Do You Actually Need A Long Travel MTB To Ride A Bike Park?

Over the past few weeks, I have received quite a few comments about what bike I ride at bike parks. Through reading these comments, it seems that there is an idea out there that you will be doomed at a bike park without a long-travel trail bike or even a full downhill bike. In today's video, I discuss this topic and showcase that you can still have a great time at a bike park even a short travel trail bike like my Commencal Tempo.
Location: Trestle Bike Park - Winter Park, Colorado
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[@PeterJamison]

How many times a season do you go to a bike park?

[@DarkFeedFPV]

25 - 30 times

[@billydeewilliams8909]

Went to Northstar about six times last season, this season I'm going every weekend except when I'm injured (like this last weekend). I've been riding it quite successfully on my 150/130 Norco Optic. I wouldn't say the bike is entirely up to the extremely gnarly trails at Northstar (if there was ever a park where you could make the argument that you NEED a DH bike for, I think it would be Northstar), but neither are my skills, meaning I spend most of my time on the blues, which it absolutely annihilates. I attribute a lot of the success to tire setup (Assegai front/DHR rear) and the aftermarket Cascade link on the rear.

[@PeterJamison]

@@DarkFeedFPV 🤙🤘

[@PeterJamison]

@@billydeewilliams8909 Rad! The optic seems like such a sick bike 💯

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

3... Maybe 4. There's not a place that would be worth taking a season pass locally (smallish trail networks) so at $40 to $100 a day for lifts I don't perceive it as a good value, I grew up next to a ski hill I spent my summers climbing up and going down, no lifts 💀 Also that way when I travel to go to some cool park it's a real event 😂

[@robocalifornia]

Unicycle with Assegai DH is the jam 🔥

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@TheBikeBuddha]

Been riding trail bikes in the parks and gnarly trails forever. As long as it’s a solid bike with solid tires it’s all up to the rider

[@PeterJamison]

totally agree!

[@mountainbikingisdabest2781]

I ride a 140/135 trail bike in park and can say that the ability to pop off everything makes them so fun.

[@PeterJamison]

Totally agree!

[@Czyk99]

Went from riding a Rocky Mountain slayer to an instinct and I prefer the shorter travel instinct on pretty much everything but the absolute gnarliest stuff

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@NateFastBikes]

Loving your videos man!! Short travel is definitely underrated! I have a spectral 125 and i prefer it to my enduro bike! So much more poppy and playful on the mellow parts of a trail. Keep the content coming man!!

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you are enjoying the videos, thanks for watching them! Spectral 125 seems like a rad bike, stoked to hear you dig it!

[@rideordont1917]

Hell yeah Pete! Was just enjoying my single crown at my park the other day, love it.

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@jacobovermyer]

I ride a 140 front and rear at Trestle every week. I dont tear up Trestle Downhill like you. But as long as you chose your line properly, you can ride anything. Nice riding man. 🤘

[@PeterJamison]

Appreciate that! And totally agree with you, line choice is everything on a short travel bike.

[@tudopr]

Again with the crazy good quality ! Love the vids

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you are enjoying them! Thanks for watching!

[@DeluxPlays_]

Just got myself a pair of Marzocchi 58's seeing them in your videos have really made me want them stoked to try them out

[@PeterJamison]

Love to hear it!! Hope you dig the fork!

[@DeluxPlays_]

@@PeterJamison will we be seeing a building video/first ride impressions of the FRS? 👀

[@PeterJamison]

@@DeluxPlays_ Build video of the FRS will be coming soon! 🤘

[@DeluxPlays_]

@@PeterJamison yesss 🙏🏼

[@noahscrofani3105]

The biggest difference between long travel and short travel, assuming that an experienced rider is riding both bikes, is the amount of confidence they inspire when hucking things, and the “f*** up” factor. Bigger bikes allow for more confident hucking and going at speed, and they also allow messups because they have leeway with more suspension. You can get away with more. This is just what I’ve found though.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@lukasvrana6388]

This...I went from 160/150 to 200/215, and it gaved me confidence to clean stuff I wasn´t able before. Can I do it now on less travel? Yes. But without longer travel I would´n even try.

