Thanks. It's good to know the trip there won't cost me the price of a new fork (among other things).LititzDude said:You could be ok. I was there and got smoked by a guy on a SS rigid frame, but he was like....flowing water...if you know what I'm saying. Think baby heads.
Unless you consistently pick the worst lines possible you'll be fine. It is rocky but can easily be done on a hardtail. The easiest route there (IMO) is the Turtle trail which circles around the fire tower. If you're unsure try that trail first then branch out to other trails in the park. Mill Creek is much fun but very rocky, especially the climb out.precar said:Virtually every trail review says that French Creek is rocks, rocks, and then some more rocks.
I'm just wondering the riding there can be handled on a XC fork (Manitou Skareb Super) on an aluminum hardtail. I don't want to go there and have to walk 'cause the rocks messed up my fork.
[I'm not really worried about other parts on my bike 'cause I'm a fairly light rider (150 lbs.), but it's the fork that'll be taking the brunt of the abuse from all those rocks.]
Yeah, what the other guys said. You'll be fine. Your a$$ will probably suffer more than your fork. I've ridden there on lots of different bikes, including a rigid Stumpjumper M2, a Klein Mantra, and a handful of different steel hardtails with forks ranging from a Judy SL w/ Englund air cartridges to a Z1. Never broke a fork (or any other parts, for that matter). Got a lot of pinch-flats early on (when using "XC" tires in the 1.95 - 2.1" range), but no major mechanicals.precar said:Virtually every trail review says that French Creek is rocks, rocks, and then some more rocks.
I'm just wondering the riding there can be handled on a XC fork (Manitou Skareb Super) on an aluminum hardtail. I don't want to go there and have to walk 'cause the rocks messed up my fork.
[I'm not really worried about other parts on my bike 'cause I'm a fairly light rider (150 lbs.), but it's the fork that'll be taking the brunt of the abuse from all those rocks.]
I can definitely understand what your talking about here. I never rode that area, but when my nephew and I ride, its like night and day. I weigh 204 now, and when I ride down something, you can't hear me that well I am told. My nephew, a football player, weighs 250lbs and I can hear him coming a mile away. It scares me sometimes because he sounds like a dumptruck crashing through the woods. I finess the trail and he rolls over anything in his path. I am always truing wheels on that bike. One day I thought he went down, he made so much noise. I was waiting at the bottom and rocks were rolling down the hill. Funny! Sorry, did mean to hijack the thread.Stick said:It's more about your technique than it is about the bike you're on. If you're a finesse guy, you'll have no trouble at all. If you're a "plow right through in a straight line" type, then the place will probably beat you and your bike up a bit more.
IF you are a tall clyde and ride a IF SS, you may have been that guy I was talking about. If so-WOW.firewolf65 said:I'm a clyde and I did the trails on a rigid SS without any mechanical failure. I have 2.4's on the rims and was fine. I did have to use the other gear on occasion to make some of the climbs (PUSH).
French Creek isn't going to break your fork if you are reasonably smooth. There is a definite groove in the trail where there are not really any rocks, at least until you get into the Mill Creek area. It gets ridden so much that the trails are getting pretty buffed. I've been riding there since 1994, rigid until 1999, and only got an FS this year. Trust me, it was a LOT rockier a decade ago, and I never broke anything then either.precar said:Virtually every trail review says that French Creek is rocks, rocks, and then some more rocks.
I'm just wondering the riding there can be handled on a XC fork (Manitou Skareb Super) on an aluminum hardtail. I don't want to go there and have to walk 'cause the rocks messed up my fork.
[I'm not really worried about other parts on my bike 'cause I'm a fairly light rider (150 lbs.), but it's the fork that'll be taking the brunt of the abuse from all those rocks.]
With all due respect for your experience and skills, you sound like a crumudgeon longing for the days of driving a surrey over cobblestone roads with a buggy whip in hand. There's something to be said for old school, but no need to ram it down the throats of those who choose suspension, regardless of their reason.The guy had a simple question, which others seemed to answer in the spirit in which it was asked.bulC said:Before I moved west, I used to ride at French Creek, as well as the rockiest trails around Jim Thorpe, on a full rigid steel hardtail with 2.2 tires. Not a problem if you have the skills. Suspension is a crutch for people who never bothered to learn how to ride a rigid bike. Worrying about wrecking a suspension fork by riding it over rocks, that is the lamest thing I have read here in a long long time.
Call_me_Clyde said:With all due respect for your experience and skills, you sound like a crumudgeon
I am. When I was in school, curmudgeon only had one R. Damn schools nowadays, damn punk kids don't know nothin. Mountain biking was better in the 80s. Everything sucks now. Steel is real. I miss lugs. Damn cell phones. Bridgestone rocked.Nobody needs 9 cogs. SunTour kicked ass. Shitmano sucks. Rollercams were the best brakes ever. Real Men ride Rigid. Damned trails are too crowded now. Rudeboys and Girlymen on wimpy suspension. Back in the day we didn't need no stinkin suspension. Buncha wimps. etc etc
I'm with you old man. I learned to ride on a rigid steel bike, and wouldn't have half my technical abilities had I not. You certainly don't need suspension to ride French Creek, and worrying that your XC fork isn't up to the task is ridiculous. Ride with common sense and skill, and you can ride any trail on any bike.bulC said:Before I moved west, I used to ride at French Creek, as well as the rockiest trails around Jim Thorpe, on a full rigid steel hardtail with 2.2 tires. Not a problem if you have the skills. Suspension is a crutch for people who never bothered to learn how to ride a rigid bike. Worrying about wrecking a suspension fork by riding it over rocks, that is the lamest thing I have read here in a long long time.
I rode a rigid cromoly for the first two years, can I join the holier than thou club?punk said:I'm with you old man. I learned to ride on a rigid steel bike, and wouldn't have half my technical abilities had I not. You certainly don't need suspension to ride French Creek, and worrying that your XC fork isn't up to the task is ridiculous. Ride with common sense and skill, and you can ride any trail on any bike.
Sorry, your name's not on the list.Call_me_Clyde said:I rode a rigid cromoly for the first two years, can I join the holier than thou club?
I agree w/ you 100%. I was just a tad bit more diplomatic about saying so. Not that suspension isn't nice on an 8 hour ride, but worrying about breaking a fork? Tomorrow when I ride there I might leave the Titus at home and get down on my fully rigid Fat Chance, just for spite.bulC said:Before I moved west, I used to ride at French Creek, as well as the rockiest trails around Jim Thorpe, on a full rigid steel hardtail with 2.2 tires. Not a problem if you have the skills. Suspension is a crutch for people who never bothered to learn how to ride a rigid bike. Worrying about wrecking a suspension fork by riding it over rocks, that is the lamest thing I have read here in a long long time.
