Good-bye Wicked. Well, hello Commando!

[mikee]

rob
thats nice , as i get older i'm starting to appreciate the more relaxed
stance of older bikes
bull moose bars are cool too

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

It's been a long three, nearly four, years of injuries, back to back to back. I'm ecstatic to be hitting trails and ridding in earnest again, though the thought getting injured again lingers- guess it's psychological.

I find my pedal stroke is poor, and my legs much weaker than I remember them; one probably affects the other, so the verdict is still out on power delivery. I find myself clanking the square taper cranks a bit through certain sections.

I'm laughing here, because I don't even know the difference between a poor pedal stroke and a good one. My first ride with people who know what they are doing is going to be an eye-opener! Regarding injury-I'm timid, no health insurance means lasting consequences for any mistake. I'm dumb enough to try things I shouldn't, right up until I consider the bill for something as simple as a sprain. At that point the brakes hit the rims.

Finding the right fit is probably the most difficult piece of the puzzle-I hate the idea of changing anything on my TC, but it really is too small. I'd try to trade or replace it with something similar but a size larger, but then it's not the bike that got me started on all this VRC stuff. Of course it would be just as good, but the sentimental value isn't there.

Where do you find the grass and trees in NYC?

Not sure if I know the difference either, except for what I've read, and watched on video. At one point, I use to be more of a spinner, now I'm more of a masher; guess you can be either one, and it's ok, but I've always thought smoother is better; technique beats horsepower; speed is power, or am I talking about boxing now
I can relate on the lack of insurance; I tell myself to be careful and take it easy, but once I hit the trail, I forget. If I end up in the hospital, I'll have to send President Obama a big thank you note.
There's at least one decent mtb trail in each of the five boroughs of NYC, (well I don't know about queens). That's in addition to more boring bike paths, greenways, and bridal paths (though I'm not sure we're suppose to be on the bridal paths). Also, not too far from me, if I want to get everything in the car, are a couple awesome trails in lower Westchester county. I believe one of them is even a pro trail. The one in the photos is right in my back yard and adjacent to a beach, which is always nice to hang out at, after a few laps on the trail.

It is not your alcohol intake; I photochopped my wife's purple water bottle out of the picture- couldn't find mine, (my daughter likes to hide things now), and I had to get out to ride.

Embrace the Purple.

Just say no to purple :evil:

unless it's on a Yo Eddy

Did you actually make that with construction paper, or did you shamelessly gank the handiwork of some poor 5 year old sap?

the latter

rob
thats nice , as i get older i'm starting to appreciate the more relaxed
stance of older bikes
bull moose bars are cool too

Thanks Mike,
it's interesting, many of the more relaxed geometry on the old bikes, aren't conducive to getting out of the saddle and powering up an incline, but that's not the case with this Commando- another thing that surprised me. Again, might be cause I have more room in the cockpit than I'm accustomed to having on the older bikes I've owned.

 

[shogun700]

There's at least one decent mtb trail in each of the five boroughs of NYC, (well I don't know about queens). That's in addition to more boring bike paths, greenways, and bridal paths (though I'm not sure we're suppose to be on the bridal paths). Also, not too far from me, if I want to get everything in the car, are a couple awesome trails in lower Westchester county. I believe one of them is even a pro trail. The one in the photos is right in my back yard and adjacent to a beach, which is always nice to hang out at, after a few laps on the trail.

That's fantastic-it's good that you don't have to load the car every time you want to hit the dirt. Urban riding can be fun as well, but it's a different challenge.

It sure makes me feel lucky-I live downtown in a little city, and the trail is 3 blocks away-super convenient. I'm a little ashamed don't ride more.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

I'm a little ashamed don't ride more.

same here
but I plan to change that

 

[Jamis Diablo]

Coul it be the much more relaxed riding position of the Ritchey against the more racy of the Yo?
When you look at the sadle height against the bar height of both, there is a huge difference.
That and the slack seat tube angle might give you more confidence?
The Ritchey is a very nice bike btw, love to own one some time.

 

[kaiser]

This is an acceptable swap the pair would have been nice but if it had to be one....

 

[mikee]

dragged some old slack angled bikes from the shed today
after last nights epic my backs 4kd again , could barely move this morning , not good , modern c/f wonder bike leaves me in a bit of pain
so an 88 46er dale , an 89 ms racing xt comp and a 91 m300 dale with
bullmoose bars , all 19/20" frames were made ready for this month
along with my s/s generic ally GT

this month i'm gonna try comfort for a change

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

Coul it be the much more relaxed riding position of the Ritchey against the more racy of the Yo?
When you look at the sadle height against the bar height of both, there is a huge difference.
That and the slack seat tube angle might give you more confidence?
The Ritchey is a very nice bike btw, love to own one some time.

The Fat pictured is a Wicked. That's the thing, the Commando feels racy, and wants to get pushed- that was the surprise. I'm beginning to think it's mostly about the sizing, though the Commando is aswesome; thanks

This is an acceptable swap the pair would have been nice but if it had to be one....

Initially I owned both, and no swap was ever intended. Ultimately, it was a swap, as one sold for what I paid for the other, and I agreed, I'd make that deal, and I did. Though, I wish I could've kept both. Just don't have the room or money to burn

dragged some old slack angled bikes from the shed today
after last nights epic my backs 4kd again , could barely move this morning , not good , modern c/f wonder bike leaves me in a bit of pain
so an 88 46er dale , an 89 ms racing xt comp and a 91 m300 dale with
bullmoose bars , all 19/20" frames were made ready for this month
along with my s/s generic ally GT

this month i'm gonna try comfort for a change

have links to a couple of those bikes; want to see pics

 

[andrewl]

But I digress. It's interesting, in this thing we do, collecting old mountain bikes, it's a bit of a gamble, as we rarely have a chance to try the bikes out first; we don't have them made to order, according to our dimensions- there are people who will not buy a bike without getting fitted. I tend to agree that fitment is one of, if not the most, important issue when it comes to finding the right ride.

The fit is a bit of a gamble sometimes, but every now and then I still buy something which I know is slightly too small as its either that or nothing. Those frames are pretty rare and/or special (to me) and aren't really regular riders so its less of an issue though.

 

[sq_root_of_2]

I haven't ridden many different types of mountain bikes but I have ridden a fair share and I can say that for me Ritchey bikes just feel right. When I finished the Timber Comp it just was wonderful on my first ride on it.

I have a Merlin and had a Fisher and both were in beautiful condition but for some reason the Ritchey feels different and suits me.

I have owned a lot more sports cars than I have owned bikes and some cars I feel comfortable throwing around a race track and feel I am part of the car whereas others just scare the cr*p out of me. It must be the same with bikes.

I don't know what it is about Ritchey bikes that makes them so nice but they are. I am glad you are enjoying it. Can't wait to hear more about it after you have ridden it further.

Everyone should ride one once just to see how they feel.