This morning my buddy Mikey Monte and I went on our usual training ride through the Fullerton Loop. Mikey rides a hardtail 03 Specialized Hardrock.

And I ride a soft tail Giant Warp DS2.

During the last leg of our ride, we decided to switch bikes. Mikey has never really ridden a softie before and it’s been about 6 months since I’ve been on a hard tail on the trails.

Mikey goes first, and I am really wowed on how the suspension was working. Both front and rear shocks were on over time while Mikey was riding it. Then it was my turn. I go down the trail and BAM! I hit my boys!
Pain…oh the pain… I forgot that on a hard tail you need to stand up while going through bumpy sections. So I stand…then sit, BAM! Oh man this isn’t so fun!

BAM! BAM! BAM! (at this point I’m about to pass out…)

So we finally get to the end of that trail and we traded for our own bikes. Mikey was talking about how fun it was for him riding the Warp. All I could say was…”I hit my nuts…”

Anyhow, just to remind the soft tailers that end up riding a hard tail…remember, don’t sit, bend your knees and let your legs absorb the bumps.