Narrowed it down to Orange 5 Pro or Whyte 19 Trail. Both very different bikes but both supposed to be designed for UK conditions. Less to go wrong with the hard tail but can it handle a black run? The Orange has the travel but might be a bit heavy for pedaling around generally flatish woodland trails just outside my door. Anyone got any thoughts?
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best bike for uk trail riding
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Posted 3 years ago #
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"but can it handle a black run?"
Should the question be can you manage a black run whilst riding it?I can't see why it wouldn't handle a double black run like laggans black or stainburns warren boulder trail
Where/what do you ride?
Posted 3 years ago # -
ride all over, glentress last week, swinley forest this week, generally forest trails in kent though. just wondered if the whyte frame is strong enough for big drops and DH style runs you tend to find on black runs.
Posted 3 years ago # -
"big drops and DH style runs you tend to find on black runs."
Which black runs for eg?
Posted 3 years ago # -
A 19 should be able to handle most things, but what have you ridden these black runs on in the past? I know you can do Laggan Black on a 100mm hardtail if you want but you might not be able to.
If you've done them all in the past on a hardtail and it suits most of your riding, go for it. Better to have a bike suited to 80% of your riding that's a touch out of its depth sometimes than lug a heavier bouncy bike around- though, to be honest, if you're spending that sort of money on a 5 it won't be a lead balloon.
Posted 3 years ago # -
A lightish HT like the Whyte might be OK for big drops, but it depends how big. The Five will cope way better. I'm not saying they're indestructable but I've not heard of any breakages & mine feels like it'd cope with almost anything. I still ride the HT sometimes, but it's generally the Five I grab, regardless of where I'm riding. For me it's just more fun.
If your skill's up to it you can ride black XC trails on a fully rigid, and if your skill isn't there you'll come to grief on a full sus. But the Five will let you do more with your skill if that makes sense.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Don't know how it squares up and I know it doesn't answer your question, but seriously consider a blur if it's in your price range, they're amazing and climb very well.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Probably no such thing as a "best bike" for British trails or anywhere for that matter.So much depends on personal preference,ability,ridng style ect.ect. If I could have only one bike it would be a 5"ish trail bike with perhaps two sets of wheels.A lightish pair for just riding around and a stronger set for the Black run days.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Check out the seat binder design on the 19..mate frame has just cracked both sides of the silly hole in frame for the binder. This was his 2nd one,1st one cracked close to the front mech.
Posted 3 years ago #
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