Two New Santa Cruz Bikes...
- Thread starter Faust29
- Start date
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
I understood that, fine sir. I was just giving ol' Rossage a hard time. He likes it when I do that.
mtbMike
iMTB Rockstah
I with herzalot for the most part but the bottom line is you should ride what puts the biggest smile on your face. Don't worry about what others think. I have a 29er (Intense Primer) that I've ridden from a 40 mile road loop to the PCE, Noble Canyon and down Insidious at Greer Ranch. Trails that many people are riding on 6" travel bikes. That being said, I recently picked up a new Tracer and after (1) day on it at Greer Ranch, I haven't been back on my Primer because the Tracer is so much fun going down and climbs just fine for me...a sit and spin grinder. As for hardtails, I have no real use for them. IMO, they aren't fun to ride so why bother. I had a Niner Air9 and yeah it climbed well but it was strictly kept around as an "emergency bike" just in case my other bike was in the shop.
I basically pick a bike based on where I'm riding. I prefer my 5010 in Sedona and Gooseberry Mesa area trails but took my Primer to Prescott and pretty much most of OC. My Tracer will be going with me to Whistler.
I basically pick a bike based on where I'm riding. I prefer my 5010 in Sedona and Gooseberry Mesa area trails but took my Primer to Prescott and pretty much most of OC. My Tracer will be going with me to Whistler.
Derkderkall
iMTB Rockstah
That being said... if you had to keep only one bike.. . which would it be?
HBkites
Well-Known Member
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
I only have one. It's fun!
mtbMike
iMTB Rockstah
Tough call but if I could only have one, I'd sell all (3) of these and probably buy a Yeti "Lunch Ride" SB5 or build something similar....a 27.5 with 150mm of front suspension. As much as I love my Primer and ride it the most, there are some areas like Sedona and Hurricane where I really prefer a 27.5
BonsaiNut
iMTB Rockstah
Resurrecting an old thread... but I've been thinking about a new bike to complement my current trail bike and I can go either direction -
Current bike:
29er, 2x11 XTR groupset and brakes, aluminum full suspension 100 mm travel, XT wheels, 2.2 tires. Dirty, tubes, pedals - weighs 29.8 lbs.
Could go:
(1) 29er, 1x12 carbon hardtail... or
(2) 27.5, 1x12 carbon full suspension - enduro
They are making some 150mm/120mm enduro bikes that weigh less than my current rig, and look like a riot to ride - with lockout suspensions for climbs if you desire. I love my 29er for trail riding, but there are days and rides where I miss my 26er. I want to drop the front derailleur, but I am worried that if I go full hardtail I just won't enjoy the bike as much...
Does anyone out there ride a carbon enduro for long trails mixed with occasional technical descents?
Current bike:
29er, 2x11 XTR groupset and brakes, aluminum full suspension 100 mm travel, XT wheels, 2.2 tires. Dirty, tubes, pedals - weighs 29.8 lbs.
Could go:
(1) 29er, 1x12 carbon hardtail... or
(2) 27.5, 1x12 carbon full suspension - enduro
They are making some 150mm/120mm enduro bikes that weigh less than my current rig, and look like a riot to ride - with lockout suspensions for climbs if you desire. I love my 29er for trail riding, but there are days and rides where I miss my 26er. I want to drop the front derailleur, but I am worried that if I go full hardtail I just won't enjoy the bike as much...
Does anyone out there ride a carbon enduro for long trails mixed with occasional technical descents?
mtbMike
iMTB Rockstah
My Yeti SB5 is a 27.5 bike that is 150/127 and I've ridden it on 25+ mile rides. This is my go-to bike when riding an area with lots of tight corners/turns and unexpected punchy climbs like St George/Hurricane and Sedona including those techy descents on Hiline and Hangover. I have a 165mm travel bike for park days but I would ride my Yeti at Skypark in a second.
In the grand scheme of things, it comes down to YOU the rider more than anything. There's a guy in our group that only has one bike, an older 6" travel Santa Cruz Bronson and he goes up, down and all around faster that anybody else in our group. He's done the 50 mile Arch ride down here in San Diego on that bike at least twice with a 11 speed drivetrain (he recently upgraded to Eagle 12 speed).
Ebruner
Well-Known Member
I do. My hightower (size Large) weighs 32lbs and I do all day rides on it with no issues and it's built burly. I also run insane tires (2.5 DHF Front / 2.3 DHR Rear) and it would be even easier to pedal with some more reasonable tires. The new generation of bikes pedal really well and to be honest, frame weight doesn't matter, rotating weight definitely still does and that's why I have a carbon wheelset for my hightower.
Shameless plug... I'm in the process of cleaning up my hightower to sell it this weekend. LMK if you're interested in it... it'll be sold damn cheap.
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
mike
iMTB Hooligan
This tells me most about what your intentions are for this theoretical new bike. I find that the more a rider drills into what trails/projects she will ride or desires to ride, the more it narrows the possible tools. It's too easy to focus on bikes. Riding is the key. And...woohoo, new ride for the B-Nut!!!!!!!!
I think a bike like you describe is being used A LOT for riding like you describe. Not that they're light, but most pedal so well that it doesn't come to bear like one would think. Greg, if we ever get in the same zip code again you are welcome to take any of my bikes out. Alas, no carbon enduros in the house...
@Ebruner, Thanks for the warning shot.
Redman
iMTB Rockstah
This is me... as I have only one rig, and SC Nomad. The longest ride I have done on it is 27 miles. I would go on longer rides, BUT I do not have the fitness to go any further. IF I did have the fitness, I would go further. IT is definitely not the bike holding me back. It's quite the opposite.
I don't have the luxury of choosing a certain bike for a certain trail. ONE BIKE, ALL TRAILS.
BonsaiNut
iMTB Rockstah
I agree with you. My 29er I have been riding exclusively for 3+ years at this point. However, I can definitely feel it when I ride it on anything technical (like Joplin, or to a lesser extent, the Motorway).
And to be honest... I play games with myself in order to keep biking fresh and something that I want to do frequently. New trails, new routes... and new bikes every 3 or 4 years. Do I need a new bike? No. But I am not as iron-willed as some of you people
It helps when I mix things up mechanically. I definitely ride differently on different bikes... and it keeps me on my toes.
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
I [used to] ride 50 miles and climb 6k on a 26er 160mm aluminum enduro rig. Yes I [used to] be awesome. Now I’m just really pretty much kinda so so. At any rate, one bike doesn’t cut it if its broken and you wanna ride. Enter the 2nd bike! Ain’t no such thing as fitness limitations. Just keel over and die if you exceed your fitness. No big deal.