10 Mountain Bike Setup Mistakes
GMBN loves top ten lists – and this one is pretty good. The brakes one is key – but the others offer some good (if somewhat incomplete) tips as well.
Anything you take issue with?
GMBN loves top ten lists – and this one is pretty good. The brakes one is key – but the others offer some good (if somewhat incomplete) tips as well.
Anything you take issue with?
Comments
litespeed74
7 years, 11 months ago
Curious what bad habits are picked up by riding clipped in.
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Cam McRae
7 years, 11 months ago
Clipping in allows you to manipulate the rear wheel by lifting from your cleats and it's also hard to learn a bunny hop (j hop) wearing cleats. It's why most XC riders do a level lift to get over an obstacle instead. You also don't need to be as smooth through rough stuff when clipped in so you can hack through stuff. Some time on flat pedals will certainly make you a better rider imho.
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litespeed74
7 years, 11 months ago
interesting… now that you mention it the bunny hop makes sense. It comes 2nd nature so you don't really think about 'how' you bunny hopped. I started out on flats (waaaaay back) I think I like both to be honest. Depends on the riding I guess.
Reply
Derp
7 years, 11 months ago
If you are conscious of those bad habits, you tend not to do them. Mount your cleats under the ball of your foot (or slightly behind) ride heels down when descending, and don't use your feet for bunny hops. Basically ride them the same way you ride flats and you'll be fine. If you notice, people who ride clipped in like this (downhillers) can go back and forth between flats and clipless without much hesitation.
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Andy Eunson
7 years, 11 months ago
Just the comment about longer stems for climbing. I think it is myth that a rider wants to put weight over the front tire to keep front down when actually you want weight ahead of the rear wheel. Semantics I guess but if a rider needs a longer stem to climb, it means the frame is too short. Or seat tube angle too slack. I noticed the new Norco bike has longer chain stays on the larger bikes which makes a ton of sense to me.
All in all good set up tips.
Reply
Derp
7 years, 11 months ago
That climbing position can be achieved by lowering your upper body. Short stems rule.
Reply
Jb
7 years, 11 months ago
Changing stem length (or height) makes a noticeable difference on the tendency of the front wheel to wander on climbs. Not as much as a longer fork, but it's definitely noticeable. After playing with stem length on my Mach 5.7c, I found the stock 100mm way long, a 55mm too short, and 70mm just about right. Always surprising just how much difference that stem length makes.
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