stepping up.

[shmoesmith]

Just had a few pictures to share. As some of you know I bought an AS-X earlier this year and really had no clue how to mountain bike. I started out with small curb sized ledges on it, and have been steadily progressing. Some of the maggots have seen my spectacular suckiness (remembering landing on my rear tire and ripping open my shorts trying to drop that 18ish inch ledge on the left side of the bottom of bobsled).

I think I finally have the hang of how to jump/drop off of something and land to flat(still don't have drop to tranny down yet). Anyway, I thought I would share some pictures of porcupine this last weekend, with me finally sacking up and hitting one of the drops that I have been staring at and too chicken shit to try the last 2 times I went by it.

Learning to kill that front wheel dive.


Learning to level it out in the air(no more sitting on tires for me!!!)


About as much of a tranny as I can land on at this point


Scoping the drop..time to sack up....


Sacking up..ok, I know it's not that big and alot of mags have hit it, but for someone who didn't know what they were doing only 6 weeks ago, I feel pretty good about it


Landed it *whew* time for try #2


And one last go at it because it was so much fun


I think I bottomed out my suspension every time since I don't have a whole lot of technique yet, but the landing is pretty flat too(which doesn't help). All and all, I'm stoked to have finally hit that line (the gap to tranny is just a whee bit too much right now for me) and am stoked to keep on raising the bar for myself. The next problem is that I can't afford to keep heading down to moab every weekend(even thogh friends are helping with gas)..where is a good place to learn this stuff around SLC?

[valleygirl]

WAY TO HIT IT, TOADY!!!

You've come a long way, baby.

Nice work!

[dk_alaskan]

nice mang, smart way to do it, progress slowly but steadily, the ONLY way to really learn w/o killing yourself. Keep it up

[Ski Monkey]

I think I bottomed out my suspension every time since I don't have a whole lot of technique yet, but the landing is pretty flat too(which doesn't help).

How many times in a ride are you bottoming out? Regardless of technique, you might want to consider putting some more air in your shocks.

Nice pics, glad your getting some porcupine love.

[shmoesmith]

How many times in a ride are you bottoming out? Regardless of technique, you might want to consider putting some more air in your shocks.

Nice pics, glad your getting some porcupine love.

Well, they are both coil shocks. I don't bottom out unless I go as big as the last pic. The front is a fox 36van, the rear is a dhx 5.0 with a 450lb coil and 200psi boost on the bottom out protection

[rightcoast]

nice man. those last pics gave me some inspiration to step it up myself this weekend.

[valleygirl]

omg... toads can RIDE!!!! GREAT VISUAL! (sorry, had to add on...)

[Aenigma]

That bike is $$$! I have the same suspension setup, except on a Heckler because I'm too lazy to pedal around an AS-X. You might want to turn in the bottom out a bit on the DHX and put the high speed compression up a couple clicks on the 36 to help with your bottoming. At least that's what I had to do when I rode Porcupine and it worked great, that trail is amazing!

[tromano]

Looks like your having fun. Nice work.

[marshalolson]

nice shmoe. gotta love the feeling of satisfaction when you hit something that is just beyond your percieved skill ceiling.

[Unruly Baker]

Well, they are both coil shocks. I don't bottom out unless I go as big as the last pic. The front is a fox 36van, the rear is a dhx 5.0 with a 450lb coil and 200psi boost on the bottom out protection

How much do you weigh?

If you're over 185 lbs with all your gear you are undersprung. If you are over 200 with all your gear you are very undersprung. To get the right spring weight, multiply your weight (fully geared up) by your frames leverage ratio.

For example.

If your bike has 6" of travel and has a 2.5" stroke shock, it has a 2.4 to 1 leverage ratio. If you weigh 200 lbs geared up you need a minimum of a 500 lb spring. Usually round up, not down, especially if your starting to do lots of drops to flat. Your fork is probably undersprung as well.

Good luck,
UB

[maniloff]

How much do you weigh?

If you're over 185 lbs with all your gear you are undersprung. If you are over 200 with all your gear you are very undersprung. To get the right spring weight, multiply your weight (fully geared up) by your frames leverage ratio.

For example.

If your bike has 6" of travel and has a 2.5" stroke shock, it has a 2.4 to 1 leverage ratio. If you weigh 200 lbs geared up you need a minimum of a 500 lb spring. Usually round up, not down, especially if your starting to do lots of drops to flat. Your fork is probably undersprung as well.

