So, I am changing my riding focus for the next couple of years, going to spend the winter training for a few road Sportives / Gran Fondos and would like to use the fitness to ride some off-road enduros / marathons.
At the moment my only MTB is an 08 Meta 5, a great bike which has handled 2 summers of alpine downhill as well as peaks / lakes / trail centres and is a hoot on the downhills. However I have no wish to haul it around an enduro course as it is on the heavy side (must be 32lbs +) and the geometry is not exactly condusive to climbing. Additionaly I realy won't have the time/cash to maintain a full-sus with 2 kids under 5 and a road bike doing a lot of training miles to maintain. Having never ridden an off-road enduro (eg. a Merida event) will a hardtail beat me up, or are the courses reasonably smooth? (obviously smooth is a relative term for an MTB event)
So the Meta 5 frame is about to hit the classifieds and am I in the market for a hardtail frame as follows:
- Ideally will take my float RL140s (non travel adjust but can be reduced to 130 with spacers)
- light(er) for all day / enduro stuff
- As much comfort as possible (although I do have a sus seatpost)
- Definately less than £500, idealy less than £300
- Still able to handle more technical riding (eg. Trail centre black runs and the odd day in alpine resorts) - although no more than 3-4ft drops etc - I'm not that rad!
So I know this is a bit of a moon-on-a-stick question but my thoughts so far are:
1) Cotic Soul - reasonable light and comfortable but I understand is best at 100-120 forks so would require a new fork purchase
2) 456 - ticks most of the boxes but maybe a bit heavy with a full build being around 30lbs - but at 125 quid wuld probably leav enough cash for some Hope hoops on stans...
3) Ragley mmmbob (or whatever its called!) - nice and light etc but maybe a bit too harsh for an enduro / marathon.
Yes, I know, a LT Titanium frame would be the perfect choice but is way our of my price range - unless of course someone wants to swop one for my 08 Meta 5 frame!
Suggestions / advice very much appreciated!
woodey
Pace RC305 just about meets your budget and fork length. It is definitely not heavy, and (for far as I can tell) is not uncomfy.
A 2nd hand Scandal or a new Kinesis XC120 will both just about run your forks at 130mm without too much problem, and both nice and light at about 3.5lbs in a medium sorta size...
2nd the kinesis, I've got one it's great
yep, like the look of those kinesis 120s too, do you think they would climb ok with 130 mm forks?
Do they have a bit of flex in the stays?
I don't reckon a full build 456 is going to hit 30lbs. Sure mine isn't, especially if you're planning lightweight wheels.
Having said that I've ridden 3 Meridas this year, one on an Orange 5, one on my 456 and one on a lightweight built Kinesis XCPro2. None of them were particularly better or worse suited to my mind.
To be honest the events are not that taxing in terms of terrain - hundreds of riders do them on a hardtail.
Just to add another thought - how light could you re-build the Meta by spending the cash on it?
Depending on the events you want to do (in terms of terrain and length) you might get on better with a full suss than a hard-tail. You'll get away with it on a 50km, but if you go for the 75's and 100's you could miss the extra comfort.
If a hard-tail is your preference though it could be worth looking if you can get an Orange P7 frame - steel and set up for 140mm up front.
Scott - I am expecting to just about cover the cost of the new frame from the sale of the meta 5 frame...
The meta is a heavy frame (compared to say an Orange 5) and I would expect to have to throw the best part of 500 quid at it to get it under 30lbs....
nowt particularly light weight on my 456 and its under 28 pound for the money its fantastic i think and i paid 175
my Cotic Soul with 719's Racing Ralphs /Nobby Nic XT carbon bars and Reba Teams (20mm) is mid 25lb. and rather comfy to
Vortex - 140mm forks on a soul would be rubbish uphill right? (I've always fancied a soul)
ive hope hubs on xm321 talas forks xt kit formula bianco brakes and race face finishing kit lots of scope for weight loss 🙂
my 130mm hardtail is 27.5lb plus pedals (burgtechs, so add a good 1.7lb!) with a sensible build.
