Duane_Bosch Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 You need 4 I say. RoadyHardtail MTBXCO MTB (PS: for the more Techy XCOs and stage races)Trail/Enduro MTB (to feel like a kid again, and break bones like a kid) DH - for the shuttle daysEnduro - I hardly ever ride this guyRoadie - looove the roadieFixi/ss - commuter but it's in the storeroom at the moment.
Duane_Bosch Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 One thing I fail to see ( when comparing to EU) is their trails are smoother than our sidewalks we have a lot of really rough and rocky trails that cause stupid amounts of chatter. Erm. I'm not so sure about that. Some of the places I've ridden in Europe are rough as Faaark.
NickGM 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! Apart from 1 or two places in the country that I know of, we don't really have uplift services that there are in places like Lenzerheid, Morzine, Whistler and similar iconic bike parks that have a winter ski season. So we have to pedal to get to the top of a hill, and I'd much rather pedal a 130mm travel bike (that can handle just about anything in RSA anyway) up the hills, than a 160mm travel bike that will be heavier and suck up a lot of your effort with all the suspension. Honestly, unless you're a pro or a psychopath, most people wont use a 160mm trail bike to anywhere near it's full capacity. If it were me I would go 130mm 29er. Something like a YT jeffsy (which I think is 140mm?) seems like it would be so much fun to ride.
Odinson Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Having moved from the Transition Smuggler with 115mm at the rear, to now riding the YT Jeffsy with 140mm out back, there are indeed some good and bad changes. The Smuggler was a better pedaling bike and climbed easier, it was also more alive coming off of berms accelerating etc. The Jeffsy is far more burly and heavy hitting, but that comes with a slight loss of trail feel/feedback. Is better when you are dealing with steeper terrain/drops offs/rocks etc. Which is better? I suppose it depends on what you are trying to achieve, I happily took on Marathon races riding the Transition, would be harder on the YT. Jumping and riding more technical stuff on the YT has massively improved my confidence. Over a normal KZN Enduro type stage I reckon I would be faster on the Smuggler purely because it is more nimble and the acceleration factor. Clearly you need more than 1 bike Ooh, Jeffsy. I've been looking at them too. I've shortlisted a Jeffsy for a next bike. I'd place an order for one these suckers too at the same time: Pike 29" 150mm air shaft: http://www.bike-discount.de/media/org/orgb_R/orgid_28/thumbs/212518_1695714.jpg Knock a bit off of the head angle and give a little bit of extra cushion.
blondeonabike Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 My bike has a 800mm travel on the front. I have been able to ride everywhere with it, but I have had to learn that it only has so much forgiveness on a rocky downhill and I really have to focus on putting as much weight on the back wheel and keep my shoulders as relaxed as possible. I will say a longer travel fork would be nice ( pssst...santa are you listening?)
Odinson Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 My bike has a 800mm travel on the front. I have been able to ride everywhere with it, but I have had to learn that it only has so much forgiveness on a rocky downhill and I really have to focus on putting as much weight on the back wheel and keep my shoulders as relaxed as possible. I will say a longer travel fork would be nice ( pssst...santa are you listening?) Hory sheet! Please post a pic.
Skott5 Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 My bike has a 800mm travel on the front. I have been able to ride everywhere with it, but I have had to learn that it only has so much forgiveness on a rocky downhill and I really have to focus on putting as much weight on the back wheel and keep my shoulders as relaxed as possible. I will say a longer travel fork would be nice ( pssst...santa are you listening?)
CJ Van Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Try riding Jonkers on a long stemmed marathon bike and you'll probably be inclined to ride really slowly down hill and not enjoy the tech features much. Bennet Nel gets complaints that some of the trails are too technical. He rides an Enduro. I hope these people are complaining about the black route being to techy for their XC bikes! In which case they are idiots anyway. No other route in Jonkers is to technical for a XC bike. I've been riding a long stemmed marathon bike for the last 6 years and never had an issue. Maybe people should spend some more time improving their skills on a MTB instead of complaining about trails that are to difficult. Have a look at the XC course in Coetzenburg, that is what you should expect of an XC trail. Most of the MTB races I did this year included almost no single track and the bits of single track included were not much to write home about.STOP taking away our precious techy single track!!!!!
blondeonabike Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Hory sheet! Please post a pic. Ooops. Ok ok ok.... You guys know what I mean
T-Bob Posted November 2, 2016 Author Posted November 2, 2016 so essentially you are more confused RE your decision than before No confusion... order is in. 140 Pike bought and waiting, frame on the way from Jozi. Droo on standby to build across. Fingers crossed for weekend fun. One of the things that make me wonder my choice was @ Conties on Sunday there was a big group of guys padded up, long travel enduro rigs (Patrols, YT's, spez Enduros etc) and I was just wondering what I was missing there. In fact a guy came up and asked me if I knew where the enduro / DH trails were. I said there was the black line from the mast but didn't know where else.
dev null Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 I hope these people are complaining about the black route being to techy for their XC bikes! In which case they are idiots anyway. No other route in Jonkers is to technical for a XC bike. I've been riding a long stemmed marathon bike for the last 6 years and never had an issue. Maybe people should spend some more time improving their skills on a MTB instead of complaining about trails that are to difficult. Have a look at the XC course in Coetzenburg, that is what you should expect of an XC trail. Most of the MTB races I did this year included almost no single track and the bits of single track included were not much to write home about.STOP taking away our precious techy single track!!!!! I have been to Coetzenburg, and seriously, only my boy can ride some of those techy bits. When I get there, I usually cop out and walk them as mental images of my cracked ribs resurface.
Odinson Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 Just listen and enjoy. https://youtu.be/EoRdYRG8Ktg Edit: who thinks the 'thunk' at 00:20 is the bike bottoming out?
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 No confusion... order is in. 140 Pike bought and waiting, frame on the way from Jozi. Droo on standby to build across. Fingers crossed for weekend fun. One of the things that make me wonder my choice was @ Conties on Sunday there was a big group of guys padded up, long travel enduro rigs (Patrols, YT's, spez Enduros etc) and I was just wondering what I was missing there. In fact a guy came up and asked me if I knew where the enduro / DH trails were. I said there was the black line from the mast but didn't know where else.That'd be it. Main line / A line from the mast; "Revised" that starts at the first fire road crossing in the main line. Then there's a new short line that starts after the big tabletop, through the trees. That's the black lines.
Hairy Posted November 2, 2016 Posted November 2, 2016 No confusion... order is in. 140 Pike bought and waiting, frame on the way from Jozi. Droo on standby to build across. Fingers crossed for weekend fun. One of the things that make me wonder my choice was @ Conties on Sunday there was a big group of guys padded up, long travel enduro rigs (Patrols, YT's, spez Enduros etc) and I was just wondering what I was missing there. In fact a guy came up and asked me if I knew where the enduro / DH trails were. I said there was the black line from the mast but didn't know where else.friend took me along the new #enduro section two weeks ago, very doable, but you might want to do a pre-ride down before gunning it. riding the top of the black into the #enduro section is more tech than anything at hoogies I recon ... if that gives you some perspective.
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