Hi
OK, so at some point I shall be buying another full bouncer (previous bouncers including Foes FXR, Reign)
My riding is mainly Dark Peaks / Wharncliffe DH in about a 80/20 split.
So my question is really what other Peaks riders think about big bikes and whether I'm going to be "over-biked" 80% of the time just so I have that extra capability for 20% of the time I'm attempting DH?!
opinions appreciated (and please none of the " I've ridden the Peaks for 80 yrs on a rigid, singlespeed unicyle" up until it got nicked I was riding my 100mm Voodoo hardtail in the Peaks too)
I'm asking all of this as I'm thinking of down-sizing to something like a Zesty (i.e. 140mm) but don't much like RS revs or Fox 32 series.. they feel all floppy compared to a nice fox 36 / Lyric!
thanks
Well I won't say that this weekend I will be mostly riding my 129mm full bouncer around hayfield then
Turner 6 pack with Fox 36 Van up front. Dark Peak, White Peak, Alps, Clipstone, Canock. Anywhere that takes my fancy really. Oh yeah, I'll also ride all those places on a Pace 305 as well.
If you want to go 140, you could get some Fox Float 36s and reduce the travel.
hmmm, i think you'll be overbiked in the peaks. However, that doesnt that doesn't me riding a marin quake with lyrics.... and a DH spec components... out in peaks on a regular basis 😉
I ride a Nomad in a similar way to how you describe and in the same places although maybe slightly more biased towards the DH stuff.
It's certainly not the best climbing bike ever but it can winch up most stuff and then when you get to the downs it can be great fun. Makes a great "only bike". I've raced DH, the ST Weekender and will be doing Dusk til Dawn solo on it in October. Just change tyres really.
Yup. Just come off a 6" Turner and onto a 7" Intense.
It's not so much a question of "overbiked", as it's rocky enough to make use of the travel. It's more a question of consideration for others - don't coming hooning round a corner at warp factor 10 to find a dozen kids spread across the trail - sadly something that's far too tempting with all that travel available.. Other trails (eg Chapel Gate) are awesome on a big bike, as you can see a good long way ahead.
Intense tracer vp
i'm doing what your thinking about, i'm going from a 165mm ransom to a 140mm blur. Its not that i've been overbiked per say, its just i'm after something lighter. To be honest i think i'll be able to keep up with my mates on that too dh 😉
I have a marin quad 140 with 36's up front as my full sus xc bike and use it all over the peaks. I have a full dh bike as well for dh racing and riding and bought the marin as it has very similar geometry to my dh bike. It's very easy to rag about and has a super slack head angle.
You may technically be over biked but do you really care?
Interesting responses guys and I'm glad that some of you also believe its possible to use 150mm+ in the peaks- I certainly do when spanking Lockerbrook at bwwaaarp speed!
Also a valid point about it being more to do with consideration for others in that respect.
The thing is that I can't justify a separate DH bike although I would like to get into that side of things a bit more.
It seems that there's not many bikes that offer a trail bike feel/weight bit with sturdy forks.... I guess the Tracer is a good compromise?!
Any other suggestions for a more modest budget??
Gemini set at 170mm with a 180mm domain. 34lbs and feels about right. Anything less is faster up but way less fun on the rocky downs.
I ride my 100mil voodoo bantu everywhere in the peaks.
Bit choppy down jacobs though 8)
Reign with 41 fighters here. i'm thinking of changing to a trance x however, bit lighter etc. The front end doesn't really match the rear, not as stiff. Would definately be better suited with a lyrik or 36
I ride my SX Trail around the peaks and whilst it might be abit slow on the ups, its great for smiles all day long!