Is your saddle position, correct? I get pain below the kneecap if the saddle is too low or too far back.

I have to agree with what some have said about lugging that bike up hills. While I commend you for riding up rather than shuttling, (if you can't ride up, you shouldn't be able to ride down, IMO), you might look into borrowing or renting a lighter bike. Unlike some others on this board, I went full suspension 7-8 years ago. I found that riding a FS bike actually made climbing a bit easier, and I felt much more refreshed at the end of the ride.

None of my FS bikes have weighed more than 28 pounds, however. I'm guessing yours is in the 35-40lb range, which is a pig if you are trying to climb. A properly set up full suspension cross country or "enduro" type bike can be in the 25-30lb range, which is a huge difference that you can feel in the saddle.

Another thing, descending is more about technique than suspension. I still take my rigid Ritchey (almost, a RS MAG 21 barely qualifies as suspension) out to remind me how a bike is supposed to ride, and how I'm supposed to ride a bike.

Lastly, the more often you ride, the less it will hurt. At least until you get past 30. After that, it tends to hurt always, just in different places. ;)

Have fun,
Jim

Agree w/ your philosophy about riding up to allow yourself to ride down.

Descents, however, are about cajones, IMO. :D

Ive ridden my roommates SantaCruz SuperLight which is a great bike that he uses for racing and its much much lighter than my AC1, feels great on the trail. I bought the AC1 though because after 10 years of hardcore street and park BMX riding, I wasn't about to buy an expensive frame that would break underneath me. I just don't trust the SuperLight frame to hold together after some of the drops and jumps I tend to huck myself off of. Hell, I would gladly ride a SC Bullit if I had a spare $3K sitting around the house.

I do like the climbs for the exercise, but I really only ride so I can get to the descents. I used to ride dirtbikes in highschool so Im looking for that flowing, cushy feeling when Im on the trail. If I could get that without being wrecked for the rest of the weekend I think my life could be complete. Its just a matter of finding the right combination of pre and post-ride diet and exercise to make it all possible.

Two-wheel drifting a bike on a descent is best. I love doing that with my road bike.

I like hitting smooth rollers and low jumps at 40mph on a nice single track, kamakazi style, stuff that lets you fly for for 15 or 20 feet with cush and the landing. Theres just not enough of that kind of terrain to be ridden for me, and the stuff that I know of requires a stupid amount of effort to get to the top to ride. Hence this thread ;)

I was never particularly fast downhill...just not my thing. I liked to suffer going uphill and pass people that way. Nothing more demoralizing than being passed on the uphill, getting around the switchback and not seeing the guy that passed you because he's already around the next bend.

I went for smooth and low impact coming back down, and finding the "empty mind." No way you could do 40mph on any of the single track we used to run. Too twisty and technical. You do that Angeles front range and you'll be on the evening news being helicoptered out of a ravine...likely in a bag.

Gotcha ;)

For some reason, I thought from your original post that you were new to this whole bike thing. Keep riding what you've got, and you'll start to feel better. Also, as an ex dirt bike guy, I'm amazed that suspension technology on mountain bikes has taken so long to catch up.

Once again,
have fun.

Jim

I drink straight GatorAde, and on a long ride at Cytomax too to help with recovery. Hydration, calories, and effort are all that should play into recovery. You may need to reduce your effort and increase the hydration and calories.

pasta, pasta, pasta the days before,

water, water, water the days before,

don't change your drink all in one go, do it slowly,

do a short ride the day before and the day after,

eat during the ride, banana's are great they come wrapped in natures wrapper,

stretch

PS: we should hook up for a ride some time, I am just getting
back into mountain biking, so I am only good for an hour or so,
but I am interested and just bought a new bike to, it is a 96er, it
has a 29 inch front wheel to smooth out the bumps and a 26
rear, the latest in cutting edge experiments. You should also
check out this site. http://forums.mtbr.com/




http://www.inular.com/familyPictures...B/IMG_0246.JPG

You need to stretch more(before and AFTER), be better hydrated, get more electrolytes.

You also need to be concerned about seat height, and position fore and aft. You should spin about 100-110 rpm with the pedals, you will hurt a lot less after if you use your gearing. There is a good reason for the super low granny gear on an off road bicycle.