[@ZagelMedia]

When I went to Trestle for the first time, my dad and I rented some DH bikes and we saw a guy out there riding on a hardtail 🤣🤣 just goes to show you can ride on anything (although you may break your wrists from the braking bumps out there lol)

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@Suspicious_Salamander]

LFG! Keep killing it! 🔥

[@PeterJamison]

Appreciate it!

[@DownhillwithDeeO]

Good stuff! You hit it all 2-3x faster than me but last year I had my Marin Rift Zone 140/125 29er at trestle and it was sick. Even did the trestle drop on beeallucanbe. Pretty much everything but banana peel. Ended up rockin’ my rear wheel on dirty dozen and blowing out my tire (even with an insert) but don’t think that had anything to do with travel. Great riding, thanks for the video!

[@PeterJamison]

Heck yeah, glad you have been enjoying the bike park!

[@dogmatika7]

Actually a good and helpful question!

[@PeterJamison]

🙏🏼👊🏼

[@Fandaridestrails]

I also have new Commencal Tempo and i riding everything on that thing 🤟 Tempo is perfect for flow trails but also good at gnarly bikeparks trails. Yes, sometimes more travel at rear could be good but its not nessesary 😃. I hope you planning do more videos with Tempo 🤟

[@PeterJamison]

Glad to hear you have a Tempo also! More videos will be coming soon from this bike!

[@OSUHARDING1ATECHNICEXPERIENCE]

I ride a Pivot Trail 429 Enduro Build. It’s also a 140/120 bike. I rip it down everything with no issues. I do have cushcore in the tires so I can run a little lower tire pressure but otherwise it’s a completely stock build. Bike companies are simply answering the market demands for longer travel but very few non-pro racing riders need it.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙

[@richchin5163]

I've been asking myself the same question as I have a bike with 130 in the back. As a newbie to the bike park, I would say that the bike can do more than I can! And that's probably true for a lot of people. The most important thing is to stay within your own limits - particularly when it comes to speed. When speed outstrips your skill, you can get into trouble regardless of how much travel you have!

[@PeterJamison]

Totally agree!

[@JeremyFacer]

People raced the Psychosis DH on hard tails. You don’t ‘need’ a long travel bike, but if you ride rough downhill trails with bomb holes and braking bumps you will have more fun on a longer travel bike

[@PeterJamison]

🤙

[@benimerl]

Two things I took from this video: 1) you can ride mostly anything on a short travel bike 2) if your line choice game is up for the task I ride a 150/150 bike everywhere and it feels like a sweet spot (Meta TR). My pace might be a little different from yours, though... Great footage and commentary!

[@PeterJamison]

Meta TR seems like a rad bike, thanks for watching!

[@pinchpeak5203]

I've always biked with the idea that nobody NEEDS anything other than 2 wheels. But we all WANT different things, and that's part of what makes the sport so cool. People just tend to forget the difference between the two. I don't need a DH bike, but I want a DH bike. They're so sick, and park is one of the only places you get the chance to ride them. Absolutely plowing a tech trail on a DH bike is one of the most intoxicating/addictive feelings I can get out of biking.

[@PeterJamison]

DH bikes are so fun no doubt. I dig your perspective on this topic.

[@IIISentorIII]

I love my Stumpy with 140 x130mm 😁 Cheers from Switzerland

[@PeterJamison]

Stumpy seems like an awesome bike 🤘🏼

[@larshardhaus1]

Very impressive, one of my goals this year is just to get down that trail in one piece :)

[@PeterJamison]

Lots of good trails such as 'search and seizure' that can help you build up to Trestle DH and make it down safely! 🤙

[@larshardhaus1]

@@PeterJamison thanks for the tip, made it down today, definitely b lines and needed every single mm of that 160mm fork to not otb

[@AluinKali]

I only get 2 weeks a year in the Austrian Alps so getting a dedicated bike park bike makes no sense for me. Despite that I never felt underbiked with my Yeti SB130 with 150 in the front and 130 in the back. Similarly my mates who ride with me have a canyon Neuron with 130 front and rear and a YT Jeffsy with 150/145. Modern trail bikes are so good you really don’t need anything bigger unless you live in the bike park or go to the gnarliest of dh trails.

