Finding Your Riding Style?

[indysteel]

I have a Thudbuster on my hardtail mountain bike. Are you looking to soften up your 29er for trail riding by using the Thudbuster? I'm otherwise not sure why you'd want to use it to ride on the road. Because it effectively changes your saddle placement (your saddle goes compresses down and back), it may make your pedal stroke less efficient. You'll just end up having to work harder. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what you're trying to accomplish. If you want to make your 29er more of a road bike, put some slicks (tires) on it or get a dedicated set of wheels with slicks for the bike so that you can go from road to trail/gravel more easily. And if you want to have a snow bike, put some snow tires on the 29er.

[Bethany1]

I was evil. I bought the Fargo 3. I just like the bar end shifters better. They seemed more intuitive. If it would stop raining, I'd take her out for a test ride.

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations!

You can take the bike out in the rain, you know. It won't melt. I promise! All my steel bikes have been ridden in the rain (for years and years) and they are fine.

[Bethany1]

Kinda hard to ride in the rain while it's dark I just didn't get home in time to ride. Tomorrow for sure.

[Velocivixen]

I think it can take riding in different areas, different parts of town. For example, I bought. Lovely hybrid and I fell in love with riding. I loved that bike. It was aluminum with flat bars so long rides more than say 10 miles were a little uncomrpfortable because I had only one hand position. I then bought a steel cross bike that gives me more hand positions. I have ridden in town and I have ridden out on country roads, longer distances, and I've come to realize that I prefer urban rides. I'm just not into riding out in the countryside for miles and miles. So...I have fenders, a great bell, lights, a Carradice classic saddlebag and a Brooks saddle. It's not a race bike...it's customized for what I like-quirky like me.

[Catrin]

Congratulations on your new Fargo! Those bikes just rock. I wanted one in the worst way last year before I finally accepted that they just don't make them small enough for me and I wound up with a Surly Long Haul Trucker.

I would go with whatever bike shop gives you the best service and you are more comfortable dealing with. No harm in having more than on LBS

[Bethany1]

Murien,

I know they make a WSD Madones but my bike store didn't have one and I would have to buy it to know if it fits better. Another bike store had a much smaller WSD model and there is a difference when I stood over it. LBS guy said once you get up into the larger sizes, it doesn't make much of a difference. I still wish I could have tried a WSD version to know.

I still have a hard time getting over the top tube on mine, but I think it's more me than the bike.

[Bethany1]

I haven't put pics up, but will tomorrow.

The ride is amazing! I went out for 6 miles and headed back because the wind was so bad and my chain wasn't catching right but had a blast. I called the guy up and he told me how to adjust things and said if I needed help I could bring the bike back up for another adjustment. WOW. A guy that was happy to help over the phone. So far this new bike shop rocks.

It handled all the bumps on the road, went through the mud spots and handled gravel beautifully. I felt in perfect control of the bike and for the first time relaxed.

Out of curiosity I checked out the local Surly shop and rode the Long Haul Trucker, the Karate Monkey, and the Cross Check. Cross Check was my favorite but soon realized my Fargo was a much better purchase for the extra money with the disc brakes.

Hopefully tomorrow I can take her out for a longer ride.