Ok, by stolen, I mean he owns one, which means I cant buy one! Not his rules, mine! Cant have his and hers bikes. Its bad enough with Rab jackets and North Face shoes (though I owned them first!) 😛
I currently ride a Nicolai Helius CC with 140 mm up front. Looking for something of similar capabilities i.e. a good descender and capable of going up hill with little/no bob; but with a slacker head angle and in 27.5".
I also find the Nicolai quite heavy at times (going to claim a pathetic girl moment). It is quoted at 2.7 kg without shock from their old geometry sheet and I have a mid range build on it with XT, Hope hubs etc. I am a little surprised to find the new generation of bikes have frame weights of ~3.3 kg (including the new Nicolais) and I was hoping my next bike would be lighter. Sadly the only Aluminium bike I can find under 3 kg is the 301; and as per my own rules I cant have one! Lol! 😛
I crash too much for carbon!
Liking the look of the new Transition Scout, but that goes into the heavier box.
Any ideas....? (Btw this is a long term project so it can be something new)
Get over the Carbon phobia...
Bad experiences of the husbands 575 rear ends and writing off a Yeti 5C and he is a much better rider than me!Get over the Carbon phobia...
Get over the matching bike phobia?
My newer Nicolai frames have generally weighed less then my previous frames.
I would be surprised if your older frame was as little as they claimed.
I crash too much for carbon!
Fast forward to the 5min mark
Banshee spitfire
Mates just got one and I'm a wee bit jel 
26 and 27.5 compatible and nice and low stand over and all alloy frame.
bats.
I have a bit of thing for having something 'different' - to both the husband and other people! Hence the Nicolai!Get over the matching bike phobia?
Get over being so stubborn....
Have been tempted in the past, especially as I was at Uni with the designer Keith. However, vitalMTB quote the v2 frame as 3.4 kg.Banshee spitfire
Also like the look of the Whyte T-130, but doesnt look like you can buy that frame only!
Turner burner 140mm travel 27.5" wheels about 3kg in small. Larger frames weigh a little more.
Small 22.5" 15" 3.75" 23.5" 15.3" 28.8" 6.8 lbs (3.08kg) 5'2"-5'6"
Alu bronson, yeti sb75, pyga one forty, bird aeris (might be heavy). Me? I'd get a sb6c, but after a few years falling off a carbon bike, I'm not scared of carbon.
Spitfire with a CCDBA is indeed 3.5kg but it is a much more efficient pedaller than your Nicolai (and to a lesser degree the 301). Mine climbs at least as well as my hardtail (and Strava concurs) despite the latter being 2kg lighter! The new Transitions look great too.
I think pedalling efficiency is far more important than weight but it's harder to quantify in layman friendly way whilst everyone understands scales (and there's a long tradition of weight obsession in road biking - where you don't have significant differences in pedal efficiency because there's no suspension).
I'm happy to believe you and I can see how that works; but like you say difficult to headline in a geometry table.I think pedalling efficiency is far more important than weight but it's harder to quantify in layman friendly way
I noticed a difference coming from my 2007 Trek EX7 where pedal efficiency was zero compared to the Nicolai. I have had the Nicolai for 4.5 years and it is a very good bike, though my riding has come on since then!
Liking the Turner Burner and Pyga One Forty (though OH thinks the latter looks like my old Trek!)
Hummm just seen that York cycleworks now stocking Whyte, Banshee and Transition! Might have to make a trip south (and call into my parents for cake...handy!). If they only had Yeti and Turner and we'd probably have the set!
If you want a light weight heavy duty frame, then that puts you in the direction of Liteville or carbon, no? Or do Canyon or Scott do some lighter Alu frames?
Yes, I may, once again, be trying to achieve the impossible!If you want a light weight heavy duty frame, then that puts you in the direction of Liteville or carbon, no?
Giant Trance SX.
Is it possible to get a bit hung up over a couple of hundred grams on frame weight? Is overall bike weight, geometry, efficiency, and reliability equally as important.
Personally I would choose a strong frame with the right angles and decent bearings over super light weight.
The components are a greater part of the complete weight of the bike.
I recently took a set of very nice kashima coated fox forks off my bike. I replaced them with some heavier pikes. With the heavier forks the bike rides better. End of. In that case weight was worth sacrificing over performance.
Keep a good strong frame. Get some nice quality light wheels. Decent stem & carbon bars.
For me don't get too hung up on the frame weight.
IMHO of course 🙂
Don't get a carbon or a heavy frame if you don't want one.
Plenty of light alu frames and bikes out there which would be well suited to a lighter rider.
Mondraker, Canyon, Giant immediately spring to mind. Are you a brand snob?
Have you considered a Juliana Bike? VPP and you're less ikely to come across another on the trails.
