T-Bob Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Something I was thinking about over the last week or so... I'm looking about at a new frame and oddly I'm heading towards a shorter travel trail hooligan 140 / 120 which seems odd in this current industry environment where it seems to be an arms race of mm travel front and back for trail / enduro riding. Just curious as I've been taking to friends in the UK for frame advice / reviews who do alot of time at the big trail parks in Wales, Scotland etc and head to the Alps a couple of times a year. A lot of them are actually looking at getting rid if their 155mm / 160mm rigs because they are just overkill for most of the UK trails / parks and not really worth it for the 90% of the time they aren't in France etc.You look at the reviews from the US mags and the test areas they are throwing the bike down are proper BC or Nevada landscapes that you just don't see here. They are throwing whips, big drops ect that you're not finding in most of the normal SA areas. So if some thing like a Banshee Phantom with 105mm at the back is regarded as a great bike in those places (and very capable) then it should cruise through most of the day to day challenges here without blinking day to day as well as do some enduro races and alot steeper lines on offer.What are the thoughts? Bit of a ramble I know, Soz. Just got back form a ride up n down Table mountain that questioned the need of suspension at all!
Patchelicious Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Need and want, two very different behavior drivers.
RocknRolla Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 <Snip>. Just got back form a ride up n down Table mountain that questioned the need of suspension at all! Now, you're on the right track!
bikebloke Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 What are the thoughts? Bit of a ramble I know, Soz. Just got back form a ride up n down Table mountain that questioned the need of suspension at all! careful I see a lynch mob of cycle manufacturers and salesfolk arriving at your house with burning faggots and sharpened spokes ...........don't burst that industry bubble by thinking too much ....its not good for you you may have a point though ....
Wil6 Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 It really does make one think. Look at Nino, they shred XCO trails that are very technical and would be consider enduro in SA, with a 100mm fork
RocknRolla Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 careful I see a lynch mob of cycle manufacturers and salesfolk arriving at your house with burning faggots and sharpened spokes ...........don't burst that industry bubble by thinking too much ....its not good for you you may have a point though .... Burning faggots??????
bikebloke Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Burning faggots?????? don't assume ................... faggotˈfaɡət/ - a bundle of sticks bound together as fuel.
T-Bob Posted November 2, 2016 Author Posted November 2, 2016 don't assume ................... faggotˈfaɡət/ -a bundle of sticks bound together as fuel. I was also trying to find the auto correct in that one!
RocknRolla Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 don't assume ................... faggotˈfaɡət/ - a bundle of sticks bound together as fuel. Thanks for the etymology lesson. ....but don't image search burning faggots.....unless you are into it, and then don't search it in open plan.
Odinson Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Hmm. Good question and one that I was going to pose myself sometime soon, as I'm pondering a new bike, bt stuck with the dilemma of going with a 170/160mm all-mountain sled or a shorter 140/150mm trail bike. Ultimately, I think it depends on the bike and your needs. If you have a short travel trail bike, with good geo, it could serve you well for 95% of the trails you ride, but will run out of steam when the going get rough. Longer travel will help you when you're riding steep and technical trails where it's a constant barrage of drops, roots, jumps, etc. Shorter travel trail bikes will be more than enough for less steep trails, where the shorter travel won't casue the bike to get hung up/bottom out on big hits/drops/jumps. That being said, many opt for longer travel bikes for that 'one big day out', in the same way that 90% of Jeep Wrangler drivers buy such a capable car for heading out on a off-road trip once a year. Buy what makes you happy. Many long travel bikes are very capable pedallers, so you won't be bogged down when heading up.
Headshot Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Its quite simple really, it depends on what you ride and what you expect your bike to be able to do. I like lots of travel for shuttle days and some of the enduro races. On my local loop I seek out drops and rocks because I enjoy that. Its also easier to progress your skills on a bigger bike. Its safer and more fun and less likely to break. The UK is not a good example really - most of it is flat and boring so if you live in the wrong place, its a massive drive to get to Wales for instance. Trail hard tails are big in the UK for a reason.
Patchelicious Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 What does travel have to do with it? Surely the shock orientation is the only important factor?
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 It really does make one think. Look at Nino, they shred XCO trails that are very technical and would be consider enduro in SA, with a 100mm forkYeah, but that's Nino. A consummate professional. Doing what he does on a 100mm race machine would have us in a bundle crying on the floor. From my perspective - having a 160mm mini DH rig in the Reign. I bought the bike because I wanted to be able to hit the stuff I like, but at the same time have that safety net where if things DO go wrong, the bike has a certain amount of reserve capacity where a shorter travel bike or a bike with a shorter reach / steeper head angle may not allow me the opportunity to rescue it as easily as I can on the big bike. Do I NEED it? No. Would a bike such as the Trance / Stumpy / Phantom make the majority of my riding easier? Probably, because I spend the majority of my time climbing the hills. BUT - what do I have the most amount of FUN on? The downs. And I like technically challenging downhills, where I am pushed to the limit of my current abilities. A shorter travel bike may be more suited to the ups, but the longer travel is definitely better suited to the downs that I like to do. Also - at the moment, it's not as clear cut as it was 3 or even just 2 years ago. The majority of long travel bikes are now branching off to be ENDURO specialists, whereas the shorter Trail bikes are now becoming the true all rounders. 3 years ago, the majority of trail bikes all still had forks with 32mm stanchions, steep head angles, short reach figures and just weren't as capable on the rough stuff as the current crop are. So - if you're looking at a new "do it all" bike now, I for one would recommend a mid-travel bike - 130-150mm whereas 3 years ago I'd have been suggesting 140mm - 160mm for the majority of riders, due to the aforementioned reasons. I'd argue that current mid travel trail bikes are as capable as enduro bikes of 3 years ago, depending on the bike of course. The new crop of 150mm plus bikes need to be ridden HARD in order to truly get the best out of them, and when ridden by mere mortals at a more sedate pace, you'd be better off on a trail bike.
ALLMTB Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Here is how I see it. I currently ride a 140R/160F bike. The average weekend warrior needs to be very honest with themselves regarding their skill level and terrain they are going to ride on 90% of the time when they consider buying a long travel bike. Often people expect a long travel bike to miraculously enable them to clear four meter gaps, float over rock gardens and land sketchy drops with ease. Often this is not the case. Do I need long a travel bike for the average SA trails? No. What a long travel bike has allowed me to do is up my skill level considerably. It has saved my ass on numerous occasions where a shorter travel bike would have not. But, I do make a point of using it for its intended purpose as often as I can. I am also not able to own more than one bike, so I chose a bike that would allow me to have more fun and do things I thought I would never be able to do. Where the confusion comes in is that modern long travel bikes are becoming more and more capable of covering long distances with ease and at the same time handling terrain reserved for DH bikes a couple of years ago. (Pascoe, Reign, Patrol, Spirtfire etc.) On the other end, shorter travel trail orientated bikes with modern geometry are more capable than ever at handling technical terrain but make long distances and mellow trails more pleasurable. (Scout, Stumpjumper, Stage Max etc.) Also remember, the guys who reviews bikes in the US, Canada, UK etc are way more skilled than the average Joe in sa.
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