Can skill make up for short travel and geometry??

[Raydek]

Are there any bike shops in northern suburbs that offer test rides?

[Guest Omega Man]

Are there any bike shops in northern suburbs that offer test rides?

The guys from Banshee will be in CT from the 20th offering test rides. Some sick bikes in their lineup and you'd be on something unique. Tasty.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/145987-banshee-demo-tour/

[cadenceblur]

I am "toying" with the idea of changing my 130mm Revelation to a 140mm Pike, have only heard good things about the Pike - not that the Revelation is that bad.

 

Anyone make this change?

[Saag]

Having seen Peach in action I have witnessed what skills do for you (or your bike). Skills make you smooth and a lot easier on any bike and in my opinion should be the first priority.

Having seen the end of my limited skill set, bring on the long travel machines.

[whistler]

I enjoy my 150mm of skills compensation.

[Hairy]

My views are slightly different.

 

I believe that learning to ride on a ht with around 100mm travel and not so twitchy geometry is the right way to learn to ride a bike. You will learn to ride smoother, and how to maintain momentum.

 

The theory of simply putting a new rider on a slack and long travel bike straight out the gate is flawed in that you are simply providing instant gratification to be able to amble along a trail and ride through tech parts vs being able to actually ride the trail on skills built up on less forgiving bikes.

 

As a second bike purchase, and given that you the rider have come to the conclusion that you are more of a trail rider vs xc or xcm race snake then buy accordingly.

 

I further do believe that the average za rider could benefit more from a 120mm travel bike vs a twitchy 100mm ride and then more trail orientated guys on 140mm/150mm travel bikes with respective geometry.

 

I have had a couple of 160mm travel bikes and am now on a 140mm travel bike with slightly steeper geo, yet am smashing my previous times on the dh sections and feeling more in control funny enough.

 

Ray, based on your riding you have been doing and your riding attitude I recon a trail bike would be perfect for you.

[Raydek]

Thanks Hairy and all others for your input, it has really helped.

 

I think for now I will continue to ride my 100mm travel bike, hopefully my skills will improve the more I push myself/the bike.  If it breaks due to being pushed past its capability, then insurance can buy me a nice new trail bike     

 

Otherwise, in the meantime I will save up to buy a decent trail bike in the hopefully not too distant future..But then it comes back to the good old question of which wheel size, suspension type/setup etc    Lets leave that for another day though..

[Hairy]

Thanks Hairy and all others for your input, it has really helped.

 

I think for now I will continue to ride my 100mm travel bike, hopefully my skills will improve the more I push myself/the bike. If it breaks due to being pushed past its capability, then insurance can buy me a nice new trail bike

 

Otherwise, in the meantime I will save up to buy a decent trail bike in the hopefully not too distant future..But then it comes back to the good old question of which wheel size, suspension type/setup etc Lets leave that for another day though..

based on how bloody difficult it is to find 26er trail tyre's, I would sau go 650b. ......and any day is a good day to have a heated wheel debate.

[Raydek]

On 29's now, so if I did go smaller it would be to 27.5's...I think 26's would feel way too small.

[Bizkit031]

I am "toying" with the idea of changing my 130mm Revelation to a 140mm Pike, have only heard good things about the Pike - not that the Revelation is that bad.

 

Anyone make this change?

What travel do you have in the rear? 10mm is not a big jump in travel but the Pike is one mean fork. I have 120mm travel front and rear and was thinking of going up to a 140mm or even a 150mm Pike, I am seeing a lot of company's have less rear travel and quite a bit more in the front.

[cadenceblur]

I have 110 on the rear. Don't think I can go more than 150.

[Muzzarati]

I guess it's all about how you use it mate.

[rudi-h]

I had the exact same question 3 months ago and even started a very similar thread. The hub feedback was very similar to the suggesions made in this thread so far including that trail bikes are more fun, more capable and more durable even though some dudes will always be able to kick your ass on a HT

 

I also like to do a lot of mileage and hate losing to mates on their spez epics, so my solution was to buy a santa cruz 5010, a 130mm/27.5 trail bike. This bike is a LOT more fun than the comparable marathon bike and I manage to stay with riders just as good or better than me on any uphill terrain.

 

I have since seen some 160mm travel bikes keeping up with me on the hills, so im starting to wonder if 130mm wasnt maybe too little travel... So in short you cant go wrong with long travel bikes, 140, 150 and 160 bikes are all fast with the new damper technology.

 

That said, the biggest plus of a trail bike (read slack head angle and dropper post) for me is that it is really a LOT easier to master basic skills. Stuff like hopping, manualling etc. are much easier on these bikes. So even though pro's can hop or manual any bike, it is virtually impossible to learn these skills on the wrong bike.

 

Bottom line. Buy a trail bike and dont be afraid of the long travel models!!

[Bizkit031]

I have 110 on the rear. Don't think I can go more than 150.

yea so a 140 is most probably right then.

[rudi-h]

PS Im not an expert or a coach, but from my limited knowledge my assessment for most people having really crap bike skills (take the example of the juma rampcam thread) is that we generally have our weight too far forward on our bikes. Thats also the reason for so many faceplants and "over the bar" crashes and why so few can ride dropoffs or hop.

 

XC and marathon bikes IMO are to a large extent to blame for this because its very hard to get your weight back and your front wheel up due to steep head angles, long stems and super high saddles.

 

The last 10 years belonged to superlight racing machines and every joe drooled about a sub 10kg dual sus.

 

My prediction is that the next 10 years will belong to 140+mm trail bikes, dropper posts 180mm rotors and 2.3" tyres. Why? Because its the business!

[Raydek]

PS Im not an expert or a coach, but from my limited knowledge my assessment for most people having really crap bike skills (take the example of the juma rampcam thread) is that we generally have our weight too far forward on our bikes. Thats also the reason for so many faceplants and "over the bar" crashes and why so few can ride dropoffs or hop.

 

XC and marathon bikes IMO are to a large extent to blame for this because its very hard to get your weight back and your front wheel up due to steep head angles, long stems and super high saddles.

 

The last 10 years belonged to superlight racing machines and every joe drooled about a sub 10kg dual sus.

 

My prediction is that the next 10 years will belong to 140+mm trail bikes, dropper posts 180mm rotors and 2.3" tyres. Why? Because its the business!

Cool post... Think you might be on to something....

 

I am getting there though:

2.4" Tyres - check

Dropper - check

Big rotors - meh, mine stop me for now

140+mm - work in progress, see above..