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26er full suspension = shame??

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26er full suspension = shame??

Old 09-12-20, 07:23 AM
  #1  
thehammerdog
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26er full suspension = shame??

I just got back into the mtb world this week sold my old gary fisher a year ago after near death ride. Neighbors got new 29ers full suspension $3k bikes and I was jealous.
got good deal on 26er 1998 schwinn s-10.
thing is great lighter than old HT gary fisher. rides well but 26er....will I be a laughing stock. rode 1st time yesterday
loved it.
no falls...

sweet old bike...
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Old 09-12-20, 07:33 AM
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Definitely not; I've been riding my 2005 Santa Cruz Superlight since I built it up 15 years ago, probably 1500 rides and 25K miles, and it's going strong. Not the least embarrassed when encountering the new stuff. However, looks like your fork has elastomers; if so,you might want to replace.
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Old 09-12-20, 10:33 AM
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No, you are fine. The S10 use the "sweet spot" suspension system. Worked only when you were sitting and was firm when you were standing.

Last edited by vespasianus; 09-12-20 at 11:41 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 09-12-20, 10:58 AM
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26 inch tires? Rim brakes? Inner tubes? Front derailleur?

No way can you use that bike on trails.
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Old 09-12-20, 11:00 AM
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What is suspension?
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Old 09-12-20, 04:53 PM
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People will laugh at the stem, bars and bar ends before the 26” wheels and vintage suspension design.

But seriously.... wow, that looks practically new in that pic. Not much of a bike by todays standards (actually, the suspension design was considered bad even by the year 2000) but I would be psyched to see one out on the trails. I’d probably ask to take a closer look.

Got any more pics of it?

Last edited by Kapusta; 09-12-20 at 04:58 PM.
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Old 09-12-20, 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 2old
Definitely not; I've been riding my 2005 Santa Cruz Superlight since I built it up 15 years ago, probably 1500 rides and 25K miles, and it's going strong. Not the least embarrassed when encountering the new stuff. However, looks like your fork has elastomers; if so,you might want to replace.
SC Superlight is a timeless classic.
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Old 09-12-20, 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
I just got back into the mtb world this week sold my old gary fisher a year ago after near death ride. Neighbors got new 29ers full suspension $3k bikes and I was jealous.
got good deal on 26er 1998 schwinn s-10.
thing is great lighter than old HT gary fisher. rides well but 26er....will I be a laughing stock. rode 1st time yesterday
loved it.
no falls...

sweet old bike...
As a lifelong gripshift fan, I advise getting wider bars and cutting little or none off of your next pair of Ourys. It's so much easier to ride gripshifts if you have a full length stationary grip.
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Old 09-12-20, 05:35 PM
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This is what I ride on single-track trails. I get lots of smiles but never laughs. Not sure if they're smiling with me or at me, but they're smiles never the less. All comments are positive on the trails. It's all legs and a blast to ride off-road. No suspension; 2 inch knobbies. Lots of vertical frame flex and 40 lbs in tires makes up a lot for lack of suspension. Just ride and have fun!
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Old 09-12-20, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Irishred

This is what I ride on single-track trails. I get lots of smiles but never laughs. Not sure if they're smiling with me or at me, but they're smiles never the less. All comments are positive on the trails. It's all legs and a blast to ride off-road. No suspension; 2 inch knobbies. Lots of vertical frame flex and 40 lbs in tires makes up a lot for lack of suspension. Just ride and have fun!
With that long wheel base I would be over the side of a cliff trying to do switchbacks. But hey, I'd smile too if I saw you on the trail
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Old 09-12-20, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
I just got back into the mtb world this week sold my old gary fisher a year ago after near death ride. Neighbors got new 29ers full suspension $3k bikes and I was jealous.
got good deal on 26er 1998 schwinn s-10.
thing is great lighter than old HT gary fisher. rides well but 26er....will I be a laughing stock. rode 1st time yesterday
loved it.
no falls...

sweet old bike...
The dead give away is the stock looking tires. But other than that, I'd take a 26er over a 29er any day for serious trail riding.
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Old 09-12-20, 06:10 PM
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What is amazing is the Judy fork - whose cartridge might already be blown! Those were terribly designed and were not reliable in any way.
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Old 09-12-20, 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
As a lifelong gripshift fan, I advise getting wider bars and cutting little or none off of your next pair of Ourys. It's so much easier to ride gripshifts if you have a full length stationary grip.
Different strokes, I guess. Been using them for over 20 years and much prefer the shorter grips. Any wider and it is just extra bar and grip sticking out beyond my hands..

