Hello all, I’ve signed up to do the SDW in a day thing with the British Heart Foundation…. Now I need to get a bike to it on – my Nomad is a bit heavy!

So I need a bike that I can bang out 100 miles on, but I also want a bike that will be interesting to ride afterwards…. As in should fly down hills and cope with drops etc.

I think I want the following:

130mm fork minimum
Not too steep a head angle (my Nomad is slack but I guess I’d want something steeper for the SDW)
Light (as in 28lb ish)
Aggressive riding feel
Able to do 100 miles without killing me (happy to buy lighter rubber and flip the stem)
No more than 1100 quid
Has to be available from a shop that’s signed up to http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/

At the moment, I’m considering the Marin Rocky Ridge and a Dialled PA. The Marin is a *lot* more bike for the money, but the bike shop expressed surprise when I said I was going to the SDW on it….

I don’t think anywhere flogs the On-one 456 retail so that rules that out. Was considering the Genesis Core, but that’s a bit XC really.

Oh, and it can’t be a specialised, as we have ‘history’.

I don’t think I’d buy a new bike just for that

I did it on a Bullit & tacky hi-rollers

was slow, but I finished and I’m NOT a fit rider

get lighter wheelset and tyres on the nomad , sorted.
the RR would be brutal, having said that i’d still do it on my bike.

House!

Whyte 19 might fit the bill.

Whats the SDW?

How about a ’09 Specialized FSR XC Expert

I know it’s “only” 120mm but the FS will take the sting out of things

Are there many bikes built around 130mm forks designed to be ridden for 100 miles at a time?

SDW = South Downs Way – bout 100 miles of rolling chalk

Could lighten the nomad, but I quite fancy a new bike!

charge Ti blender then.

get some light wheels for your nomad

I have one and I don’t see the point in a shorter travel bike

Rock lobster 853 from merlin or merlin malt 4 both under 900 notes if internet bought, travel is a bit less but the steel frame on the rock lobster is spot on.

Sharki – suspect that’ll be a fair bit more than 1000 quid!

Cynic-al – how much does your nomad weigh? Mines about 35/36lb and it’s not got anythig silly on it (other than saint cranks)…

My current Nomad is:

DHX Coil with Ti Spring
Magura Wotans
Mavic 321s on Hope Pro 2s
Saint Cranks
X7 Chain and Cassette
X9 Mech and shifters
Thompson stem
Truativ XC/DH Team bars
WTB seat post
Wire Hi-Rollers

What’s best to change? Shock to an air one and fit the 05 XT cranks I have kicking around?

Maxlight xc120, light, 130 fork adjusted, fun to ride (I have one), you could probablt get it built for your budget(frame only) if need be you could always borrow your nomads wheels?

Stick some 719 or 819 rims on the nomad and run tubeless. It’ll make it loads faster and those rims are plenty strong for even moderate dh.

08/09 kona dawg?

I did 108 miles in a day on a 06 Dawg Primo. Was fine and fun. My pal did it on a Nomad. He put 1.95 tyres on but that was the only mod. Just use the Nomad, it’ll be fine. It’s not like it’s a race is it?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/dawg-08-28294

dawg head angle 68.2

nomad 67

does thatt mean dawg is slacker then?

get some light wheels for your nomad

I have one and I don’t see the point in a shorter travel bike

OMGWTF11!!1!! AL’SGONEALLFREERADCORE!EXTREME1!!1£!!1!

Can I ask what the big deal is? Its only the South Downs Way! Just over 100 miles of rolling Downland. Where did you get the idea that you need a minimum of 130mm forks. I have riden it twice on a ridgid bike and once on a single speed with 100mm forks. Admitedly the forks had a lock out on them so it helps with SS climbing. A hardtail with 100 to 120mm is perfect for the SDW. the bike needs to be as light as you can get it as you have to drop a lot of height on a number of occasions and put it all back on again. Also the tyre choice is very important. The chalk can be like glass in some areas so no tyre is going to be 100% grippy, but a light, fast rolling tyre with medium tread will fair well. It can have sharp stones and be flinty in some areas so dont forget to carry a tyre boot or two with you as tyre can get slashed. I hope this helps out abit?

