[Closed] Show me your race bike and tell me good things about it..

don't suppose you still have the Y22? 😉

My favourite bike which was pretty racy was my Rocky Mountain Element with front and rear remote lockout which made it really versatile. Absolutely gutted when the swingarm broke 🙁

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I wish I did Clubber, been on the hunt for one for a while now. Has to be in the cream colour with red writing.. That bike was the bees knees.. Wish id kept it. Must be 15 years since I sold it...

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It's lighter than most hardtails, it goes fast, it pedals well, it handles nicely. Not really a lot more to ask of a bike!

well the y22s looked good but IMO they were actually a bit rubbish to ride. it'd have to be the nude carbon one for me.

fwiw, this is my some time singlespeed

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Yes njee.. Not much more at all. I have admired your bike before.... Now go away before I buy one like it...

Thanks for the pic tho, really like that bike.

Yes Clubber they were rubbish to ride but they looked ace... Like that Klein tho... I saw a Y22 at Glentress last year and offered to buy it but it wasn't for sale!!! Sob sob..

I also used to ride a Giant Atx1 DH, what a beast!

Not strictly my race bike yet, as it hasn't seen a race but the more I ride, the more I'm tempted to race again.

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Had it about a month or so, and its fantastic. Always come away with a smile on my face from riding it. Oh and it only has one speed. full speed. thus its improving my fitness- a bonus as I could do with leaning up. Oh and I am now a convert to funny sized wheels.

Great Scott.....

PGreen (with envy) very tasty looking bit of kit that.

Now go away before I buy one like it...
Thanks for the pic tho, really like that bike.

You can do a lot worse certainly, although I reckon I'd at least try a 29er if buying now. That Spark looks good, still not sure on the Tracloc myself though! Welcome to have a spin on mine if we're at the same races!

I'm very tempted by a Spark - as I said above, I loved my Element with dual lockout but in a perfect world it'd have had a third middle setting which I think the Sparks have.

Indeed they do!

though being greedy, what I'd really like would be setting which allow you to adjust travel on the fly too - I know it's sort of been done but never in a convincing way - so:

1. fully locked out f+r (with a floodgate type blow off)
2. locked out rear, short travel front (with slightly increased compression damping)
3. short travel f+r (w/ slightly increased comp damping)
4. Long travel f+r

Moon on a stick anyone? 🙂

It's a race bike.... just not the same race as the above 😀

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though being greedy, what I'd really like would be setting which allow you to adjust travel on the fly too

The Scott one does that - the 29er goes from 100 - 70 - 0 on the fly, the fork just gets firmer, travel doesn't actually change.

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I need to get a better picture, looks like a gate here. Got it for a bit of XC but mainly an all day marathon racer. Fast and light and comfortable and half the price of the Giant I looked at at the time.

Taking me along the length of the Pyrenees in 4 months.

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1x9 at the mo but often singlespeed

Nick, you may have just cost me a load of cash 🙂

I like the Trek.....and the Scott. Agreed next time it could be 29' .

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building this back up again to do some events this year

That Canyon Is proper nice mcboo... Drool...

I'll give the Cotic a blast first and see how I get on with it, I did have an Orange St4 last year and think that may have been a bit more comfortable to ride but maybe not a better all rounder than my current bike.

Liking the replies so far guys, thanks.

mcboo - that canyon is amazing :). How you finding the DT Swiss forks?

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PGreen - That is stunning, just looks "right"

2010 & 2011 It was the XTC 1
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3165/5709655795_3da8691277_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3165/5709655795_3da8691277_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/2010in50mm/5709655795/ ]11.05.2011[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/2010in50mm/ ]Will - B[/url], on Flickr

However think i'm going to race this "thing" for 2012, but maybe with gears...
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6031/6346400737_b0c6f38102_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6031/6346400737_b0c6f38102_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/2010in50mm/6346400737/ ]13.11.2011[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/2010in50mm/ ]Will - B[/url], on Flickr

sadly broken up now
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Nick, you may have just cost me a load of cash

Sorry chap 🙂

I'd get a demo on one first though, IMO you need to use the TracLoc a lot to get the most out of it. I'm more one for sitting and pedalling, and whilst I really want to like them, just don't find they ride as well as I'd hope.

Last year's race bike:
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Trek 9.9 SSL with Reba's, XT bits, 3T stem and bars, and American Classic wheels. Came in at 9.9kg with pedals, bar ends, cage.

Currently undergoing a diet before the 2012 season starts.

Irrational urge to get a Lefty and go 2*10 with GripShift

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Shorty121 - Member
mcboo - that canyon is amazing :). How you finding the DT Swiss forks?

I really like the DT forks, shock too. I had a spin on a Nerve MR that came with Rock Shox World Cup SIDs....were all very gucci and all that but I just couldnt be bothered with all the dual air malarky, were very fussy. I havent owned 100mm forks before but the DT are lovely and smooth. One thing, they came with a very ropey remote which I broke in a few weeks of use. Have replaced with a regular switch on the fork itself.

Trek do know how to style a race bike.....nice graphics on that hardtail, and njee's susser.

