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It's a Meta Trail. It won't bore your mind on terms of dh ability. But tbh, how much dh are you gonna do with a young kid?
You've got to book ahead (always sunny when you're on the booking form but pissing down on the day),
It's inefficient: you'll leave the house at 830am, get home at 6pm, and yet only spent 50 minutes in the saddle, the rest in a van.
I got my bike I could ride the Mendips or Quantocks (plus get in the Elan Valley, Brecons, Snowdon etc).
I don't find uplift inefficient to be honest. I don't enjoy going uphill - uplift means I get the most downhill possible in a day.
If I book in advance and it's raining on the day I just suck it up and get on with it and worry about mud later. I generally need to book time in for me to ride in advance rather than anything spontaneous. That way Becky can plan something to do that day.
I'm not after a DH beast - just something that goes DH a bit better than what I have, without compromising the ability to cycle up hills some of the time too much.
I don't find uplift inefficient to be honest. I don't [particularly] enjoy going uphill - uplift means I get the most downhill possible in a day.
Exactly!
There are a lot of awesome 6"ish travel bikes out there - mine's just under that, 140mm rear, 150mm front but with a 64-65 deg head angle depending on how the dropouts are set. It's pretty unstoppable on gnarly trails but still works on flatter singletrack. But you can't skimp on the forks (stiff, good damping) and shock (good damping!)
If you see somewhere selling a v2 (2013-) Banshee Spitfire at a good price I'd buy it!
Will check out the Banshee and see what that looks like etc.
Glad someone else agrees with me on uplift - although it's so popular every uplift day there must be plenty of us that enjoy them.
Enduro bike - if you want a rubbish trail bike AND a rubbish dh bike rolled into one, then go for it.
That's one way of looking at it I suppose.
Sounds like many people would disagree (I haven't ridden one to be able to comment yet). A DH bike for me would be out of the question - I don't do anything difficult enough to require one - and I don't plan to race. However something with a bit more attitude but that will still be playful and want to pop off stuff would fit the bill nicely I hope.
deanfbm - MemberEnduro bike - if you want a rubbish trail bike AND a rubbish dh bike rolled into one, then go for it.
Sounds like you've only ridden rubbish enduro bikes, or maybe only ridden good enduro bikes rubbishly, tbh
Ha.
Started out on "enduro" bikes.
Got a dh bike and trail bike, became stupid and swapped them both for an enduro bike.
Serial swapping through enduro bikes (transition patrol, Kona process 153, wheel set ups, tyres, suspension).
Now back to a trail bike and dh boke and couldn't be happier.
Seem to fairly good rider.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH5MhPPAUJq/
You got good height Dean...considering how slow you were going at the lip.
I can only dream about pulling off jumps like that....
Joe, I just went from a 140mm Spesh Stumpjumper to a 160mm spesh Enduro, the extra suspension makes a difference and the lyriks are noticeably stiffer then the revelations I had before.
But the main difference is the geometry, the SJ was 67.5 HA and 74SA, the new bike is 66 HA and 75SA with slightly shorter chainstays. The slacker HA makes it feel better at medium and high speed on rough ground and jumping, the short stays make the bike more playful and somehow the seat angle plugged into the rest of it makes it climb better!
It's all about the geometry, although if you look too hard it likes opening a can of worms!
To make uplift more time efficient, what about an ebike?
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Stereo-Hybrid-120-HPA-Pro-500-27-5-2017-Electric-Bike_97778.htm?sku=348114&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=COPe_oXp1dICFSEW0wodrhgCqA#
Just another option, don't be hatin' etc etc . .
Don't hate e-bikes but they will mean another tranche of people entering the sport who would otherwise do something else (golf?).
My dad at 70 still puts in 20+ miles around Kent (road) so I'll just switch to cx when I'm older.
My assumption is that e-bikes will want a trail centre experience out of their highly expensive purchase. Will be interesting to see how the sport responds on the whole. Brexit will have big implications for the centres, ESP bpw and other TCs.
