I've a hardtail and finding I'm killing myself on singletrack and drops. Tried another bike to compare and found it completely different - similar stuff much more rideable.
The major differences seemed to be the top tube length (mine shorter) and head angle - mine 71deg, the other 70deg.
Any suggestions on how I could adjust the bike without major cost?
get a longer stem
put your saddle back.
did the other bike have same tyres forks etc as it all adds up.
even if the forks are set up wrong you can get lashed out of it.
go into your lbs and get sized up properly
In steep singletrack I'm hanging off the back of the bike as much as I can but I feel I'm still too far forward.
Both bikes are 100mm travel forks, just found that mine feels a lot more skittish and jittery.
Go to one of the good shops for proper fitting, or show it to an experienced rider.
Most bikes are nicely set up 'out of the box', only thing that should need adjusting is the saddle height and it's fore/aft position (for pedaling efficiency and not to adjust handlebar) reach). If the bike handles like sh1t it's probably because the size is wrong for you or somebody messed around with it.
Mine - Lapierre Tecnic. The other bike was a rockhopper.
nope..one is probably set up like **** and the other is probably ok..i know of plenty deadly riders on both.
bring it in to Alfie Wallace in Expert Cycles in Rathfarnham Village, and he'll sort that out for you..
Go to one of the good shops for proper fitting, or show it to an experienced rider.
Most bikes are nicely set up 'out of the box', only thing that should need adjusting is the saddle height and it's fore/aft position (for pedaling efficiency and not to adjust handlebar) reach). If the bike handles like sh1t it's probably because the size is wrong for you or somebody messed around with it.
Should is the key word there.
But even if it is "nicely set up" different people need different stem lengths or heights and maybe a different bar sweep or rise, so what works as a stock set up for one person maybe completely wrong for someone else even if it is the right size.
As already suggested,
I think you should be looking at the stem length to start with and perhaps even
widths of bar
You may simply be too stretched in your position and the longer your arms are outstretched, the less control you have on techie singletrack.
A shorter stem with a higher rise will set you back and up a bit more
Its only my opinion from my own experiences..
Not being awkward but not every LBS will be able to sort you out. Many are predominately road orientated. You'd laugh at some of the drival I've been told about mtb at some bike shops.
You really need to be talking to an experienced mtb rider at your LBS like Richie suggested.
There's a few out there. Alfie as suggested, Richie himself in euro cycles, Al in Bike rack Cabinteely, Jame or Greg in OC Tuning or Stew in Cyclesuperstore.
oh yeah..if you heard some of the crazy sh!t i've heard myself !! I've done a load of sports in my long life and MTB is the worst ever for wrong info..
Only an actual Cycling Coach is capable of realistically sizing you up for a bike and only somebody who has spent several years riding and racing several different disciplines can really inform you on whats good.
Theres not too many of us that you can say that about.
A hardtail is a very specialized piece of machinery. A badly set up one does not allow you to hide. theres no ridiculous amount of travel to soak up mistakes or slack angles to ease you down steep stuff.
You have to pay more attention to what you are riding and become more in tune with your bike.
Something as simple as stack height on your steering will make a huge difference, just like saddle angle and even where your brakes are positioned !!
No one is asking the hard questions, Entropy, you are not a midget are you, or do you have very long legs, I think before we can offer meaningful advice we need some photos or at least an inner thigh measurement..
I've a hardtail and finding I'm killing myself on singletrack and drops. Tried another bike to compare and found it completely different - similar stuff much more rideable.
The major differences seemed to be the top tube length (mine shorter) and head angle - mine 71deg, the other 70deg.
Any suggestions on how I could adjust the bike without major cost?
get a longer stem
put your saddle back.
did the other bike have same tyres forks etc as it all adds up.
even if the forks are set up wrong you can get lashed out of it.
go into your lbs and get sized up properly
In steep singletrack I'm hanging off the back of the bike as much as I can but I feel I'm still too far forward.
Both bikes are 100mm travel forks, just found that mine feels a lot more skittish and jittery.
Go to one of the good shops for proper fitting, or show it to an experienced rider.
Most bikes are nicely set up 'out of the box', only thing that should need adjusting is the saddle height and it's fore/aft position (for pedaling efficiency and not to adjust handlebar) reach). If the bike handles like sh1t it's probably because the size is wrong for you or somebody messed around with it.
Mine - Lapierre Tecnic. The other bike was a rockhopper.
nope..one is probably set up like **** and the other is probably ok..i know of plenty deadly riders on both.
bring it in to Alfie Wallace in Expert Cycles in Rathfarnham Village, and he'll sort that out for you..
Go to one of the good shops for proper fitting, or show it to an experienced rider.
Most bikes are nicely set up 'out of the box', only thing that should need adjusting is the saddle height and it's fore/aft position (for pedaling efficiency and not to adjust handlebar) reach). If the bike handles like sh1t it's probably because the size is wrong for you or somebody messed around with it.
Should is the key word there.
But even if it is "nicely set up" different people need different stem lengths or heights and maybe a different bar sweep or rise, so what works as a stock set up for one person maybe completely wrong for someone else even if it is the right size.
As already suggested,
I think you should be looking at the stem length to start with and perhaps even
widths of bar
You may simply be too stretched in your position and the longer your arms are outstretched, the less control you have on techie singletrack.
A shorter stem with a higher rise will set you back and up a bit more
Its only my opinion from my own experiences..
Not being awkward but not every LBS will be able to sort you out. Many are predominately road orientated. You'd laugh at some of the drival I've been told about mtb at some bike shops.
You really need to be talking to an experienced mtb rider at your LBS like Richie suggested.
There's a few out there. Alfie as suggested, Richie himself in euro cycles, Al in Bike rack Cabinteely, Jame or Greg in OC Tuning or Stew in Cyclesuperstore.
oh yeah..if you heard some of the crazy sh!t i've heard myself !! I've done a load of sports in my long life and MTB is the worst ever for wrong info..
Only an actual Cycling Coach is capable of realistically sizing you up for a bike and only somebody who has spent several years riding and racing several different disciplines can really inform you on whats good.
Theres not too many of us that you can say that about.
A hardtail is a very specialized piece of machinery. A badly set up one does not allow you to hide. theres no ridiculous amount of travel to soak up mistakes or slack angles to ease you down steep stuff.
You have to pay more attention to what you are riding and become more in tune with your bike.
Something as simple as stack height on your steering will make a huge difference, just like saddle angle and even where your brakes are positioned !!
No one is asking the hard questions, Entropy, you are not a midget are you, or do you have very long legs, I think before we can offer meaningful advice we need some photos or at least an inner thigh measurement..