Recently I went to A couple Giant Demo Day events, this is where I got to go on one of the funnest rides I have been on in Southern California. While at the Demo one of the Giant guys offered to take me on a “good” ride. At first I was a little worried, because I was out of shape and wasn’t sure if I could keep up, but I thought, if this old (I’m 35 and he’s 49…not really old, to be fair) guy can do it, so can I. This was a great opportunity, because we didn’t know the area at all. Earlier, we had just stayed close to the demo tent and didn’t really do a proper test ride.
The P.K. RIpper
About ½ mile into the ride, our “guide” told us he used to be pro biker and I realized that “Perry” was the “P” in P.K. Ripper. Perry was a professional BMX rider and he must still ride a lot, because he was in pretty good shape. Needless to say, he easily made me look like the “old” man. He knew the trails very well and was able to tell us about every turn, climb, and downhill.
My Skills Level Rises Quickly
Let me start by saying, my riding and confidence improved drastically on this short 1 hour ride. Between Perry “coaching” me on the descents and riding a bike as forgiving as the Reign X2, I felt like I could do just about anything. In this one hour ride, I did more technical riding than I would normally do in month. And it was probably the most fun I’ve had mountain bike riding ever. When riding with someone who knows the trails and someone who can tell you how to ride them, you can quickly improve your skills.
The ride was over all types of terrain, with a couple small jumps, steep climbs, and great descents. It was the perfect place to test ride a new bike.
The Reign X1
The Reign X1 was a lot of fun to ride and besides the frame being too small for me, it’s only downside was it’s weight. But even weighing in at 40 lbs (this is a guess), this bike was fairly easy for me when climbing. The rear tire was firmly planted on the ground, even when I was standing. On my hardtail, the back tire spins when I stand and pedal and on the Reign X, it just kept driving me up the hill, without bouncing or spinning. I could definitely feel the extra weight, but I didn’t feel like I was losing any power due to the 6.7” of travel. I didn’t use the lockout either, or even touch the suspension settings. I never felt like it was necessary.
I have to say, that I really loved the Reign X1, despite it’s weight and frame that only came in a large. Even at the end of the ride, when my legs were burning and I didn’t feel like I could go another foot, (P.K. Ripper was riding a wheelie up the entire 1/8 mile climb, BTY) I was trying to convince myself that a large frame wouldn’t be that bad; maybe it just needed a larger stem.
Ultimately, Perry said that frame wouldn’t work for me, no matter what adjustments I made; it was just too small. I would have to find another bike, but at least now I knew that I was looking for an all mountain bike, rather than a XC bike. I loved having the extra travel, bigger tires, and a stronger frame between me and the dirt. I also knew that I loved Giant’s Maestro Suspension. Although I know nothing about full suspension bikes, other than what I’ve read and what I’ve experienced on my FSR, the Maestro worked flawlessly, even on a bike that was too heavy and a size too small. He recommended getting a Reign (non “X” version), but unfortunately they didn’t have any to demo.
Overall
Getting to ride with P.K. Ripper was amazing, even if I didn’t know who he was beforehand and testing a bike on a real trail lets you get a better feel for the bike. The guys were more than helpful and knew everything about the bikes. It’s also nice to test a bike and learn about the bike, without any pressure to buy it. But be careful though, because once you really ride one (parking lots and sidewalks don’t count), you’ll be hooked.
Mike W Is a Guest Writer for Dirty Athlete, you can find him fighting foreclosure and helping people out over at foreclosurefish.com.
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