I sold my lovely Santa Cruz Juliana last week and am starting to regret it a bit (especially after a 50 mile MTB ride on the 5 last Saturday 😯 ).
I’m in the middle of moving house at the moment so don’t have too much spare cash, but am looking at buying something second hand to get me through the next few months of xc races etc (and to make longer / less techy rides a bit less painful!). I have the following on my hit list;
Scott Spark
Yeti ASR
Spesh Epic
Cube AMS
Giant Anthem
Lovely – but need to keep the costs minimal on this one… I am about to buy a Turner Burner frame to build up which I suspect might go a tad over budget 😉
I have an immaculate condition 2009 women’s small Scott Spark RC for sale if you’re interested. I’m also 5’4″ so guess it should be roughly the right size I guess! It was only used as a “Sunday best” race bike for the odd xc event, hence the great condition. Scarily fast compared to my other 26″ full suss! If you’re interested at all drop me an email and I’ll send you spec and pics. I would say I’m north west based if you wanted to have a look/try but I get the impression you’re a fair way south?!
I’ve got my wifes anthem xw frame for sale at the moment. 2010 model, size medium. Shock recently serviced at tf tuned. Would come with headset, front mech and seat clamp. Also Also have the wheels that were on it as well. Any good?
Hello mate, Ive been through the same loop as you but Im 6’3!!
I’ve ridden back to back the Anthem and Epic, 26ers (this was 2011 when riding a 29 was what riding a 26er is now you see!! ) at a Demo at Cannock
Anthem felt way more trail bike than the epic, and was great on the Singletrack but the Epic went up hill faster and felt racier/ was faster for me over all.
I bought the epic, no regrets it’s my one MTB now. Ive raced (badly TBH!!) three day events, shorter stuff done some Merida marathons, ridden it in Wales, northeast, lakes both trail centres and natural stuff and I love it.
What I will say is it is a race bike, and asks a lot of you when it get really rough but it rewards you for working hard! Ive put a dropper on mine now for mucking about as the lack of skill, QR seat clamp and high saddle gave been interesting at the end of the day!! But it’s made it a brilliant trail bike too.