Firstly, I’ll say Hi! I’m a new member on the forum, but I’ve been using it for a whie. I live in the cotswolds and usually get out on the bike every week, sometimes twice 🙂
I think on any forum I’ve posted on, this is the longest first post I’ve ever done, so apologies, and please bear with me!
I want to upgrade from my current ride to something a little newer. I’m not in a club, and usually ride with the same few guys so I don’t get much chance to try out other peoples bikes
There’s so much out there that I’m driving myself (and the mrs) mad with trying to decide what’s right for me. I don’t folow all the latest models and technical developments religously so I seem to find myself on Bike Radar reading reviews just so I can tell what I’m looking at.
I’ve got a 2004 Stumpjumper at the moment. It’s my first suspension bike and has been brilliant for the 2 years that I have had it. I’ve only got about £1500 to spend, so I have been looking at second hand bikes to make that little cash go a bit further.
Being based on the edge of the cotswolds most of my rides include some 20% plus climbs, so any replacement is going to have to be an efficient climber. It will also have to be able to cope with coming back down again. I don’t think that my riding style will require that I get anything too burly, I do small drops and kickers but not anthing too mental. I have done a few trail centres in the forest / south wales and I’m comfortable with the blue green and red routhes that I have done.
Initially I was after a Zesty, as a 2010 524 seems to be somewhere near my budget. They get great reviews and seem to be the do anything, anywhere bike that I’m looking for. As it’s gone on, I’m getting a bit worried about all the negative stuff about reliability of the frames and crappy BB design that I read on the forums. Even the Lapierre owners club forum.
I’ve also looked at getting a 2010 / 2011 Stumpjumper, which is looking more likely after reading all the bad stuff about the zestys.
What I’m asking is, are my concerns about the zesty justified? and what else should I be considering as an option?
Thanks,
Mike