Matt

Bikey / Matt – by far the most sensible piece of advice I’ve read so far!

Sounds like he’s after a new bike anyway, and the 130 forks are what he’ll want on it after SDW.

I did it a few years back on a Merlin Malt4. If the ground is soaked, nothing will grip in the first 20 miles, so as bikey said, slim fast rolling tyres would be good.

If you do want to get ahardtail with 130mm forks anyway, I have built up a PA to 28lbs and am planning to do the South West Randonee on it. Strong enough for fun, but its still easy to do a day in the saddle on.

Steve – spot on. I know the sdw is just rolling chalk. However if I just get a xc bike, I’ll never do ride it again.

Aiming for 12 hours and I’ll be with mates on hard tails so I’m not keen onjust maning up and using the nomad.

I’d go for a Whyte 19 too.

Genesis Abyss or Alptitude?

Leave poor Ewan alone… he clearly wants a new toy and this is just the excuse to get one. Why compromise a lovely bike that is clearly built as a freeride sled? *hides*

I had exactly the same bull when I was asking ‘what bike for Avalanche Enduro’ last year. Now I ride that bike more than any others.

To answer the OP; There are two problems.
1. Can you get £1100 from the scheme, it is normally limited to under £1000 (unless the company has a CC licence)
2. What you really want is a FS trail bike, and for that money it’ll not be great. I couldn’t be arsed doing the SDW on a hardtail any more.

You can’t get 1100 quid from the scheme, but I’m yet to find a bike shop that won’t invoice for me for the 1000 and then let me top it up in cash.

Cheers for all the sugestions.

Why is doing the SDW on a hard tail a silly idea? I’ve only ridden the south downs once, but my overriding impression was that it was:
a) quite smooth
b) boring climbs with largely dull descents
c) chalky

Would look at the Whyte 19 but it’s 900 quid over budget, so that rules that out. Likewise the Alptitude is 500 quid over budget.

At the moment it’s still looking like a PA or a Rocky Ridge.

How do people find the sizing of the PA? I’m a smidge under 6 ft with 31′ inside leg. Guessing that’s a large? Can you stretch out on it?

Ewan, my large PA was great for the SD Sutton to Brighton last year including a bit of the south yawn way. Looks like this:

PA 1

PA 2

I’m just under 6’2″ and wear 34″ leg jeans so you might want a med. Welcome to have a look/ride once I get the crank fixed (you could sell me yours :wink:)

I have a large PA frame for sale if you’re interested….?

Having done the SDW on both a HT and a FS i would pick the FS as it is more about the comfort at the end of the day as it might be only chalk but if its dry it is hard and unforgiving.
Your right that it is not the most technical riding but it can get to you if you are not used to the distance and don’t forget that it is 10,00 ft of up and then down.
If you want to run a HT thne i would just use a fast rolling wide tyre to take the sting out.

Orange P7 Pro?

140mm bolt-through forks. not too heavy. 69 head angle. not too stiff a frame. Ok for a long day but good fun as well. available in lots of shops, presumably on the cyclcescheme thing too. It’s available for about £1300.

how about a cx bike with big tyres?

no?

Leggyblonde – Cheers, may take you up on that…

P7 is a good idea, i’ll get a ride on mates.

Cheers for the advice everyone.

genesis altutude 20?

steel hardtail is what you want for the SDW, i’ve done it a couple of times and i think a steel hardtail is the ticket.

[sartre mode]

Does anything exist?

[/sartre mode]

Hardtail all the way, just be prepared for a sore back at the end (more bumpy at the Eastbourne end)

I’d go for something with 100mm forks, maybe even a 29r?

was goming to add tyre choice is key on a hundred miler. I used larden TTs 2.35 which were ace quick rolling but plenty of grip. It was dry both times i did it complete last year and could have probably used a semi slick at least on the rear (if i could find a fat enough one)

Ewan – Member
How do people find the sizing of the PA? I’m a smidge under 6 ft with 31′ inside leg. Guessing that’s a large? Can you stretch out on it?

I reckon a medium (17″) would fit you better than a large (19″).

Cheers Mike, thanks for advice. Do you know the head angle on the PA with a 140mm (fox 32) fork on it?