Thanks all for the responses, some great advice, much appreciated.

Here’s a picture on top of my local loop in North Cardiff.

After a few more rides on the HT, amazing as it is, there’s no doubt about it, it’s a heavy bike (33lb with front RRP guard), but you only really notice it when the laws of physics take over, so proper steep gradients and lifting over stiles etc.

Riding more trail centre style terrain and gradients it climbs really well. So overall I’m really happy with the bike, and it’s amazing all round capability.

A good test for me would be the Dyfi Enduro route, I always enjoy that event, will I tire over 3-4 hours with that extra weight? looking forward to finding out whenever that may be.

Even though the weight doesn’t really impact the ride experience (which is the important part), if I’m honest it does slightly niggle me in that I have spent over £6k on a near 33lb trail bike no matter how good it is 🙂

I think the shock is setup pretty close, running about 25% sag. It does pedal efficiently for sure, seat angle also feels much better than the nomad 3.

Had an Orange alpine 160 years ago, that was around 33lb, that definitely didn’t pedal well, but descended like a demon with a coil ccdb, great bike.

Thanks all, some good points.

I walked into the South Wales weather one🙈

Road bike vs off-road Mountain bike climb is a fair point.

Called in my lbs just now who built it up, they felt the only area to easily shed weight is my front tyre choice (2.6 Magic Mary). They were not surprised with my feedback about weight, saying new trail bikes are all now generally heavier. Some of the SC complete C models they sell confirmed this on the shop scales. I think the SC website quoted figures are very optimistic.

Anyway added some more weight to mine with a proguard bolt on fender but least I’ll be able to see now 😂

Can’t wait for another ride tomorrow so it’s all good 🤘

Thanks all for the reply’s, a loop around twrch will be spot on today.

I’ll get on the Facebook group also. Cheers.

I’ve done it a few times, once on a full sus mtb, once on a CX bike and once on my road bike. Road bike took a bit of a battering, I would recommend the hardtail.

I’ve had a fair bit of experience looking for a 160mm do it all bike, having had an alpine 160 I found it too much bike most of the time, after 25-30km into on a long trail centre loop it used to get hard work.

I now have a SC Nomad which does everything I want well, and is very capable on a DH track, but previously had a Spesh Enduro and can say that the Enduro truly is the best all rounder I have had.

Lovely ride over the Bwlch Friday on the summer bike

after multiple emails to slik with no response I used Merge decals. quick to reply, excellent service.

http://www.mergedecals.com/shop/

I really like the look of the Genesis. Haven’t ridden the Datum but had a steel CDF and now an equilibrium, enjoyed them both.

Just putting this out there….as you already have a CDF and have lots of bases covered, why not go for something racier to really enjoy?

I got a Bianchi Oltre to compliment my CDF, they make out its a race bike but I’ve done many 80-90 milers without issue and love it. I’ve also had a defy so know what good bikes they are but would choose the ride of my Bianchi any day.

agree with Phil, pedal hounds is the easier one.

Y Mynydd is a bit more old school and steeper/faster. If you can ride dai hard and enter the dragon at BPW (graded black) Cwmcarn ones will also be fine.

I like them both. Its cracking figure of 8 loop to pedal up and do a run of each.

Thanks guys, leaning towards the Guide RS now.

everyone, I actually had R1’s a few years back on my trail bike, they were very good matched with correct disc and formula pads. Lovely feel throughout the stroke, sounded nice as well. So much better than the hope tech v2 I had on my downhill bike. Equal to the Avid XO’s I’ve been using until yesterday!

Thanks for the responses. I think I prefer the look of the new XT M8000 being black. Zee come in a bit pricier than the XT from what I’ve seen.

but am now also looking at the SRAM Guide R, they seem well priced and I’d like to keep the match maker to my reverb.

So its down to XT vs SRAM guide R. Both seems to have good reviews.

When my wife and I did a 3 week loop of California we rented bikes in San Francisco (road) and then Tahoe (MTB). Loads less hassle than taking your own.

Tahoe was stunning, only did the flume trail as my wife was pregnant with twins so we didn’t want anything to technical. We got uplifted to the north of the lake and followed the trail back.

Knowing the driving involved Yellowstone is a long way up, as mentioned above you could be doing a lot of driving.

Touring California is an amazing holiday, one of my best ever. Would like to take my kids when they’re a bit older.

Oh yes, love this event. always a good course plus a great off season atmosphere. Looks like it could be a wet one.

Having owned an enduro s works I must admit to missing it massively, they do everything so well. Had a seat on the new one and it just feels right. And ridiculsly light. Also comes with the ohlins air shock won’t it? I’d keep hold of that.

Not ridden the patrol or reign look great but they don’t hold the same desirability factor for me.

Just putting this out there, best bikes I’ve tried in this class are the nomad 3 and yeti sb6c.

Tough but nice decision to have !

Thanks for the input all, my nomad is 27.5, (just run it with 26″ forks) so the fox 36’s would by the new current 27.5 type.

New Lyrics sound very interesting, I’ll take a look at the weights and how they compare to the 36’s. Think Pinkbike had a review recently…

Any Bos deville users out there?

bump – Fox/BOS/RS Pikes? anyone?

I can recommend the ST’s ran then for 3 years no issue at all, when I sold them they were still running like a dream.

Now have XL’s (in 650b guise) and also very impressed, not much heavier but lots stiffer.

I really rate mavic, others don’t.

Strive seems a perfect all rounder, mate has one just got back from a basque country bike holiday and was in top form on it, long epic days with long pedaling climbs to some proper technical descents.

