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Is this a good starter bike?

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#42 ·
mtbdennis said:
Ok, I consider myself educated. I guess I just can't imagine being happy with a bike where I could not stop on the trail to take a break and not be able to stand up without the top tube jamming in my crotch. Sure is nice to be able to stop to take a break without having to get completely off my bike to be comfortable. This is what I mean by a good starting point. If I could not do that then I would not consider that bike a good fit for me, regardless of how it felt when I was actually riding it.
Click to expand...
Have you ever really done this? Most people don't. They lean the bike to one side and keep one foot on the pedal. Or they sit on the saddle and grab a tree. Or they get off completely, lean the bike over and plant their butt on the top tube.

As others have pointed out, both feet flat isn't a good gauge for bike fit. And it's also not a safety issue. People don't wreck perfectly upright and balanced so that both feet land at the same time.

If you feel more comfortable with an inch or two clearance, that's another thing and I understand wanting that. As mountain bike geometries have evolved, so has conventional wisdom on fit.

Cheers,

Ken

Sent from my rotary phone and compiled with a telegraph machine.
 
#43 ·
mtbdennis said:
Ok, I consider myself educated. I guess I just can't imagine being happy with a bike where I could not stop on the trail to take a break and not be able to stand up without the top tube jamming in my crotch. Sure is nice to be able to stop to take a break without having to get completely off my bike to be comfortable. This is what I mean by a good starting point. If I could not do that then I would not consider that bike a good fit for me, regardless of how it felt when I was actually riding it.
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That is always the best case. A break often means getting off the trail out of traffic and doing your stopping on uneven ground where you get off the bike no matter the clearance. Hiking is done off also, and often the dismount is on a steep and uneven spot.
Clearance is the best case but some riders have dimensions that just don't fit this.
When you get on and get off your bike your clearance is actually with one foot on a pedal. 3 inches of clearance is likely even if you have zero with both feet flat on the ground. So if you're a difficult rider to fit, put standover down the list where it belongs and get the proper and comfortable fit based on how you ride.
 
#44 ·
:eekster:
Ken in KC said:
Have you ever really done this? Most people don't. They lean the bike to one side and keep one foot on the pedal. Or they sit on the saddle and grab a tree. Or they get off completely, lean the bike over and plant their butt on the top tube.

As others have pointed out, both feet flat isn't a good gauge for bike fit. And it's also not a safety issue. People don't wreck perfectly upright and balanced so that both feet land at the same time.

If you feel more comfortable with an inch or two clearance, that's another thing and I understand wanting that. As mountain bike geometries have evolved, so has conventional wisdom on fit.

Cheers,

Ken
Click to expand...
Yikes, this really seems to be a peev of yours! Yes actually I probably do it about 4-5 times on each of my rides. I live in AZ and the only trees to lean up against would look like this:

Not a lot of trees to lean up against on our trails out here:

Most of my breaks for a quick gel or water break look pretty much like this, so yes I really do put my feet down and stay on the bike:

Safety issue? Humm falling off that cliff because I can't get a foot down in time seems like it is.

Maybe if you are riding a canal path or something really flat and smooth, then no big deal, but mountain biking out here in the Wild Wild West can be a bit technical...
 
#45 ·
I gotta say, I've almost never done the straddling top tube/two feet down stop and I don't think I'd miss it if I couldn't. I most typically just put one foot down. I have enough bend in my knee at the bottom of my pedal stroke that I can reach the ground with my toe, at least.

I don't stop for water or a gel or bar. I figure I'm inflicting gels on myself so I don't have to!

My last ride had an elapsed time of 1:59:51 and a moving time of 1:54:57. In other words, I spent less than 5% of the ride not engaged in the act of riding, and that's actually high for me - I was riding a trail that's new to me, and I stopped to look at some of the map kiosks, try to find an open Ranger station to buy a map, etc. So if it gets me a better experience during the 95%+ of the ride I spend riding to give up the ability to stand over my top tube, I'll live with having to get all the way off my bike during a break.

I realize some of this is about attitude too, though.
 
#46 ·
AndrwSwitch said:
My last ride had an elapsed time of 1:59:51 and a moving time of 1:54:57. In other words, I spent less than 5% of the ride not engaged in the act of riding
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Well remember this is a beginners forumn, where beginners are looking for advice. I would guess that most beginners take much more breaks than you do! And kudos to you for being in such great shape! I have worked long and hard over the past two years to get to where I am at fitness wise and still take a couple of stops on most week day rides (7-10 miles) and at least a dozen on my weekend rides (20-30 miles). Although, I must admit it is nice to stop and "smell the flowers" every once in awhile. We get so caught up in our Strava numbers and being the fastest rider, bla, bla, bla and often forget to just stop and look around and realize what an amazing planet we are on and how amazing our surroundings we have. Most people do not get to experience what we do out on the trails and we should take a little more time to enjoy it.

AndrwSwitch said:
I realize some of this is about attitude too, though.
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I would agree with that 100% :drumroll:

Anyway, I am done with this... The OP got a sweet ride that fits him well, that's all that is really important here. Enjoy your big ride and your big stats :thumbsup: I will enjoy my undersized ride and my frequent breaks to "smell the flowers" :cool:
 
#47 ·
mtbdennis said:
:eekster:

Yikes, this really seems to be a peev of yours! Yes actually I probably do it about 4-5 times on each of my rides. I live in AZ and the only trees to lean up against would look like this:

View attachment 773512

Not a lot of trees to lean up against on our trails out here:

View attachment 773518

Most of my breaks for a quick gel or water break look pretty much like this, so yes I really do put my feet down and stay on the bike:

View attachment 773520

Safety issue? Humm falling off that cliff because I can't get a foot down in time seems like it is.

View attachment 773519

Maybe if you are riding a canal path or something really flat and smooth, then no big deal, but mountain biking out here in the Wild Wild West can be a bit technical...
Click to expand...
A peev of mine is incorrect advice in the beginners forum. Stand over height isn't used in sizing a bike.

Again, if its a personal preference, that's your choice.

The wild Wild West, huh? The only riding I've done in az is at the 24 hours of old pueblo in Tucson, south mountain in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Sedona. They are fun trails but certainly not the technical feat traps you've made them out to be.

Sent from my rotary phone and compiled with a telegraph machine.
 
#48 ·
mtbdennis said:
Well remember this is a beginners forumn, where beginners are looking for advice. I would guess that most beginners take much more breaks than you do! And kudos to you for being in such great shape! I have worked long and hard over the past two years to get to where I am at fitness wise and still take a couple of stops on most week day rides (7-10 miles) and at least a dozen on my weekend rides (20-30 miles).
Click to expand...
Sounds like you already have the fitness to do the same thing I did on Sunday. You just have to remember that nobody is holding a gun to your head and making you ride fast. I figure I'm already sitting on my butt. In doing a longer ride, I pace myself. On a long ride with friends, we can usually adjust our paces to mesh well.

The idea of different equipment choices for beginners, especially to facilitate something other than riding, is one of my pet peeves. A bicycle is a durable good. I've been riding the same mountain bike since I decided to get back into it in 2007. I have a road bike I've been riding on and off since 2000. That would be a long time to live with something with geometry I don't like.
 
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