I've recently gotten back into riding, and I was adamant that I would happily bob along on my 90s clockwork. I'd look dead cool, and get loads of appreciation from fellow trial bashers.
Of course, this whole dream completely ignored my monstrous levels of desire/consumerist needs. Also, cantilevers are really guff, as are elastomer forks.
So, the purist in me wants to go for a HT. I'm guessing this will get me "more" of a bike for my money too? So, is a HT with good fork going to give me enough of a revelation? I'll mainly be riding trails local to me in West Yorks. Should I be considering a FS bike? Must admit I don't fancy the extra cost and or weight? Would it be overkill? I had an off yesterday, and I think it was sufficient to make me go a bit slower on the DHs anyway, so the FS might be even more redundant.
I'm currently lusting after a Bird Zero, but probably cannot justify the cost. Cotic's seem like good value/popular also?
Must admit, like to go with smaller brands (that's the pretentious knob in me I guess)
Any advice (mainly go buy a bike encouragement actually) much appreciated.
A few years ago I was a regular poster on the Retrobike forum, had owned a succession of very nice retro bikes (Kona Explosif, Fat Chance Yo Eddy, Marin Eldridge), and was completely uninterested in new kit.
Then I entered the (now-defunct) Kona Mash-Up race at Afan with a friend, and took my completely original 1992 Marin Eldridge, fully rigid, amberwall tyres, cantilever brakes and all.
Almost immediately after I came back, I demo'd a Giant Trance full suspension, a Lapierre Spicy, and bought a Trance. That made way for a 6" travel Specialized Pitch Pro, which now has 170mm travel forks on it, a 1x10 drivetrain, and a dropper post.
For me hardtails feel unbalanced, and I don't ride in bad enough conditions to be having to change pivot bearings every 6 months. I still have a rigid commuter that gets used for local off-road stuff when I'm taking the dogs out, and the Pitch is pretty much overkill for anything less than seriously harsh stuff, but I wouldn't trade it back.
Go to some demo days, try some modern stuff, be amazed at how capable they are and how much faster you go, then buy one and enjoy it.
🙂
The Bird complete bikes start at £995, which is much cheaper than you'll get a Cotic for isn't it? I'm tempted by one.
I'd start on a hardtail, if you enjoy riding again and it's not just a phase then get a full sus to go with it once the nasty, wet, gritty winter has passed and you've taught yourself how to ride properly again.
The 2016 Clockwork ticks the long, low & slackish boxes that are currently [i]in[/i] if you want to continue the Orange love.
Well I'll no doubt try and get a s/h bike if I do get one (who am I kidding, the seed's sewn).
I think I'll start out with a hardtail. It really will be mostly XC stuff, and all the loops from my house appear to be strangely all uphill 😆
Don't think it'll be a phase. I used to do a lot when I was younger (grew up in Fort William). Lived in cities since then, and having just moved to West Yorks, with the Pennines on my doorstep, I think this is the activity I've been looking for. Goodbye squash, goodbye five a side, goodbye running (shudder).
RE the new clockworks, must admit I'm not really feeling them aesthetically.
As an aside, can someone explain to me slack? Is it the angle of the head tube? Is more slack more of an angle (like a chopper)?
I'd get fs personally as I prefer them. Ht's are fun as a second bike but bet you'll enjoy fs more.
My steel hardtail frame weighs as much as a good full suspension frame so don't assume that a fs will be heavy.