VooDoo Child

[ECOdork]

Gonz--I don't mean to take anything away from your fine new rig...After much indecision, I ended up getting a VooDoo Dambala. This rig is outstanding! It certainly added the spice to these trails, as was my goal.

I had wanted to post some action or "frame-kissing" pics complete with STR jersey, but my usual riding buddy could make it out today, so I was solo.

Now I won't bullsh!t you and say it's as "plush" as ye olde rocky mountain with 27 gears and full suspension. I don't think that adjective would describe any rigid bike. But I can say, that this puppy is incredibly smooooooooooooooooooooooth and supple. Much more so that I would have imagined. Steel is, most definitely, real!

I found it amusing that my first instinct when I hopped on was to upshift once I got rolling! Nothing was there so I made clicking sounds instead.

I broke her in out at Lake Crabtree this morning. Nothing crazy, but HEAVY on the roots. Tight and twisty singletrack. A bit dry and loose (for East Coast-stylee) as we're in a drought. The pics don't portray any of those features, but they do capture our mixed pine and hardwood forests.

Despite the propaganda put out by other 29er frame makers, I did not feel taller or top heavy as I was worried I might. Nor did I experience sluggish turning. The frame fits nicely, is well-balanced, and feels great. That being said, the turning certainly wasn't twitchy. I did botch a few turns, but given the trail conditions I'd do that riding any new bike or new rubber on the full susser too. I have to learn to trust her on the turns. And when it's tight, slow, and technical you gotta be deliberate and use your body weight.

All Dean's raving was spot on. I dig the Mary bars, especially when out of the saddle. I think they take the thumb/wrist-sting out of running rigid. Out of the saddle efforts feel good too, which is a big change from the full susser.

She's not a weight weenie's bike by any means. Feels about the same weight as the rocky mountain (whatever that is). The big wheels are not difficult to get rolling and once they are rolling it just feels flowy.

The 32/18 gear ratio (with 175 mm cranks) felt real good. Need to work on picking better lines, I'm used the the rocky mountain soaking up anything I throw at it.

My only concern is that my lower back was a little sore at times. BUT, it was sore during/after an XC ride on Friday. Dean, Jose, any ideas??? This bike is much more of a full body workout and I think learning to let the mojo flow will help this.

Anywho, I'm pretty excited about it and will throw up some actions shots (with STR kit) if and when possible.

Lance

[dhmike]

nice !

[CalEpic]

Looks nice Lance.

C

[TURNERob]

Sweet bike Lance! Have you weighed it yet? Have fun with it and I hope your back holds up

[Sprockethead]

Hey Lance,

Nice Bike! Ann has been drooling over one of those for awhile. I think that'll be her SS 29er when she finally pulls the trigger.

[J_Sims]

Schweet

[tkblazer]

looks sweet and congrats! the lower back pain is just our body getting used to SS'ing... for me its usually an entire body pain

[guero]

great write up and pix lance! glad to hear you are enjoying the rig. we miss ya man.

[ECOdork]

Thanks guys! Yeah, it's been good so far. I rolled it out today after work (ok, so I escaped from work a little 'early' ) and it felt much better. This baby doesn't encourage you to aim for the biggest drop, but I'm still really digging it for the trails around here. I figure when I head out to the mountains in West NC I'll bust out the full susser.

Guero thanks for re-posting that pic! I look at that pic and smile every time I'm in my office! That still stands out as being one of my all time favorite rides!

Sprockethead-lemme know if you guys want a more detailed and time-corrected review of the bike when that time comes.

I miss you guys and gals too! Here's to an ez way to keep in touch!

[tkblazer]

lance, do you know what the final weight came out to? i'd like to build a hardtail under 25 lb

[Ladd Jasper]

Originally Posted by ECOdork

Guero thanks for re-posting that pic! I look at that pic and smile every time I'm in my office! That still stands out as being one of my all time favorite rides!

Yes, thanks for the re-post, B. Wasn't that the Great HJ-Trabuco Ice Ride?

Pat, at the bottom: C'mon, guys, I grew up in Michigan--you call this cold?!

Pat, at the top: HOLY FRIGGIN' CRAP!!

Good, good times! I so love that pic--it's Lance in a nutshell. Nice new bike, btw. Enjoy the heck out of it, if you're not already.

Miss ya, pal.

[guero]

Originally Posted by Ladd Jasper

Yes, thanks for the re-post, B. Wasn't that the Great HJ-Trabuco Ice Ride?

Yup, that is the ride! You are welcome lance, like dale said, that is you in a nutshell. That ride was pretty burly! here is the linky...

Holy Jim Trabuco loop 2/19/06

[ShinKen]

Great RIDE VATO LOCO!! I like the color mix u got there!! HMmmm 18 on the back ehh? that's heavy duty and sexy @ the same time[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana][FONT=Verdana]But u been on the trails for a while so it don’t surprise me that much[/FONT][/FONT] he he!! yeah like Nam said the back thing will get better as u ride more!! Eventually u will get the mojo flowing right!! maybe if u try keeping your back semi straight when climbing may help? than again I never done a complete ride on one of them bars!! IMO it looks like they may pull ya forward a little bit but that works just great whe u get off the saddle so maybe the bars are not the problem.[/SIZE]

aNyways cool to hear about your new horse!! and welcome to the DARK SIDE Playyaa BUB!!

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by mechmann

DUDE... Niner EMD will get you there easy...

i'm looking for a steel one esse

[tkblazer]

i looked at the mcr, but i want the option to run ss or geared and i don't want to have to build a special wheel for it. Steel has enough cush for me, no need for a softtail

[allison]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

i looked at the mcr, but i want the option to run ss or geared and i don't want to have to build a special wheel for it. Steel has enough cush for me, no need for a softtail

Uhm... Sir9?

[tkblazer]

stop hijacking lance's thread... freakin 951'ers

[ECOdork]

I was out o'town for awhile and haven't had a chance to post....and geeze, ~6000 unread posts!

Thanks for the kinds words ya'll! Great to see and hear that you all are doing well and riding strong!

tkblazer-
not sure of the final weight, but it is less than ye'olde rocky mountain etsx-70...but not by a heck of a lot. I figure somewheres around 27 or 28 pounds. Those big wheels aren't light.

BUT, 2 weeks of heavy riding and I'm still grinning from ear to ear! Weight, schmeight, this bike rocks!
Back pain is long gone. It definitely was just getting used to the rigid, ss thing. I'm picking better lines and surfing my momentum (and staying loose) which leads to smoooooooooooooooth and fun rides. LOVE the mary bars!

Last week I was hanging and even smoking some kats on geared suspended bikes during a group ride. And yesterday I ventured outside my comfort zone and busted the voodoo out on some new and unknown trails. Fun place to ride with some of the most technical sections I have seen around here. Not long sections, but I ain't complaining. Sure it would have been fun to blast through it all on a geared full susser, but honestly this thing was outstanding to rip around the trails. Even surprised myself how well I handled the whole thing. This rig really is a capable bike and my ss riding is improving too.

Well I'm gonna try to make a dent in a few of the six thousand unread posts!

Originally Posted by tkblazer

stop hijacking lance's thread... freakin 951'ers