Good luck,
UB

Could you explain this? Is there an analagous rule of thumb for air shocks?

And schmoe - kudos. I've always been too chicken to hit that last one. Luckily I have the excuse that I ride an XC bike and don't want to break it.

[shmoesmith]

How much do you weigh?

If you're over 185 lbs with all your gear you are undersprung. If you are over 200 with all your gear you are very undersprung. To get the right spring weight, multiply your weight (fully geared up) by your frames leverage ratio.

For example.

If your bike has 6" of travel and has a 2.5" stroke shock, it has a 2.4 to 1 leverage ratio. If you weigh 200 lbs geared up you need a minimum of a 500 lb spring. Usually round up, not down, especially if your starting to do lots of drops to flat. Your fork is probably undersprung as well.

Good luck,
UB

I am right at about 185 w/out gear on. The front fork has almost to the mm the exact amount of sag recommended by fox..but I still bottom it out on bigger drops such as the one above. I worry about breaking the crown of the frame when the fork bottoms.

The rear actually has a little too much sag, however alot of folks said that because of the progressive leverage rate that the AS-X suspension provides, that you actually want a little bit softer spring. I was told that while a 500lb spring would handle drops better, based on my weight and the way the yeti suspension works, it probably wouldn't ride very well. I was told to just put max psi in the rear boost chamber of the dhx 5.0

[brettf]

work it doug.

i dunno. if you aren't bottoming out hard, I wouldn't sweat it... you are dropping 4' ish to flat there. of course, some prefer a little less squish on smaller bumps and a little more on the big stuff.

I wouldn't worry about breaking the frame on a hit like that. Not with an ASX. Now my Blur that I've been systematically abusing... I'm sure the head tube is NICE and ovalized at this point....

[CS]

The next problem is that I can't afford to keep heading down to moab every weekend(even thogh friends are helping with gas)..where is a good place to learn this stuff around SLC?

Good on ya for stepping up the game.

As for stuff around Salt Lake, go to I st, often. Start with the small stuff, get comfortable in the air, then hit lefty line. Rinse and repeat over and over. You'll figure it out soon enough.

[flowtron]

Could you explain this? Is there an analagous rule of thumb for air shocks?

And schmoe - kudos. I've always been too chicken to hit that last one. Luckily I have the excuse that I ride an XC bike and don't want to break it.

The cool thing about air shocks is that they are infinitely adjustable. It can depend on what kind of frame you are on, but generally you want 15-20% sag. So push the o-ring up to the air can, gently slide onto your seat, try not to bounce too much, but get your weight on the seat with feet on the pedals, then slid off. The o-ring should be around 1/5th of the way down the shaft.
Some frame designs will just tell you: 80% of your body weight or something like that, too.

[watersnowdirt]

Nice work. Now you'll see Porcupine in a whole different light .

[powder4breakfast]

Shmoe, I just called Yeti's service and asked them about spring size. They told me it was more of a simple calculated number derived from your weight, frame size etc than a preference. So, just call Yeti and they will tell you exactly what spring you should have. I was on the cuff of a 500 with lots of preload, or a 550 with little preload - I went with the 550. The bike really feels alive and fun now.

As for where to ride... Otter and two of his buddies showed me around I steet last night. I am totally new to this air stuff myself. So I just kept to the little kickers and eventually worked over to the drop off to small step up. It all scared the crap out of me... but, it felt good. Plus there were two other rippers there that were pretty good - they were very cool to me as a new guy.

[marshalolson]

to figure out your required spring here is a super short-hand way to do it:

travel/stroke = leverage ratio

leverage x your weight (rounded to the next 50lbs) = about your spring weight needed.

[shmoesmith]

Shmoe, I just called Yeti's service and asked them about spring size. They told me it was more of a simple calculated number derived from your weight, frame size etc than a preference. So, just call Yeti and they will tell you exactly what spring you should have. I was on the cuff of a 500 with lots of preload, or a 550 with little preload - I went with the 550. The bike really feels alive and fun now.

Just got off the phone with Yeti. They recommended a 500# spring. By my leverage ratio and weight with gear(per the formula above (7.1 travel X 2.84 leverage) X 185-197lb Weight) I should need between a 525# spring and a 559# spring(depending on how much is in my backpack). I prefer a plusher ride over a harsher once since I won't be only doing drops, so I think I will shoot for a 500lb spring and put some preload on it.

