Of the following 3 options for an HT:
a) "Pimp" my current genesis altitude with Sids, XTR & lightweight finishing kit (already have AC wheels)
or
b) replace said altitude frame and build similarly (so er, what frame?)
or
c) Just save up for a new complete carbon/29 lightweight jobbie (so er, what bike?)
Budget approx 1500.
Thoughts?
Racify what you have.
I had an 853 Inbred and loved racing it. Then decided to go over to a pure race alloy frame in order to save some weight.
Hated it. The reason being a frame like that is designed to be ridden at race pace, but a race pace higher than mine.
The lightened 853 was quicker in my hands.....you might find the same.
Then of course you've got the 'weekender' issue.
Where are you racing?
Do you have space for two bikes?
If so I'd run an everyday bike and a nice bike. Save the nice bike for races and good weather and use the other bike the rest of the time.
Work out what you have and what you can get and then divide into two bikes.
Personally I'd look at a scandal or whippet from on-one and some nice forks then get some cheaper wheels for the everyday bike and look at finishing kit depending on what you need.
molgrips - Member
Where are you racing?
I use the HT for 50k (shorter) rides which are trailbreak rides, evans rides, Gorrick, and so on. Also for Training and winter. 12/24's, SITS and 100k's will be on a Yeti ASR-5 for more comfort.
Terrain wise its Surrey/North downs, Chilterns, Hampshire for the HT, national for the yeti.
Jonba, I have the space, currently I have an HT, a FS and a road bike. The main problem with the genesis is that I've ridden the OEM shimano kit/alex wheels into the ground over 18 months, it all needs replacing.
I'd rather not have to maintain three bikes, 3 forks etc, and I'd rather being riding the bike I'm racing as much as possible so that I'm very familiar with it.
Gorricks don't have much climbing but are fast twisty singletrack, so handling is pretty important. A 456 could suit I reckon.
I had a Genesis Altitude 20 that I built up into a pretty lightweight race bike. I really liked how it rode. I used it from xc races to 12 hr solo stuff. However in the end I felt the frame was the overly heavy (well apart from me!) part of the package. So I bought a Scott Scale 35 at a reduced sale price. The Scale 35 has a carbon frame but fairly low end components. Before I even rode the Scale I swapped all the bits between the frames and ended up with a much lighter bike. I still have the Genesis and it has gradually ended up as a slightly more burly bike than it was before.
Between the two the Genesis is easier to ride, the Scale is a bit more twitchy. Uphill the Scale is faster. If I had to make a choice and could only keep one it would be the Scale, it is great as a race bike, but also fine as a weekend general riding bike.
Sorry that probably doesn't help much!
Hmm. Carbon 456 at £1499 with forks that lock down to 120 for racing, but go back to 150 for messing about at the weekend?
You could be on to something there molgrips...
Wheels would be the thing.. I've found that a light racing wheelset can be too flexy for max enjoyment on bigger stuff.
I also recently bought a 2011 Scott Scale 35 at much reduced sale price.
Best VFM I have ever spent on a bike. A decent Frame and Forks, kit is nothing special but it works and I decided to leave it on for the winter. It has brought a real smile back to face whilst after riding an Epic almost exclusively for the last couple of years.
Last gorrick I did had a 1000ft of climbing per 8 mile lap which is a reasonable chunk of climbing in my book. I,d go for the whippet. Not ridden a 456 c but expect it to be a similarish ride to my mmmbop. Would be ok on races but I reckon you'd soon want a proper race bike
I'd spend £1349 on one of these.
cube 29er carbon goodness
a)
i race the weekend bike which is also the weekday bike
spend the money on a trainer if you want to get faster at racing, or save it for race fees, or spend it on weekends away if you want to enjoy some more of them
Last gorrick I did had a 1000ft of climbing per 8 mile lap which is a reasonable chunk of climbing in my book
Overall they are not as hilly as many races. And they are twisty. So the ability to rag the bike is important.
I recently had this quandry, I had my big bike nicked, so only had my race bike. Decided to upgrade the shock, get a reverb, and stick some trail tyres on. It's cheaper in the long term only running one bike, only one set of parts to go wrong or break and only one bike to ever pimp up.
Come race day, the reverb will come off, RoRo tyres back on and its back to lightweight featheryness
A race bike which will also be a weekend bike?
Sounds like you need a "bike"
It's cheaper in the long term only running one bike, only one set of parts to go wrong or break
Er, but those parts do twice as many miles...
That's why I didn't say 'wear out' 
When running two bikes I find I do spend more than running one. More so for me, its about the cost of having them nicked again.
So it seems like having 1 bike for both is the way to go.
I noted the 456 DOESNT have the dual travel Revelation (although I could phone on-one and ask for a swap I guess), making it slack/big for racing, and the Whippet at 100mm isnt really that great for Surrey.
So, is it the Altitude with a Sid/XTR mix for South East trails and races?
the Whippet at 100mm isnt really that great for Surrey
I've never needed more than 100mm riding those trails. Maybe you need to sling a leg over a short(er) travel bike?
the Whippet at 100mm isnt really that great for Surrey
why not?
Whippet at 100mm isnt really that great for Surrey.
yep i suggest going rigid for surrey - 100mm will be too much frankly
ps werent you last week talking about how you were hypothetically saving money to show your wife you can afford to max out on a mortgage ?
[quote]trail_rat - Member
ps werent you last week talking about how you were hypothetically saving money to show your wife you can afford to max out on a mortgage ?
Yes thats this month. 
TBH Its a trial for our normal monthly income with now pending mortgage (house offer accepted) but I may have been luckier with an annual work bonus than I thought.
Maybe there's a point to testing a 100mm bike.
I quite fancy the whyte 29er's at the Bikle show....
It's not really about the travel it's about the length and associated head angle.
molgrips - Member
It's not really about the travel it's about the length and associated head angle.
Again a good point. I went from a 150mm FS to an 120 and love it, feel more confident/comfortable on it and am riding exactly the same trails.
Proves the point really...
Maybe there's a point to testing a 100mm bike.
You don't need an excuse to try a different bike. 
Maybe you need to sling a leg over a short(er) travel bike?
+1
100mm's plenty I reckon.
Otherwise I'd look at a Whippet/Lurcher.
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