But I would also consider the Orbea Rallon X team at this price, our guides used them and were very pedal friendly up hill and seriously quick down.
http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/rallon-xteam/

I know its not carbon, but comes with a top end spec, and weight wise they genuinely are around 30lb. Felt as light as my carbon SC Nomad and the only bike I saw to pickup and hold that much speed over the rocky stuff like my nomad can.

It’s nice choice to have, some great bikes out there. Enjoy it.

Aksium one discs from zee Germans look a good deal. Not that light but do roll well from what I’ve heard.
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/mavic-aksium-one-m11-wheelset-252311

We used Rob the owner of coolbus a few years ago. He’s knows the place very well cost was reasonably to.

One of my all time best Mtb holidays. Great place.

I have a 2013 Enduro with the CCBDA CS. Its truly excellent, minimal pedal bob when climbing, I don’t touch the CS switch. I run it about 30% sag for everything. Its a very adjustable shock, but to be honest I have changed much from the base setting as it just worked so well.

Only shock that I’ve felt better was my CCBD coil on my orange alpine 160, but that was crazy heavy.

Untitled by dan jones[/url], on Flickr

kryton57 – if you want something for training and stable in the winter have you considered a genesis criox de fer?

I got one last year and has improved my fitness no end, when I get on the carbon race bike I feel like I’m going to take off.

Ok its steel and a bit heavy and the spec isn’t amazing, but its solid and has a bit of kudos to the cyclist in the know.

some good deals out there…..

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m117b185s862p15220/GENESIS_Croix_De_Fer_20_Adventure_Cross_Bike_2015

Thanks for the detailed feedback HobNob appreciate it.

Out of interest what are the better bikes, I’m open to suggestions 🙂

The type of riding I do….
I live in south wales so have access to hills, regularly ride the natural off piste stuff between cwmcarn and afan, with the occasional trail center or uplift day. Usually head for an alps type riding holiday once a year. (Off the basqueMTB in sept cant wait)

I like my Enduro S works at 160mm travel hence considering the nomad when I update my bike. As mentioned open to other suggestions.

Thanks all. Some lovely builds there. Also sounds like it climbs well enough which is important to me.

My Enduro is 28.3lbs so sounds like the nomad would build around that figure with my kit transferred.

Love the overbiked comment andysredmini!

I would say a get a cx bike but consider the weight/build of it if it has to cover all bases. I have a steel genisis CDF which is great for commuting and winter road riding but so much slower than my road bike, knowing the difference I’m not sure I’d be happy with the cdf as my only bike and certainly wouldn’t keep up with my group ride on it.

If had to go to one bike perhaps a caadx with 2 sets of wheels.

Thanks all for the suggestions, did the 80 miler this morning taking in the bwlch and rigos mountains so plenty of climbing, had porridge and a banana 15mins before I left, felt fine. Took 2 energy gels and a small snickers on the route. Will do the same next weekend. Cheers

Thanks all. I don’t usually have much for a shorter ride but I’m thinking for an 80 miler tomorrow. Just read from a Google search anything carb based is better, so thinking some wholemeal toast then fuel on route.

Sage barista express – had lots and but this one is simply amazing. Slightly over your budget but worth it if you like good coffee.

Cracking early morning ride over the Bwlch mountain from Cardiff.

Bwlch by dhcjones[/url]

I’ve recently got this and it’s very fast. Still need to work on my legs though …

Budget is the big question. Giant tcr’s are great quick bikes also at a good price point.

Bianchi Oltre XR1 by dhcjones[/url], on Flickr

Not ridden one myself but a friend at the lbs rated his very highly, chopped in his sc bronson for one. Rides light from what he says and comes with a good shock. Has a very nice frame finish to, cable routing could be better but that’s being picky.

I’ve always had my eye one one but not take the plunge yet 🙂

Your bike will be fine. Good points made above. Fitness is the key.

I would maybe get your brakes checked/serviced, I used a new set of hope tech v2 when I did the mega, they were awful, totally faded half way through qualifying my mate also used hopes m4s and had trouble, could be a coincidence but nothing worse than crap brakes.

Enjoy the trip. You will love it.

Depends where you are staying in mid Wales but hopton woods is a good route and not far over the border..

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/EnglandHerefordshireTheMarchesHoptonWood

Been in March, weather was fine, about 15 degrees c. Trails were mostly dry.

I would def recommend the van shuttle to get the best out of it.

It’s now one of the best places I’ve ridden and preferred it to the usual summer alps destinations I’ve tried over the years.

Depends on your budget really and what model in the ranges you are looking at.

Enduro expert is a cracker as has the s works carbon, pikes, decent roval wheels.

But if it was aluminum I’d be looking at the new giant reign, better value IMO.

Don’t know much about the orbea…

Nice decision to have.

Went late March last year and was dry every day with a good temperature, A little cooler up at the nato base trails. Amazing riding, I must go back.

Builth wells has a lot going on for road and Mtb. I grew up there and know a few different groups that ride week nights. The local shop is the best place to start.
http://www.cycle-tec.co.uk

I find the road biking in that area amazing. That Powys tarmac is soooo smooth!

As mentioned the latest generation Enduro can climb and descent extremly well, which ever wheel size you choose.

Sx trail is too much bike. I loved mine but the game has moved on.

This looks good for the money also, but not sure if over budget…
http://www.globalbike.co.uk/nukeproof-mega-am-275-comp-2014.html?gclid=CM7gp6i08sICFQEGwwod-QkAmQ

I wear my Troy Lee A1 skiing, use a buff if its cold, i thinks it’s rad! ! I prefer it to the smelly lids they rent out.