It’s time for a new machine, something FS (I’m not getting younger) and more up to date than my mk3 Soul.
But, how the heck do you find it? 27.7 or 29, travel, slackness, length, seat tube angle, suspension make and design, Sram or Shimano etc etc. Infinite choice it seems.
Had a good demo on a Whyte s120, which felt like I could ride all day, but 29 wheels I think made it feel a little too ponderous and slow to direction change for me, compared to my Soul. Not sure it’d have the fun factor unless at something like a trail centre.
Also spent some XC time on an older Jeffsy 27.5, knackering on the flat and uphill but fun heading down.
Bike shops round me (S Oxon) can all tell me in convincing detail about my options and are happy for a spin round the block for sizing checks, but how do I tell which bike is right for me or even shortlist? It seems I need to head to a trail centre for to put anything to a reasonable test. On this, Afan wanted £70 for me to take a T130 round a 20k trail. This isn’t a slight at them, it’s just what a day’s hire costs, if you can’t do a half day.
How do you find the one, when work and family time has priority?
Any suggestions on where to go, to be confident in what I buy? I’ll head out to Bird for definite, but not sure if the Aeris 130 looks a little too gravity orientated for me or not? I need something that’ll do it all. Fun on relatively tame local trails, happy to head into the Peaks, Lakes and S E Wales, trail centres and all day longer outings (planning SDW and C2C).
Grateful for any pointers.
I bought a Bird, very good experience and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
If you like Cotic, they run demo days all around the country as well as the Peak. Should be able to try a Flare/FlareMax FOC, which could well suit your needs.
There are so many options around the 140mm trail bike these days, I can understand that it's confusing!
Bird will do you a trial for £20 and they'll take it off the bill if you buy. But get in quick before they move.
As for wheel sizing. I went from a 26 wheel meta to a 27.5 spectral a few years ago and was happy when the handling was quite similar. The only difference I noticed with the bigger wheels was how they rolled over things easier.
Yep, really like the soul and the Flare looks interesting but again nothing happening demo wise near or soon.
When are Bird moving?
The Spectral looks good, but more a leap of faith as buying untried, plus has sort of discounted it due to press fit bb.
Be a bit cautious about your first thoughts on the 29er. You'll probably start riding it differently and adjust. Same with long bikes. They can sometimes feel ponderous initially but you adjust your position slightly over the first few rides - mainly by riding more over the front of the bike.
I wouldn't worry about the Bird 120 LT being gravity-oriented. Not if my experience on the original Aeris is anything to go by.
I agree it is difficult to demo bikes though. I had to be patient and wait for the demo days to come around in order to get a broad experience.
Good luck!
Fun on relatively tame local trails, happy to head into the Peaks, Lakes and S E Wales, trail centres and all day longer outings (planning SDW and C2C).
Grateful for any pointers.
I think you could be best served by a short or mid-travel 29er with a lively pedal characteristic.
The ponderous feeling may be as much the newer geometry as the wheel size, certainly worth trying a few more bikes to build up a broader experience.
See if you can get to an Orange demo day, they are not for everyone but the current frames are pretty light and they pedal exceptionally well. There are good discounts on the outgoing models too, the geometry of which would suit your needs well.
Bird are just moving manufacturing aren’t they - so they’ll assemble bikes up north instead of near Reading ish. I thought they were keeping their current site as a showroom?
You could just go Aeris 120 (non lt) with a 130mm fork. That’s modern but not full on enduro like the 145 / AM9.
The Sonder Evol might be another option to consider - or more expensive something like a Santa Cruz 5010.
how do I tell which bike is right for me
It really doesn't matter that much. Pick a longer travel slacker one if you want to do more hardcore stuff, or a shorter travel one if you want more XC - or whatever in between. Then just demo a few in that category.
As long as you get the right category for what you want to ride, you'll be fine.
From what you've said, short travel 29er general purpose bike would suit. Most bikes cover a very wide range of usages. What do your LBSes stock, firstly?
What you need is a Scott Spark
If you fancy a ride mate, i've got a T-130 in a large and happy to go out for a while riding, i'll ride my HT at the time. You can try the 27.5 then instead of the 29er 🙂
I'm just between Didcot and Newbury so close to you.
I'll happily do FoD or Afan etc too, but if we do there i may need the dropper on the HT so you'd end up with a static post 🙂
The new Flare is really nice and feels very like the mk5 soul but with a bit more squidge, strava showed it to be quicker downhill than the soul. Maintained that soul feeling of being able to point it where you wanted to go.
The new Norco Optic looks interesting to me. Seems like your (OPs) needs are same as mine.
In this category I’m thinking of this bunch for choice:
- Orbea Occam 2020 M30
- Nukeproof Reactor Elite
- Norco Optic C2
- Specialized Stumpy
- Cannondale Habit SE 2020
- Kona Process 134
You are right about the choice though, can be overwhelming. I’m going to have to find time to tour some shops or find some demo days.