That's exactly what I'm going through...I think the reason I love road cycling is for the speed and distance I can get out of it...I've always been an endurance person...then something hit me recently, maybe the need to shake things up a bit and I want to do some cross training in the trails!
I also took a guys bike out in the parking lot, WAY too big, so I think getting the proper bike, proper fit will feel amazing!

Quote Originally Posted by pinkbikes View Post
It's funny really. I had never thought I would enjoy mountain biking. I was so into the whole efficiency of roadies and how light and fast and "every joule of energy you put in sends you forward" they are.

But some of this was because I just hopped onto my DH's MTB which was silly really since it was a low-end duallie built for somebody a whole foot taller than me. It was like riding a tractor.

So riding a well-fitted, nicely-specced hard tail was a good start for a roadie. It felt really odd and upright and forward. But I soon leanred how to throw my weight around it and then moved onto the Era when I was ready for a duallie. It still climbs well thanks to the Brain, which I have set pretty much one click off the firmest setting.

As a roadie who is no doubt accustomed to a firm climbing platform, you may need to talk to whoever sets you up on it about suspension settings that will allow you to get used to the somewhat more bouncy life of FSR. As for climbing, you will find it funny. When I ride the roadie I would sit to descend and bounce up out of the saddle a lot to bust over the top for shorter climbs. On the MTB I do the opposite - hit the attack position (standing) almost all the time and sit to climb! Just remember that to get traction you need to find a sweet spot for your weight. I well remember my coach preaching "The S on the nose of that Specialized seat is for Sphincter, so that's where it should be!"