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As I've got less fickle about racing bike vs conditions vs weight blah blah...
...I'm starting to think I could just use my Scott Spark for all Racing, and replace my Carbon HT with something fun, and that would help develop my Technical skills as well. Just the NX/XT Bird Zero would do nicely.
But but but... I'd only have a FS race bike, and I wouldn't have a spare race bike if anything goes wrong. And before you ask, I don't have room or funds nor can I afford the divorce costs of keeping my carbon HT and buying the Bird in addition...
Good/Bad idea?
TBH mate, if your Spark has gone wrong, would you finish THAT many places diffrerent on the Bird ? I bet once you get past 2-3 places from where you are now, the gap is a good several minutes to the next.... I think whilst a carbon HT would be nice, it wouldn't be THAT much quicker.
How many races did you need the HT last year becasue the Spark/whatever was out of action ?
There's no doubt that full on XC bikes are quick... but yes, they're not known for being 'playful' so maybe a Bird would be ideal in that context.
If you keep wheel sizes the same as the Spark you can negate things a little bit too by being able to put light fast wheels/rubber onto the Bird for the day if the Spaark is broken.
How many races did you need the HT last year becasue the Spark/whatever was out of action ?
Need? None. But I used it as the lighter bike for most of the XC races I did.
If you keep wheel sizes the same as the Spark you can negate things a little bit too by being able to put light fast wheels/rubber onto the Bird for the day if the Spaark is broken.
The Zero 29... hmmm
OK, slightly confused... why not sell the Spark then if you keep using the lighter HT for racing ?
I prefer FS for Marathons, longer and playful riding.
I've already talked myself out of the Bird, end of thread!
What have you talked yourself into then ?
I’d say pick whichever bike is better for you for the racing as a whole and use that. If that’s breaks in any meaningful way then any backup bike should do - unless you’re aiming (realistically) at podiums.
If neither of your current bikes are fun for all the non racing you do, the. By all means look at something more fun.
Fair point on wheel sizes - as long as gears etc are pretty much the same from race bike to fun bike - or you don’t mind swapping a cassette at the same time as swapping wheels.
In terms of Bird I don’t have one of their hardtails, but I have an Aeris 145lt and it’s been relentlessly reliable so far, service from the guys at Bird has been exceptional and I’ve had a lot of fun so far.
I’d go and get a test ride of say the zero 29 and the AM and see if either really float your boat. Swinley is pretty weatherproof for test rides - although I’m not sure what the more fun off piste stuff is like at this time of year.