Opinions sought on a "Best XC/Trail MTB" award shortlist...
Discussion
Update time.
I'm just back from a trip to Bird. Not good news I'm afraid.
Last night, Ben was positive about possibilities ranging from buying a new Zero TR 3 and loaning a set of 10 speed wheels to get me rolling for the race, to an outside chance that he could release a Mk1 Zero demo bike for sale early. Fair play, he made no promises, but his general demeanor was "We'll do what we can to help".
FFWD to this afternoon and Dan and Dave were in, and they were pretty cold toward any of those ideas. So an ex-demo can't be made available, of that I was left in no doubt. Nor are there any Shimano 10 speed wheels at any spec level to borrow, even for a weekend. So that puts a new TR 3 out of reach. Dan was even quite negative toward the idea of test riding a demo bike until they had something to sell me within budget.
All fair enough I suppose. Which leaves me with one choice - the run-out Zero Mk1 frame with SRAM 1 x 11 speed XD hub to run their 10-42t cassette. But it's 10% over budget, so I may well have to bin the idea of owning a Bird. If I do buy something else, then it'll be long term. I don't want this to sound like a 'flounce' because it's not, but if I end up having to buy elsewhere, I simply won't have the space or the budget to buy a Bird at a later date...
I'd pretty much been hoping that I could update the thread with a "deal done" statement. Back to Google now though...
I'm just back from a trip to Bird. Not good news I'm afraid.
Last night, Ben was positive about possibilities ranging from buying a new Zero TR 3 and loaning a set of 10 speed wheels to get me rolling for the race, to an outside chance that he could release a Mk1 Zero demo bike for sale early. Fair play, he made no promises, but his general demeanor was "We'll do what we can to help".
FFWD to this afternoon and Dan and Dave were in, and they were pretty cold toward any of those ideas. So an ex-demo can't be made available, of that I was left in no doubt. Nor are there any Shimano 10 speed wheels at any spec level to borrow, even for a weekend. So that puts a new TR 3 out of reach. Dan was even quite negative toward the idea of test riding a demo bike until they had something to sell me within budget.
All fair enough I suppose. Which leaves me with one choice - the run-out Zero Mk1 frame with SRAM 1 x 11 speed XD hub to run their 10-42t cassette. But it's 10% over budget, so I may well have to bin the idea of owning a Bird. If I do buy something else, then it'll be long term. I don't want this to sound like a 'flounce' because it's not, but if I end up having to buy elsewhere, I simply won't have the space or the budget to buy a Bird at a later date...
I'd pretty much been hoping that I could update the thread with a "deal done" statement. Back to Google now though...
Craikeybaby said:
That's disappointing. No chance to buy one without wheels, then source some wheels separately?
That's the next step I suppose. Depends what value they give their wheels though. They probably have a 'trade' value on the build spreadsheet, but I'd have to buy at retail, potentially putting me over budget once again.A couple of places seem to have stock of the very wheels that Bird use, or I could get some help from them to spec myself a custom build from someone like Superstar Components maybe.
It's on the back-burner now until Thursday anyway, as I'm out tomorrow with the wife.
Woody said:
Dissapointing. Is there no wiggle room of the SRAM equipped version? Might be worth asking.
It seems very unlikely that they'll move on the price of the 11 speed XT/SLX build with the SRAM XD 10t freehub. These are run-out models, based on the Mk1 Zero frame, and Dan was pretty insistent that, once the 10 speed wheels come back into stock, this build option would be pulled as it's already a massive bargain. There'd then be a ten-speed 1 x 10 or 2 x 10 build with a standard 11t Shimano/SRAM freehub, knocked out at the sub-£1000 price point. It'll be too late for me, though.I'm going to have a think on the options now. I can't do anything tomorrow, so I'll try to come up with some innovative work-around that no-one has thought of yet. If I can't come up with a plan that accommodates both my needs and theirs, then plan 'B' looks like buying the Trek Superfly 5 and learning to live with a 29er...
For the sake of £100 I would going for my bike of choice rather than settle for a "stand-in".
In the long run you won't be happy.
Surely you can squirrel £100 from somewhere to get the 11 SPD on offer?
I usually use an upcoming birthday as the lever in this type of instance.
It seems pointless spending £1k to end up with a bike you don't want, when for an additional small sum, you can get precisely what you want.......and be totally happy with your purchase.......
In the long run you won't be happy.
Surely you can squirrel £100 from somewhere to get the 11 SPD on offer?
I usually use an upcoming birthday as the lever in this type of instance.
It seems pointless spending £1k to end up with a bike you don't want, when for an additional small sum, you can get precisely what you want.......and be totally happy with your purchase.......
Avid+Sram, not for me, but XTM8000 in clearance also at £1095. Wave £ notes at 'em!
ETA Sorry, that might be what you're talking about, lost track of it tbh!
ETA Sorry, that might be what you're talking about, lost track of it tbh!
yellowjack said:
learning to live with a 29er...
For the sake of £95? Just pay the man, get on and ride!Edited by richardxjr on Wednesday 2nd March 08:43
A 29er isn't hard to live with at all. They descend fast, climb fast, bit slower into tight turns, as in switchbacks, but faster out. You won't lose any speed on one trail riding it. Most trail centres are bermed up anyway so tight turns are pretty much a non issue. Any switchbacks I've encountered are on climbs anyway. Downhill tighter turns can be "drifted" round anyway if you can flick the back out and you're going quick enough.
