Shebeen Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 a full suspension bike under 12kgs (with new tyres) that should do the trick alright. I know it's not the best fit for data, but probably the widest sample set. http://www.treadmtb.co.za/bikes-of-the-2017-absa-cape-epic-all-the-stats/ SC have gone from being nowhere to one of the more used bike brands at the Cape Epic by SA riders.This is with pretty much ZERO focus on marathon bikes per se marketing wise. They don't even have a race team! Eg. in 2008, Giant has 24% of saffas on their bikes, now they have 4%, SC have gone from 3% to 7% in that time
Stupak Posted June 25, 2018 Author Posted June 25, 2018 Do you wash your own bike though?Yes! Degreased, washed and lubed every weekend A guy running a DHF front is obviously so manly that he would wash his own bikes. R50 bike wash and lubes are reserved for high and mighty 2.0 Sworks Fast Track snobs....More like an idiot running a DHF front for all this time .. im making a tire change this week though.
NickGM Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Hey everyone - I hope you guys can give some insight. I ride a Santa Cruz Tallboy 3 C X01 Eagle with Maxxis Ardent Race and Maxxis Minion DHF (~12.5kg). Absolutely fantastic and perfect trail bike which I purchased about 8 months ago when I started to cycle and only bike i use/have. Since then I have surprised myself and began placing quite well in MTB races. (top 5 in smaller races, and +-10 in much larger races). Stats/seeding wise, i'm about 6% behind the winner in the bigger races. I love my bike, but what sort of gain can one realistically expect, if any, when changing to an XC orientated bike when racing like the Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup, or S-Works Epic compared to the Tallboy? Is my Tallboy doing the job fine and I simply need to get fitter, or would changing to one of the XC bikes when racing make a noticeable difference over my Tallboy?I have a local XC loop that is about 15kms long. When I do it on my XC bike I can do it comfortably at 20kph. When I ride it on my trail/enduro bike, I average about 16kph for roughly the same effort (if garmin's algorithms are to be believed). The significant differences are the weight (11kg vs 14kg), lost effort due to pedal-bob (hardtail vs 150mm trail bike), and 29inch wheels vs 27.5. So there is time to be gained by switching bikes. Your margins would be smaller because the bike you currently have is far less of a tank than my trail bike. But then, my hardtail is also still alu (and a hardtail) and isn't especially pleasant to ride. But to really make an informed decision, you need information. So find your own (say) 20km loop. Do a full blooded effort on your current bike. Then hire/borrow a racey XC bike and do the same thing a few days later (once the lactic acid is gone). Time yourself. Sorry if this has all been said already, I only read your post and replied. Just my 2c.
Stupak Posted June 25, 2018 Author Posted June 25, 2018 I have a local XC loop that is about 15kms long. When I do it on my XC bike I can do it comfortably at 20kph. When I ride it on my trail/enduro bike, I average about 16kph for roughly the same effort (if garmin's algorithms are to be believed). The significant differences are the weight (11kg vs 14kg), lost effort due to pedal-bob (hardtail vs 150mm trail bike), and 29inch wheels vs 27.5. So there is time to be gained by switching bikes. Your margins would be smaller because the bike you currently have is far less of a tank than my trail bike. But then, my hardtail is also still alu (and a hardtail) and isn't especially pleasant to ride. But to really make an informed decision, you need information. So find your own (say) 20km loop. Do a full blooded effort on your current bike. Then hire/borrow a racey XC bike and do the same thing a few days later (once the lactic acid is gone). Time yourself. Sorry if this has all been said already, I only read your post and replied. Just my 2c. Thanks - I have a few riding areas where i know my normal and max efforts on current setup. I'm going to change out my tires this week and do a few hard rides with the more XC tires to see if I notice or see a difference. Then will maybe try out an XC bike to compare as well. Seems I should be about right in terms of setup if i just change out my tires at the moment.
Grease_Monkey Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 A guy running a DHF front is obviously so manly that he would wash his own bikes. You're not wrong (even though I know comic sans is implied).
Stupak Posted June 25, 2018 Author Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks for the input everyone - Didn't mean to turn this into a too long of a discussion. Doing the tire change from Ardent Race and DHF to the Schwalbe Rocket Ron and Racing Ralph. Will do a few hard rides on my morning route when i get them later this week and see if it shaves off some time
NickGM Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks for the input everyone - Didn't mean to turn this into a too long of a discussion. Lol. You must be new here.
Patchelicious Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks for the input everyone - Didn't mean to turn this into a too long of a discussion. Dude, this only on page 3, there will still be guys fighting about it till page 20, then one guy will tell another guy not to tell him how to be a parent, bans will happen, conspiracy theories will be put forward, people will change hobbies..... and by then you will have an XC bike....
Headshot Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks for the input everyone - Didn't mean to turn this into a too long of a discussion. Doing the tire change from Ardent Race and DHF to the Schwalbe Rocket Ron and Racing Ralph. Will do a few hard rides on my morning route when i get them later this week and see if it shaves off some time Another warning .... your times may well be hugely affected by punctures that would not have happened had you stuck with the thicker tyres. Swings and roundabouts. :-)
Mawbs Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Thanks for the input everyone - Didn't mean to turn this into a too long of a discussion. Doing the tire change from Ardent Race and DHF to the Schwalbe Rocket Ron and Racing Ralph. Will do a few hard rides on my morning route when i get them later this week and see if it shaves off some time i think you would be better off with Maxxis Aspens for racing
Odinson Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 i think you would be better off with Maxxis Aspens for racing What we're seeing here is Schurter Syndrome.
Mawbs Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 What we're seeing here is Schurter Syndrome. he wanted light & fast ...
sirmoun10goat Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 **Sorry i should have made it clear, i'm in no way able to afford both my Tallboy and another expensive bike. I love my Tallboy to bits and don't want to change it as its super nice and comfortable which is why i was asking the question You love your bike and don't want to change - surely this answers your question? Who cares about placing, just enjoy the ride. Besides, just because a pro is quicker on a XC bike doesn't mean you will be. The TB's geometry and set up is probably giving you the confidence to achieve the results you are. Pro's have skill sets that is generally better than the rest of us and allows them to handle an XC bike better - they are not just fitter than rest of us.
lechatnoir Posted June 25, 2018 Posted June 25, 2018 Popcorn anybody..........and its not Friday yet That's carbs man... oh... was that a different thread?
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