|   Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | sp00k
Oct 21, 2003 9:44 PM | | hello,
i am looking to buy my first full suspension XC bike. I am coming off a light hardtail so finding the decision to go full suspension difficult due to the weight differences.
I am intending to do some xc and endurance racing in the near future. Currently considering:
03 Specialized Epic Comp and
04 Giant NRS1
Are these bikes too heavy for XC and endurance style racing ?
Should I stick to a new hardtail ?
cheers for any advice
thanks |
| I test rode an Epic... | Zignzag
Oct 22, 2003 10:44 AM | | It seemed too heavy to be a good race bike. The brain shock usually worked as advertised, but not always. You might check Ebay for an S-Works FSR with rear lockout. It's lighter than the Epic. I've heard that the Titus Racer X, Rocky Mountain Element, and Trek Fuel 100 are good FS race bikes (although I've never ridden any of them). Of course the hardtail vs FS for racing totally depends on the course. Personally, I use a Specialized S-Works hardtail for 100 mile races and a Titus Loco Moto FS for casual riding. |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | Cameron
Oct 22, 2003 6:22 PM | | At the 24 Hours of Moab last weekend, the most common bikes appeared to be the Trek Fuel, Santa Cruz Blur, Giant NRS1, and Specialized Epic (in that order). This was definitely a non-scientific poll, as it entailed me sitting on my butt while waiting for my laps watching people ride by.
I'd definitely say that endurance racing requires a more comfortable ride than regular XC racing. Having ridden similar terrain to the Moab course on my Amp in the past, I was much happier with my new Blur (more travel, plusher, but two pounds heavier). |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | yetirich
Oct 23, 2003 6:09 AM | | I have an Spec Epic Comp and with a change to the forks, cranks and wheels my weigh's in at 25 lbs for a MED size. It was a great bike for the 24 hours of Moab. The 04 Epic's are already 1/2 lb lighter this year than last years. The rest of my team were riding Trdk Fuel 100, Yeti AS-R and a hard tail.
You should read the reviews for all bikes but the Epic does take more time with setup and actually reading the directions provided by FOX for the Brain shock. There are some great deals out there on bikes.
good luck with your decision
Rich |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | CalgaryDave
Oct 23, 2003 9:29 AM | | Zigzag is on the mark with his picks. I've been riding a Rocky Mountain Element Team Only (pre-Scandium version) for 3 years now and can't say enough good things about it. When my friends and I have the inevitable "If you won the lottery what would you buy?" discussion a new Scandium Element is my first pick. Second choice would be a Titus Racer-X. I like the longer races, having jumped up to the Creampuff 100 this past summer, and couldn't imagine doing them on a hardtail of any weight.
Some things to consider:
1/ Both the Rocky and Titus are proven designs. Simple, durable, and not flavour of the month bikes.
2/ Get a Fox RC on the rear and you've got a hardtail for fireroad climbs. Essential for the Puff and most 100-milers. You'll want to stand to stretch your back often on the climbs and no FS bike anti-bobs then.
3/ Go for 80mm on the front. Stick with the stock setup for optimal handling. I have an X-Fly 80 and am dying to open the wallet for a Fox F80RLT. I'd go Fox over Sid for lateral stiffness and plushness, both will result in less fatigue (mental and physical).
4/ Wheels are the key to a fast time. Well, that and fitness I guess.
The tried and true combo of Mavic 517/XTR/double-butted spokes with Hutchinson Python Airlights is hard to beat.
5/ Check Ebay for a good deal. I saw a nearly new 2003 RM Element Scandium, full 2003 XTR, Sid Team w/lockout, Crossmax's, Easton carbon for $2900 recently.
6/ Buy a good road bike. Ride it. Uphill. Hard. Often!
Have fun,
Dave |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | Bogus
Oct 30, 2003 9:20 AM | | These bikes should benefit from one of the new SPV shocks like Progressive 5th Element or Manitou Swinger, too. |
| more travel=good | MWWH
Oct 23, 2003 5:22 PM | | Its true that road bikes are good for training but you can do the same thing with slicks on your MTB- probably best to sink the money into a better MTB. Also I'd say go for more travel like 100mm at front.
For 24 hour racing I allways want more travel towards the end of the race. I rode with the solo winner of a 24 hr during the race for a while and we had a litle discussion about this. He was offered a Yeti AS-R but passed it up for his Specialized Enduro saying he prefered the longer travel.
I guess solo riding is a different animal and you may not need the extra travel if you are on a large team. Personaly for me and my type of riding more travel=better. |
| What about softails? | Grant
Oct 27, 2003 5:38 AM | | I'm thinking about going full suspension, too. I've been thinking seriously about the Castellano Fango as a good middle ground between the hardtail and a full on suspension thingy, something equally at home at XC races and in 24 hour races. Is this just completely unrealistic? It's got something like an inch and a quarter of travel on the back. What do you folks who have done a lot of these longer races think? |
| if you're gonna go big, go big, get a 29er (nm) | ncj01
Oct 27, 2003 12:53 PM | | |
| What about softails? | jefe
Oct 27, 2003 5:41 PM | | I rode my fango in a 100 mile race and a 12 hour. The fango was perfect for the 100 miler. It was half singletrack and half road. During the 12 hour, I was wishing for more travel. I'm buying a Fuel 98 in the spring. Its got a lockout on both ends, and I can build it to around 24 pounds by doing a tire and wheel swap. |
| BERGWERK LSD of course! | cromolycowboy
Oct 28, 2003 1:55 PM | | The originaters of the Left Side Design, had epic long rides and durability in mind when creating this rig. The LSD is lighter than any Epic I felt. If your a Ford man than your current considerations will suit you well. If your a BMW man than the LSD matches your style and good taste in quality engineering. |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | humunuku
Oct 31, 2003 6:02 PM | | I'm all about the scalpel, its light, climbs great, and you can't beat the fork. my stock, 2 year old, size lg, scalpel 2000 (not the top of the line) weights 25lbs, and they are even lighter now. |
| Titus RacerX | Darrell
Oct 31, 2003 10:34 PM | | I've been riding a RacerX for 24 hour events and it's been great. There were quite a few of them at the 24Hrs of Tahoe including one in the solo class. I talked to the solo guy with the RacerX and he was totally satisfied with it. |
| re: Ideal bike for 6/12/24 racing | unreal24
Nov 6, 2003 6:31 AM | | Norco all the way baby I have a Fireball and Team wouldn't have it any other way, but of course I am canadian. They are lightweight and the comfort is awesome. See you at the World Solo championships BC sept 2004.. |
| HT Ti SS... | SS_MB-7
Nov 6, 2003 6:43 AM | | I absolutely love my hardtail: Ti Seven disc-only singlespeed. I've been racing it for ~3 yrs and finally entered my first solo 24 hr race last summer after racing as a 5-man team for the last 9 yrs. Finished 6th/34 after logging 16 laps for a total of 288km (~180 miles).
While it may not be for everyone, the simplicity of a hardtail singlespeed lends itself nicely to the rigours of endurance racing since there is little to go wrong.
If you are looking at a HT, consider the Curtlo which is designed for endurance racing. Or, check out Seven who make kick-ass frames!
Ride Hard,
Mike B.
http://www.one-speed.com |
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