Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Yeah, I had very much the same experience.

I’d thought about going up to the 180mm air spring, thinking that would sit closer to a static 170mm.
I couldn’t really figure out if doing that actually made sense or not though.

From everything I've read, it does if static geometry is important to you. It was also pointed out to me that in use, static geo is irrelevant.
I think the confusion lies in what is deemed "usable travel", where it might look like you've lost 5mm of travel, but you still have it, it's just negative travel which ultimately gives you more traction.

I think, anyway.

It'll feel more plush in the shop/car park, which is an important selling point for Rockshox

Yeah, this is pretty much exactly the same conclusion I came to.
Once I’m on the bike at sag point, I’m already past the ‘lost’ 10mm of travel, so it doesn’t really matter much.
But indeed it’s that lost negative travel that sort of annoyed me. But then that travel would only be accessed when the wheel came off the ground!? I eventually managed to stop thinking about it since my Lyrik Ultimate with the b1 air spring was by far the best feeling fork I’d ever used anyway.

I’ve since changed to a smashpot coil in the Lyrik. I’ve only had two rides on it so far, so will reserve judgment until I’ve had a good few riding hours on it.
But my first impression was that it wasn’t actually a massive night and day difference in terms of off the top plush ness compared to the b1 air spring. It did feel very active, but that might have been more to do with finding the right rebound speed again.

Booked on for the uplift at Innerleithen tomorrow so should have formed a better idea by then.

I’ve since changed to a smashpot coil in the Lyrik. I’ve only had two rides on it so far, so will reserve judgment until I’ve had a good few riding hours on it.

But my first impression was that it wasn’t actually a massive night and day difference in terms of off the top plush ness compared to the b1 air spring.

That's interesting - I've been considering coil forks recently, so that's food for thought

I’ll definitely report back.
On the first ride, I felt a bit unsettled but I think I just needed to slow the rebound damping. I then crashed hard which cut the ride short.

I think I just had such a romantic memory of coil forks back in the day.

The weather is set to be absolutely honking tomorrow at inners so I’ll soon find out how much more grip I get.

I have, as they say, 'gone big'

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You own a tractor now

Is that a 'No Shox' sticker?

Do you see any shox?

I do not

I do see what looks like part of a grown-up's garage/shed though, which can't be yours, as I'm sure you're still only about 17

I’m coming at it from the perspective of “I had a C1, liked how it rode, now the fork is more responsive but the front end is lower, let’s move it back up again so I can lift the BB 10mm at the same time to save my pedals a bit”

Just thought I'd let you know there's a bit in the Pink Bike Podcast episode 103 about running coil shocks in bikes that aren't designed for them, but in a nutshell he's saying that the frame can flex so much it causes the coil shock to distort and ruins internals. Might not be applicable but something to bear in mind. It's also an interesting one.

Outside fingers get super sore on longer descents - maybe coz I'm covering the brakes and they're the only things left gripping or because of bar shape? Thoughts?

Descending with a dropper down feels fucking weird with no saddle to thigh feedback and feels double weird when I throw an outside foot down for a #leany (don't lean) corner. Do you just get used to it or am I doing something stupid?

Feet in my FiveTens also ache stood on pedals. Maybe need to look at inner sole with arch support or something. Bigger pedals might help the feeling of foot sliding off the outside? Currently have the plastic Nukeproofs fitted.

Do you just get used to it

I did. Don't drop it all the way to start.

Only cove brake with index finger. Too much pressure on ulnar nerve.

Outside foot needs to be in pedal and pedal is close to floor, you use your weight through that pedal to lower the centre of gravity, weight through inside of foot, so big toe leaning into pedal axle. Lean the bike not you, use the edge of the tire. Look where you want to go not the track infront.

🎻

fingers get super sore
feet ache

Sounds like a bad case of getting old. How’s your back?

Outside fingers get super sore on longer descents - maybe coz I'm covering the brakes and they're the only things left gripping or because of bar shape? Thoughts?

I have struggled with this. Ergon GA3s or similar grips with palm support has fixed this for me (thx @spotter)
Also when I started out I was braking with two fingers. Forcing myself to use only use pointing fingers to brake with helped as well

Relax, and loosen your death grip

I used to get unbearable finger pain on long descents (at the joints), a combo between death gripping and thin grips. I now use ODI Rogues which are pretty fat and I'm more confident so less death grippage. Also, one finger breaking so good hold on the bars. Do you have a particularly weird bar shape?

Dropper posts obviously help with the danger of getting booted up the arse and over the bars on steep to moderate descents but also with the left, right movement which is part of good cornering technique. Letting the bike lean underneath you into the corner etc basically having all that space between your legs is letting the bike move about like a mad thing while you're solid and also loose on top. So, I'd say just getting used to it is right.

My feet can ache first time on the MTB in a while, as we know road shoes are stiff as and flat five tens are not. I use Shimano AM9 with XTR spds on gravel bike so kinda in-between but a lot stiffer than FiveTens with no issue.
I ride FiveTen Freerider and Crank Bros Stamp 7's in the large variation and they are big (im only UK10). Ultimately though, foot ache isn't an issue, cant remember it really bothering me recently. Less foot wrap on the pedal, I assumed, helps with foot pain. That was my thoughts in getting big pedals and seems to have worked.

I am only covering brake with index finger. I don't understand why the rest of my hand is achy - little fingers in particular - it's not like they're providing the most grip. Even on straight bits I was taking every opportunity to put my hands on top (ie. with zero grip force) to make sure I wasn't death gripping. I might ditch the SID grips and get something bigger squishier to see if that makes any difference.

Piss off. I'm trying to iron out the bugs in a new bike so I can race the fucker. I'd love to have been InstaMcAskill but that's not how it works for me.

Back is fucked, obvs. :)

I've always had brakes setup to use only one finger.

Relaxing is easier said than done given my dirt skills but I was definitely mindful of gripping too tight so I'm not convinced it was overgripping. I actually wonder if it was my grip during the steep climbing that did the damage because the pain was there pretty bloody early in the downhill so maybe I need to relax grip on the uphill more (easier said than done when you're a fat fuck on steep stuff).