Fancy bendy frame,nice curves,
frame colour,
expensive wheels,
kerb/trail appeal,
brand name,
personnal/shop/magazine recomendation,
cost/discount,
equipment,
just something i fancy trying.
i may not work for me.............most of the time it dont.
but i will keep on trying till i find something that does.
slim steel tubes always seem to draw me back to them tho.
I decide what I want it to do, then choose the best tool for the job that I can afford.
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Nice rear end, er........small seat tube, er.........big handle bars.
For me last time out it was the frame, i wanted a P7 just wanted to try a proper steel frame for a change.
Next bike its all about the travel and full bounce, looking for 120mm-130mm will prob settle for 125mm front and rear.
Nothing else im fussed about, as i change the kit as i wear it out.
1 inch threaded headset.
In no particular order...
Reasonable weight
Looks good
Decent components
Climbs well
Descends better
Wot Ton said!
Actually scratch that . . . anything with a 21.5" or less toptube that won't clash horrendously with orange and I'm game 😉
it has to come with a history of strength and durablity. 🙂
maximum nicheness!
Serious answer, versatility. I want to be able to run ss rigid, pop forks and gears on then gear and rigid and a rack then ...
Improvement
Price. That's top of my list.
The key thing is that it sits on the roof of my Audi with a Nice big Logo or two making a clear statement to all the other middle management types that I am making plenty of money...
Oh and it absolutely must be this Seasons colour Dahling!
Geometry and the ability to handle the kind of riding I'd be using it for, I guess. If it feels fun to ride then it's alright. I don't care about the latest bling. And curvy hydroformed frames mostly look shit imo.
Thing.
Functionality, does it do what I want it to do?
I shy away from main brands, so don't expect to see me on a Specialized any day soon.
Usually some of what my current bike has, but with less of the things I dislike, or more of the things I like.
I always end up talking about "playfulness", that magic quantity that makes me try and do things I shouldn't on a bike. My wee Carrera has it, my BFe didn't. My Hemlock's apparently machined from a single billet of come-and-have-a-go. Carbon 456 has it, steel 456 had absolutely none. I can't find it on the speclists or geometry sheets so it's a bugger to shop for. But that's the most important thing for me...
I always end up talking about "playfulness", that magic quantity that makes me try and do things I shouldn't on a bike.
That's what I'm talking about when I say "feels fun to ride" I think. I agree the BFe doesn't have it unless you're going down something really steep, otherwise it feels like a bit of a barge imo. More so than my current Bullit DH build does actually which is surprising, but the Bullit is so much fun to ride and pop off everything 🙂
Steel
short travel fork
26inch wheels
3x9 gears
no fancy niche stuff
rack mounts
no hydroformed weird tubing
no carbon anywhere
36 spoke wheels
It's all about the feel and fit of the frame for me, everything else can be changed.
I like a new bike to be discreet, tight and give an amazing sensation when in use.. with a realistic 'real skin' feel and a hygenic easy clean surface