So, I am a 45 life long mountain biker coming out of a child induced hiatus.
The mountain bike world has moved on quite a bit while I've been away. I'm clueless now. Wouldn't know where to start with the standards and options.
Don't even get me started on my body. Let's just say the confidence, strength, coordination, balance and reflexes are not what they once were. The skills are in need of a major resharpen. Stamina is ok though.
Tackled Ben Macdui at the weekend on my 26" cotic Soul with 120mm rockshow reba forks.
We did it, and I loved it. I mean really loved it. even though I walked a lot more than I would have in the past on the way down.
I'm not quite ready to drop 2 grand on a bike. But the cogs have started turning. If I was to answer the question "what kind of riding do you [want to] do?" It would be a big mountain day out in the Cairgorms where I have to carry up to get an amazing challenging down hill. I'm not bothered about speed or air, I can take or leave trail centres, and I love steep technical challenging descents where you are going dead slow and you have to pilot the bike down and through the rocks and steps.
So what are you ideas? What modern mtb for pedalling/carrying up big mountains then riding down them with maximum fun, comfort, stability and err, safety.
P.s. I don't want an ebike. Not yet.
Santa Cruz 5010.
More than 2 grand, but well... 🙂
Anything double suss in good condition with cheap group and a Pike or 36 up front.
Second had old shape Bronson or 5010 pop up cheap now and again. Norco sight, Trek, Specialized, Nukeproof, Whyte sold a lot of mid travel in U.K. and pop up £800-1700. Basically everything from 2016/17 onwards is pretty decent...
Loads of people in the 40’s buy them and get injured attempting their first jump 😂
My more modern Hardtail does exactly what you describe.
Yes, I would like a FS, yes they offer more comfort and more speed in some situations.
I'm like you comfortable in enjoying myself, not being fastest down the hill.
I would like the extra comfort at times.
However, my bike is 90% as good, I'm just as fast as many on FS.
It cost £1k 3.5 years ago and a lot less cost to run than my boys FS bikes.
If you're intention is maximum speed, or you're finding things to rough, FS is ace. You will pick something up second hand that's ok, but be fussy as some are utterly trashed and not maintained.
If the intention is fun, a nice new geometry HT can be great. I'm finding great satisfaction in clearing sections, love the direct acceleration of a HT.
As you can tell, I'd love a much more expensive bike, but I don't need it.
Ben Macdui must be quite a ride! I walked it once by mistake and that was bad enough. With a lot of carrying I'd want something light / easy to carry but with good fork and slack-enough angles for coming down. Whyte hardtails fit the bill.
You can do these routes on a hardtail but the descents can be pretty long and tough so even at slower speeds they'll beat you up a bit.
Santa Cruz, Canyon, Orbea plus many of the names mentioned above, I wouldn't rule out the Aeris either.
Speaking personally it was the carrying rather than the descents that beat me up. Real men ride hardtails and wear shorts whatever the weather.
Speaking personally it was the carrying rather than the descents that beat me up. Real men ride hardtails and wear shorts whatever the weather.
Cyclist in shit upper body strength shocker.
I rode with a gent of a similar age in a similar circumstance last summer in the gorms, he was sing the praise of his whyte T130,
Looks a lot of bike for the money,
Nobeerinthefridge in barking up the wrong tree shocker.
Bird Aether 7, or AM9 if you fancy trying big wheels. There's a decent Bird demo fleet at Bennachie Bike Bothy if you fancy giving one a go one weekend.....
https://www.bennachie.bike/demo-bikes
I have an AM9 and it's properly in its element up in the hills (rode Beinn a' Bhuird a couple of weeks ago) and I ride Macdui and some of the other Munros regularly. There's about 6 of us in our riding group on AM9's now as they make great all-mountain bikes, although I suppose it does also help that there's a Bird dealer locally.