Anybody using one for all mountain/xc/trail center type riding? Can they be built up reasonably light? Recently did my first DH day and fancy doing more but fancy something a bit burlier than my Heckler but still light enough for pedalling around on all day rides in Wales,Peaks etc.Ta
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Calling Orange Patriot riders
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Posted 2 years ago #
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see patriot Xcel?
yeah, my patriot weighed about the same as my mates 5, mine was built A/M his was built A/M.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Patriot 66 here, used as light DH bike. it's an amazingly polyvalent and capable bike and I have used it on (lift-assisted) all-day rides... but honestly, it begs to be pointed downwards at high speed, not pedalled around/up things. While you *could* use it for trail-centre-type riding etc., I don't think it's the best solution. If you can afford to run two bikes, get a hardtail or a short-travel FS for xc stuff and keep the Patriot in full-on DH mode. if not, then try at least to buy 2 shocks (short-stroke air, long-travel coil), a travel-adjust fork (the '09 55 ATA is seriously under-rated and would be ideal) and maybe two wheelsets as well (quicker to swap over).
I can't wait till Orange bring out a proper successor to the Patriot 66...
Posted 2 years ago # -
I did 110km/4000m climbing in a day in the alps on my patriot (with short air shock/lightish tyres/z1), scouting out the grand raid course with a mate who was riding it (he was on a carbon trek top fuel!):
Next day I stuck the 66s and coil shock on with DH tyres and rode uplift around morzine.
Great at both. I had a new shape heckler before it and the patriot is a better handling bike for me, I really like it. Now I've got a Lyrik on it again so no need to swap the forks...
Although I have got a trance as well now, and it does climb considerably better!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes it is fine for that. I do day rides on mine or DH with a few swaps and tweaks. However I'd want something lighter and less travel if it were my only bike.
Posted 2 years ago # -
nice photos, loving the fixed stare off that drop!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Use mine ('08 Maxle model) for everything and it's great, although it's overkill for UK trail centres. Done xc and dh in the Pennines, Lakes, Alps, Canada and Spain - super reliable and fun to ride, although obviously it's not the lightest bike in the world. Just spec it carefully and it makes a great all-rounder. I run mine with Van 36s and a coil shock. A 2.35 tyre on the back helps reduce drag if I'm riding more xc. A few of my mates ride very similar Patriot set-ups for the same kind of riding.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes it is fine for that. I do day rides on mine or DH with a few swaps and tweaks. However I'd want something lighter and less travel if it were my only bike.
yep, an 190mm/50mm stroke air shock thing is a good trick to get around that - reduces the travel to about 140mm - exactly the same as a 5. With an air shock, 2.35s and a travel adjust fork it is perfectly useable as a trail centre bike - a pound or so heavier than an equivalently specced five. So still overkill, but not as much as 178mm of coil sprungness :D.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hmmmm,well ta for the replies everyone.Think I might be better off getting a coil shock and a pair of Lyriks for my Heckler than trying to build a light Patriot.
Posted 2 years ago #
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