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Its no a super techy descent like Helvyllen but he still looks underbiked to me...
Depends if you're doing proper techy, rocky rides. 3 years ago I took a 130mm 29er Canyon around the 4 passes, it was fine, but I had to nurse it round really, I wouldn't want to be doing that too often.
Most modern big travel bikes pedal uphill really well, it's the rider that's the weak link IME.
Most modern big travel bikes pedal short distances uphill really well, it’s the rider that’s the weak link IME.
FTFY
That's the thing, my Spec Enduro is amazingly good at short difficult climbs. But it is just too tiring to do long days with big height differences and long mileages. I've done Doctor & Cut Gates Loop on it and Staveley 3 passes but really would find it limiting on long rides. I want something that is capable enough to enjoy the descents, but swift enough for me not to be range limited.
PS. Loads of other good input in the posts above. Will try to reply presently. Loved the Orange at Morzine vid.
Most modern big travel bikes pedal uphill really well, it’s the rider that’s the weak link IME.
But the same rider on a short travel, lighter bike would do better. So the bike is a factor.
FTFY
47 miles offroad in the Galloways last week would suggest there was nothing to fix.
But the same rider on a short travel, lighter bike would do better. So the bike is a factor.
Which would be the case if your ride had no balls out, techy descents.
I love how there's folk on here who can't see the irony in them branding enduro bikes as some sort of marketing scam, whilst cracking open another bottle of the downcountry cool juice, it's hilarious!. 😆
Stumpjumper FSR
So I hired a Stumpjumper FSR (the 130mm Fox 32 29er). The hire shop in Les Gets were clearly happy that it’d survive. I liked it so much I bought one. It survived multiple trips on greens and blues with the odd easy red, but I broke a spoke on one of the reds. The mechanic in Morzine felt it a little too lightweight for downhill riding.
I should have added this would have been a 2005/2006 ish Stumpy, as far as I remember he cracked the frame on the road drop at Cwmcarn.
Which would be the case if your ride had no balls out, techy descents
Which sort of takes me back to the exact point of my first post.... which bits on a light bike will break if I take it on something a bit to gnarrly for its purpose.
Not sure why you're getting so het up?
PS, whilst 47 miles is a good ride, it's not huge. Just because you managed it doesn't make it a good tool for proper long rides
/escalation 🙂
Lol, not het up mate, didn't mean to come across that way.
I reckon tyres and rims as others have said take a battering, but they're both considered consumables tbf. Rims on my Bronson are a mess, really need new ones.
Edit - nice edit, though at no point did I say it was huge.
So, if I buy a bike that is too light/short travel/ fragile for the type of riding, what’s the financial downside?
Depends entirely on what your riding style is. If you don't smash into things (it doesn't sound you do) than probably nothing will break, we're lucky nowadays that generally speaking components actually work, and are pretty resilient. I'd be more concerned about stuff like shock links and bearings and the like.
Edit – nice edit, though at no point did I say it was huge
Busted 🙂
Shame I didn#t manage to correct the "to" to "too" at the same time as my stealth edit.
I got all agitated by your post, but couldn't work out whether that was because I was totally in disagreement or because I was violently agreeing with you.
Vive L'internet
I had a StumperJumper Evo and an Anthem 29er. I preferred riding the Anthem just because it was more lively and easy to ride on tamer stuff, however it also made a number of funky noises that indicated it wasn't a massive fan of being thrashed round a trail centre. The Evo was just a bit too much for my local stuff (Bedgebury/Thetford) but could certainly stand the abuse.
Doing it again, I'd go bigger travel but lighter - probably a carbon frame, lighter wheels and stuff. I hate pedalling heavy bikes about, especially when there's a bit of road/fire road involved. A stronger Anthem (without the 27.5 seatpost) would be ideal but this type of set up is in short supply and crazy expensive
I suppose in answer to the actual question, if you built a bike to cover distance more than gnarr (something like an epic all airsprung with 120mm-ish max travel and lighter wheels and tyres?) I'd still expect the wheels to be the parts that first showed signs of damage if you get a bit enthusiastic with the rocks and roots...