A couple have made the most important point. Geometry is more important that travel. 160mm vs 140mm? Its only 20mm and weight should be about the same. But the biggest difference is that 160mm bikes have more aggressive geometry.
I think you're right to not settle for a bike for local riding just because you live where you are. Have the right bike for what you enjoy riding. Climbing is not really going to be significantly better or worse on either once you run some chunkier tyres and lower psi's.
Too much emphasis on having a bike that will increase fun for everything. But reality is if the trail is shit it will be boring on anything.
Go with your heart and not what the numbers say.
I don't find uplift inefficient to be honest. I don't [particularly] enjoy going uphill - uplift means I get the most downhill possible in a day.
e-bike
damnit beaten to it 😥
E-bike would still be slower up the hill, and would still use some energy up (albeit not as much). Plus aren't they quite heavy, so less fun on the downs?
Plus it's not worth incurring the wrath of 'proper mountain bikers' using electricity to cheat
Earlier today I was chatting with a very strong MTBer who was raving about the ridiculous climb he'd just done up a mountain on his ebike, going up so steeply that even with motor assistance he'd almost thrown up at the top. Doesn't sound like cheating, more like opening up opportunities!
I love it, but keep seeing more bling bikes with more travel.
This hasn't changed for me since I started riding, no matter what bike I've been on! 🙂
I'm going for a compromise this time.
I had the 150mm "enduro" bike was a bit boring and too easy as i haven't got the skills or confidence to take it anywhere near its limit. Went back to a decent hardtail and it makes some stuff more interesting/fun but takes the fun out of the rougher stuff.
So I've got my hands on a 130mm frame that will be run with 150/160 forks with offset bushes to make it nice and slack, only half done so far but hopefully it will be what i want.
If you're really not sure - and you're not open to big wheels - just get a 140mm bike.
Orange Five, Canyon Spectral... something like that.
I've had a go on a couple of 29ers and wasn't a fan. I've got a 130mm bike already with 150mm RS Revelations on the front. Not sure what the head angle is but I think it's fairly neutral.
E-bike would still be slower up the hill,
Very no - will be faster uphill, leaving you fresher for the descent.
Demo one, you'd be surprised, think of a camber that allows you to ride further/longer
I've had a go on a couple of 29ers and wasn't a fan. I've got a 130mm bike already with 150mm RS Revelations on the front. Not sure what the head angle is but I think it's fairly neutral.
Looks like it's about 68 deg if you're running similar sag front and back - so pretty steep in modern terms.
I was also going to say a big E-Bike, every day is an uplift day then.
Fun is a bit too subjective though innit, I like having fun, my hardtail is fun, but if you like going blisteringly fast, it's not as fun a full suss, even a short travel one.
To me, I think if I was doing uplifts and could afford two bikes I'd get a DH bike. If I couldnt afford two I'd get something like an Aeris 120, that would take a bit of abuse but not be a pig the rest of the time.
I tried two bikes from the same company, one Trail, one Enduro, and went pretty much set on the trail bike as a better "do it all". I loved them both. The difference in weight and climbing was so minimal, and the geo on the Enduro was spot on, that I thought Sod it, why not go for the bigger travel just in case; works a treat. Anecdotal but you get the point.
I tried two bikes from the same company and much preferred the trail model, despite a lower spec. Yours wasn't Cotic as well was it?
OP - are you keeping your Boardman then? If so, stick some offset bushings in it and crack on with getting an enduro bike as well.
Chakaping - nope not Cotic. Rose.
Nice rear wheel landing
I thought with all the bragging it was gonna be a rear wheel landing to manual. Dean, you'll be heartbroken im sure, but i've removed you from my list of people on STW who i thought could ride a bike 😛
Euro i've removed you from my list of people on STW who i thought could ride a bike
I bet that's a pretty short list...
Seem to fairly good rider.
he's right though, what [i]did[/i] you stop for? 😆
JoeBristol,
Have you been convinced by the e-Bike revolution yet then?