[@PeterJamison]

Totally agree!

[@nakitojimo2001]

My Polygon Siskiu with 140mm front/ 120mm rear is already quite nimble enough for bike parks. Agility is the name of the game!

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@dougbowers8759]

The only problem with anything less than 200 is when you meet up with some hotties that only ride long travel then it's best to have a DH bike 😊

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@robertosmmjlist]

sure Peter for a rider of your skill you could get down trestle on freaking cruiser bike with flip flops... but for the average rider they would do better with a beefier bike with a little more room for errors, casing jumps and over cooking berms.

[@PeterJamison]

Totally agree! Flip flops might be tough though haha… Goal with the video wasn’t to show that long travel bikes are bad, just that you can do a lot with a short travel bike too 🤙🏻

[@Bogdan_Ch]

short answer YES !

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@fredaodh]

hahahahah

[@yomommastupid]

They say its the rider that makes the bike ride, not the bike the rider. Seeing you rip a DH/enduro trail on 140mm travel shows it can be done. Personally I would like a bit more travel around 160/170mm. My ideal spot for able to climb, have fun.

[@PeterJamison]

🤘 Thanks for watching!

[@fredaodh]

for a NON athlete? YES... (long travel are so much more "forgiven" with our mistakes...)

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@benlukkie]

My park whip is a 27.5x2.8 hardtail with 160mm up front. Singlespeed 34x16. Simple, light.

[@PeterJamison]

Those are some big tires!

[@michaelsturgeon5210]

I think the skill of the rider is the deciding factor between the travel of bike needed. A long travel bike would give a crap rider more of a chance for error and gettig away with it over a short travel bike .

[@PeterJamison]

100%!

[@HakunaMattatata]

Good looking video! What camera setup are you using?

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you like how it looks! I am using a GoPro Hero 12 with Max Lens Mod 2.0. Here is a video discussing my setup in further detail if you are curious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3WqoqV7n7ycitE

[@growlith6969]

Trestle? Depends. Are you a great rider? Then ride whatever. Are you average or worse? Ride a DH and it will save you some broken bones. You need all the forgiveness you can get if you are bound to make a mistake. Its saved me more times than I can count and given me the confidence to progress.

[@PeterJamison]

Love to hear that the DH bike is bringing you confidence out on the trails 👊🏼

[@michaelmann3636]

Sometimes it’s about riding abilities and line choices 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@PeterJamison]

Definitely plays a big part 🤘🏼

[@a8f235]

I got a 142/160mm trailbike which I categorize as a mini enduro bike(It's a 29er front and back). Never been to the bikepark yet, but I'd at least need a full face helmet first(got kneepads and elbow protection) I suspect it could be good to keep volume spacers in the car as well as shock pump, because my bike is dialed for trail riding, so I think I'd just have to start slow to avoid punching through the suspension too quickly. It can handle more than I use it for now, but I don't know any of the trails at the park so better to get some trail knowledge first.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏻

[@HighOnWheels702]

When you’re this good you can ride any bike lol

[@PeterJamison]

Comes with time, practice, and a lot of crashing 🤙😂

[@nunyobizkneez]

"Do You Actually Need A Long Travel MTB To Ride A Bike Park IF you don't ride like a hack?" There, fixed the title for you. I need all the help I can get bro, idk how many times 200mm has saved my ass from smashing into a tree or going off into the abyss on a jump trail (ahem rainmaker) .

