[Closed] You won't believe this, but I've made a decision...

its not a pretty bike, is it...

Giant Anthem SX '15?
Looks nice!

**faints**

Those wagon wheels look small? If it's too late to stop the purchase you can always return it 😀

Not much wrong with that. Given that Giant have now dropped their ridiculous head tube standard I can safely say that I approve.

Not sure about the colour scheme, it's not very "enduro" is it 😆

too much travel on the front 😉

After todays Strava stuff, you'll find ... it's not worth it.

At our level "it's not about the bike, couldn't be more correct"

Over a 30km TT route today I finished just 3 mins off my best.... Today I was on a Meta AM bike... running Rapid Robs... my best is on a Road bike running 100psi road rubber... 3 mins isn't that much in all honesty.

Not in that colour I hope? I'm sorry, but its upsetting my delicate aesthetic sensibilities enormously. Those inexplicable yellow bits look like they've let a child loose with the spare paint after he'd finished his Airfix model

[img] [/img]

I think you need to reconsider

I trust you chose that colour scheme to match your Primark security guard uniform?

Did you get a discount?

It only comes in that colour. I don't mind it at all.

weeksy - Member
After todays Strava stuff, you'll find ... it's not worth it.

What strava stuff? 3 minutes is a lot of places on a leaderboard weeksy over that distance 😉

What strava stuff? 3 minutes is a lot of places on a leaderboard weeksy over that distance

Agreed... but 1 bike was road, 1 was an AM... I was on the road. Not THAT much of a difference IMO that the difference between your other MTB and this MTB will make a massive difference.

I'll be interested to hear your results compared to your current bike though for sure.

I'll be interested to hear your results compared to your current bike though for sure.

That's easy, it'll be faster no matter what strava says. 🙂

But how do you put air in the tyres?

From a Yeti to a Giant?

How the mighty have fallen.

Would you have a BMW 1 series 120d or a Ford Focus RS if I offered you both?

But yes, prior 26ers were worth more 2nd hand and I didn't a mortgage or have nursery & school bills to pay when I bought the Yeti...

Edit: Thinking about it, I sold an Intense Tracer for £1750 & bought the Yeti for £2340, so it only cost me £600.

From a Yeti to a Giant?

How the mighty have fallen.

I think giant make yeti's frames for them.

I like it, I also like to colour too. Hope you've got a blue camelback as an accessory for those long days in the saddle.

All it needs is a bit of mud on it.

And some aching legs.

I'm convinced its the right bike, after experiencing vpp, and thinking hard about what I want it for plus

a) my locale is tight & twisty singletrack
b) I want the 100mm Maestro for endurance comfort & efficiency
c) Its relatively light, more so without the dropper
d) The fork will do for odd days in Wales.
e) I don't want the choice of two play/race bikes

The other option was to have a Anthem 29er as well as the Yeti. But then I'd be wracked with indicision about which to ride... 😀

f) You're quite used to the taste of vomit in your mouth so looking at it won't be a problem?

maybe it's one of those bikes that looks better at speed...briefly...from afar....at night.... 🙂

looks good, reminds me of my much neglected 2006 Zaskar

The Anthem 29ers look ugly, but that's much nicer!

Apart from the colours... good luck with choosing a bottle cage.

I'd be interested to know how it rides.

has there ever been a Giant bike that looked good?

It's a fun little bike. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

When did you test-ride it?

JCL - Member
It's a fun little bike

Somehow you managed to make it sound derogatory.

localhero94 - Member
When did you test-ride it?

I rode someone else's about a year ago at Epping.

I thought you said you'd discounted this one because it was very similar to your Yeti?

Tried Giant in St Pauls? They have all sorts of Demo bikes, possibly one of those ^^

Though on second thoughts you may hanker for something else 😆

Nah, it'll be fine, like I said, good bike, needs Mud and Snot on it..

I thought you said you'd discounted this one because it was very similar to your Yeti?

I had, but I think thats the point. If the Yeti had more of a platform to it/VPP and bigger wheels I'd keep it.

The Anthem 29er is a compromise to my locale and a £500 cheaper possible slightly better option, and I can't have both (well I could, but I'd drive myself mad). Why pay £1500 for a bike you'd use 5-6 times a year...

