In a couple hours, I'll be piloting the maxi-van on a 16hr drive to Wisconsin for a 3 week vacation. Planning to drive through the night (so the little sleeps as much as possible.
)
Anyway, thanks for all your comments! They were great. I value them all. You guys represent a lot of experience and have helped steer me around some bad ideas in the past, none worse than the
baby on the beam rack idea.
(despite my
testing of the rack, which you all seemed to like so much).
Here's my reaction to some of your comments:
etard said:
It also might help your confidence having the right crash protection...
How'd this get to be about my confidence?? (Oh, yeah, Thud-buster, lol). I don't lack the confidence to do the five-footer, I lack the confidence that the frame will survive it, so that's what I wanted ideas on. Whether a new shock (adding ?" of travel) would do it, or do I need a new bike? (PS. I'm pysched to hear you're going nuts on the trail! Can't wait for the vids! Might take a minute, but unmount the gopro and prop it on a rock to catch a jump or two too...
)
Lenk42602 said:
This is the kind of bike I would BEGIN considering a 5 footer to flat.
Dude, that is awesome! I love it. I totally love it. And now I get it... I've been looking for cheap DH bikes, etc... Sometimes you gotta pay... or, do what you're doing: building it yourself! That BMW race link looks like a sweet design too. Is it me, or is that jackshaft begging for an RC motor conversion?
Thud said:
if you really want to get into some bicycle arial stuff I recomend you grab a 26" dirt jumper & have a ball learning some basic stuff. Has to be a BMX club near by for some giggles.... Chad Reed...
The chad spill is fun. I see it made it to
DEVOUR yesterday also... I'd love to do more BMX, but the honest truth is that I'm now too out of shape! I used to be super athletic, and swore I'd never look like I do now. funny what happens after age 40. 5lbs a year, someone said. i still keep telling myself i've got to get back into shape, and i believe it but.. blah blah blah. point is, bmx ain't in the cards this year. but yeah, etard, i did used to do it. never flips, but huge jumps and retarded stuff back when i was indestructible...
and while i wish i had more dirt around, the reality is that i'm in a mostly urban environment... so this brings up the Dirt Jumper. built for urban stuff, right (albeit the 'dirt' in the name)? someone explain to me how a DJ can take an 8' drop so much better than a DH bike w/ suspension? nevermind the weight of the electrics. i just don't understand! you're gonna tell me that the DJ's frame and dropouts particularly are built to withstand a scud missile and that a shock is going to puke its guts once beyond it's rating? ok, the last part, i can believe, so the shock dies, maybe a frame bolt too, but i just don't get how a DJ w/o a suspension can take drops double the height of a bike w/ a proper suspension (and the same rider skill - particularly the ability to land level and adjust one's weight to minimize impact - indeed to act as a suspension.... there, i said. phew.
Hyena said:
Don't go fiddling with your current bike the way it is now Greg
I believe you're right. This build has been basically done for a while, but it's now sortof my blog, until I start on a new one. All the components I've got work well together, and aside for little shit, it's been very reliable.
bottom line 1, i'm sorely tempted to do the five footer just to prove i and the bike can do it. but i do believe it will kill the rear shock and/or frame, so i'm not going to do it.
bottom line 2, my next build will likely be full DH frame, and likely RC, maybe using one 5Ah pack (and a spare in a backpack?). and on that i will be doing 5' drops and driving
OVER cars on my morning commute.