Here's no way I'll be buying an e bike. I've got no excuse not to ride up hills fully under my own steam on days when I'm cycling more xc type circuits rather than an uplift. In fact I could do with getting fitter / lighter myself so any cycling up will be helpful.
With all the different suggestions I think I should demo an enduro type bike like a transition patrol and see how it feels. FOD might be a good place as I could try the red xc circuit and spend the rest of the day on the DH tracks (if they let demo bikes be used on the uplift).
If I did a half day demo for the first half of he day then did the same sort of stuff on my Boardman the second half of the day it would show me if there is an advantage to getting something like the Patrol.
I'd buy a frame and a better fork and try to use the rest of my current components on it rather than buy a whole bike I think.
Almost clicked 'buy' on a set of 160mm rct3 RS Pikes yesterday but held off. Thinking I could stick them on the boardman for now and they'd work on a longer travel bike too. Although it could strain my current frame with 160mm travel forks when it comes standard with 130mm ones (although so far it's been ok with 150mm travel).
Like I said, if you want to pop over and have a look at my Commencal Trail bike. You're more than welcome to - BS4 (Upper Knowle)
You don't 'need' to do an uplift to do the DH tracks at FOD. The push up isn't that bad, and on an enduro bike it's a ride up anyway. I demo'd an Aeris at FOD. Lap of the red, few runs on the DH tracks, then a quick blast round the blue.
You just don't need to go to FoD. Too busy...
Uplift day is already booked. I have a mate who doesn't ride uphill at all. We did an uplift day at BPW in September and it was epic - albeit I acknowledge FOD is nowhere near the same scale. Also did an uplift day last summer at Flyup 417 project which was fun. Doing the uplift means I'm happy to wear knee / shin pads and a full face helmet. If I was pushing / cycling up I'd probably get a bit hot all geared up in that.
We were going to do BPW again but it was already booked for the 1st April when we all had a free weekend to make it there. I've never been to FOD so will see how it is - I've heard it can get very busy - it was my mate (who doesn't ride uphill) that suggested we try there.
I did Cafell at Cwmcarn last weekend on my own for a quick single lap as my first proper ride post shoulder op and loved hurtling down the hills again (I didn't think doing either of the DH tracks there first proper ride back was a good idea so didn't attempt them). Really hoping FOD is going to be fun.
Some bikebrands are trying to make bikes that climbs like trailbikes and descends like endurobikes.
Take a look at http://m.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Tantrum/Meltdown,18047
That bike is hideous. Off to dip my eyes in memory erasing acid.
Interesting but the "stiff for pedalling, soft for bumps" thing lives and dies on what happens when both things happen at the same time
That is one ugly bike. It can't be unseen' unfortunately.
The review doesn't exactly suggest it rides that well either.
There are other reviews that are pretty unison in how the suspension works as promised.
It is only stiff when pedaling if the ground are smooth.
I will get to ride one in May-Jun and would be happy to share my experience after that.
I dont care much about looks. I prefer the effort goes into construction quality instead. I find it a bit funny that som riders take looks in consideration when choosing the ride. Is it a metrosexual thing maybe?
gunnar - Member
Some bikebrands are trying to make bikes that climbs like trailbikes and descends like endurobikes.
Take a look at http://m.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Tantrum/Meltdown,18047
There are quite a lot of long travel bikes that are very capable climbers (specialized enduro, split infinity yetis)
Enduro bikes have to be good climbers as there is a fair bit of climbing in enduro races.
All of them are better looking than that bike too.
Anyone on here riding a Nukeproof Mega AM 275? Another option I'm thinking about although a few reviews have suggested they're more stable / less playful than a Bird Aeris / Airdrop Edit.....I'm not sure that's a good thing.
The new Nukeproof is playful, loads more playful than my Reign. I think if you went any more playful then you as well go to a shorter travel bike.
They build up light as well, my old mans was at about 29.5lb with Lyriks, aluminium wheelset, alu cranks and carbon bars.