Last edited by Kapusta; 09-13-20 at 06:20 AM.
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Old 09-12-20, 10:35 PM
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Personally I'd take a modern 29" disc brake hardtail over that, older suspension designs just weren't that good and old suspension doesn't work as well as it used to unless you rebuild seals, replace old elastomers, etc. I also find new bikes really do roll over things and handle better then what I raced on from the same era and stop better too. That said, if its what I had and what I could afford I'd still ride the hell out of it. Anyone actually laughing at you is too full of them selves and too self centered to be worth worrying about. Just ride and enjoy.
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Old 09-13-20, 06:27 AM
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Originally Posted by vespasianus
What is amazing is the Judy fork - whose cartridge might already be blown! Those were terribly designed and were not reliable in any way.
I think they shipped pre-blown. It was a feature, nut a bug.
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Old 09-13-20, 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
People will laugh at the stem, bars and bar ends before the 26” wheels and vintage suspension design.

But seriously.... wow, that looks practically new in that pic. Not much of a bike by todays standards (actually, the suspension design was considered bad even by the year 2000) but I would be psyched to see one out on the trails. I’d probably ask to take a closer look.

Got any more pics of it?

sweet slippery saddle

nwnj
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Old 09-13-20, 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by vespasianus
What is amazing is the Judy fork - whose cartridge might already be blown! Those were terribly designed and were not reliable in any way.
the fork is uber smooth on trails..I figured it would sux but rolls well over stuff. not stiff...need to upgrade.
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Old 09-13-20, 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog

sweet slippery saddle
OMG, I want that saddle!!!

That is the longest stem and narrowest bars I have seen in 20 years. I can't believe I used to ride setups like that. Terrifying, in retrospect.
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Old 09-13-20, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
OMG, I want that saddle!!!

That is the longest stem and narrowest bars I have seen in 20 years. I can't believe I used to ride setups like that. Terrifying, in retrospect.
if is old school for sure but light fast very smooth when sitting and just pounding best bike I've owned....I would love to ride some new FS 29er with all bells d whistles.
but for $300 I love this bike.
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Old 09-13-20, 05:03 PM
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Shame? You have not shame. I ride a 26er hard tail. Disc rear and rim front brakes. Rim front only because I built the wheel with a Ringle hub. Cannot be old school because it is old. Travel? Who needs more than 60mm. ;-)

Now if I could get some test rides I’d add a FS trail bike to my quiver. Stupid COVID. Five years ago I did rent a Trek FS and road the desert some. Need a refresh. Done venting.
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Old 09-14-20, 09:53 AM
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If you get good on that 26er, you’ll be a better rider in the long run when you go to a newer bike.

John
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Old 09-14-20, 03:35 PM
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What the heck is with that single pivot placement? Pedal kickback? Nah, we'll just launch the rider.
That was clearly designed without any thought about suspension kinematics. I'm sure it very low pedal bob under load though.
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Old 09-14-20, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by gsa103
What the heck is with that single pivot placement? Pedal kickback? Nah, we'll just launch the rider.
That was clearly designed without any thought about suspension kinematics. I'm sure it very low pedal bob under load though.
the thing is like a range rover as it glides over stuff. actually works very well.
but what do i know I'm sure a new FS 29er is magic.
..
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Old 09-14-20, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog

sweet slippery saddle

nwnj
hey Garden State plates, which trail are those pics from?
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Old 09-14-20, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by qclabrat
hey Garden State plates, which trail are those pics from?
oh yes nwnj has great riding that was Malon Dickerson area hop on trail in sparta off at 15. goes up into j town by Weldon road.
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