Help! MTB hire dilemma
Discussion
After four weeks at the local bike shop (and the forks reputedly off at TFT all that time) might bike still hasn't come back from its shock rebuild. It looks like I might have to hire for my mates' stag do in South Wales. Predictably, of course, everywhere near Cwmcarn booked up weeks ago.
One of the other guys managed to book a hire bike at PS Cycles, near Cwmcarn, two are taking their own bikes and one isn't a regular rider so needs to hire somewhere else. We've now found somewhere that has Trek 4300s - low-ish spec hardtails - available to hire for a good price, but I'm not sure they'll be man enough for the trails. The other option is to go to Bike Park Wales, which still has good quality full-sussers available.
I'm debating what to do:
1) The two of us who still need bikes just hire the cheap hardtails and we head to Cwmcarn regardless. At least that way we'll have an excuse for watching the others disappear on their full-sussers.
2) We dash over to BikePark Wales early in the morning, pick up a couple of their decent hire bikes, drive to Cwmcarn and then return them at the end of the day.
3) The guy who's hired elsewhere cancels his hire, we all head over to BikePark Wales and those who need to hire bikes there.
It doesn't help that we're quite a mixed ability group. I could probably keep up with most of them given a decent hardtail, but the other guy might struggle. On those grounds, BPW might be a bit heavy going for them perhaps?
One of the other guys managed to book a hire bike at PS Cycles, near Cwmcarn, two are taking their own bikes and one isn't a regular rider so needs to hire somewhere else. We've now found somewhere that has Trek 4300s - low-ish spec hardtails - available to hire for a good price, but I'm not sure they'll be man enough for the trails. The other option is to go to Bike Park Wales, which still has good quality full-sussers available.
I'm debating what to do:
1) The two of us who still need bikes just hire the cheap hardtails and we head to Cwmcarn regardless. At least that way we'll have an excuse for watching the others disappear on their full-sussers.
2) We dash over to BikePark Wales early in the morning, pick up a couple of their decent hire bikes, drive to Cwmcarn and then return them at the end of the day.
3) The guy who's hired elsewhere cancels his hire, we all head over to BikePark Wales and those who need to hire bikes there.
It doesn't help that we're quite a mixed ability group. I could probably keep up with most of them given a decent hardtail, but the other guy might struggle. On those grounds, BPW might be a bit heavy going for them perhaps?
It's only a 20 min drive between BPW and CC. I'd rent the FS bikes, you don't 'need' them for CC, but a couple of inches of 'talent substitute' never hurt - it's a fun trip after all.
Blast around the XC at CC and if no one leaves bleeding or sport a thousand yard stare head up to BPW, the Blue trails are ridable by most and as long as they don't get too heroic no one's going to die.
Blast around the XC at CC and if no one leaves bleeding or sport a thousand yard stare head up to BPW, the Blue trails are ridable by most and as long as they don't get too heroic no one's going to die.
Tricky one. I'd hope that even on a cheap hardtail I'd be quicker than the novices in the group. One of the other guys (not hiring) is bringing a friend's bike that sounds like quite a basic spec too. But, like you say, it's not a question of what you need but what would be most fun. Hmm.
P-Jay said:
Oh no, Fella I was rooting for you until you mentioned you were one of them.
Just kidding, hope you have a good 'un.
What an Orange rider? In fairness it's a decade old and I worked my way up poverty spec rigid and hardtail bikes first. Like to think I don't entirely fit the weekend warrior stereotype. Just kidding, hope you have a good 'un.
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