I have a bit of thing for having something 'different' - to both the husband and other people! Hence the Nicolai!
Get over being so stubborn....
Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as a donkey.
If you have found something you like to ride then..............good luck on your hunt.
Always fancied a Liteville myself.
yt wicked?
As above, I'd get a carbon bike if I were worried about frame weight.
If you're not into carbon, considering your Nicolai is 4.5 years old, you should be able to go for a marginally heavy frame and still build it lighter as the kit to hang off it has got much lighter. Pikes weigh very little compared to 160mm forks of old, wheel weights have come way down if you avoid things like a Hope/Stans combo. More carbon bits, more lighter cranks etc. Add in 1x10 and you'll be able to save a few pounds from what you have already.
Watch out for new tyres though- some of the 650b and 29er tyres are over 1kg, which isn't really acceptable for a trail tyre.
Neilwheel...Sorry my stubborn comment was directed at myself!Get over being so stubborn....Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as a donkey.
There are some very valid comments here that weight isn't everything. I have never test ridden a bike...maybe this is the time to do so and prove to myself weight isn't everything.
Have considered Juliana but looks like only single pivot in Alu. Good to finally see womens bikes for over 5'6" women. They do look good.
Just get a Liteville but have it powder coated to not match your husbands - [url= http://www.liteville.de/t/25_46.html ]http://www.liteville.de/t/25_46.html[/url] They'll do frame, rear triangle and rocker arms all different colours, too - rasta bike 😉
I see they're doing complete bikes now;
[img] 
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Why is there a bottom guide type thing on it?
I'd look at one of the SC Julianas as the are fantastic bikes albeit carbon.
[i]Why is there a bottom guide type thing on it[/i]
on mine it does reduce chain flap quite a lot - it's possible this is because it's virtually inline with the pivot but could just be because it shortens the length of chain available to flap. It probably adds some belt and braces to a narrow/wide ring solution too.
The Liteville has a direct mount on the chainstay for a slider guide as an optional extra.
EDIT - 112 Euros extra.
Why is there a bottom guide type thing on iton mine it does reduce chain flap quite a lot - it's possible this is because it's virtually inline with the pivot but could just be because it shortens the length of chain available to flap. It probably adds some belt and braces to a narrow/wide ring solution too.
It just a posh DCD
Lovely looking bike that 10 year addition, I'd be tempted to rewrite the rule book.
Liteville and divorce.. sorted 🙂
anc - MemberLiteville and divorce.. sorted
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 😆
Liteville 601 then?
🙂
Looking for something of similar capabilities i.e. a good descender and capable of going up hill with little/no bob; but with a slacker head angle and in 27.5".
Unless you're very tall for a female, I'd caution against putting 27.5 in the back end of a 301 anyway!
I have an XL 301 and am currently trying a 27.5 Syntace W35 on the back to see how it copes in Winter slop. It's quite tight for clearance with a Magic Mary on it.
Normally I run a 26" W35 and clearance is not an issue with that.
As the chainstay lengths are size specific on the 301, I wouldn't recommend 27.5 rear on less than an XL.
If (when) you decide to break your own rule, then 27.5" front and 26" rear is the way to go on an LV 301, IMHO of course.
That creates new problems...I'd have to find a new mechanic! Anyway, think p20 is a keeper!Liteville and divorce.. sorted
Ecky-Thump thanks for the thoughts on the 301 and 27.5". I am only 5'9" so dont think that will work.
I am interested to see how some of the 2015 bikes fair in longer term reviews. That Transition still looks interesting and if it pedals efficiently, maybe weight isn't an issue, expect when doing a hike-a-bike when all bikes are annoying!
A bird aeris in small (or xs) will be under 3kg.
Possibly found a Scout in medium to demo....could be dangerous!
Unless you're very tall for a female, I'd caution against putting 27.5 in the back end of a 301 anyway!
I have an XL 301 and am currently trying a 27.5 Syntace W35 on the back to see how it copes in Winter slop. It's quite tight for clearance with a Magic Mary on it.
Normally I run a 26" W35 and clearance is not an issue with that.
As the chainstay lengths are size specific on the 301, I wouldn't recommend 27.5 rear on less than an XL.
Does the 26 out back alter stand over and BB height much? For the better? I'm really trying to talk myself out of buying another w35 in 26
If you like the look of the Pyga, I'd consider the OneTwenty as well as the Pascoe - OneTwenty runs a 140mm or even 150mm fork - Pascoe needs a 160mm really.
If you're after a Medium we have both in that size available to demo.
Does the 26 out back alter stand over and BB height much? For the better? I'm really trying to talk myself out of buying another w35 in 26
It would be for the better, as the BB is sky high anyway.
