I currently ride a rigid steel hard tail – 15-20 yrs old. 2 related Qs:
1. Want to upgrade and wondered if anyone had any experience of the canyon ‘Grand Canyon AL’? Cannot find any reviews other than on the manuf website. Would they be a good bike on singletrack and N Welsh mountains?
2. Also having never ridden an aluminium bike are their rides so harsh in comparison to steel or is it just people getting a bit excited over very little? I want to use it on singletrack and general hills/mountains in N Wales. Will an ally bike sterilise me and should I stick to steel?
Problem being is that I want to build my own 100-120mm steel hardtail but the cost of self build is killing me and the canyon bikes seem so well spec’d.
Many thanks
On-one 456 : £170
X-FUSION Velvet fork or similar: £300
Good set of wheels/tyres: £300
Brakes off Merlin: £150
Deore crank:£55
run 1 x 10 gearing so rear mech/1 shifter/cassette/chain/cables: £100ish
Handlebar/stem/h-set/grips/seatpost: £100ish
Your favourite saddle: nowt
About 1200
So not far off what your thinking of paying?
Partner has the Easton ally Rock Lobster.
I went for the 853 version, as I'd always had steel bikes.
I actually prefer hers - lighter and just as comfy.
Changing seatposts and tyre size/pressure seems to make more difference than the frame material, tbh.
Both used for big days out in Snowdonia without problems.
Next bike will probably be an ally one.