Riding a 29er certainly isn't a handicap. Been on one for two years now.
Riding a 29er certainly isn't a handicap. Been on one for two years now.
Silver940 said:
Have you looked at Whyte? 650bs in budget
The 901 gets stonking write upsI still think you should buy this ;-)
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p5510/GIANT-X...
Edited by Chirpsean on Wednesday 2nd March 12:46
PDP76 said:
A 29er isn't hard to live with at all. They descend fast, climb fast, bit slower into tight turns, as in switchbacks, but faster out. You won't lose any speed on one trail riding it. Most trail centres are bermed up anyway so tight turns are pretty much a non issue. Any switchbacks I've encountered are on climbs anyway. Downhill tighter turns can be "drifted" round anyway if you can flick the back out and you're going quick enough.
Riding a 29er certainly isn't a handicap. Been on one for two years now.
In my experience (at 5'10") they're very much the barge of the MTB world. I'm sure they're fine if you're 6'0" plus, but I certainly wouldn't ever want one.Riding a 29er certainly isn't a handicap. Been on one for two years now.
I think the Boardman Pro is worth a look, it's a 29er and comes with a rock shok reba fork and sram 1x11. Personally I wouldn't compromise the quality of the fork as this is fundamental to the handling. Everything else is easier to upgrade over time.
If you need to see it before buying it's a very well spec'd bike from a high street retailer and only £899....
If you need to see it before buying it's a very well spec'd bike from a high street retailer and only £899....
pablo said:
I think the Boardman Pro is worth a look, it's a 29er and comes with a rock shok reba fork and sram 1x11. Personally I wouldn't compromise the quality of the fork as this is fundamental to the handling. Everything else is easier to upgrade over time.
If you need to see it before buying it's a very well spec'd bike from a high street retailer and only £899....
Less another 10% BC discount as well so £810 which is a bloody good price!If you need to see it before buying it's a very well spec'd bike from a high street retailer and only £899....
yellowjack said:
Silver940 said:
<snip> http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s183p5823/GIANT-A...
Carbon, Air Forks.. seems a bit of a bargain </snip>
<snip> The Giant Anthem, though, I've found at £899.99 (Winstanleys) or £1099 (Pedal On) as well as your link to Pauls Cycles (£919.99)Carbon, Air Forks.. seems a bit of a bargain </snip>
The thing with that is the added complexity, and I'm not sure full suspension is what I'm after? </snip>
So. More updates time.
Thanks to all who suggested pushing the budget. I'd love to have done that, but seriously. The maths was soooo tight on this one. I'd done all the pushing and corralling of funds that I could manage already. Plus, today I bought the wife a necklace, so the budget has shrunk again.
Anyway. We went to see the Snowdrops at Welford Park today because my lovely wife had a rare day off. That didn't take all day, so on the trip home I engineered the route to pass through Tadley. You can see where this is going?
So long story, erm? Well, the same length as it always was...
I walked in to have a chat with Matt M, and to have a confirmatory look at the Trek Superfly with a view to ordering it. Then I asked about their size 'M' 2015 model Giant Anthem 3. Matt has one. He loves it. £1099 on the ticket, SRP had been £1499. I decided I loved it. It looks fabulous, and seems to be far less complex to set up and fiddle with than many a full-susser. The 'M' wasn't on the shop floor, so I looked at the 'XL' frame they had in store. The 'M' will be built, tuned, and checked for me to sit on, and possibly ride, tomorrow afternoon. It is sold, subject to it fitting right... http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant-anthem-27-... ...which is why it now shows as 'Sold Out' in that link. I have a tiny nagging doubt about the size, because I'm right on the edge of needing a small according to Giant's size guide, but we'll answer that question tomorrow.
It reviewed well at the time, too... http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/m...
BikeRadar review said:
4/5 Stars - Very good: one of the best you can buy.
Highs: Light, naturally quick but smoothly trail connected ride at a cracking value price
Lows: Not as aggressively rapid and agile as the Anthems of old
Buy if: If you want a standout value short travel trail bike rather than a rabid racer
The best news of all? It's coming in under budget!!! They weren't ecstatic at the prospect, but Matt disappeared to consult his boss and yes. They are going to match the Winstanley's price of £899.99. £600 off list! The only downside I can see is the ~1kg weight penalty over a hard tail from the shortlist.Highs: Light, naturally quick but smoothly trail connected ride at a cracking value price
Lows: Not as aggressively rapid and agile as the Anthems of old
Buy if: If you want a standout value short travel trail bike rather than a rabid racer
So a huge apology to anyone who's been following this sorry saga. I've done exactly what every "What bike?" OP seems to do, and made a shortlist only to buy something completely different. I really did want to buy local, or even just British, but stock issues have put paid to that. If it weren't for the upcoming race I might have decided to wait for the Bird. I might well have still done that if Ben's customer service attitude were typical of Dan and Dave too, but that's academic now.
To say that I'm happy at the prospect of getting on a new bike by the weekend is an understatement. I know it may well be less than ideal for racing, but I've spoken to two people this week who've both said they've raced the '12:12 TORQ in your SLEEP' race at Minley on hard tails, and wished they were on a full suss bike. Minley is my back yard, and most single track hereabouts is similar. I'm pretty confident that, subject to it fitting me well, I've made the right choice. I'll update tomorrow with a "did he, didn't he" statement, but it is looking promising at the moment...
...so it came completely out of left-field, but thanks to Siver940 for the heads-up on this bike
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