The Good Kind of Ride

[Trini-dad72]

So, some of you now that I'm not too happy with my Devinci, well today I went on a ride that really put things into perspective.

Oysterboyz came out to Surrey today to do soem good old XC type of riding. We went out to Green Timbers Urban Park. It's a huge park, thats in three sections. The single track in there may not be all super h'core, but it is twisty, rooty, and has some short little inclines that can be taxing after a while. In short... It's FUN. I took out Elaine's Giant AC2 and had an utter ball. It was so light and manoeuverable!!!! I was just ripping. Dave, was having a right good time as well, he'd never been in such a fun filled place I suppose. All of the tight turns and roots, and little drops, created such a perfect flow. After that we booted down 140th to Bear Creek Park, and rode the Skate Park for a while. We could've even gone to the BMX track too! But we grinded up King George Hwy, and went to piss around my Neighbourhood. Had some Shrimp and Angelhair pasta in Alfredo sauce too!!! It was the best ride day I've had in a long time. And it wasn't on the big bike.

So now I get into the bit that will get some of you all snorty. I like my Devinci, but I have really realized that it limits my true self. It's not a bike that I can just ride anywhere. For some of you, you can do that, I'm not you. I hope to acquire an AC1 for myself, with a Slider+ . I love the fact that with Elaine's AC I could ride anything, anytime, anywhere. It was so cool. I think now that I really made the wrong decision, I went all gung ho, instead of really looking at my ride habits. It's time to do the right thing and get the right bike.

Don't get all pissy or flame like on me. I'm just expressing myself, and I know that some of you have been thru the same ordeal. I just wanted to share my story.













Damn, what a fun RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: D

[Biking Fiend]

come on justin! you gotta take thie big biek on the shore and feel what its good for! you saw me hulkin my big boy toy around and rhode it fine. You just gotta get used to it on all terrain, dont throw in the towel of the bike yet.

[Late Bloomer]

Everybody that rides one of those Giants seems to have a revelation of some sort:???:
They are a great all-mountain bike for sure:cool:

It's a good feeling when you find your place on a bike. It's good to mix it up, but it's also nice to know when push comes to shove you know what makes you tick.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I used to ride at Green Timbers all the time, havent been there in a while though

[the flying moose]

i agree with adam. dont give it up yet. try SFU and the shore a few times with each bike to get the feel of whats better for you. dont switch without giving it a chance.

[mudpuppy]

Kool ride, I need one of those. It's amazing how we think we need something we realize that in all reality....we did not need it...or even want it for that matter. Reading what you say here makes me happy, not that you bought the wrong bike, but that you found a bike that fits you and your style of riding. I have said this before and I will say it again, if you are ever on the Island and want to ride, look me up and we can go out to sooke or I can show you around hartland.

[Bukkake]

The same thing happened to me when I realized that I did not in fact like mountain biking at all and had the most fun trying techy urban stuff, skate parks, and DJ's. Except the whole time I was doing this stuff on a big, heavy expensive mountain bike armed with suspension I did not need.

I found my true calling and it sounds like you have too so ditch the big rig that's sapping the life out of you and get something more suited to YOU.

Just a warning tho. When you really have the right bike it is impossible to ride as much as you want because there won't be a single moment where you wont wish you were riding. ;)

[woodlotrider]

this is a comment more about the giant AC, but...anyways.
I've been riding a bigger bike for the past few years, and I love it, and i thought there was nothing better. but then i rented an AC2 (2003). the rear and was awesome, I loved it. now this was a rental bike so keep in mind that it's seen alot of (hack)riders, so the fork (psylo) felt terrible (but i suspect poor maintenance of at least slightly contributing to this), but the rear end was super sweet... If I was in the market for a new rig, I'd seriously consider one of the AC'S (although I'd put a new fork on it for sure...)

[Trini-dad72]

Well, I'd have to say....

I am still going to do the AC type of thing. I know that I should give the Devinci more of a chance. But I really do not know how that will pan out. I do not want to be tied to "Shore/Whistler" I have read the reviews and I have recieved opinions both solicited and not, the Giant/Chapparal/Six type of bikes are very adept at all types of riding....


But hey this is not the place...



