Opinions sought on a "Best XC/Trail MTB" award shortlist...
Discussion
Arrrrrgh!!!
An option has opened up with Bird! Damn it! Just when I thought I'd settled on the Giant, which has a great spec, save for the wire beaded tyres and sub-Deore level OEM Shimano brakes, I get a phone call at 0935hrs from Dan at Bird. So they've sorted out converting their SRAM XD hubbed Race Face Aeffect wheelset to Shimano 10-speed. I can have a (slightly 'shop soiled') Mk1 Zero frame, Shimano Deore 2 x 10 kit throughout, with X-Fusion Streat forks for only slightly more than the Giant Anthem (which'll be £900).
The big difference will obviously be full-suss versus hard tail, with longer travel on the Bird's forks. Plus better brakes and tyres on the Bird. And it ought to be a tad lighter too.
Arrrrgh!!! (again
) - I'm confused and torn now. I HAVE to go to Tadley, to see Pedal On's Giant. I've put a work order in for it to be built up specifically for me to try it, and I hate to mess people about. So that's the next step. Do I go see the Bird this morning, and sneak a test ride before trying the Giant this afternoon? Non-availability of other bikes made the decision easier, but now there's an alternative I'm doubting myself again. Both are good bikes. Dan said himself that the Giant looks like a steal at the price.
Worse still, I've told the wife I'm 90% certain that the Giant is the one now. Only "being the wrong size" will mean I don't buy it. She'll go nuts if I run off chasing another hard tail, as she's pressing me to get on with this and buy something sooner rather than later.
An option has opened up with Bird! Damn it! Just when I thought I'd settled on the Giant, which has a great spec, save for the wire beaded tyres and sub-Deore level OEM Shimano brakes, I get a phone call at 0935hrs from Dan at Bird. So they've sorted out converting their SRAM XD hubbed Race Face Aeffect wheelset to Shimano 10-speed. I can have a (slightly 'shop soiled') Mk1 Zero frame, Shimano Deore 2 x 10 kit throughout, with X-Fusion Streat forks for only slightly more than the Giant Anthem (which'll be £900).
The big difference will obviously be full-suss versus hard tail, with longer travel on the Bird's forks. Plus better brakes and tyres on the Bird. And it ought to be a tad lighter too.
Arrrrgh!!! (again
) - I'm confused and torn now. I HAVE to go to Tadley, to see Pedal On's Giant. I've put a work order in for it to be built up specifically for me to try it, and I hate to mess people about. So that's the next step. Do I go see the Bird this morning, and sneak a test ride before trying the Giant this afternoon? Non-availability of other bikes made the decision easier, but now there's an alternative I'm doubting myself again. Both are good bikes. Dan said himself that the Giant looks like a steal at the price.Worse still, I've told the wife I'm 90% certain that the Giant is the one now. Only "being the wrong size" will mean I don't buy it. She'll go nuts if I run off chasing another hard tail, as she's pressing me to get on with this and buy something sooner rather than later.
Looks like you've pick up a bargain there.
The Giant suspension system always gets great reviews - don't think you'll be disappointed.
I can't help thinking that Bird are a victim of there own success. I looked in to getting an Aeris back end of last year - only to find out that they wouldn't have any medium frames in stock until February.
I ended up buying a Nukeproof Mega frame (which I still haven't built up yet) but still have a hankering for a Bird. Looking at the website again yesterday they're out of stock of wheels and other bits until April. Trying to decide whether to sell the Nukeproof and other bit's I've got and order the Aeris and just wait and see when they're available.
The Giant suspension system always gets great reviews - don't think you'll be disappointed.
I can't help thinking that Bird are a victim of there own success. I looked in to getting an Aeris back end of last year - only to find out that they wouldn't have any medium frames in stock until February.
I ended up buying a Nukeproof Mega frame (which I still haven't built up yet) but still have a hankering for a Bird. Looking at the website again yesterday they're out of stock of wheels and other bits until April. Trying to decide whether to sell the Nukeproof and other bit's I've got and order the Aeris and just wait and see when they're available.
There's not a huge difference in the Shimano Brakes between poverty spec and XT. I have the poverty spec on my Superfly and they are a massive leap forward from the 09 spec Shimano on my Rocky Mountain. Really wouldn't worry about that. XT often come up on special and can be had for under a 100 quid a pair should you feel the need.
Those forks on the Bird have a lot of travel for someone that likes to keep the wheels on the floor
Those forks on the Bird have a lot of travel for someone that likes to keep the wheels on the floor
Edited by Silver940 on Thursday 3rd March 10:41
Get the bird bought, that's a decent deal. Had a Giant Anthem, only kept it for a year, didn't get on with it, on very rough terrain it was great, but the minute you got somewhere smoother it was like riding a jelly, even with sag levels and damping adjusted, we just never got on. Been far happier with my 650b 140mm travel hard tail I replaced it with. Just as quick with out all the squishy annoyance. Also kept catching the cranks on the floor, as the bottom bracket was lower than i was expecting.
As for Minley, ridden 12:12 on a fully rigid 29er and that was harsh, also ridden it on my fat bike and that was loads better, with just the tyres taking out the roughness.
As for Minley, ridden 12:12 on a fully rigid 29er and that was harsh, also ridden it on my fat bike and that was loads better, with just the tyres taking out the roughness.
Edited by BadgerBenji on Thursday 3rd March 11:01
On the other hand me and a couple of my mates all have Anthems and we love 'em!
I think one would be better for your type of riding to be honest. I very nearly linked the Anthem3 at Pauls yesterday, but thought you were set on a slacker HT. Anyway, ride both.
