So, I took the Monster out for a ride with Troubadour out to the Fall Creek Trail head. It is about a 900 ft climb over 3.8 miles. Really it is about a 600 ft climb over 1.6 miles and then just climbs gradually. We eventually made the summit and paused for a bit to catch our breath before beginning the descent down the Highballer.
Thanks to Troubadour for the action shots..
I look like the Pillsbury Doughboy riding a frickin toothpick...
One thing became clearly obvious. The 110mm stem and the 660mm bar did not offer the right amount of leverage to control the 4 in wide tires at speed in the twisty bits... and then I remembered... Wider is Better....
And the search was on.. Search all of the local sources, but nobody had the parts I wanted in stock.. Off to the interwebs.. A search on Ebay and I found a good deal on a matched stem and bar.. Dropped the stem length down to 45mm w/ 10*rise and a 780mm bar with 35mm rise. Both are RaceFace Respond components...
Parts arrived in a week... I was like a kid at Christmas...
 |
| Wider is Better!!!! |
 |
| Ready for test ride..
After test riding.. I found that I was able to move the seat up another 22mm and was sitting much more upright than hunched over. The amount of control I now had was unbelievable. It completely transformed the way the bike rode and steered. I love riding this bike.. I know, it is so typically American.. We have always got to have the biggest baddest stuff. I feel the way I did when I rode bikes as an adolescent. Pure joy and freedom. It has the same effect on people as a Ural.. They aren't quite sure what to make of it, but think it is really cool.. More later.. busy riding....
Andy.
|
