Why are some mountain bike seats really tall and others really short? I understand the short seats are better for really tough riding where you move about a lot and don't sit. I have a mountain bike that I use pretty much 100% on road. The seat post is very long, I couldn't get it low if I wanted to.
I was thinking of going to this indoor mountain bike park and I am not sure if my bike will be good or bad there.
This is what I have - 
This is the kind of bike that they have for rent -
Well, buy a shorter post for technical riding would be my answer.
is this were you're going?
http://www.raysmtb.com/
The rental is extreme. Lower your seat as much as you can and you'll be off to a good start. You're not liable to be hucking big air moves if you're having to ask this question, so just go and enjoy yourself.
Yeah, ever been there? I stopped by there today. I can try the rental bikes for free for up to 15mins.
That place is crazy, they have a foam pit and the place just goes on forever. I used to race BMX and was into freestyle BMX while a kid 20+ years ago. I also have ridden a lot of motocross since then. But I spent most of the summer practicing wheelies on my bike. I can go better then 500 feet. I am really looking forward to that place, but it looks kind of intimidating.
No...googled indoor mtn bike and thats what came up.....looks sweet!
Don't use your bike. Rent one of theirs.
What they have a DJ/Park specific bike, with really short rear chainstays, slackened head tube angles, and that beefy front fork. Combine that with a short stem and the front of the bike is very easy to life. This makes bunny hops and other technical maneuvers much easier.
The seat is that low to all your body to move around on the bike without much interference. Some downhill bikes run the seat a level that allow it to be gripped with the knees more than to be sat on.
I rode a DJ/Park bike for quite a few years. It was a fun ride, but a very specific style of bike. Just a big wheeled BMX bike. Not something you would want to ride long distances.
That looks more like a trials bike than a mountain bike.
I need a longer seat post 
I just got back from there and WOW, that place is awesome.
I used my bike as-is at first, then cut 4" off of the seat post. They had a pipe cutter and a grinding wheel to clean up the edge. that worked a lot better.
then I demo'd a jumper - probably the exact bike in the picture above. That was so different. It was so much faster that I was able to jump quite a bit - even clearing multiple table tops in a row (one after another, not tripling them). I guess it is the hard tail and a lot stiffer fork, combined with tires better suited to indoors then my knobbies. The single gear ratio sucked in some of the big climbs and it was very hard on the trials type obstacles.
If I was working, I would be tempted to get the $300 membership where you can leave your bike and gear there and ride when anytime they are open.
I am shocked that Cleveland Ohio has something this cool.
Yeah, Ray's is supposed to be badass. A few locals (to me, in DC) make a few trips each year. I really should join them.
ZOMG RAYS IS BADASSSSS!!! Ive been several times and I can say theres so much there, youll be worn out long before you get bored with ANYTHING there. Its funny too because theres Moen faucets and Lowes banners all over there. The owner got corporate sponsorship cuz in the summers hes a contractor by trade. The indoor park is HIS SIDE BUSINESS! If thats his side stuff, Id love to see what he does with his 9-5 work
That said, rent the hardtail bike. Unless you plan on sticking solely to the XC course, your giant will take a serious beating and you wont have that much fun on a FS bike. The place just isnt really designed for it.
EDIT just saw you already went. Glad you had fun. A bike like that can be built pretty cheap. Watch Ebay /clist and expect to pay a few bucks, but its not an expensive sport to get into. I rode my BMX 20" bije there a ton and had as much fun as any of the DJ 26"ers did. Keep your eyes out for a Haro backtrail 24" - best of both worlds.
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