As for where to ride... Otter and two of his buddies showed me around I steet last night. I am totally new to this air stuff myself. So I just kept to the little kickers and eventually worked over to the drop off to small step up. It all scared the crap out of me... but, it felt good. Plus there were two other rippers there that were pretty good - they were very cool to me as a new guy.

I have never done the I street thing. I have never really like jumps that launch you up into the air(don't like them on my snowboard or skis either). I prefer the sensation of dropping off of things. What does I street have to offer? Want to show a newb like me around?

[rideit]

Have you changed your perception about porc, even just a wee bit?
It is all in how you look at it, young Jedi.

[CS]

I have never done the I street thing. I have never really like jumps that launch you up into the air(don't like them on my snowboard or skis either). I prefer the sensation of dropping off of things. What does I street have to offer? Want to show a newb like me around?

I st jumps are very, very user friendly. And you really should learn how to jump proper, not just fall off things and hope for the best. It will make you a smoother rider and there is no other way to really learn how to get comfortable in the air.

[shmoesmith]

Have you changed your perception about porc, even just a wee bit?
It is all in how you look at it, young Jedi.

I never said it was bad. I did say it was my #2 fav trail. It is now in a tie for #1. Knowing the trail helped so I know to get plenty of speed before hitting what ledges there are that are worth jumping.

[Unruly Baker]

Just got off the phone with Yeti. They recommended a 500# spring. By my leverage ratio and weight with gear(per the formula above (7.1 travel X 2.84 leverage) X 185-197lb Weight) I should need between a 525# spring and a 559# spring(depending on how much is in my backpack). I prefer a plusher ride over a harsher once since I won't be only doing drops, so I think I will shoot for a 500lb spring and put some preload on it.

Not sure about your equation up there. If your bike is 7.1" of travel with a 2.5" stroke shock then your 2.84 leverage ratio is correct. Your weight (with all your gear, worst case) x leverage ratio = starting spring weight. I would go with the 550 lb spring, maybe even 600 personally at the weights you showed above, you can always back off preload slightly when riding without a pack etc... Keep in mind most springs have a tolerance of up to 10-15%. So that means a 500 spring at the top of the tolerance will be stiffer than a 550 at the bottom. Also, sag is just a starting point and not much to go by, learn what you like in terms of feel, forget sag. A properly sprung bike will never feel harsh, it will feel right. An undersprung bike will wallow, and if you have to run 200 psi in your boost with many turns on the BO knob it's gonna hit the boost portion of travel quick and feel harsher most likely than a properly sprung bike with less boost and less turns of the BO knob. Also, Go-ride stocks nearly every spring imiaginable, plus they have these Manitou steel springs for $25 that are identical to the Fox springs for $35. Also, don't over preload your springs, you can get coil-bind and really mess things up. Rule of thumb is not to go more than 2-3 full turns of preload on a spring. Determining zero preload is a little tricky and completely debatable. As for my method, I just loosen the preload ring until the spring does not rattle or shift freeley, then add half a turn and call that zero preload.

I have never done the I street thing. I have never really like jumps that launch you up into the air(don't like them on my snowboard or skis either). I prefer the sensation of dropping off of things. What does I street have to offer? Want to show a newb like me around?

As for I street. I to am intimidated by many of the hits, but it sounds like some folks are up for building some beginner lines to help everyone learn.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=295581

UB

[Particle]

Not sure about your equation up there. If your bike is 7.1" of travel with a 2.5" strok shock then your 2.84 leverage ratio is correct. Your weight (with all your gear, worst case) x leverage ratio = starting spring weight. I would go with the 550 lb spring, maybe even 600 personally at the weights you showed above, you can always back off preload slightly when riding without a pack etc... Keep in mind most springs have a tolerance of up to 10-15%. So that means a 500 spring at the top of the tolerance will be stiffer than a 550 at the bottom. Also, sag is just a starting point and not much to go by, learn what you like in terms of feel, forget sag. A properly sprung bike will never feel harsh, it will feel right. An undersprung bike will wallow, and if you have to run 200 psi in your boost with many turns on the BO knob it's gonna hit the boost portion of travel quick and feel harsher most likely than a properly sprung bike with less boost and less turns of the BO knob. Also, Go-ride stocks nearly every spring imiaginable, plus they have these Manitou steel springs for $25 that are identical to the Fox springs for $35.



As for I street. I to am intimidated by many of the hits, but it sounds like some folks are up for building some beginner lines to help everyone learn.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=295581

UB

You know, as long as you use the word 'bake' in your screen name everyone here is going to assume you're a hard-core stoner.

Nice work Shmoe!