6'5" and I think I need a XC FS 29er
Not much choice in UK, but looking at a Ventana El Rey at Riverside Cycles
Trouble is, i've never ridden a 29er and Riverside don't have any built up.
Has anyone got a 21"/L or bigger one of any make or model near Guildford I could trouble you for a go on?
Otherwise I might have to end up buying blind... should work out, but still
Ta
PS: Any recommendations or otherwise for the El Rey? Any alternative thoughts for a xxl size 29er?
There's a few out there.
Gary Fisher do a few, as do Ventana, Salsa and Turner.
I have a Salsa Big Mama in the 22" size and i'm 6'7". Great bike and got some good reviews recently in the mags. Bought mine blind and imported it from the states which saved loads.
There have been a few threads on here recently about bikes for big chaps and i had a bloke who was 6'9" come to test mine out. I'm just south of Brum and he went on to Bristol after me to test another chaps Turner Sultan XXL.
As you are finding out it is almost impossible to get hold of big 29ers to test so unless you are happy buying without trying i'd suggest spending a bit of cash on petrol and trying out a few from owners on here. I'd be happy to let you try mine and most other tall chaps would be willing i'm sure.
Email in profile if you are interested.
Thris thread may help -
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/niner-rip9-or-sir9-for-tall-bloke-or-ventana
And i forgot about Niner.
You need a Singular. Singular Sam is a somewhat long bloke so he'll understand.
Singular are Hardtail only though and he's after a Full suss where the choice is a lot less.
If you can make it to Bristol you can try my XXL Turner Sultan. It is quite lovely.
TooTall and MrTall, you are Gents. I'll have a think about a visit to Bristol and/or Brum.
I love my current Spec Epic, even though it's only a Large, so too small, so the prospect of a Spec XXL 29er is interesting, quite fancy that El Rey though... Would have to have the pro pedal upgrade as i'm more of a XC than a DH.
I'll have a look at importing from the States too, didn't really consider that to be honest. I'll take a look, but if anyone knows any stockists worth talking to in Texas or Colorado, I might be able to convince someone from work to bring one back with them when they next visit home (working with Merkins :((
Spesh have FS 29ers but they are not importing any of their 29er models this year.
I saved over £500 by importing my salsa including all the import duty and VAT. The $ is working against you at the moment though.
If you are currently riding a large size bike i'd definitely try and throw a leg over something before you commit to buying a potentially very expensive bike only to find that you don't like it as big 29ers are a tad niche so you'll end up having to sell it on at a big discount to shift it.
Please get your local Specialized dealer to call them and ask. They don't think there is a market over here for them and won't even put an XXL in a shipment with a guaranteed sale. If enough people tell them there is a market, it might get through to them.
Go to Head For The Hills in Dorking.
I believe they have been known to build strange wheeled bikes.
I have an XL Astrix Monk here, an oft overlooked FS 29er, but check some of the comments on the mtbr 29er forum - it's well regarded. I reckon it's fantastic and fits me well, also at 6'5". I had to import it though, but it was a good deal even with duty and shipping. I'm in W London, but sometimes ride at Surrey hills or Swinley - you'd be welcome to try it out.