Shuttle, what is that? I remember when the suspension stuff came out. I would almost invariably run the guys with the suspensions into the ground, going up or going down. Never liked the suspended bikes much, don't feel right to me, probably better now, but not for me. I want a bike that is as light and as stiff as possible, keeps you from breaking bottom brackets.

I'm with Todd. I found downhill too risky with bunches of guys doing stupid things - especially on road bikes. I preferred the pain and suffering of uphill riding.

Key to cycling is to maintain a good pedal cadence. Make sure your saddle is properly adjusted and focus on spinning circles. I rode with a 100 rpm cadence and when I went up in gears would leave folks in the dust. Keep that same cadence up hills. Riding too big a gear can damage your knees. Your muscles will grow much faster than the supporting ligaments so protect them. Cycling fitness is much different than baseball, football, swiming, etc... You may feel in good shape but if you have not ridden much before take it easy.

Hydration - lots of water and bring packets of cytomax to mix while on the trail. They used to make this killer apple flavored mix that was noticeably better than the other products (exceed, gatoraide). Easy on the trail food - boxed raisens, banana, pop tart.

When I re-entered the biking thing I went with a lightweight aluminum frame hard-tail mtn bike. I do like the front suspension fork and frankly it's damn light. Disk brakes are pretty sweet too.

F/S downhill bikes make crappy cross country rides.

A woman I am seeing just finished the Seattle To Portland (STP) bike ride, which is roughly about 200 miles. She is fifty years old, and was barely tired at the finish line.

Something tells me I'd better protect my health, otherwise she's likely to tear me up.

Scariest terrain I've ever ridden on was Castro Street back in '86. :eek:

2nd scariest: flatting between Atherton and the coast, in the dark, with cars slowing and effeminate voices asking through the open windows, "Hey! Need a ride? I'm going to San Francisco!"

LOL!

I think all that can be said has been said... So...

Where are you riding?

When I lived in Burlingame I was part of a little crew of guys that would ride the trails along Skyline, from the 92 to Woodside road. Those trails have to be some of the best mountain biking trails in the U.S. Single track for days. Pack a bowl, a 100oz camelbak, a couple cliff bars and I'll see you back at the car in 5 hours. =)

Are you going to leave the top tube of your fork sticking out? :confused:

no, the deal I have is to ride the bike a few times and if I like it keep it, otherwise I can trade it in. Because of that offer the shop did not want to cut the fork until they know the stem height of the final owner.

I am keeping the bike, so I will take it in and have the fork cut to the right lenght.

Good catch though....not many even notice that.

Jim

Your choice to ride up the hills is a GOOD one! You may have some fitting/positioning issues. Suggest you go to the shop where you bought the bike (or any good shop) and have the bike fitted for you. It will make a significant difference.

I do 24 hour MTB races solo. I'm well way way over 40 and heading toward 50 at a remarkable pace. Learned a few things on the 24 hour races.

Drink. Eat. Drink. Repeat.

I use an electrolyte replacement drink that has long chain triglycerides in it. I mix it with twice as much water as recommended to dilute it. I pack food with me on long rides. You will need an energy source food that can be bars, fruit, etc. Pick one you like that survives the trip. Salted peanuts are one I use pretty regularly.

When you finish a ride, spend at least 15 minutes riding slowly in a light gear spinning your legs along. This pumps the lactic acid through your system and aids recovery. Lactic acid makes your legs feel dead heavy and painful. Make it go away.

Within 45 minutes of finishing your epic adventure, remember to eat including something with a fair amount of protein. Trail mix with peanuts, etc. And consider a recovery drink. Your body is craving things: 1. Fluid with electrolytes 2. Energy 3. Protein to repair itself.

Lastly, if you find yourself exhausted even with that then take your one long (10-12 hour ride or whatever it is) and divide it two. Do it over two days. More fun days on the bike and less pain.

angela (Giant NRS, Specialized Stumpjumper, Specialized Allez Epic Pro, Cannondale Cyclocross Disc)

And I thought you just wanted an instant sex change.