Fair point.

So you're down to two MTBs now?

Edit: Thinking about it, I sold an Intense Tracer for £1750 & bought the Yeti for £2340, so it only cost me £600.

So given second hand values are half minus a bit very every year - I'll give £250 for the yeti and I'm doing you a favour.

You could have it for £1250 and that's a shit load of bike for the money.

Curious yellow, yes two mtbs....

i like it, but yeh the yellow highlighting is a bit random, though i quite like it back of the head tube, just not anywhere else....

in the real world, face-to-face no one will say anything much ever about it... enjoy.

in the real world, face-to-face no one will say anything much ever about it... enjoy.

Er, oh.... 🙁

I like that. I'm tempted by a Trance (possibly the 3 or 2) personally.

Love it mate!enjoy.

Personally I don't especially like the yellow. But hey, if it's a bike which works for you, you aren't going to be looking at it when you ride it ( unless you happen to be passing a shop window ) .
Big fan of recent Giants here though, so maybe I'm biased. But yellow ?
Enjoy it !

Wait, if it's only for 5-6 times a year why not get something bigger?

Glad you have decided Kryton. My turn now. Paint/ascetics aside, I think the Anthem SX is a great bike. Sat on one last week and will demo. Hate the colours though (sorry). Is it better than a camber Evo.....that is my choice

curiousyellow - Member
Wait, if it's only for 5-6 times a year why not get something bigger?

What do you mean by bigger?

I like that a lot and good value kit, sorted geometry. In fact when LBS does it's 20% off everything for 2 days at Christmas I could be sorely tempted !

Something with more travel I guess.

It's for Xc racing and forest singletrack. Don't need 160mm for that.

I'd just sub in the HT for all of that and get a toy for the bigger days.

To each his own I guess.

As a newcomer to MTB it's been enlightening to see someone else's thought process though. I am in a similar situation. I have a race oriented full-sus that was my first proper bike a couple of years ago. I've butchered it over time to do heavier duty stuff as my riding progressed. I've now decided to return it to a race bike (as time and money permit) and save up for a bigger bike in the future because the hit I'd take on selling it would break my heart!

It's for Xc racing and forest singletrack. Don't need 160mm for that.

You used to 😉

I like (yellow bits aside). As I told you, our local racing whippet has had all 3 wheel sizes on the Anthem & he is adamant the 27.5 is the best of the three for speed & comfort.

Shame you couldn't stretch to the Advanced Team - much better colour scheme 🙂

Oh cheers Nobby. You made me use google and I found this for £1700 - yes really.

[img] [/img]

SRAM and 100mm though. and luckily not my size.

All depends how much you want to spend and how much the last %age of performance improvements of weight/travel/spec will potentially affect your finishing position in the race. If you think it's the difference between a podium and a 4th, spend it.

Lol.

The new 'Team' one looks fantastic IMO:

[img] [/img]

Can't justify £5.5k on a nice paint job mind..

I don't think I could justify £5.5k on any bike to my wife tbh...

So, I've opend my laptop and two things have happened in the space of 10 seconds;

a) I got so excited I forgot to press the "confirm payment" button which was off screen at the time, so I haven't bought the SX yet

b) My hitherto deliberately bike-nonchalant wife just walk in, saw the picture and said, "I thought the one with bigger wheels was better, cheaper too wasn't it?"

ngggg... arghhh... grrrr...

Tell her no, no it isn't. Nino said so. 🙂

The new 'Team' one looks fantastic IMO:

I agree with that.

And yes, just buy the 27.5" one, it will bring you Nino-esque levels of performance. Guaranteed*

*possibly not

Lol! Right, time to put the Yeti in the classfieds... Gulp!

Have you double checked with Alex? Is there time for him to buy one first?

Where may I cash in my million points for giving you the correct answer-

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-bike-for-9

Just found this. 2015 Anthem SX. It will be phenomenally fast. Everywhere.

[img] [/img]

*basks in glory*

Ha Ha Njee - no, he bought a Spearfish, and is still keeping up the tradition of falling over every ride, twice in fact at Oktoberfest.

I'd expect no less!

Keen to know how it rides, I suspect I may be drawn to a demo later in the year...