Hardtail adventure

Unknown · June 2007

After almost 2 years of having a full suss (I had two HTs before this but havent ridden one offroad for a while) I went out on a proper ride with my Merlin HT last night (Glentress red), I have had the bike for almost a year but have just messed around on bike rides with my kids on it.

The bike is about 4 yrs old (bought it 2nd hand) and the fork is knackered [:(], when climbing the bike was excellent, and felt really good. The first downhill (Pennels Vennel) was..erm...interesting...Jumped a little double and almost killed myself....what happened to the rear suspension??????[:o)] Once I started to remember how to ride a HT and that I wasnt on a 5" FS things started to get better.[:0]

After completing the descent from Spooky Wood I talked Saz into going back up (not very hard really)- what great fun, even although the fork kept bottoming out and the back end felt like it was going to collapse at any minute. After doing that we went round the rest of GT Red and it was magic.

I have to say - FULL RESPECT to HT users with basic forks that do trail centres (red and above) and proper natural stuff, it really was hard work but its been a long long time since I have enjoyed GT red so much. Doing Innerleithen black on it on Saturday which should be interesting.

I get my FS back on Saturday afternoon but even once I get it back I think I will be out quite a bit more on my Merlin.

Note - Thanks to Saz for putting up with my moaning about the crap fork[:D]

Dave

My Rocky Mountain
Merlin Malt
Me
Rocky Road
My old Giant XTC - Gone forever

Unknown · June 2007

I did the hamsterly DH course on my xc hardtail with 100mm of froint travel not thats crazy [:o] I think it is personal quite fun a HT give you more skill but can't wait to get my a FS [:D]

Dunk

Me
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saz · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by daveb

Note - Thanks to Saz for putting up with my moaning about the crap fork[:D]

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Lol! Ya big girl!! I was up for locking out my fork and doing it properly!![:D]
Could tell Dave had a good time, he was talking too fast like a wee kid!![:D][:D][8D]

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Unknown · June 2007

Nice one Dave, sounds fun [:)]

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Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dunk
[br a HT give you more skill

Dunk
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree, had to watch and take it easy on some of the rootier stuff last night that I normally let my suspension take me over. For some reason I was getting better "air" last night than I normally do.

Dave

My Rocky Mountain
Merlin Malt
Me
Rocky Road
My old Giant XTC - Gone forever

Capt. Concussion · June 2007

Was very interested to read your post Dave. I've had a HT for 16 years, until recently getting my Orange 5. I'd like to think I ride it like a HT, in that I still look ahead for the smoothest line and make the bike work underneath me, rather than steamrollering through everything as if it wasn't there. There is a great deal of satisfaction in "finessing" through technical sections, rathering than just going straight over them! [:)]

Derek.

(Where did that bloody tree come from??)

My Orange 5 Pro

Unknown · June 2007

Nah, I usually try and go through the "roughest" line going over bigger roots, rockier lines etc. Last night was fun though as I had to concentrate a bit more on making sure I took good lines and actually ended up going faster through some of the Spooky Wood berms.

Once I get my FS back I am going to do as you have mentioned to see the difference

Dave

My Rocky Mountain
Merlin Malt
Me
Rocky Road
My old Giant XTC - Gone forever

Capt. Concussion · June 2007

Let's see how we get on a Kirroughtree/Dalbeattie next weekend!!! [xx(][:D]

Derek.

(Where did that bloody tree come from??)

My Orange 5 Pro

Andy B · June 2007

When I first got my Orange 5, I rode it like a HT, smooth, picking lines etc...

Then I found out that I didn't really have to pick a line, just barge through whatever came up on the trails, that was fun for a while, but now I'm kinda riding in-between the two styles, makes it a lot faster & more fun!

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guilliano · June 2007

I still enjoy picking lines, moving the bike under me, having to react if the back end kicks over a bump etc. I'd like a full suss if/when I can afford it, but I've spent about œ1500 on my HT now (including original purchase) so I think it deserves a fair bit more abuse before it's put into a part time role

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Capt. Concussion · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Andy_B

but now I'm kinda riding in-between the two styles

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That sounds like an awful lot of good sense to me.
Cheers Andy. [;)][:)]

Derek.

(Where did that bloody tree come from??)

My Orange 5 Pro

tigerocket · June 2007

i like to ride side saddle for a challenge on my HT,

yeah right just point you full suss done the rocky stuff.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Andy_B

Then I found out that I didn't really have to pick a line, just barge through whatever came up on the trails, that was fun for a while, but now I'm kinda riding in-between the two styles, makes it a lot faster & more fun!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thats kind of what I do now, but I think last night made me realise that I should spend a bit more time picking the correct line rather than just hammering through stuff, especially on berms.

Dave

My Rocky Mountain
Merlin Malt
Me
Rocky Road
My old Giant XTC - Gone forever

Hardtail adventure

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