh my legs are fresh no more going up robert street to trail head feels good legs still fresh after 5 laps not mental headcase on trail think of $%^&ing
ride back to cottage Grove. take a nother lap darn I didn't almost get hit by a car 10 times bummer I miss riding one section at battle creek on my way there.

I like this one the best:p :banana:

[SpecHR55]

cavemen like dialouge *grunt* me like.