[@PeterJamison]

Valid point 👊🏼

[@PunchingCacti]

Most people are over biked almost everywhere they go

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏻

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

For the few times I go to serious bike parks I usually rent a bike for the day or the weekend if I can't bring my Aurum DH bike, it's like track days on a car. Everything that's gonna break will 💔

[@PeterJamison]

😂 good comparison!

[@Haro64]

Yes, i neeeeeed long travel bike xD

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🤙💯

[@Mkondvar]

Yes you can, but how you feel and how long you can use shortravel bike for this. Last week i ride in Bialsko Biala where was EWS month ago on my YT Izzo, but damm, bike crying and im felt like im riding 10 days in row after 2 days.

[@PeterJamison]

Very true! The short travel bikes can take quite the beating!

[@noahdurbin]

I rode trestle on my hard tail a couple weeks ago 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@dzastafahrai]

Bikecheck, please

[@PeterJamison]

Coming soon!

[@paulwolf3302]

Mountain biking is way more fun than skiing. All the ski resorts should build these.

[@PeterJamison]

Would be awesome to see more resorts open bike trails for sure!

[@raylewis7221]

conditions look so prime wow

[@PeterJamison]

So prime!

[@waldchiller4695]

You fatigue later with more travel at the bike park and can get more laps in , in my experience. But you can absolutely ride any bike there.

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏻

[@miyui9269]

yes you do need long travel bikes coz if you jump your bike above 1 meter and it breaks your warranty would be voided as shorter travel bikes are not specified to do that. but the price of short and long travel bikes are the same.

[@PeterJamison]

✌🏼

[@matthewbush2870]

Hey Peter, love your content. Quick question for you: Do you think you're able to get away with such a short travel bike on such gnarly terrain because your an elite level rider with great line choice and good technique? Do you think a less skilled rider might feel the disadvantages of having less travel on this kind of terrain? Interested to hear your thoughts. Matt

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you enjoy the content, thanks for watching! You are spot on. That said, if a rider were to start on a shorter travel bike better technique and line choice will develop out of necessity in my opinion 💯

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

Gloves man. Gloves 😊

[@PeterJamison]

Gloveless all day 🤙🏻

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

@@PeterJamison 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Ferrari255GTO]

Do you really care if i have one? Wanting a long travel bike should be enough, and sometimes shorter travel bikes don't have the geometry you're looking for. It's always nicer riding a bike that feels a little more special, even if it isn't any more than the rest

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏻

[@wematanye533]

turns out if you're skilled enough you can ride a wooden pallet down a mountain

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@thesquirrel082190]

yes, next question

[@PeterJamison]

✌🏼

[@matousvanka5936]

How do you film it looks insane🔥

[@PeterJamison]

Glad you like how it looks! I use a GoPro Hero 12 with the Max Lens Mod 2.0

[@Wizler71]

Did you add volume reducers or otherwise adjust the suspension since you are maybe pushing the bike beyond it's normal usage? I was at Trestle yesterday woo!

[@PeterJamison]

Stoked you were out ripping yesterday! For me personally, I tend to always set up short travel bikes with an aggressive amount of volume spacers (I have 3 of 4 in the fork, and a 0.8 spacer in the shock). That said, I don’t need to change anything too much for the park, typically just a small increase in spring rate. Thanks for watching!

[@dougie730]

At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="553">9:13</a>, idk how big that roller after that jump is. looks like you could huck it and triple to that roller

[@PeterJamison]

I think that would work, but the entry speed into the next table would be pretty intense 😂

[@dougie730]

@@PeterJamison Yeah it probably would be. Be a sick line tho

[@mauimaxmtb2154]

Not Necessarily to due with short travel but more with geometry. I watched your video trying a bunch of different sized bikes and I think I remember you saying 460 was about your max. How is the 470 on the tempo feeling? Doesn't look like it's holding you back from having fun on the bike and popping off everything at all.

[@PeterJamison]

470 is feeling great with a high front end to shorten the cockpit feel! I’m running quite a few spacers and a 40mm rise bar for reference 🤙🏻 Thanks for watching!

