rough start..

[Briman]

Today was about my 3rd time in the dirt at Del Cerro with a Cannondale Jekyll.. so far i really like the place and biking in general
Although alot of stupid stuff has happened to me from i think is from wrong equipment.. Ive been going off jumps and stuff with the Cannondale which pretty much doesnt fit me and streteches my arms out, i also gotta put the seat like a foot above the handlebars just to get some legroom. being a total beginner i didnt know all that was bad and stuff for going off jumps which explains why im always falling forward..today i did a frontflip off a jump while clipped in into a freakin tree landing headfirst with my bike on top of me..totally engulfed in branches n stuff.. -_- Cant really seem to stay on the trails with clip ins too.it seems i cant shift my weight to well at all. I love the Skijump so far ive been launching off that and eating dirt each time but i love the air so much i just dont care..but recently decided to not while clipped in anymore..it seems u go too fast off that to not run into the bushes.. besides that the other day i ran over a rattlesnake right after this turn cause i didnt see him in time and he kinda snapped but missed thank god..of course i eat crap 10ft l8er cause that just freaked me out Pretty much been going home bloody as hell everytime but its cool..i think i want a bike more for jumps and looking for a good place i can get a face mask type helmet, some shin and wrist guards etc..some biking gear thats looks cool..hopefully b4 my next run..kinda bummed how gear and bikes are so damned expensive = ( Well anyway if any1 wants to go riding sometime at Cerro im down, i need more experience and some word on the trails bein a beginner and all..
peace all

[roadkillross]

tight man im down to show u some super fun spots taht i jsut ofund out about

[UseItOrLooseIt]

NORTH SHORE AREA!! \m/

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Briman, your first problem is you have your aunt showing you how to ride at Del Cerro. Second, you have the wrong bike to be doing any sort of FR style type of riding. One of the guys on the Monday night Incycle ride is selling his Santa Cruz Heckler. I'm not sure what size it is but you might want to look into it for the type of riding you want to do.

[Sharky]

Originally Posted by MTBRacer

Briman, your first problem is you have your aunt showing you how to ride at Del Cerro.

I was just waiting for someone to point that out but TRUE.
So what pedals DO you guys prefer for that kind of fun ? (clipless, platforms) He definitely has the freeriding skills and desire. Bike suggestions ?? First part of the ride we hit that first play area off to the right of the first section of fireroad ,the ST leading out to the right with all the jumps then to ski jump . He'll be a mad hucker with the right equipment.

[tkblazer]

yoo brian, get some platforms and a bike more made to take the abuse you're giving it. sounds like an early xmas gift from auntie chris! i know performance bikes is alway blowing out bikes this time of year so it wouldn't hurt to look around.

[Briman]

yeah thats true..maybe i shouldn't do any more jumps and stuff on my cannondale..im probably messing it up..
i think i really want a dirt jump/drop in bike, Ross says hes gunna help me find and or build one..just ordered a sick full face hemet yesterday for 80 bucks thx to ross's help ..other than that i guess im on my way..

[Evel Knievel]

Originally Posted by Briman

yeah thats true..maybe i shouldn't do any more jumps and stuff on my cannondale..im probably messing it up..
i think i really want a dirt jump/drop in bike, Ross says hes gunna help me find and or build one..just ordered a sick full face hemet yesterday for 80 bucks thx to ross's help ..other than that i guess im on my way..

Hey if you put the seat all the way down while going downhill or jumping , you will be able to move your weight around better.

I would suggest a shorter stem too , but you are on a bike designed more towards the cross-country side. So here is what I would do if I were you. Leave the Jekyll at home when going big. Use it to ride miles , trails , epics , to the beach, to the mall , trail obstacles , small drops , roll down the big ones , keep the clip-on pedals, keep this bike with its lightweight build. Then get a DH or FR hardtail. Keeping it on the low side of cost, because you are going to beat this bike down, and will want to replace it every couple years. While the good light XC bike can last you 10 years .

[Briman]

yeah thats totally what i was thinking..about lowering the seat tho..its still above the handlebars fully down..it doesnt fit me too well anyway..but im def gunna keep the clip on's on and just use it for exercise XC

[SAR_boats]

You may have to cut the seat post to get the room on the bike to throw your weight around. As for a freeride bike a friend of mine is a freerider and has ridden a Kona hoss deluxe for about a year now and he loves it

[roadkillross]

yeah i would suggest a FR hardtail with about 150mm of front travel at most.. a jackal or other strong DJ/ FR hardtail