Why didn't anyone tell me these things were so cool?

OK, so you said they were cool, but why didn't I listen?

I got to borrow a carbon Stumpjumper 29er hardtail. I took it out for an hour on my local trails, then next day hammered it for 4 hours at a race.

The floating sensation. I *get* it now. I felt like I was skipping across waves, only touching about every fourth rock, yet never did I feel like I was airborne. The thing loved to point downhill, begged to let go of the brakes, and just.. go. Never once did I feel like I'd go over the handlebars, even on the super steep stuff. It took me a little practice to get uphill switchbacks with the new center of gravity, but everything else just oozed beautifully. You could almost steer it like a road bike.

I am absolutely in love. I honestly didn't want it to feel that much better, so that I didn't get the temptation. But it is, it really is that much better.

My poor pink Era FSR! Even with those sexy I9 wheels! I don't think I can go back to 26" now. What do I doooo?

-- gnat!


(My PBR-handup lap... what can I say, I'm cyclocross at heart)