Hi, I've owned a 2012 Specialized Carve Pro (medium) now for 7 months and have done a few races including Bontrager Twentyfour 12. I really like the geometry of the bike and have been impressed with it's capabilities. However, I'm planning to do Bontrager Twentyfour 12 again next year, in the solo category and am after a lighter weapon. My Carve weighs in at about 28 lbs I think. Stuff I've looked at so far includes:
Canyon Grand Canyon CF:
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/grand-canyon-cf.html
and, Planet X Dirty Harry
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXDHXT/planet_x_dirty_harry_xt_mountain_bike
Should I be restricting myself to a hardtail? I just think that I'm going to get more speed for my money, no worries of bearings or shock failure mid race, less frame for mud to cling to, and quicker up the climbs.
So, budget 2k, what's going to get me the most laps???
Biggest advantage this year for me was mud tyres on a rigid hard tail. Rode past dozens of people pushing. Think I was 5th if that helps put my answer into context.
Mud tyres and a santa cruz superlight: best of both worlds (comfort/massive hardtail-beating mud clearance) according to my wife. Also Newnham's mud seems to suit specialized storm or bontrager mud-x more than trailrakers in my experience.
But we are owed a properly dry one this time round anyway.
alfine hub.
29er hardtails whizzed passed me last year. No need for heavy duty mud tyres like the 26ers so you can roll a little quicker
Also prepare for little things like don't use a neoguard as it just collects the mud. If theres a remote sign of mud and the top sections along the ridge are in use the mud tyres will reduce the drag a lot
I wouldn't like to do a whole 24 solo on a hardtail, but each to their own. I've done it on a full sus and thought it was well suited to the course (for me anyway).
One compatible with misery
lol
Big wheels, skinny tyres, no suspension and as few a gears as possible are the answer for 24's such as 24/12, Mayhem and SITS when the weather turns foul.
Mark Deacon came 2nd at 24/12 Solo this year on a rigid singlespeed On One Scandal 29er with narrow mud tyres fitted! To be fair to him, I think he was as surprised as anyone as I don't think he was expecting to finish so high up, sterling job that he did of course, I think choosing the right bike for the conditions helped him just as much as his uber efficient pit crew that cleaned his bike every lap and filled him full of food did! 😉
Whoop! I cleaned Marks bike every lap 🙂 mud tyres for spares and decent mud clearance made all the difference, those with had a much easier time... Although it may not rain next year 😉
if a specialized 29er hardtail works for you upgrade to a lighter specialized 29er hardtail . it has to be the bike that works for you and you are happy to ride for 12 or 24 hours.
Thanks for the input guys. I think I'm going to go down the route of a light 29er race hardtail, 100mm travel forks, 1x10speed, pair of mud tyres at the ready. I can imagine singlespeed was great this year, but I know my knees wouldn't be able to handle it. With a 3x10 set up this year, I quickly learned to tune my ears and legs in to the drivetrain and nurse it along.
Also had major clearance issues with my RockShox Recon forks and Captain Control 2.0" tires. Needless to say, the forks are a few grams lighter now... I think the clearance on Fox forks is better.
Doesn't matter. Ride whatever you like past the start line then ditch the bike and start walking. You'll be much quicker than most of the field pushing their bikes and stopping every 10 yards to clear the bog from their wheels.