[@Rubblechops]

Hardtail all day

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@crudolol]

I own a specialized kenevo ebike with 180travel - which I feel like is waaay too much for me. Looking to get a new one and was aiming for 150 front. Maybe the specialized levo SL gonna be my next choice. I wish I could ride a normal bike but i need a motor :-/

[@PeterJamison]

E bikes are awesome for sure 🤘🏼

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

It can easily be done on a hard tail . Just more jarring 😅

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@davidnavarrete4510]

I have a Rocky Mountain Fusion Hardtail with 100mm of travel. Tubeless setup with the Forekaster front and Recon back. I'll be in Colorado this weekend. I'm a novice rider looking to take my bike on some beautiful trails and on an actual mountain! would you recommend I take it to trestle bike park? I'll be staying in Denver. If not, I'd love some recommendations for some beautiful, scenic (and manageable) trails !

[@PeterJamison]

I would likely stay away from the bike park! That said, I am not the most educated on the trails here so your best bet would be to check out Trailforks 💯

[@davidnavarrete4510]

@@PeterJamison thank you for the insight 🙏🏽

[@AdelinVisotchi]

Bro are you you Jackson goldstone ??? Like brooo 😂😂

[@PeterJamison]

Far from Mr. Goldstone 😂

[@AdelinVisotchi]

@@PeterJamison you ar soo good i wish to get on that level,all love to you homie

[@PeterJamison]

Just keep practicing 🙏🏼🤘🏼

[@DaveMahoneyVG]

I ride a hard tail at trestle no travel required

[@PeterJamison]

🤘🏼

[@mtbmagal]

👍🏾

[@PeterJamison]

✌🏼

[@marcusbrannbacka1253]

how do you set up your suspension for bike park riding? more on the faster or slower side? thanks.

[@PeterJamison]

I run my suspension as fast as it can go for rebound 🤘🏼

[@user-gm9hg7gb9s]

How do you feel about the new marzocchi rail damper, ive heard a lot of negative things about it like inconsistencies across different forks over the same model or different frequency of clicks and i was wondering what your opinions are on it.

[@PeterJamison]

It has been treating me well so far 🤙🏼

[@khoi_tran]

What tire pressures do you run? I'm on a Trance 130/115 and it's so much faster than my two bros enduros at SE US bike parks.

[@PeterJamison]

I run 25 psi front and 27/26.5 psi in the rear depending on the day 💯

[@JLawMTB]

How do you like the DHR on the front?

[@PeterJamison]

Rolls fast, but I still strongly prefer the Assegai as my front tire of choice 🤙🏼

[@yaboyemmet6745]

Can I ask what you used to shoot that follow cam on spicy chicken

[@PeterJamison]

Those first intro shots were from this film: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZivn6umnc1lfrM Shot on a Red Raptor on a cable cam 🤘🏼

[@yaboyemmet6745]

@@PeterJamison Just watched the film you were ripping! Bike park looked prime

[@PeterJamison]

@@yaboyemmet6745 appreciate it! Bike park was prime for sure!

[@powerstrokemaintenance]

Water bottle steeze

[@PeterJamison]

🤘

[@chrisfaessen1417]

Id be curious to know your height and weight. Im 6'3" 220 and feel like i could never ride a bike like that at trestle.

[@PeterJamison]

I’m 5’11” and 175lbs ✌🏼

[@km_loop]

stoked up or bricked up? 😳

[@PeterJamison]

😂

[@thesigmaboss69]

idc im going in with my hardtail 100 mm

[@PeterJamison]

🤙🏼

[@matthewmaile1247]

What are your thoughts on the TEMPO vs other trail bikes?

[@PeterJamison]

Huge fan of it so far, but I am still in a bit of a honey moon phase with it... We will see as time passes. I will share my thoughts in a bike check in a few weeks 🤘

[@KingLeon2k]

i think im first

[@PeterJamison]

Looking like second from my end 🤣 Thanks for watching!