[Closed] New (to me) Bike Day - and some Things I've Learned

Wahey - new bike day for me (yesterday actually, but you know...) My last bike was a 2005 Cannondale Prophet, which was always too small for me.

[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/648/30722447733_771de0925e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/648/30722447733_771de0925e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NNQzmH ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/39729401@N08/ ]Scgwhite[/url], on Flickr

I've just finished building a 29" carbon Stumpjumper Evo with parts I've sourced from this forum. Pikes, Roval wheels, carbon fatbars and Renthal stem, plus the old Deore brakes and Zee / Saint groupset from my old 26er. I have built is as a 6fattie (650b+) with some 3" Purgatorys, just to be trendy.

First ride (ever, aside from a lap of the garden) was at Swinley yesterday afternoon.

Some things I've learned;

- Suspension has come on MILES since I last bought a bike. MILES and MILES.
- B+ tyres at 15 psi feel vastly under inflated in the car park, and make you terrified of smashing rims.
- B+ tyres with an air leak from a poor attempt at tubeless get very flat, but are still rideable for quite a while.
- B+ tyres GRIP LIKE MAD. Crackers - I am properly bowled over - cornering and climbing are very good.
- 800mm bars feel very wide after my old risers that were probably under 700mm. Nice though.
- Stepless dropper posts are much better than a three stage dropper that I'm used to.
- Big wheeled bikes are FAST - to my amazement, I broke 27 PRs on Strava yesterday.
- This is a hugely confidence inspiring bike - very forgiving, fast and smooth - it made this very average rider feel decidedly above average

In summary, I have a new love for mountain biking which I thought I'd lost forever. Hooray for bikes!