So er, are they comfy then? I can't help thinking buying a Canyon as a race bike might be better that lugging a 24lb Anthem around with its comfy back end.
Of course, this may be a whim.
Oh arse, I'd have to spend £1650 to get a Canyon lighter than my Anthem.
Oh well.
NOt really..
I swapped my 25lb anthem 26er for a 22/lb canyon 29er hardtail. Regretted it ever since, the Anthem was a far better bike, and IMO just as fast.
Been on the lookout for a carbon anthem 29er frame ever since with no success
Not worth it. Anthem's not exactly heavy.
Stick 3lbs in a water bottle and ride the anthem back to back with and without and see if it goes from sprightly to portly.
Lugging?
24lbs?
😆
Not worth it. Anthem's not exactly heavy.
True. And it's right for the 24hrs. Only 1 x 11 to lighten it a tad more...
I've had a number of Specialized Stumpjumper 29'er carbon hardtails and just bought a 2016 Giant XTC Advanced 29'er hardtail
no complaints here, but as a major concession to "comfort" replaced the stock aluminium alloy post with an Easton EC70 full carbon post as the larger (30.9mm) seat tube on the XTC definitely felt more "uncomfortable" than the skinnier 27.2mm on the stumpy, and benefited from the more forgiving ride of the carbon post
I spose I can always take my 26er to find out 😀
I'm still toying with the idea of a trek procaliber to replace my superfly FS in some xc races, not for weight but for directness and the fact that they are so much shorter now. That is the sticking point at the mo though, it's short because of boost wheels... But interested in the flex for seated comfort.
So er, are they comfy then?
I guess if it is you don't want to race on it...
if lugging 24lb is an issue then the bike might not be the problem 😉
FWIW I find mine extremely comfortable. No issues whatsoever on the SDW or whatever. 24 solo... Dunno. Ant White/Jason Miles (among many others) do fine.
My Cube Reaction is great for racing on. Quick, nimble and comfortable. Couldn't be happier with it! 🙂
Also FWIW I'm racing an old Alu 29er HT and I'd not say it's uncomfortable. Depends what you're use to I guess. If I was to take this xc racing lark a bit more seriously I think I'd be having a go on a Procaliber though, reckon it could be just about the perfect bike for it.
My Cube Reaction is great for racing on. Quick, nimble and comfortable. Couldn't be happier with it!
Same here, I really enjoy riding mine, it's certainly quick and nimble more comfortable with a saddle change the standard one wasn't great.
Cube Reaction
Given that frames can be had for as little as 360 quid, it is very tempting to take a punt and knock almost a kilo off my frame weight.
Another Cube Reaction GTC owner here who's really happy with it. I've only raced once on it so far at Bristol Oktoberfest, so not the most forgiving terrain. But I found I was lapping a lot faster than previous races there even though the first 3 hours or so were rather slippery. I've always raced on hardtails though and the Cube replaced an Alu 29er. I find that tyre pressures are the key to comfort and tubeless are a must to achieve this. Typically I'm running around 24psi rear and 19psi front. Not sure how accurate my pump is though 😉
Depends how long you're going to spend on them, what the course is like, how fast you are, what kit you put on it and how old you are.
I found my Whyte 29C a revalation after moving from a 26er HT. With Syntace proflex seatpost, Gobi Kium and 2.25 tyres at 20/26psi I've done a 12hr (torq 2014) and some 12hr+ point to points (IOM and SDW) on it in comfort. I didn't wish for FS until I rode an FS. Last year at Torq and on my 14+hr ridgeway double I used my spearfish and was glad to do so. For 6hr racing etc I'll continue to use my HT.
FWIW FS is pretty popular with the faster Grand Vet riders. Robert Jackson uses one almost exclusively as he feels the courses are getting more technical and it helps getting the power down.
Also on a HT you spend more time out of the saddle/hovering so that (for me at least) you miss quite a few of the hits you're sitting for on with an FS so it's not a direct comparison.
Made your choice any easier 😀
Having said that I know a few really fast guys who use their Epic's for everything and really rate them.
Do prefer the feel of a HT but suspect I'd be quicker on the right FS, even if it was a bit heavier.
I mostly ride a Cannondale F29 Carbon and for an XC race style hardtail (22lb) it's incredibly comfortable. The flexy seat stays and carbon post really do make it a plush ride. I mostly go around the South Downs though which isn't the roughest terrain in the world but it's largely meant my full sus stays in the garage.
Buy [url= https://www.bikesoup.com/bike/566ae3f63a31e-niner-air-9-rdo-2015-5-star-build ]mine!! [/url]
In all seriousness, while it is an amazing bike, it's probably not what you're looking for, as it's a tad unforgiving. Nowt wrong with doing endurance events on carbon hardtails though, just stick some decent volume tyres on there and get your position sorted.
I've a Whyte 29CS, it's comfy enough with decent volume tyres. Technically I guess it's a race bike, but I just liked the way it rode. An more importantly the way it looked 🙂
Quick question for those in the know about Superfly and Procaliber frames. Can you just stick a normal 29er fork on there or are they somehow designed for forks with a funny G2 crown to give more offset? See the full builds come with forks with 51mm offset (normal is 46mm I think?)
I had a carbon Scott Scale before my Anthem. It was 3lb lighter but slower in almost all race situations with the exceptions of fireroads. On the Anthem technical climbs, any descent it was quicker because it had more traction and didn't hook up on bumps. In endurance races it was even better because it helped stave off fatigue and forgave mistakes, meaning you could ride faster for longer.
Not worth it I don't think for what you do.
In endurance races it was even better because it helped stave off fatigue and forgave mistakes, meaning you could ride faster for longer.
This is why I originally bought it.
For me at least, this thread is superseded by the potential purchase of 1x11 XT and the comments above, I'll be keeping the Anthem, which I tend to ride in "Trail" mode (of CTD) when racing anyway to stiffen it up but retain some forgiveness/grip.
Consider 1x10 with 30T for racing? Lighter, cheaper and unless monster hills fine for at least 12hrs.
mrblobby, far as I know the treks are designed around the g2 geo its the old Gary Fisher idea. I know of people that have used standard offset forks and not had issues but I think the whole point of the greater offset is to help with stability but still be fairly quick turning.
The other sticking point re me swapping back to hardtail for xc racing is rear wheels, I used to break a few on a hardtail. At 82kg and a reasonable pwr the extra couple of pounds is probably worth it.