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Turned up to race twice on this now. First time broke my chain on the first lap, second time my saddle moved but I still managed to finish (2 laps stood up!)

I love it - its really comfy, stupidly fast (which is impressive considering its got me on it) and just all round great. Not very light for what it is though, I thought it would be lighter for some reason

Flange: What size ring up front?

34t my good man

Interesting...debating running the other bike as a 1*9 for contemplating the Scale at 2*9.

I love it - that's 1x10 with the new XTR clutchy mech thing and its silent, really impressed with it. To be fair, I don't use all the block when I'm racing so it suits me fine. The MRP direct mount guide is good too, although you need to be careful if you run Middleburns as they don't always line up and you have to space things out a bit. I never use a granny ring or big ring anyway so all it did was mean I save a bit of weight.

I run my 5 as 1x9 and its perfect, means I can run a chain device which is nice.

Ok cool, what you running out back?

I've a XC style chain guard in the spares somewhere, used it for CX for a while...then it gunked up so avoided it for CX after that.

I love it - that's 1x10 with the new XTR clutchy mech thing and its silent, really impressed with it.

I was just saying on the thread about Shadow Plus mechs that I wondered if you could do away with a chain guide on a 1x10 with one of those, thoughts? You're obviously still running one. The extra weight on the mech is less than the weight of a chain guide. I quite like the psychological security of having a chain guide too!

Interesting...debating running the other bike as a 1*9 for contemplating the Scale at 2*9.

Do it. The Fuel is 1x10 - 36t ring with 11-36 block. It's great, wouldn't go back. Only a couple of races I'd have used a lower gear if I'd had one. Did walk any climbs last year though, so it's just a case of digging a little deeper.

njee20 - reckon for 24's I'll keep the scale 2*9, but XC racing...I totally see why 1*9 works, you never use the whole block anyway on most courses

That thing must weight a ton Flange 😆 Very nice though!

njee20 - reckon for 24's I'll keep the scale 2*9, but XC racing...I totally see why 1*9 works, you never use the whole block anyway on most courses

Mayhem (as a team) was one of the places I'd have used an easier gear if I'd had one, but like I say, you just dig a little deeper than you otherwise would. Solo I'd definitely stick with a double.

I was just saying on the thread about Shadow Plus mechs that I wondered if you could do away with a chain guide on a 1x10 with one of those, thoughts?

Hmmm - not sure if I'm honest. I've put about 100 miles on the bike now and there's never any noticeable noise from the chain hitting the guide. That said, because its a carbon frame with no protector I haven't risked not running one for fear of dropping the chain and it wrecking the frame. There's an awful lot of tension on the chain when you have the clutch engaged so you might be OK. That MRP is a direct mount so weight wise its not too bad. The XCX I had before was pretty heavy for what it was, less so when it fell to bits.

Sods law says as soon as you take it off, you drop the chain. B@stards law says that you'll be in a race when that happens....

That thing must weight a ton Flange

19lbs on the nose boss - its....nervous..

Surprised it's that much frankly, mine's less than a pound heavier with bouncy bits, but we've done so well not to get into willy-waving! 😉

B@stards law says that you'll be in a race when that happens....

To be honest I'm not totally fussed in that respect, it's more that it'll be as I sprint out of a corner and swiftly end up on my face!

Mayhem (as a team) was one of the places I'd have used an easier gear if I'd had one, but like I say, you just dig a little deeper than you otherwise would. Solo I'd definitely stick with a double.

Pretty much just answered my question there. Solo...so double!

Surprised it's that much frankly

You and me both, especially when the alloy Cube it replaced was only a pound heavier with XO cranks and rear mech.

I was a bit sceptical about the clutch thing, but it's pretty good even if it is just a tighter spring. Has to be said though, the build quality of the 2012 stuff isn't nearly as nice as the older stuff. My mates XTR 9-speed shifter is finished much nicer than the one I've got. Works brilliantly, just not as bling...

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53860438@N06/5892078548/ ]IMG_0366[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53860438@N06/ ]Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

Pros: Wasn't very expensive. Weighs very little. Actually rides extremely well (it's a cheapo Carrera frame with assorted nice stuff bolted to it, probably owes me £500 all in).

Cons: Insufficient gears. Fine for one or two laps but later on, I really want a spinning gear for long climbs. Likewise a wee bit of a lack of comfort. Would make things a bit tricky on some techier race routes.

I'm not a very serious racer as you'd probably guess, not sure what I'll do for this year- soloing 10@kirroughtree so it deserves a wee bit more effort put into it I think.

Has to be said though, the build quality of the 2012 stuff isn't nearly as nice as the older stuff. My mates XTR 9-speed shifter is finished much nicer than the one I've got. Works brilliantly, just not as bling...

Do you think? I've had XTR M952, M960, M970 and M980 groupsets and I've certainly not seen a degradation in quality except for possibly front mechs where the 952 Top Swings were excellent, but then they were £80 odd in 1999. Disc brakes have improved each iteration, and I think longevity on bits like chainrings has improved too. Not to mention the fact it's lighter, and until very recently was cheaper than at any time in the last decade!