|   best xc bike for trail and racing? | roy freaking rogers
Nov 25, 2002 7:56 AM | | I am looking for a new bike and want some help
I have been out of the scene for a few years and don't know what's really hot. I want a bike I can ride aggressive cross country trails on as well as race at the upper sport or expert level
I do know I want a 4" fork up front and am willing to spend up to 4000 if need be to get it right. I am 6ft and 200lbs and want a stiff and tough bike that handles tight singletrack well as well as not being twitchy at speed. I don't want a Specialized, Trek, etc..
please advise
thank you |
| Hammerhead 100X or Custom Racer-X | sdbelt
Nov 25, 2002 8:50 AM | | Both would appear to fit your request, although the custom Ti Racer-X may go over budget.
A Hammerhead 100X is an aluminum Racer-X designed around a 4" front fork. Normally a Racer-X is designed around an 80mm fork.
I have a custom Ti Racer-X with a Marathon 100 up front that I race and thoroughly enjoy trail riding with. It's a great lightweight, quick handling, pleasure of a bike. I'm 5'10" and weigh 210 lbs, and I think the Racer-X is stiff as heck. By going custom, the guys at Titus did stiffen up the bottom bracket area a bit for me, because they knew my weight.
--sdb |
| another idea... | ringlord
Nov 25, 2002 1:23 PM | | Since you did not specify a HT or FS I would suggest something like a Santa Cruz Chameleon. A light and strong hardtail designed for 4+ inches travel. You could race it as well. Good Luck. |
| Turner O2... | JsR
Nov 26, 2002 5:56 AM | | I also thought a 4" fork was better but I borrowed and raced a friends O2 w/80mm this past weekend. The handling of the bike was amazing, I could pass almost anywhere I wanted too (very tight singletrack) and put alot of slower riders between me and second place.
BTW - I ride/race a light hardtail or my SB w/100mm. |
| re: best xc bike for trail and racing? | ZG
Nov 26, 2002 11:08 AM | | For your size (I'm 200lbs also) I'd say go with something semi-stout, and since you're willing to pay for it stout can also be fairly light. A Racer X with 100mm geometry or Hammerhead 100 are good choices. Turners are great bikes and have stiff frames, but rather than an 02 check out the XCE. A riding buddy built one under 25lbs with the coil over shock in a 19.5. You have the coil over "trailbike XCE" and get an air shock to switch out for "racer XCE" and you'll drop another half pound easily. Consider the Marathon 100 for weight savings as well as stiffness for trail worthiness.
If you build it reasonably light, 25-27 pounds, it's very raceable. Racing's mostly rider anyway. For sport/expert, most guys have light bikes with 80mm of travel. A LOT of hardtails also! But since you want something for "aggressive cross country trails", you change the nature of the need drastically.
I've seen a guy race an XCE with a coilover, and win, 40-44 sport. It's moslty the rider. Like I said, it's the rider. But an XCE is a great all around bike. |
| re: best xc bike for trail and racing? | Motivated
Nov 26, 2002 3:24 PM | | I hope you have been racing road bikes in those years you have been "out of the scene" because racing expert class is very serious. At least here in SoCal. A fellow racer friend is a top 10 sport classer and top 5 single speeder who happens to train 3x/week with Jimena Florit. According to him, she is a little faster. So, what you are saying is you are faster than the 2002 Womens NORBA champion. What I am saying is that you should get a $2000 FSRxc or Trek Fuel and ride/race that while you come up to speed, then in a year or 2 get a real race bike. Because if you drop $4k now, by the time you are ready to compete in expert your bike will be out of date and used up.
If you want your speed machine right now then I recommend a Santa Cruz Superlight with XTR kit from www.hilltopskibike.net |
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