Too heavy for Taurine 3????
Too heavy for Taurine 3????
Author
Discussion

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
  • ** Also posted in Bikeradar ****
I have currently got a 2001 Mount Vision and think its about time to upgrade.

Since I bought the full suspension I have enjoyed the extra speed, but miss the challenge on getting the right lines, etc. Therefore have been thinking about a hard tail for a while. Then whilst looking for a bike sat nav I spotted an 08 Carbon Taurine for £1,300 & loved the look of it, the problem is................ I am 13 stone (down from 15 in spring) & whilst I am not a free rider, I am not a cross country wippit (most rides at Llandegla & CYB). My worry is I will knacker the frame!

Any help / advice will be gratefully received!

littleandy0410

1,745 posts

227 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
You don't say how tall you are, but assuming you're not 4'6", then 13 stone is not that heavy! I'm 13st 4lbs, and wouldn't even give it a second thought to be honest.

They make the frame in an XL size, and I ca't imagine there are that many people requiring an XL that are substantially lighter than that. As long as you don't abuse it, (Downhill or large drop-offs) it should be fine.

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
5.11 - Was 15 stone until recently & my nickname is "chunk" smile

Whilst I am not doing full downhills & jumping off walls - I do go to the MTB centres & ride everything there.......... to the best of my 35 year old ability - therefore getting more & more a cross country rider!

Thanks for the reply

littleandy0410

1,745 posts

227 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
I'm also 5'11" and my nick name of "Little Andy" has stuck from 18 years ago, when I was at school in the same class as another Andy Smith, who was (and still is) taller than me. Can you guess what his nick name is!? Yep, Big Andy!

You'll be stuck with "chunk" for years to come, but you'll be fine on a carbon hardtail for XC riding. Well done on the weight loss, I know it's not easy. Especially (speaking from experience) when Jaffa Cakes are still for sale!

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Wednesday 29th October 2008
quotequote all
Hmmmmmmmmmm Jaffa Cakes

Thanks for the help

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
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Or what about a Orange P7?

ChrisS1

122 posts

229 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
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Matt H said:
Or what about a Orange P7?
Ooh is that a new type of Jaffa Cake? ;-)

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
Think the new jaffa cake is called "Orange P155"

cableguy

2,287 posts

232 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
I'm 6ft 15 stone and after riding Carbon Hardtails wouldn't consider anything else.

Check out my current Frame for sale:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/768739.htm

I've listed it as 18" but after check measuring from the centre of the BB to the top of the Seatpost, its actually 18.5".

C.

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
Does it handle drop offs / trial centres ok?

More importantly how would you class the way you ride?

Also........ durability, ie, what happens if you scratch it, etc, etc.

Thanks

Matthew

cableguy

2,287 posts

232 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
TBH i'm no pro and the frame is way beyond my capabilities.

I purchased the frame from a friend who upgrades every year, my intention was to build up and start riding again after a 3 year absence, however with work commitments etc. I just don't have the time.

I've ridden the bike on a few occasions and its night and day against my old Specialized M5 hardtail. A great downhill machine coupled with Fox RL32 F100's and handles drop off's very well.

Hopefully someone with a little more knowledge on this bike will be able to answer your questions in more detail.

C.

Sloe

366 posts

227 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
I'd say 13 stone for a carbon frame is nothing to worry about, at all. I'm 5' 11'' and 16.5 stone, in lighter days I rode Marin team issue HT's without a problem. You could flex the down tube on those with your fingers!

In the last few years I've had problems with carbon forks on my road bike and lightweight wheel sets, as manufacturers don't tend to give shops any guidance on tolerable rider weight for components. Hence I ride a steel hard tail with very tough, if slightly heavier wheels. But you wouldn't call my riding style svelt.

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the info - there seems to be a lot of conflicting info on carbon frames & I don't want to spend the cash on something I constantly worry about, hence looking at P7's this morning!

Also thinking back I can't remember seeing many carbon frames at Llandegla / CYB!

Sloe

366 posts

227 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
IIRC, one of the problems with carbon frames is the catastrophic failure they can suffer. There can be weaknesses invisibly building over time due to repeated impacts that will suddenly propagate and you have a bike in two bits.

Metal frames tend not fail suddenly without signs, such as weld cracks, fractures or distortion of the metal / paint (this includes aluminium), unless you have a big off.

But it all depends on how much of a shoeing your bike gets on a ride. At most trail centres, it's easy to balls up a line and crash hard.

The other main consideration, if your bike is something you'd rather keep using for several years, a good steel frame can usually be repaired, easily. Aluminium and Ti can be also, but you need a very good specialist welder. With carbon, it's just not possible.
happy to be corrected, as technology is improving all the time



Have a try on a high end steel frame, the Columbus and Reynolds top end tube sets ride very well indeed and are light. There's something in them of the springy whippet feeling, which you get from a Ti frame.

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Thursday 30th October 2008
quotequote all
Cheers for the info

Now also looking at Orange P7, On-one scandel & marin rocky ridge.......

Sorry for all of the questions but I haven't bought a mag in years & am out of touch

Matt H

Original Poster:

542 posts

245 months

Friday 31st October 2008
quotequote all
Just going to the bike shop to put a deposit down on an Orange P7 pro!

Thanks for your help.