Bicycling Ride Before You Buy Report

[JasonW]

One of the reasons that not all bike brands were represented is that many representatives did not feel like paying the exorbitant costs that Bicycling were charging to display/test ride the bikes.

And you all thought that Bicycling organised it out of the goodness of their hearts...

 

Yes, my heart bleeds for them (the bike brands not Bicycling) and their 2009 mark-ups. Scott particularly.

[Tumbleweed]

One of the reasons that not all bike brands were represented is that many representatives did not feel like paying the exorbitant costs that Bicycling were charging to display/test ride the bikes.

And you all thought that Bicycling organised it out of the goodness of their hearts...

 

i display myself every day on the hub. maybe i'll start offering test rides (to hubbettes only)

 

And HR mimes in his cubicle "I should be so lucky' date=' lucky lucky lucky!!!"

[/quote']

 

open plan office

[wackwack]

One of the reasons that not all bike brands were represented is that many representatives did not feel like paying the exorbitant costs that Bicycling were charging to display/test ride the bikes.

And you all thought that Bicycling organised it out of the goodness of their hearts...

 

i display myself every day on the hub. maybe i'll start offering test rides (to hubbettes only)

 

No one would wonna take a 1947 model out for a spin these days.

 

There is much better technology these days. Newer, cooler, better - dare i say faster

wackwack2009-02-18 05:33:45

[Bos]

Nice report. I also went and it was an absolute blast!

 

I agree that the Trek / GF bunch were the most organised and I almost convinced myself that 29ers are the way to go!

 

What did really interest me is how much bike preferrence depends on perception as what I regarded as the better ride was different from what my friends thought.

 

Would have been nice to have had Specialised' date=' Scott and some of the smaller brands (eg Titus and Santa Cruz) there as well. Also surprised that Raleigh didn't bother given that they are supposedly an SA brand!

 

Biggest mistake of the event was that none of the organisers used tubeless ... in Stellenbosch! I think they must have replaced about 10 000 tubes!

[/quote']

 

Oh joy, I feel their pain.. haha

Needless to say, If its not your bike, You will ride it a bit harder..

I thing a lot depends on bike settup, Personally I couldnt dare ride a strange bike over half the stuff I normally ride old faithfull over. especially since I ride my brakes Moto style and America/rest of SA mostly does not.

 

Could one ride the Black route? cause the downhill part of it is some of the best Ive ridden, this also one of the most punishing I might add. A no no on a hardtail (at least you wont be enjoying it like you do with 5'') Probably also the spot where the guys got their Flats on.

[MintSauce]

The flats were simply as a result of thorns. Lots in the area.

 

Black Route was not part of the test route. It's too far out.

 

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

mints, did you try the trance?

[MintSauce]

 

mints' date=' did you try the trance?[/quote']

 

They didn't have a Trance. I tried one a few years ago, one of the original ones, just a parking lot test, and hated it, but I suspect the guy's setup had a lot to do with it. Plus there's only so much you can feel in a parking lot.

 

I tried a Anthem X and a Trance X and loved both bikes.

 

Was seriously impressed with the Trance X. An incredibly playful bike. Suspension ramps up a tiny bit too much at the end of the travel for my liking, but that's a minor point.

 

It just feels so sweet!

 

 

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

mints' date=' did you try the trance?[/quote']

They didn't have a Trance. I tried one a few years ago, one of the original ones, just a parking lot test, and hated it, but I suspect the guy's setup had a lot to do with it. Plus there's only so much you can feel in a parking lot.

I tried a Anthem X and a Trance X and loved both bikes.

Was seriously impressed with the Trance X. An incredibly playful bike. Suspension ramps up a tiny bit too much at the end of the travel for my liking, but that's a minor point.

It just feels so sweet!

it's certainly a sweet feeling. and i agree about the sus; especially in tight berms and goind over bumpy stuff it can get a bit skittish, but seems to correct itself quite quickly. mine's getting a bit old, so maybe it's time for an upgrade?