I hope to get to ride my new (to me) Fox fork today. The fork is 100 mm and replaced an 80 mm fork so I am going to be messing around with my handlebar height as well as re-positioning the saddle due to the slightly higher front end.
I see lots of variety in how mtb racers set up their fit. Particularly when it comes h-bar height/reach and saddle set back. Some pros seem to sit quite up-right with a very short reach to the h-bars whereas others sit back with more inclined torsos and what looks like a longer reach.
It seems to me that the most important parameters are 1.) Bike handling, and 2.) Power pedaling. (As opposed to setting up for aerodynamics and efficient steady state pedaling on a tri/tt bike.)
So, are there any good rule of thumb ways to arrive close to the best mtb position for single-track, etc?
For the record. I am 6’3 and am riding ax XL Gary Fisher Tassajara (hardtail) with Genesis geometry just put a Fox 100RL fork on the bike.
How comfortable were you with the position with your previous fork. A longer fork will change the bikes position, but not your bodies. If you lower your bars, to compensate for the higher fork you will be nent over more at the waist. The higher position will change the handling a bit.
My suggestion is to change the fork and ride for a week with out changing anything. Once you are adapted to the new fork and handling then make changes in your position if you feel its neccesary.
Thanks. I think I will do it as you suggest - that was my plan as well.
High, medium and low speed cornering - holding momentum through the turns - are my weak points. Riding with power on the flats, up hills, through slop, etc., is my strong point compared to those I race. I can “drop” a rider when its time to just pedal hard and then they get back to me when it gets tight/curvy. Or, I can hang with much “faster” riders until we hit a lot or turns and then I immediately lose their wheel.
I am looking for set up ideas to maximize my bike handling.
Your strengths and weaknesses pretty much mimic mine. Fore /aft position on the bike and a slightly upright position seems to help. Other than bike set up looking as far ahead as possible and not staring at every root and rock also helps me.
Yup if you have trouble in the twists & turns, you dont want to be low and long in the front end. The Fisher’s are a longish bike in the top-tube as it is, pop a short stem on that bad boy and try it out. Also try moving your saddle further back - if you are trying to get even close to your road or tri bike position you’ll be awesome on the climbs where being fwd helps, but you’ll be sketchy in the turns.
Might wanna get a pro fit done. It helps a lot. A new fork definately changes the dynamics of a bike, but the Tass has come stock with a 100mm fork for a couple years, and the geometry hasnt changed. If you have any, take a out a few spacers to compensate for the higher front end.
Your lack of cornering ability is a lack of practice and/ or balls Find a nice swoopy series of corners and hit them as hard as you can over and over again. You’ll eat it a couple times, but that’s what MTBing is all about, finding your limits. Keep the outside pedal down with tons of weight on it, with your butt shifted back just a tiny bit. Dont use the brakes if you can help it. Lean that bike as much as you can to make the corner tight rather than brake. Peddle a couple stroke fast between turns to maintain momentum and accelerate as soon as you straighten out a little coming out of the last turn
I corner better than most, and its because I practiced a lot in the beginning. Go get dirty.
Great advice. Thanks. This explains why my brother, not a cyclist but an sometime downhill skier and much more of a daredevil, can hang with me through the turns and twisty parts.
Rode on Tuesday and ended up doing a endo on a log obsitcle that changed over the winter. Landed on my head. My helmet was packed with dirt. I worried I would have some neck issues but happily woke up today feeling ok.
Find a nice swoopy series of corners and hit them as hard as you can over and over again. You’ll eat it a couple times, but that’s what MTBing is all about, finding your limits. Keep the outside pedal down with tons of weight on it, with your butt shifted back just a tiny bit. Dont use the brakes if you can help it. Lean that bike as much as you can to make the corner tight rather than brake. Peddle a couple stroke fast between turns to maintain momentum and accelerate as soon as you straighten out a little coming out of the last turn