Well I made the plunge, thanks to advice on here, and bought a Specialized Stumpjumper a week ago, and will be taking it out for a spin in Ballinastoe tomorrow. Having never used a full suspension bike, I'm a little confused about what setting I should have the rear shocks on over the different terrain.
Obviously I'll have the shocks fully unlocked for downhill, but for cross-country terrain, do I leave it fully on or do I use the pro-pedal mode? And I'm guessing I turn it off for forest trails?
Also, something I've been meaning to ask for ages. What should you do if you come off your bike and hurt yourself badly enough that you can't get yourself to the main road in somewhere like Ballinastoe?
Can't tell you much about your shocks, as for hurting yourself, bring a phone (can't say if you'll get a signal though), go with somebody else if you can, Ballinastoe will probably be busy enough at the weekend with the nice weather, if you hurt yourself somebody else is bound to find you and help you quick enough.
There are two types of people, those who ride alone and those that don't. I've had enough near misses and heard enough horror stories to not ride alone, but then I'm a rather boring middle aged family man.
Hence we ride as a club. We have a number of loud mouth gobsh1tes who are well trained to get you down off the mountain. You never know when you are going to burst yourself, so prepare for the unexpected.
the lads are right..
simple Golden rule and one as responsible Mountainbikers we should be promoting is..
" Never mountainbike alone !"
Join a club, encourage your mates to go for spins with you.
You won't find any of the best trails without being in a club or without a guide.
All of us, even the cool kids had to be shown the trails and led around at first.
Well almost everybody, somebody had to be first !!
My advice to you is go on a beginners spin with any of the Clubs. Or organise a guided spin by a qualified guide like myself or Niall Davis.
Richie
I have a stumpjumper adn not much of a clue but I pro pedal up, full suss across and down, front fork at mid setting of 120 for all of ballinastoe. Do not think too much about the set up and enjoy the ride.......more importantly, listen to the others, don't go alone.