Extremely capable bikes. Here's my olde fashioned 26er in the Alps
I think one would be better for your type of riding to be honest. I very nearly linked the Anthem3 at Pauls yesterday, but thought you were set on a slacker HT. Anyway, ride both.
Extremely capable bikes. Here's my olde fashioned 26er in the Alps
yellowjack said:
Arrrrrgh!!!
An option has opened up with Bird! Damn it! Just when I thought I'd settled on the Giant, which has a great spec, save for the wire beaded tyres and sub-Deore level OEM Shimano brakes, I get a phone call at 0935hrs from Dan at Bird. So they've sorted out converting their SRAM XD hubbed Race Face Aeffect wheelset to Shimano 10-speed. I can have a (slightly 'shop soiled') Mk1 Zero frame, Shimano Deore 2 x 10 kit throughout, with X-Fusion Streat forks for only slightly more than the Giant Anthem (which'll be £900).
The big difference will obviously be full-suss versus hard tail, with longer travel on the Bird's forks. Plus better brakes and tyres on the Bird. And it ought to be a tad lighter too.
Arrrrgh!!! (again ) - I'm confused and torn now. I HAVE to go to Tadley, to see Pedal On's Giant. I've put a work order in for it to be built up specifically for me to try it, and I hate to mess people about. So that's the next step. Do I go see the Bird this morning, and sneak a test ride before trying the Giant this afternoon? Non-availability of other bikes made the decision easier, but now there's an alternative I'm doubting myself again. Both are good bikes. Dan said himself that the Giant looks like a steal at the price.
Worse still, I've told the wife I'm 90% certain that the Giant is the one now. Only "being the wrong size" will mean I don't buy it. She'll go nuts if I run off chasing another hard tail, as she's pressing me to get on with this and buy something sooner rather than later.
Test ride both then make an informed decision.An option has opened up with Bird! Damn it! Just when I thought I'd settled on the Giant, which has a great spec, save for the wire beaded tyres and sub-Deore level OEM Shimano brakes, I get a phone call at 0935hrs from Dan at Bird. So they've sorted out converting their SRAM XD hubbed Race Face Aeffect wheelset to Shimano 10-speed. I can have a (slightly 'shop soiled') Mk1 Zero frame, Shimano Deore 2 x 10 kit throughout, with X-Fusion Streat forks for only slightly more than the Giant Anthem (which'll be £900).
The big difference will obviously be full-suss versus hard tail, with longer travel on the Bird's forks. Plus better brakes and tyres on the Bird. And it ought to be a tad lighter too.
Arrrrgh!!! (again
) - I'm confused and torn now. I HAVE to go to Tadley, to see Pedal On's Giant. I've put a work order in for it to be built up specifically for me to try it, and I hate to mess people about. So that's the next step. Do I go see the Bird this morning, and sneak a test ride before trying the Giant this afternoon? Non-availability of other bikes made the decision easier, but now there's an alternative I'm doubting myself again. Both are good bikes. Dan said himself that the Giant looks like a steal at the price.Worse still, I've told the wife I'm 90% certain that the Giant is the one now. Only "being the wrong size" will mean I don't buy it. She'll go nuts if I run off chasing another hard tail, as she's pressing me to get on with this and buy something sooner rather than later.
How much are u likely to benefit from having f/s? Where I am in N Wales, f/s would be a good upgrade to have for the type of riding I do, this may not be the case for u.
And the winner is........
The 2015 Giant Anthem 27.5 3
A strong late showing from the chaps at Bird just wasn't strong enough to shrug off the Giant in the end. And it's such a lot of bike for the money. Riding it threw up no real flaws or issues, although to be fair it wasn't really an extended 'off road' test ride. Today should be the first ride and a real confirmation (or otherwise
) that I've made a good decision.Bird's offering in the end didn't feel like great value - they horse-traded me down to a Mk1 Zero frame on the TR3 spec, but the Mk1 frame is far more of an "All Mountain" beefy thing, than the current "Trail Focused" TR model. I will look to buying a Bird at a later stage, but I'll give my wife a break from my frankly unreasonable bike-buying behaviour for a little while at least. That, plus I only had funds available for the one bike right now. Shamefully I've had to set up the shock pressures at the shop for now, as I couldn't even stretch to a shock pump at the moment!
After I'd bought it I was sat in the shop calming myself down with a nice cup of tea when another customer came in. "Nice bike!" he said. "I've got one of them. It's ace - you'll love it!" Several of the shop staff also said they had Anthems (no surprise maybe, as they sell them, but they have a choice of Trek, Scott and Cannondale off the shop floor too). So far I'm pleased with my selection. All that remains now is for me to apply some frame protection and get it ridden. Photos, of course, to follow...
Thanks to everyone who's contributed to the thread with opinion and advice. Much appreciated!
(Oh - and the price I paid? SRP = £1499; Pedal On's 'last season' clearance sale price = £1099; but they price matched Winstanleys at £899, a saving of £600 off the 2015 list price! Well happy with that! Superb service from Matt M too, nothing too much trouble, and as much time as I needed spent to get everything adjusted and explained. Anyone near Aldermaston/Reading/Tadley really ought to give them a try next time you're in need of a new bike. I can't recommend them enough.)
Silver940 said:
Nice one, that really is a lot of bike for the money!
Where are you riding it first?
Lots of shock pumps on ebay for not much money
First ride will probably be fairly local, so Minley/Hawley/Fleet Pond gentle stuff to ease myself back into off-road riding. But no plan ever survived contact with the enemy, so we'll see what happens...Where are you riding it first?
Lots of shock pumps on ebay for not much money
As for shock pumps? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fox-Racing-Shox-Forks-An...
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