And its an absolute dog on untechnical terrain, after 30 miles in the chilterns I was dead, it just never came alive in the same way it does at places like cannock chase, which still arent very technical, but do reward a bike that can be thrown arround more.
If I were you (and next year I plan on some long distance stuff too) I'd sell the frame, forks and wheels, and use them to fund a 4" XC hardtail, some SH forks and a lightweight wheelset. It's pretty much what i'm doing at the moment.
"at 100-120 forks so would require a new fork purchase"
'07 Fox Floats (upto 140mm) came supplied as 120mm spacered down versions on a few new bikes. You maybe able to have your '08 versions spacered down the same
Also worth bearing in mind that the limit is 130mm/508mm A-C, which is basically a 130mm Revelation. Fox 32's are about 7mm lower in height for 130mm so a cotic may still handle well with a 130mm Fox 32? (I've not tried it myself though)
2nd P7
My pikes were OK, I just think with 120mm it's a better set-up. Climbs very well now. An adjustable 140mm would be spot on, just heavier than my Rebas
ti morning glory in the classifieds
I did the Selkirk merida on a 456 fitted with 140mm revelations. It was hard work. I might put spds on next time!
How are you hoping to do in the enduros, win or finish? If it's just finish then most frames will be ok. Otherwise I'd seriously consider weight a big factor.
I don't think aluminium would be too harsh. I think there's too much emphasis put on the different feel of materials when it's design that matters as much as material.
The pace hardtail frame looks nice, as does the chumba thing someone put up here the other day. Cotic is good, I heard they were doing a new longer travel soul soon. The 456 is heavy, the standard inbred will take 130mm. If you consider a 456 why not a prince albert or alpine.
Those are all trail bikes, not really suited to Enduros and Marathons. I'd look at a Commencal Skin, Scott Scale, Giant XTC Advanced and the like- genuinely lightweight frames. For Enduros they should be comfortable enough- I rode a Scott Scale at 12 hour and enduro events last year and it was very good- when it got beyond that it could be a touch punishing, but the scale is probably the stiffest frame I've listed. Very, very fast, 21-22lbs with an XT spec build and incredibly quality. Scale frames crop up 2nd hand fairly regularly.
It's also worth me metnioning that the Scale was incredibly capable for normal riding too.
I hear what you're saying but I am looking for something that can handle both, trail riding and enduro/marathons, hardtail as I don't have time anymore to fettle a FS. I do like to ride steep/technical terrain when I can and the bike my well find itself on downhill runs (Pila, wales etc)
Jonb - win..LOL, just looking to finish :0)
I'd say still consider something lighter than you are doing, though. An aluminium frame like a Kinesis will do a really good job and you will notice an extra 1lb or 2 lost from a bike build. Build it up sensibly light and it'll really help you.
[i]I hear what you're saying but I am looking for something that can handle both, trail riding and enduro/marathons, hardtail as I don't have time anymore to fettle a FS. I do like to ride steep/technical terrain when I can and the bike my well find itself on downhill runs (Pila, wales etc)[/i]
Scale will do all of that and more (as will similar bikes from other manufacturers eg Specialized Stumpjumper, Giant XTC etc). Most lightweight "enduro/marathon" HT's are actually extremely capable all rounders, it's just certain mags that try to persuade you that you need a different bike for every possible niche. After all an enduro event is basically a long trail ride no...?
Ridden a Soul with 130mm Menjas on (A-C 500mm) and it rode great.
What about a Alu Whyte 19 frame? Or their new steel one thats out soon?
I've currently got Menja's on a 456 and I've never found it too heavy for Meridas or at 24/12 (My laps were consistently faster than my mates who were on a Nicolai Argon, Cannondale alu hardtail and a Ibis Mojo SL). Once you have it and ride it and get used to the ride and 'weight' - you'll forget it being an issue I reckon.
Saying all that - I'm just about to order a Soul/Whyte 19!!
crazy-legs, you couldn't pay me to ride the steep rooty sections on the Pila downhill course on a Giant XTC etc, maybe I don't have the skillz but those head angles would have me straight over the bars!