[BrokenFoot]

The specialized rockhopper comp, I got it I went to the sellers house after work checked it over nothing broke, and then the test ride. Amazing I knew instantly I got on it, that it was gonna be good to me. So smooth so quiet, so fast gliding along like nothing. Size felt good! Very excited, can't wait to ride Saturday on some trails. I'll post pics of it after I shower. Probably gonna take it to the LBS by my work and have them look it over tune it uo. Thanks for all the help, insight, encouragement.

 

[Highwaystreets]

good work!! now take that old bike back to the store and get your money back! But congrats, thats awesome. i have an 05 rockhopper comp disc and it was a really good bike for me, you will enjoy

 

[ProjectDan35]

Definitely post some pics!

 

[Grip]

Congrats. I have a feeling you will be making a thread about your awesome ride this weekend with your buddies.

Dont forget to return your old bike before its to late. No point in throwing away money.

 

[hdparrish]

Congrats on the purchase. Ride safe and ride often!

 

[ProjectDan35]

Long shower...........................

 

[BrokenFoot]

HA sorry! had someone come over. But here they are!! dark outside when I got home and took these with my phone, sooo...OH! I think it is maybe an 04? Not sure though, reason I think its 04 is the front shock is 80mm not 100mm.

 

[bigbeck]

Nice bike! You're probably going to want to change those pedals to either platforms or clipless. Ride them,and you'll see what I mean.

 

[zebrahum]

Nice, you'll like that much better! And I'm with bigbeck, get some different pedals. There is a rash of inexpensive, grippy plastic bmx pedals out right now. They won't last you forever, but they're much easier to afford after spending a pile on a new bike. Should get a summer out of them.

 

[BrokenFoot]

He gave me the original pedals, they are a cage type, so I'm not to sure about them. ill go by the lbs today see what they have got. been reading over the maintenance sticky and other cleaning maintenance guide, I've been a mechanic for 6 years, so I kinda like doing work or maintenance myself. I have the tools necessary besides the special tools. do you guys inflate tires to what it says on them, or is their a few different opinions on psi. TIA

 

[jeffj]

OH! I think it is maybe an 04? Not sure though, reason I think its 04 is the front shock is 80mm not 100mm.

According to the Specialized website, in 2004 they put 100mm forks on 17" -23" Rockhopper Comps, but in 2003 they were just listed as 80mm across the board. They may have gone to putting the longer travel forks on larger frames before the end of 2003 and not changed the website's specs. Most have disclaimers that specs may change without notice.

I think I'd rather have the 03 just to have the Shimano hubs rather than the Joytech hubs. The specs are actually pretty close and not much to quibble about.

It is interesting that the 04 spec lists black Mavic 117 disc rims and the 03 spec lists Mavic 117 rims with machined sidewalls. The pics look like they both have the same rims with machined sidewalls. The 117 disc rim is black all over with no brake track:

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/rims/mountain-bike/rims/XM-117-Disc

*S* like that (specs not being what is listed) happens all the time. When I bought my daughter's 2003 Jekyll 500, her bike had Mavic 225 rims and other 2003 Jekyll 500 bikes (same bike, same color and all) in the shop had Mavic X139 rims. Weird, but it happens.

Looks like it is the same frame with different colors though so in that sense it really doesn't matter. Chack out both pics below and you can see that the bottom bracket drop on the 04 with the 100mm fork appears to be less than the 03 with the 80mm fork shown (and the headtube angle appears steeper on the 03) which is why I suspect they really are the same frames with different paint.

Below are pics from the Specialized website archives. The black bike is the 04 Rockhopper Comp and the white one is the 03 Rockhopper Comp.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?arc=2003&spid=20993

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?arc=2004&spid=21215

 

[BrokenFoot]

Yeah definitely the 03 thanks I didn't see that one for some reason, even still its the best bicycle I've ever owned. And I love it! Woo, Saturday should be fun!

 

[jeffj]

The 03 and 04 are so close, it really shouldn't make any difference. Ride and enjoy!

