Jamis Dakar XC Comp?

[Catrin]

Wow, 2 new bikes..... Can not wait to see photos. I would love to get a new mountain bike sometime soon. I am happy that you found one in your size. Thankfully I can ride most mens Med. Size mountain bikes. I am tall with long legs, short torso.

Is that Jamis a Women's specific? Or just a small size? I never tried a WSD mountain bike but the Women's road bikes fit me very well.

The Jamis is just a small size. We will have to change stem and handlebars/grips - but not because of reach but for other fit issues. Jamis does not have a "femme" version of their full suspension bikes - but they do have a femme hard-tail - which is a little larger than my Dakar interestingly enough...

So far I've only had the one WSD bike, and it was too large (long) for me though it was the smallest size Trek made. Then again, I don't find their small FX sizes to be all that small. Thankfully my LBS guarantees the fit for even special orders, so if it turns out this size doesn't work for some unexpected reason then it will be replaced. That made it easier to pull the trigger. I do wonder if most "WSD" designs have a 5'4 height assumed - though of course it is much more about inseam and reach...

[Catrin]

I wanted to mention this the other day and forgot. I did test-ride an entry level Dakota that had the same dimensions as the Dakar. Before taking off on it I picked the bike up and just looked down at the frame. Aside from noting that it was significantly lighter than my LHT (which isn't hard), but it looked so SHORT! I guess that I've become so accustomed to a touring geometry I had forgotten just how long the wheelbase is!

The tires on the Dakota seemed huge when I started the bike up - but on the pavement it was like riding on a cloud - of course the tires were .75 wider than my LHT and there was the little detail of a suspension fork. If an entry level hard-tail with not-very-nice components felt that good, I can hardly wait to see what my lovely Dakar will feel like!

She lands at the LBS tomorrow

[crazycanuck]

Catrin, i know you're amazed that mountain biking is different style of riding to roadie stuff BUT remember the following:

The skills you use on your mtn bike can correspond with what you do on your road bike. Think core strength...

Remember you have to THINK whilst mtn biking. The seat is not a sofa!

Momentum & speed are your friend in mtn biking. The slower you go, the harder it can be..in some cases.

Andd.......you don't have to worry about cars! It's trees that don't move on the trail!

When's your skills thingy?

[Catrin]

Catrin, i know you're amazed that mountain biking is different style of riding to roadie stuff BUT remember the following:

The skills you use on your mtn bike can correspond with what you do on your road bike. Think core strength...

Remember you have to THINK whilst mtn biking. The seat is not a sofa!

Momentum & speed are your friend in mtn biking. The slower you go, the harder it can be..in some cases.

Andd.......you don't have to worry about cars! It's trees that don't move on the trail!

When's your skills thingy?

I was just impressed at how different the mountain bike I test-rode felt over my beloved cushy steel tank - and I find the LHT quite comfy!

Thanks for your encouragement and thoughts - I do understand that many of the skills cross-over between the two types of riding. I think that whatever I learn as a rank newbie to mountain biking will only enhance my road riding and vice-versa. Thankfully my personal trainer is a VERY dedicated mountain biker and he knows what I am doing - he has really increased both core and upper-body work.

I think what attracts me the most to mountain biking is you get even closer to nature - and yeah - there is that car thing and not so much wind

My skills clinic is June 12, and thankfully they are very accustomed to having students at my level. Unsure how many just learned how to ride only a little over a year ago, but the organizer who is also an instructor is strongly encouraging me. It helps I know her

Until then I will put a few paved miles on the Dakar, and then find some grass to ride on. There is a short 5-mile crushed limestone trail on the city I can take her on as well. I do think I want to wait until the Clinic before I try to take her on a beginners trail - though I hope to take it to ride a fire-trail with some friends prior to the clinic. I understand it is a double-track that has little in the way of roots and so forth.

[Catrin]

Jamis has landed at the bike store Kind of thankful for all of the rain and thunderstorms - we do need the rain - but it helps me to wait when I know I can't get out on any bike right now.

Am checking to see if there is ANY local park in which it is legal for me to ride on the grass - the idea is to give me a little taste of off-pavement riding with the new mountain bike prior to the clinic.