Review - Giant STP Jump Bike:

Giant STP (Street Trail Park), Jump it, Drop it, Huck it, Pop it. Enough said...

You know the first bikes to be ridden were the "road" style? Big skinny wheels! Then some nutter decided to ride the thing off road, and here we are, with a bike Giant have designed to do anything BUT road. Riding styles are constantly developing, creating exciting, adrenaline-filled experiences to give you perspectives on how bikes are meant to ride. You know how the bikes tend to have seat height adjustment to give you the right leg extensions? The only extension we need to worry about here is the amount of extension we can get from the dirt.

When you ride a bike with the core design influenced by one of todays best street riders (Jeff Lenosky), you're guaranteed it's built for urban freeriding. Jeff Lenosky is to urban riding as Lance Armstrong is to the Tour De France. Take a couple of minutes on YouTube and watch some of Jeff Lenosky's moves for inspiration. You will see this bike has no limits (the only limits you have are self-imposed). It's proven jump geometry.

There are two frame sizes available, 14" & 15". On the larger of the two the top tube is an inch longer and has a slightly longer head tube. Simply to give you more cockpit room, especially if you're up at the 6 foot tall mark. Super short chain stay with CNC machined yoke gives the STP snappy manouvering, it manuals super easy and stable and is designed to be whipped in the air. This head angle is relatively steep giving it a lively ride without the ride feeling too much like a BMX.

There are a few different models within the range. The frame is the same all the way through. Butted alloy tubing giving it strength whilst keeping the weight to a minimum. Though you choose which one has the components best suited for what you want.

What do I want in a jump bike? Hydraulic brakes? Adjustable suspension? Wide handlebards? What cranks? Is longer better?

This is where you stop reading and come in for a test ride and a chat. How it is off the shelf isn't exactly how you always have to ride it. The STP is a very versatile frame enabling you to fix it up to suit your style.

Pick up the phone and call Ivanhoe Cycles (9499 5209).

The ride will give you the freedom everyone looks for and you too will be able to say: "Yes, I would recommend this to a friend."