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Letter of the Month
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Dear MBT:
Back in May you answered a letter from Allen Hudson in which he inquired about the rear strut design of the Maverick Durance. In your answer you say “The major disadvantage, however, is that you are pretty much stuck with the strut. There is no way to upgrade or swap out the shock on account of its integration. Also if the strut does wear out or require maintenance, there is no detaching the shock to have it serviced. The entire bike will be on hiatus until the repairs are made.”
This is not entirely correct. The rear triangle can be easily disconnected and shock removed. I blew the damper cartridge in Moab this past April and Maverick overnighted a replacement that the local dealer installed the next day for $15! Advantages also include stiffer rear triangle, lower/easier maintenance, and superior customer service (as dealing with Fox ain't easy, let alone quick!). Disadvantage of being 'stuck' is a red herring. These days about the only thing you get with each edition of everyone else’s shocks out there is improved pedaling platform. Maverick suspension doesn't bob to begin with so doesn't need a complicated 'solution' to a design issue.
Scott Gross
Scott,
Thanks for dropping a line. We are always glad to hear from readers who have first hand experience with the models talked about on our site. In this case we were forced to research forums and blogs for complaints to the strut setup as our original answer also went on to say “Whether or not the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, is yet to be determined by the MBT test riders as we've yet to sample a bike containing this technology.” Your feedback is valuable to our readers seeking information on the strut design and for that, we’ll award you Letter of the Month and with that $20 from Evomo.
For making us think, we’re going to send you a $20 gift certificate to spend at Evomo. Go get yourself a kick ass shirt, and send us a snapshot of you rocking it out: www.evomo.com/
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Dear MBT:
A while back you ran a test of the Santa Cruz Nomad that I read with great interest. About six months later I had finally saved up enough to purchase one and have been overall pleased with my decision. The only problem I’ve encountered with the bike is that I get dropped on singletrack and often (a problem I never really encountered on my Blur). I assume this is either a result of the bike’s added weight or long-travel suspension although I have followed the recommended settings to the t. I’m 5 foot 10 and weigh 165 and purchased a size large frame if that helps any.
Randy Myre
Randy,
Your complaints are likely the result of the design of the Nomad and its all mountain designation rather than specific settings woes. While light for a 6.5 inch travel bike (at 33 pounds), don’t let this figure fool you into believing that you can mash the pedals to out-accelerate a three inch travel 25 pound XC rig on the flats. The key to remaining competitive on the Nomad is to allow its versatility to work for you. How do you accomplish this? Lead the XC set into the rough stuff. Let that near-7 inches of travel swallow up jagged rocks, steep descents, and drops. Suffice to say , you’ll pull a sizeable lead over any 3 inch travel equipped model or hardtail here. Keep in mind you’ll find it easier to go toe to toe with a dedicated downhill bike on the inclines than you will a wispy XC model on the trails. Chalk this reality up to the nature of the beast.
Dear MBT:
I am a beginner who has been itching to pull the trigger for some time now. I may eventually race but would like to start with trail riding. I’ve narrowed my choices down to a Specialized Epic or Stumpjumper. The local dealer says the Epic would be better for what I plan to do. Would you agree with this?
D. Anglloin
D,
We would agree if indeed XC racing is going to be your focus. Here the benefits of a very light & rigid frame-design will provide you with an edge. What holds us back from fully agreeing is the simple fact that you say you might try racing but wish to begin exploring trails. In that line of thinking the Stumpjumper gets the nod. The suspension is more adequate for tackling the rough and tumble world of trail clutter and the few pounds of additional weight are more than off-set by the comfort factor. The bottom line is to be honest with yourself before deciding on either. What you plan to do with the bike makes all the difference. If your priorities are trail riding first and racing second then the Stumpjumper is the one you want. On the other hand if you want to focus on racing and occasionally ride trails, your dealer is correct.
Dear MBT:
Why in the world are cycling socks made of wool? Wouldn’t it be smarter to make them out of something more breathable like cotton or maybe even polyester?
Kevin Taggert
Kevin,
It certainly would be smarter if breath-ability was the only factor to consider. Next time you veer from the beaten path into a tangle of briers, let us know if you wished for even less protection around your ankles. Our money says you’ll not only be happy with wool, but you’ll wish your socks went all the way up to your thighs. Not to mention that when properly designed, wool socks are quite effective at wicking away moisture which means that your feet will have a much easier time remaining at or around body temperature. Having your feet wrapped in sweaty cotton is a good way to promote bacterial growth in the warm weather and to get hypothermia in the cold.
Dear MBT:
Everyone I talk to says to steer clear of buying a used downhill bike. I’m only 15 and have very little money but want to try racing. What’s the problem with used bikes if they are well taken care of?
Jeffery Blakke Jr.
Jeffery,
The problem with used bikes (especially in the case of a downhill bike which takes on massive amounts of stress during hard landings and get-offs) is that most of the time fatigued materials appear perfectly acceptable to the naked eye. It would be very easy to walk away from a bike that is covered in dings, dents, and scratches but metal fatigue is often invisible. The sad news is that by the time you would be aware of a stress point, it would be too late. Risking a frame failure (or component failure such as your bars, cranks, stem or post) would be catastrophic if it occurred during a run. Many resorts offer rental programs. Our advice is to look into renting a bike to get your feet wet in the downhill process. If you then determine that this is in fact the sport you would like to pursue wholeheartedly, make your purchase at the end of the season when many outlets offer deep discount pricing on current models to make room for the upcoming model year.
Earn Money by Making Us Work
Attention ASK MBT fans: You’ve always got questions and we like to think that we have the answers but now you could earn some swag just for putting our collective melons to the test. In each issue we will choose a winning question or comment to become Letter of the Month and send its author $20 toward the Evomo online store. What are you waiting for? Get hammering on those keyboards.
Got a question? Fire it away to us and we'll do the best we can to answer it. Send your inquiries to Ask Mountain Bike Tales.
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