Looking for a bike... would like opinions (Read 18944 times)

fatdoc · March 04, 2014, 09:25:22 pm

I still think u need a BIG bike, and a fun XC bike, as separate items...

bigtuboflard · March 04, 2014, 10:07:47 pm

I'd say large is, er, too large. I'm five nine and have a medium enduro and status. Assuming specialized are consistent with their sizing I'd say a large would just upset you ultimately.

unclesomebody · March 04, 2014, 10:18:15 pm

Quote from: fatdoc on March 04, 2014, 09:25:22 pm

I still think u need a BIG bike, and a fun XC bike, as separate items...

I think that too, but I just can't afford it... unless I buy 2 very mediocre bikes instead of 1. If only I had a way of getting cheap bikes as easily as cheap climbing gear.

I think that large will be too big but I have read that the 2013+ Enduros come up short. I've tried several stores and no one has any so I have no way of trying one. There is a Specialized demo day at Cannock Chase on the 15th but that's a fair way from Bristol... But driving there is less painful than importing a bike from the states and finding it doesn't fit!

unclesomebody · March 07, 2014, 10:12:24 am

Fatdoc, what would happen to my all day xc rides in the UK with my wife if I bought this: http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1435220/

fatdoc · March 07, 2014, 12:14:39 pm

You would probably need a defibrillator...

But surely worth it if u then buy a cheap second hand hardtail for the XC??

Fj · March 07, 2014, 08:59:25 pm

im 6foot and had a large sx trail from 2006 and now have a large 2012 stumpy.
i think the reach of the bike is about as important as the seat tube and with a big ape index have found the large specialized fit much better than a santa cruz.

have you considered an sx trail? loved mine, but you have to really want it to keep up on xc rides.

fatdoc · March 07, 2014, 09:18:44 pm

Trust me.. Good advice.. But uncle needs a cheap XC head tail for uk XC and a full on bike park bike... Nothing wrong with needing two bikes... Do it unc... That transition is mint mate...

bigtuboflard · March 07, 2014, 09:53:15 pm

Quote from: fatdoc on March 07, 2014, 09:18:44 pm

Trust me.. Good advice.. But uncle needs a cheap XC head tail for uk XC and a full on bike park bike... Nothing wrong with needing two bikes... Do it unc... That transition is mint mate...

+1, the Transition is mint

Palomides · March 11, 2014, 11:40:23 am

I'm 179cm tall and have recently gone for a Large specialized hardtail (29er, which oddly seems to fit me better than the 26" specialized Large I had before

)

This sizing chart (2014 I think): http://www.mcconveycycles.com/store/content/154/Specialized-Sizing-Guide/ suggests large for the Enduro, but it's worth remembering that they give sizes for complete bikes - the pinkbike one has got a 35mm stem on it and I'm pretty sure that it doesn't come from the factory like that!

unclesomebody · March 13, 2014, 11:20:15 am

Thanks to all for the advice/opinions. After realising it was just too expensive to ship a bike over from the states I started looking at UK options and it came down to waiting for the right price Slash... but I just kept going back to the TR250 listing on pinkbike and eventually emailed the guy with an offer. The spec is really high and I got it for less than my budget so I think it's a win/win. I'm picking it up tonight... I think I'll change the rear shock to an air shock to save 0.5kg but we'll see.

Already checked bike park wales and there aren't any weekend uplift slots until June! What?! Need to find a few before that to get back in shape before the alps.

bigtuboflard · March 13, 2014, 11:25:13 am

Great decision!

it looks great

A lighter rear shock would be a good call too. Antur Stiniog have lots of uplift days available last time I checked, planning on a trip over there on a Friday in the not too distant future so as to get my brain back in gear before the summer trip sneaks up on me

fatdoc · March 13, 2014, 04:30:00 pm

Cwmcarn uncle.... Most alpine like, way better in my and my riding buddies opinions than stiniog.. , And recent rebuild. There is a vid ( not that great tbh) on the link that is my avatar below.

Much easier to get a space on the uplift, and over 1 hour less travel than uk bike park... Which I really wanna take a single crown bike too...

bobkatebob · March 14, 2014, 12:51:10 pm

Good Choice!

I had been looking at the TR250 but decided due to my other bike I would go more DH so went for the TR450. One of the few decent bikes that goes small enough.

DId it come with geo chips? Don't know why but I could see you tinkering with them to get things just right

bkb...

fatdoc · March 15, 2014, 07:15:09 am

If you are small, that would make me medium on a 450?

It's just they released the 500 yesterday.. At looks amazing....

bobkatebob · March 15, 2014, 09:22:06 pm

If you have the cash the 500 does look sweet.
http://www.transitionbikes.com/2014/Bikes_TR500.cfm

BKB jr says my TR450 is the same size as his perp. Not sure if you tried it in the alps.

fatdoc · March 16, 2014, 08:45:20 pm

I need the meduim... Must try to justify this.... This thread could turn into the bike pr0n thread..

unclesomebody · April 07, 2014, 11:11:02 am

Against the advice of my physio I had my first proper day out on the bike on Saturday at Cwmcarn. Some thoughts: The initial regret of buying a bike that's "too big" for the UK was dispelled. It was great having the travel and it really did feel plush on the downhill trails. Geometry/handling wise it felt extremely comfortable. I changed the linkage chips in order to get the steepest head angle of 65 degree. It just felt too slack in the other settings but that's probably because I'm not used to it. The CCDB air that I've added really is incredible for an air shock. The "uplift" service is a pain in the arse. 20 minutes to drive up a road very slowly is rewarded by 2 minutes or less of coming down. Perhaps if I wasn't on my own I'd have been sessioning sections of the trail. As it was I just attempted everything blind... including the "big gap" which resulted in a pinch flat but I did manage to ride 90% of the way down as the air was slowly escaping my rear tyre. It felt great to be on a bike again even though it rained all day and was generally miserable.

Looking forward to the UKB uplift day as I think it will be a bit more fun with some people who know what they're doing! Fingers crossed it will be dry!

Thanks to the people in this thread who encouraged me to go with a big bike. I'll be back to post abuse at you the next time I decide to do an all day ride...

fatdoc · April 07, 2014, 12:16:52 pm

I didn't do the gap last time I was there.. Unfinished business... If you hit that blind...

bobkatebob · April 07, 2014, 02:04:50 pm

52 days and counting.
Hope there is less snow this time.

unclesomebody · April 07, 2014, 06:23:33 pm

Quote from: fatdoc on April 07, 2014, 12:16:52 pm

I didn't do the gap last time I was there.. Unfinished business... If you hit that blind...

It's not like climbing where you need years of training and dedication. All you have to do is buy a decent bike and hold on...

Look forward to following your line fatdoc!

fatdoc · April 09, 2014, 11:09:15 pm

That gap drop took some blokes 5 ribs and spleen out the day before I was last there... Yes, you don't need the obvious 1000 hrs training to be able to pull on like for a font 8, but TBH uncle.. It's well gnarly! Most of us have to train a ton to consider stuff like that dude

Respect.

I have yet to decide whether I'm hitting it.. Probs not until after my Whitstler trip...