I'm Glasgow based so my normal haunts are Glentress (off and on piste), Aberfoyle steep trails, Inners (only been on the marked trails but I'm keen for the golfy side ASAP), Mugdock, Carron Valley, Cathkin Braes, Kirrochtree etc. Also occasionally go up to Laggin / Fort William and would like to go try some of the enduro stuff around Kinlochleven too.
I’m looking for a "one bike to rule them all" suggestion. I know that's not really possible but what would you suggest is the best type of bike for this type of riding? Trail type bike @ 140mm or enduro style bike @ 160mm?
I had been eying up a YT Capra but i'm starting to think that might be too much bike and hard going on the hills. My current bike is a Cannondale Prophet; goes pretty well but I’m looking for something more modern as it’s starting to show it’s age.
Budget would be around about £2000.
You're going to have to blow the budget I'm afraid, no ones riding around on £2k bikes in the Tweed Valley, Santa Cruz 5010 or Bronson's only, don't forget Enve's are the only accepted wheel brand. Please tell me you've at least got a POC helmet?? You don't want to look a pleb do you?
I'd say 140mm would be perfectly, probably hard to beat a Canyon Spectral if the £'s are 'tight', Joe Barnes and Liam Moynihan do pretty well on their Spectrals in Scotland.
Unfortunately, all of this ^ is correct.
Other than that, go for the bike that suits the stuff you enjoy riding the most?
Banshee spitfire v2 140 rear 160 front... Buy it you'll love it! Ride all the same trails and the bike is never out its depth, unless your into bigger drops then go for the rune. But even then if your riding a lot of bigger stff a 160 enduro bike will start to suffer after prolonged big hits, if your not smooth.
I think someones confusing the Tweed Valley with Surrey.
I would go with the Spectral 7.0 EX with the 150mm Pikes up front, just over £2k.
Mugdock, Cathkin and Carron Valley would all be at home in the South East
That's true, they're just easiest for after work rides when it's getting dark early. Much prefer the more techy stuff listed.
I'd say 140mm would be perfectly, probably hard to beat a Canyon Spectral if the £'s are 'tight', Joe Barnes and Liam Moynihan do pretty well on their Spectrals in Scotland.
Which is fine if you can ride like them. Liam rides a strive, and Joe rides a spectral albeit with 160 forks btw.
OP - if you haven't found the techy bits of Mugdock come along on a GMBC Wed evening ride and we can show you them 🙂
Whatever you've got.
He's right. £2k is still Pikey territory. So do it properly. Build a 33lb Bald tyred dirt jump hardtail and treat yourself to a pack of fags to smoke while you wheelie past all the zero style 'duro tog'd up no-hoper sportive mtbers on your jaunts.
Which is fine if you can ride like them. Liam rides a strive, and Joe rides a spectral albeit with 160 forks btw.
Spectral each race I've seen him at in the last year or two https://instagram.com/liam_moyn/ . You don't need to ride like Joe Barnes to enjoy a 140mm bike in Scotland.
OP If you don't mind second hand parts you could build up something interesting like a Transition Smuggler/Scout and just about be on budget. Been a few second hand Transition frames starting to pop up for under a grand.
rose granite chief 1 and upspec to pikes and s few other things
or maybe this
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-stereo-160-hpa-pro-27-5-suspension-bike-2015/rp-prod127762
Paul's cycles have some nice Cannondales with a huge chunk off if you like those?
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£1800 down from £4k - i'd be tempted if I was looking for a single bike to ride everything on
j
I've got a V2 Spitifire in Large in Glasgow that I would split or sell as a whole bike if the price was right.
g36the(@)gmail(dot)com
Seems like I ride a lot of the same places as you so I'm going to reccomend a Bird aeris , because I've got one and its great . Just a really good bike that you can do anything on
I ride a Capra in the rough area you describe. I think I would be just as fast on a 140mm bike as a 160mm bike at Golfie/Glentress/Non DH inners.
Travel isn't really the limiting factor. The amount of guts I have combined with how late I can leave braking before a corner seems to be.
I also am actually not as keen on the Capra on trail uk trail centre stuff. It is smoother but I have way more fun on my 120mm hardtail (and am probably faster on the hardtail).
Cheers yacoby, I think i'm pretty set on a 140mm bike now. Thinking the Canyon Specteral 7.0 EX looks like good value.