THE RIDE MAN THE RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

:fro: :clap: :woot: :woot:

[Team2K]

dewd... i will personally take you and dave on a shuttle tour of seymour or a fromme climb and show you what that big bike is made for.... once you've done that , you'll be lovin' that new steed..... of course a chap feels right at home on the shore/whistler too... but lets get you out there before you sell it for a XC/HT ride :P

[Biking Fiend]

exactly, ill drive you upto whistler one day and let ya feel what the big bike is made for!

[Trini-dad72]

Oh good grief, I'm not going to go for a full on XC bike. And no HT's either! Just a bike that is MORE VERSITILE. That's all. I'll ride whatever type of mountain, that's no problem. If I still have the bike and I'm not yet working, then lets go!!!! I have a different bike, and I'm not yet working, let's GO! If I am working and no matter what kind of bike I have, let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I am off that is:P I don't believe that the bike is going to make me. But that I'm supposed to make the bike. If I'm not truly happy, then I'm lying to myself. That's all guys, I still want to ride. Just want to do more stuff, and be happy too. Is that too much to ask?

[yellowdogx]

Come up to Whistler with me some time, I have been going once a week...your in surrey are you not? I can even pick you up!!!!

[Oldfart]

I hear your breathing jaru. I'm all over that more versatile ride like white on rice, but in tother direction. Rode Oilcan last night and I stunk. Maybe its the 100mmX115 travel or the 1.95 tires with a tread more akin to the complexion of a teenager in the throws of a clearasil withdrawl than something with true knobs, or maybe the moist conditions were throwing me off. But i was certainly thinking bigger softer tires and more sponge woulda helped.

Personaly I know I only do sports which aren't too much hassle. And having to go all the way to Whistler for a day, or to arange and bunch of guys for shuttling in vehicles is too much trouble than its worth. I like the ride up too, especially the technical ups.

Funny though, I do ski at Whistler a lot but we have a place to stay so we drive up Friday night and walk to the lifts. But the bike park does not appeal to me in the least. I think I just find that stuff too scary.

[Oldfart]

Then again jaru, Keep the 8flat8 and maybe get a set of really light wheels and tires. That alone can make a huge difference in how a bike rides.

[Bryce]

I was just about to say the same - try some lighter wheels and tires, it makes a huge difference

[derwood]

I ride an AC for XC,and for me,thats all its good for.
Im Not saying that I go off huge stuff on DH rides,but the AC just dont cut it once youre used to a DH bike.Kinda scary actually!

Maybe look at lower gearing for the Devinci and firming the suspension up.Most riders set their bikes up too soft anyways,and end up riding a bike that feels like it has flat tires.

[onepunch]

two bikes maybee? That is the route i went, and bought a used xc fully. Nothing fancy, but got me back into "trail riding" or what we used to call...."mountain bikeing". Going up, and down. Not that i wont try on the big bike once i start exploring the shore and surrounding area, but i am cool with trail riding either way. The only prob is now, i wanna upgrade my trail bike:rolleyes: there is a lot of great bikes in that catagory now too. You tend not to punish your trail bike as much either, saving money and frustration.

[Oysterboyz]

I think the thing is, with the Devinci, Justin's not getting all the riding out as much as he wants. I mean, going to Whistler or the Shore may be harder to do and if he's only going to like Whistler a couple of times a year, or even the shore for that matter, having the devinci around isn't worth it.

It's kind of like having a really fancy computer but all you do is surf the net on it, or having a $1000 cell phone and you just do the bare minimum with it and occasionally you'll send a text message, surf the net, or make a video, but RARELY and all that you really need is just a cell phone that can be used to call back and forth, do a little bit of surfing on the net.

I don't know, I just started out and I love having a hardtail. I mean, there might be some of you that'll say I need a stronger bike etc, but I'm only learning and I can do almost anything on that bike right now at my level. I won't go to whistler on it and I might do the lighter shore rides eventually, but I'm in no hurry. I don't even have disc brakes. :)

I had a lot of fun riding with Justin that day too. There were some climbs and some decents, and just a lot of twisting and turning, it really got my juices flowing. It was different. I mean, in the last month, I tried dirt jumping and riding stunts/ladders too and that was fun. What I'd like is to get my skill level up on small things before I even consider a bike that's not right for me. So getting back to Justin, I think the Devinci treats him like he can't do anything else than straight DH/Freeride stuff when there's so much more to biking than that. Right?

And when I'm shore ready, watch out, I'm going to quick like ninja and I'll know how to do the rasengan too!

http://www.sfu.ca/~dleunga/ninjafire.jpg

[Neo]

oldschool is where its at.