Cross country to trail

[PhilNorton]

Hi, I am relatively new to the sport and last year bought my a Specialised Epic Comp to compete in a multi-day event. The bike was great, but more and more I am finding that for doing downhill trail riding (not hectic jumps or anything though) that I seem slightly less well configured for this type of riding than my buddies who are on Tall Boys and Stump Jumpers (?) and that sort of thing. Going forward this kind of riding rather than long day multi events is more the kind of riding I expect to do. So one or two related questions:

- Would I expect to see noticeable benefit if I changed to one of these kinds of bikes?

- what might be a good option to change to (I saw something a bike called a Specialised Camber which looked pretty awesome) if I changed bikes which would not result in me having to put in too much new cash?

- by just buying new components such as new shocks etc, could I get my bike 90% there?

 

Cheers

Phil

[MphatiPyga]

Go check out the thread for the Giant Trance 650b and just buy one, you will not be sorry! Great value for money.

[PhilNorton]

Go check out the thread for the Giant Trance 650b and just buy one, you will not be sorry! Great value for money.

thanks bud. Will have a look! : )

[MphatiPyga]

There is also a 2013 trance 29er frame in the classifieds if you want to go that route. I know the bike and it is in very good nick

[ALLMTB]

The ultimate would be to get a bike which is more trail orientated by design, something the Epic will never be.

But, there are a couple if things you could to help a bit.

I believe the Epic Comp comes with a Reba fork? If so, you should be able to extent the travel of the fork form 100mm to 120mm.

Then look at getting a wider bar with perhaps more of a rise and a shorter stem.

Get some wider, more aggressive tires.

[Johny Bravo]

Very little difference between the Camber and Epic, I have had both. Loved the Camber, but ultimately bought another Epic last week. The brain is just so efficient for pedalling, which ultimately made the Epic the faster bike for me. Also much better handling in the tight stuff, the Camber felt big in tight singeltrack.

[PhilNorton]

Thanks guys. Some helpful responses. Am keen to ideally convert to more to a bike more trail orientated by design. Pity that Camber maybe not that different from the Epic, as was thinking that may be best conversion for me. Will need to investigate that further, and maybe try for the stump jumper if Camber does not work. Cheers. Phil

[Johny Bravo]

Stumpjumper fsr. What a machine. Look out for the next Specialized demo day. They are called test the best demo days. I usually look for the next date on their facebook page. Then go ride the Camber and Stumpjumper. They have a S-works Stumpy that I rode last time. I was very very very impressed. Loved every single second on that bike.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Johny Bravo

[Bizkit031]

The Epic is made for marathons,changing the components is not gonna help your cause.The geometry is not made for trail so when you start changing it with more travel it's not gonna handle like you want it too. You sound like you like you Spez bike so stick with it,look at a Stumpy FSR,then you need to decide whether you wanna stick with 29er or 27.5 wheels. You want more travel than this bike gives you get a Enduro,but that's big bucks and a serious bike.

[nolipoli]

After an Epic, which is very racy, you will see a massive difference with the Stumpy FSR or a Trance X29er.

 

Don't spend real money converting the Epic - it may be worth seeing if your existing fork can be extended by taking out spacers, and a long bar short stem will never go to waste.

 

If you look at what the pros do on these bikes, we cannot say the bike is not capable - it is more about getting us comfortable.

[SimpleDom]

Honestly, get a dropper for your Epic and keep riding downhill. It's a much cheaper option than a whole new bike. And if you still feel you need a new bike afterwards you can transfer the best upgrade you've ever bought to your new steed.

[PhilNorton]

Great. Thanks all. Some very helpful thoughts. Like the drop post idea. Think maybe Camber ultimately maybe more suited rather than stumpy.... And to answer an earlier comment - I like specialized, but not against looking at other bikes - just don't know much about other brands and their various models. Cheers guys, P

[braailegend]

Im just wondering why people/shops sell new mtb riders such discipline specific bikes, why not advise new riders to buy more all rounded bikes, instead of pushing the latest and greatest racing machines onto the uniformed people.

 

*uniformed doesn't refer to someone not doing their homework on the bike they are about to purchase, but rather someone new to MTB'ing that does not know what riding you will be doing/enjoying day to day

[Gen]

Great. Thanks all. Some very helpful thoughts. Like the drop post idea. Think maybe Camber ultimately maybe more suited rather than stumpy.... And to answer an earlier comment - I like specialized, but not against looking at other bikes - just don't know much about other brands and their various models. Cheers guys, P

 

Psst pssst... Morewood zula 650b with 120mm.

 

Everything about my bike is bloody awesome.. comfy on the long rides and boy it eats the trails. Downhill uphill technicals, after spending this week attempting to ride Giba flat, I am so so happy I bought this bike.. I even smiled when I fell.

[PhilNorton]

Morewood eh? Sounds awesome. Will do a bit of research on it

[Gen]

Morewood eh? Sounds awesome. Will do a bit of research on it

 

Yip that's the one.. you'll see there is a topic somewhere here on them.

 

Also maybe look at pyga bikes.