Jumping on a XC bike..... help

pjm-84
pjm-84 Posts: 819
edited January 2008 in XC and Enduro
Any advice?

I don't like jumping on my XC bike. Just can't seem to find the feel for it. On the opposite scale I'm happy to jump on motorcross bikes (30ft +) but can't understand why I can't translate this to my MTB riding when tackling XC courses (not that mad jump stuff - no way!)

The MTB feels very nose heavy and I can't shift my weight quick enough. I run my seat height as per my road bikes and wondered if this was too high for XC . Ultamelty the main focus is XC racing so I didn't know if lowering the seat height was the way to go?
Paul

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    Lowering the saddle will make a hell of a lot of difference for jumping, but you should run it at a 'normal' height for regular xc riding.

    Your forks could be quite heavy, which could also contribute ti the nose heavy feeling, what forks are they?
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    Fox "New" 32 F100 RL 100mm travel.

    I 've just bought a Trek Top Fuel 9.0 - 2008 model (21.5in) and lifted the info from the web. This replaces a 19in hardtail with 2003 Marzocchi MX COMP w/ETA forks.

    However I'm pretty dire on both.
    Paul
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Neither are really designed for jumping. Well depends what you mean by jumping really!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Matteeboy
    Matteeboy Posts: 996
    Oh for gawds sake it's a MOUNTAIN bike, not a tin foil race bike.

    Of course you can jump on them - Mine seems fairly well balanced (Fox 90RL) but then I don't do massive jumps. Your forks are about as light as you can get really assuming they are Floats?
    Two Stumpjumpers, a Rockhopper Disk and an old British Eagle.

    http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    As I made perfectly clear, depends what you mean by jumping. Dirt jumping, which has specifically designed kit? I wouldnt do that on a float! Trail drops and little ramps? Sure, thats in the stride of most kit. He has an XC race bike, not a jump bike, so if he does hit a double, stakcs it and snaps the frame or forks he will have no sympathy from the retailer.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Matteeboy
    Matteeboy Posts: 996
    Fair enough - proper dirt jumping is a little OTT on an XC bike.

    In "my" day, you just did stuff without worrying about whether you had the right bike for it.If it broke, you fixed it. Now you need a bike for going DH, one for going uphill, another for jumping and yet another for tricks. :lol::lol:
    Two Stumpjumpers, a Rockhopper Disk and an old British Eagle.

    http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    hehe, I know what you mean, all these disciplines and bikes can be somewhat confusing, with a lot of overlap. I just used my Zaskar for everything in the 90s, and it never broke! But now got the Ruckus for when gravity points down, and its certainly a bit more stable!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Matteeboy
    Matteeboy Posts: 996
    I've had ten years on a fully rigid Stumpy!

    Even my front suspension on the new (2007 HT) Stumpy makes me feel a bit spoilt - my arms no longer buzz and go numb on long downhills.

    Still love the new one though and usually lockout the forks on climbs.

    I'll give in one day and get a nice XC FS bike... :lol:
    Two Stumpjumpers, a Rockhopper Disk and an old British Eagle.

    http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    Nothing major ... I'll leave that to the jump guys and girls. Just the ability to jump small jumps, gaps and ditches. rather then scrubbing off speed and plodding over them.

    Hard to explain but this Youtube clip shows smaller jumps which I would deem about the limit on an XC bike. Or am I asking too much?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-U4asMw-A

    I will lower the seat on the hardtail and see how I go.
    Paul
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    If you land nice and smooth like that, then you'll be ok. If you dont, or hit the face of the next double...
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Matteeboy
    Matteeboy Posts: 996
    pjm - Any XC bike should be able to handle those sort of jumps easily.
    Maybe apart from anything sub 20lbs!
    Two Stumpjumpers, a Rockhopper Disk and an old British Eagle.

    http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    The bike might but I certain can't at the moment. Probably land on my face or veer off and miss the exit ramp. Never could jump on bikes when I was a kid either. Motorbikes , quad bikes are different animals and feel far more balenced to me.

    I'll play around with the seat height and moving my 15st 12lb body weight around a little bit quicker. Looking at the clip I think I'm leaving my jump prepartion too late and would most likely be pedaling and seated when I hit the ramp rather then standing on the pedals and balencing the bike.
    Paul
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    The Top Fuel is an XC race bike, so I presume it's got quite a forward weight bias and it's difficult to lift the front wheel and to keep it up?

    I find jumps and drops more difficult on my Anthem than my Handjob - and I think it's more to do with the riding position than the 50mm difference in fork travel.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I always thought that you should have the saddle a bit lower for xc than road work, at least i normally do, just to give you more room to get off the back and move around.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    The Top Fuel is an XC race bike, so I presume it's got quite a forward weight bias and it's difficult to lift the front wheel and to keep it up?

    Tracks the ground like a "cruise missle". Not the best analogy but it's all I could think off.
    Paul
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    Lowering the seat 2cms makes a big difference along with a set of Panaracer XC Pros. :wink:
    Paul
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    My stretched out Orange P7 is difficult to get in the air, but my new Commencal Meta 5 which is much more sit up is much easier to get off the ground so it could just be geometry. As you say it's quite easy to get a motocross motorbike off the ground but then it has got an engine to get your 15stone into the air!
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    Slightly heavier at 15st 10lbs :wink:
    Paul

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