Hi everyone. A noob question from me: If i ride a hardtail down steep flights of stairs of about 10 to 20 steps frequently, will it cause damage to the frame, fork and wheelset or other parts?
Lets say the frame is NS Surge 2012, fork being Rockshox Sektor RL Solo air and wheelset being Trans Rev 32.
Thanks!
You need a 150mm FS to do stairs.
I understand that ds are designed to take more abuse as such, but can a long travel "hardcore" hardtail do it without damage?
see if you can pick up a DH bike on the classifieds.
Stop being idiots guys, we were all new to iding once!
It'll be fine. As long as your technique is good enough not to get pinch punctures, then stairs are going to have no I'll effects in your bike at all.
@transapp: thanks dude. Thats exactly what I wanted to ask. The Rockshox fork, designed for all mountain/trail use, will be fine?
Don't sit down cos it will hurt,
Other than that the quality of kit now days should see you well.
put your saddle down, stay off the front brake and lean back. If you do break anything, it's cos it's cheap and nasty and not up to the job. The faster you go, the smoother it is.
You'll be fine. Keep your weight back, your arms bent and your speed fast. Don't touch the brakes! The bike will be fine, much more suitable than one of those weird springy bikes that inexperienced riders use!
The faster you go, the smoother it is.
As long as its not the steps of doom, you'll be fine. If it IS the steps of Doom, well.... you're DOOOOOOOOOMED......
[img] 
[/img]
it used to be part of the interview process for my student house that anyone wishing to move in must be able to ride down the stairs and hop over the front door threshold without knackering the bannisters, wall or door threshold.
this was back in 1998 though... we have matured a little since then.
Sorry for orginal comment - you'll be fine. Perhaps find some shoter staires to practice on first.
Ahh so I've been doing it wrong. I used to shift my weight back, knees bent, ass behind the saddle, while applying brake to the back wheel, going a tad too slow. No wonder I always feel smacked about. Haha. wow. Epic rim in that pic, binners.
The Sector fork will also be fine
I understand that ds are designed to take more abuse as such
bit of a massive generalisation.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
ahgaot - That's Plumber, of this parish. His front wheel folded in half about 2 steps from the bottom of these beauties. Teh impressive thing was that as it did so, he simply stepped off the bike, like it was the most normal thing in the world
They're the steps of Doom in Rammy and are deceptively fiendish, as you have no run out at the bottom of them
Best to try and clear as many as possible.....
Are those steps covered in grease??
[i]Are those steps covered in grease?? [/i]
I think that was 'Mincefest' week?
If you do break anything, it's cos it's cheap and nasty and not up to the job.
That's not a nice way to talk about someone's face.
Town centre steps are fine - less greasy!!
I often ride down steps on an xc 29 er without issue!
Those steps of doom however. - I don't think I would be keen.
Those steps are covered in green slime and are always wet.
What you can't see is that at the bottom there is a narrow bridge that goes off to the right at about 45 degrees. So you've no run out, which means the point-it-down-and-stay-off-the-brakes approach is a non starter. Directly in front of you as you go down the steps are a set of iron railings to stove your teeth in on, then a quite large drop straight into a river. Its very distracting
EDIT: Quite a few people have looked at that video and made dismissive "Pah! They're a piece of piss! I can ride those!" comments. Its worth noting that not one of them has actually subsequently managed it.
Jus' sayin, like
I'm rubbish at mountain biking and I've been riding my budget hardtail down steps for about two years now, no ill effects so far.
Thanks guys for your inputs! Wow the steps of doom seem.. very hardcore. Yeah, after seeing binners explanation, i can figga it actually seems very difficult. Haha. I tried riding down once on a budget hardtail, and the rims were bent to the point that the bike would wobble violently when riding.. which explains my interest in the question abv..
@Janesy: Nah its ok! Haha yeah sure. Of cos I would start small and build up!
Mine is fine riding down [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/how-to-remove-tyre-marks-from-wall ]internal steps![/url]
I've been looking for those steps Binners, I found them the other day and only realised they were what I had been searching for as I was halfway down them with my seatpost fully raised. They are steeper than they first appear 😯
Steps of DOOOOM
I'm the first [s]rider[/s] [i]mincer[/i] in Binners' vid.
...and yep, that's a fail! It cost me a new pushlock lever 🙁
First and only time I've been that way and they didn't look all that difficult to me either... but just look again at how the tyres fail to get any purchase at all and skitter off sideways at the slightest attempt to steer...
Are those steps covered in grease??
Yep! I reckon they are.
To the OP, you'll note that the only ones who were up for riding those steps were on XC hardtails. 😛
You'll be fine. Your RS Sektor has much more travel... enjoy your steps.
@Eecky-Thump: haha thanks yo! Wow those steps might as well be blocks of butter! Slips at the slightest turn of the wheel..
Great. All hyped up to learn stairs riding! .. Might as well make bruise-collection on my shins my 2nd hobby.
10-20 stairs - huck that mofo