A 650b wheel 'just' fits in a large with a not very big tyre. I doubt it would fit in any smaller frame.
What type of terrain do you tend to ride? Is 120mm travel enough on 27.5" wheels?
New Turner flux comes up pretty light. Uses DW link same as Ibis etc so will climb like a goat and I expect it descends pretty well...
Frame weight 2.57 kg in small
Frame Size Top Tube Seat Tube Head Tube Standover Wheelbase Weight Rider Size
Small 22.6" 15" 3.7" 29.0 " 43.4" 5.67 lbs = 2.57 kg 5'2"-5'6"
Medium 23.5" 17" 3.7" 30.0" 44.3" 5.75 lbs
Head Angle 68°
Seat Angle 73°
Chainstay 17.4"
BB Height 12.8"
Headset 44mm
Shock 7.25" x 1.75"
12mm rear axle
[URL= http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn298/Turner5spot20/2013_flux_xt_raw_1528_1583789054_zps9a90ab7b.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn298/Turner5spot20/2013_flux_xt_raw_1528_1583789054_zps9a90ab7b.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Anything from Glentress red/black to Northumberland cross country to big Lake District/Scotland all mountain days (well I walk the big drops - not great getting front wheel off the deck) to the Quantocks. 2013 we rode Zona Zero in Spain and 2015 we are hoping for some Alpine singletrack.What type of terrain do you tend to ride?
Thats why it needs to go both up and down.
Sounds like a might need to find a Turner to demo - either that or a burner. I dont really know how 27.5 is going to work tbh. Despite a PhD in colouring in (Physical Geog) I am a bit rubbish on bike tech. Tend to switch off a bit!
Thanks Drover for the info.If you're after a Medium we have both in that size available to demo
Nice bikes, but very different to a more active design like a Horst.
Arghhh...brain hurts! Need to try a couple of things I think.
At 5'9 you're the same height as my other half and she recently got an alloy Santa Cruz Solo/5010 in size medium. Has a non-fancy build with hope hoops, slx 2x10 groupset, RS 140mm revelations and a reverb. Not sure on the weight of it but it's WAY lighter than my Commencal and that is 1x10 with some light bits on it.
Still too early with the 27.5 for a proper assessment Vonplatz.Does the 26 out back alter stand over and BB height much? For the better? I'm really trying to talk myself out of buying another w35 in 26
Yes the BB is high on the 301 HobNob, but it's still the most competent technical descender I've had. Also means that I smash the bashguard into stuff marginally less frequently now 😛It would be for the better, as the BB is sky high anyway
Ha ha - I have a Liteville - love it
If you were my wife, i'd positively encourage you to have a Liteville
Come and be my wife and buy a Liteville
Win, win, win situation 🙂
Thanks Paul, thats interesting to know. Looking back at it, 5010 defiantly looks worth another look.At 5'9 you're the same height as my other half and she recently got an alloy Santa Cruz Solo/5010 in size medium.
Thanks boltonjohn, such a kind offer! However, doesnt really solve the problem...you also own a 301 so I think I'll stay with p20! 😛 😛Come and be my wife and buy a Liteville
Win, win, win situation
I am finding this thread very disturbing.
(my Liteville was stolen in September). 🙁
🙁 Hugs chickenman - not cool!
The 301 looks great, but I don't have to think about bearings with my turner. Just a squirt of grease every so often. I'll probably get the next flux incarnation when it breaks.
So far, I haven't had to touch the bearings on my 301
Mine is 2.5 years only and i've replaced the main pivot bearing once
Very durable machine 🙂
Update: demo of Spitfire and Scout booked with the fab Pedals in Edinburgh for early Feb. Will look at a Santa Cruz demo as well if I can; but looks like a trip to Stiff.
Update: demo of Spitfire and Scout booked with the fab Pedals in Edinburgh for early Feb.
Try changing the dropout positions when you have the Spitfire - it's a simple 10 minute job and it really changes the vibe of the bike. I run mine low/slack for uplift days (and in the winter because it's so great at two wheel drifts like that) and neutral most of the year (more pedal clearance and a bit more nimble on our tight local trails).
I haven't tried it in high/steep yet (with a 160mm 27.5 Pike it's 65.7/66.2/66.7 HA and 342/348/354mm BB height in the three different settings). Make sure the rebound is quick enough (especially if you're light) because it's a bit of a straightlining bomber if overdamped - if you let it spring then it's easy to chuck around yet so stable it encourages silly behaviour. Have fun! 😀
Great, thanks for the advice.Try changing the dropout positions when you have the Spitfire
Ashat, Are you in Edinburgh? My GF's in Edinburgh too. Are you a member of hervelo by any chance? could probably sort you out with a quick demo of a medium SC Solo....if she she'll let anyone else touch it 🙂