He gave me the original pedals, they are a cage type, so I'm not to sure about them. ill go by the lbs today see what they have got. been reading over the maintenance sticky and other cleaning maintenance guide, I've been a mechanic for 6 years, so I kinda like doing work or maintenance myself. I have the tools necessary besides the special tools. do you guys inflate tires to what it says on them, or is their a few different opinions on psi. TIA

I inflate tires to what works best for me. For trail riding, that is about as low as I can go without pinch flatting or having the tire 'squirm' under my weight. I'm a big guy (260lbs), so if I am riding 26" wheels with 2.1" tires, I have to be up around 50psi on narrower XC rims (Mavic XC 717 disc) to avoid pinch flats, but on wider (Mavic EN 321) 26" rims, I can run down around 35-38psi. On my 29er with Stans Flow rims (running tubeless), I run around 25-27psi (depending on the tire, usually 2.2" tires). The 29" x 2.2" Kenda Karma tires I ran for a while listed the recommended pressures being 35-80psi and I loved them at 25psi on the Stans Flow rims under my 260lbs of hulking girth. . . . . go figure.

 

[AndrwSwitch]

If the original pedals are an all-metal cage type, they're surprisingly good without toe clips. Not as good as a purpose-built platform pedal, in general, but not nearly as bad as the plastic test ride pedals that a lot of bikes come with. Consider shin guards.

My tires are usually inflated a lot lower than the spec. on the sidewall. jeffj's description pretty much covers how a good pressure rides.

 

[bigbeck]

One of my riding buddies is your weight and he runs 35 rear and 30 front using 2.2 high volume tires. I'm 185 pounds and I would run 30 rear and 25 front on the same tires.

Narrow lower volume tires need higher pressures. Just look at the pressures that road bikes need.

 

[BrokenFoot]

Got some new pedals from LBS, I like them, look good and feel good. Rode around the neighborhood, it rides so nice, so smooth its awesome. I do think maybe a new saddle may be in order I need to read up on it. I noticed I tire out my feet and legs real fast because I dont let my weight rest on the seat i always hold myself up a bit because the seat causes some discomfort..

 

[hdparrish]

At first, you'll feel like you're being split in half from the crotch up. It's just saddle sore. Ya gotta tough it out, BrokenFoot.

It might also be a good idea to buy a pair of riding shorts with a built-in chamois, if you don't already have one.

My bike riding goes on hiatus whenever winter comes to Idaho. When I start up again, usually in the early spring, my tender parts are very tender ... for a few days.

Trail riding isn't so bad because you get up and out of your saddle much more often than road riding. If you think you hurt now, go for a century road ride and get back to me.

 

[AndrwSwitch]

If I had to tough it out when I did my Century, there's no way I'd have finished it. My shoulder was bad enough.

It's true that there's always some discomfort associated with starting riding, or resuming after a break. You should really only feel pressure on your sit bones - those bony bumps that most of your weight is on if you sit on a wooden stool. If you can't find a way to set up your saddle that does that, maybe by changing the angle or moving it forward or back, you're probably better off just trying a different saddle.

If you can't get it sorted out in a few days, or maybe a little longer if you bruise the part of your butt over your sit bones, see if your shop has a bin of saddles taken off new bikes. They often do, they're usually sold very cheaply, and the only thing wrong with them is they weren't fashionable enough for the person who bought the bike, or maybe that person has a favorite saddle they just put on everything. You might also look for a shop that participates in WTB's saddle demo program, or one with the ass measuring device from Specialized.

 

[BrokenFoot]

It definitely is not as bad as day one that's for sure. I will see how I feel after Saturdays ride. I'm gonna check REI and maybe the LBS for some padded shorts tomorrow, I dont want the I guess spandexy kind ha. I'm not sure if they make them with a padded arse in non spandexy form so I will research like I have everything else thus far! WOO Cant wait..

 

[Highwaystreets]

It definitely is not as bad as day one that's for sure. I will see how I feel after Saturdays ride. I'm gonna check REI and maybe the LBS for some padded shorts tomorrow, I dont want the I guess spandexy kind ha. I'm not sure if they make them with a padded arse in non spandexy form so I will research like I have everything else thus far! WOO Cant wait..

here is a good pair of good looking biking shorts with built in chamois, have 2 pairs and they are great.
http://shop.foxhead.com/store/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=27119&categoryId=cat70013

but there are lots of good brands out there selling chamois shorts that arn't spandex