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29er MTB Shops in Sydney
Hey Guys, I'm heading down to Sydney to buy a 29er XC in two weeks and need some direction on which shops to visit. Definitely need to test ride everything that's available in the 5 - 6 grand range.
What's your favourite 29er?
Thanks Muz
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Have Niner and Giant Anthem 29, and the staff ride 29ers too.
Full suspension or hard tail?
I am also in the market for a 29er and yesterday went to Clarence Street Cycles to look at the Superfly and the HiFi and then went and spoke to Hugh at CBD (Kent Street) about the Flash and the Scalpel. All very, *very* nice bikes - the Superfly is probably out of that range (which is roughly my range as well) but the HiFi isn't and there are versions of the Flash and the Scalpel that are within that.
Next stop might be Cranks for a Niner and I really want to have a look at the Specialized Epic which Jet Cycles (Clarence Street) stock. I am in two minds over the Anthem even though I already own one Giant bike so do like the brand. It is a great bike that is spec'd really well but I saw some struggle on the tight single track on the weekend which is apparently due to the longer wheel base which Fisher and some of the other bikes have worked out how to reduce. Time to test a few on the trails, both shops I have been to hold demo days and both also said that they could definitely get a demo bike organised for a weekend.
If you're in the Northern Beaches we have some excellent shops in Bike Addiction, Manly Cycles and Favourite Cycles to name a few. The one issue that you might have is that some of these are 2012 bikes (Scalpel, new Superfly) and they aren't actually going to be released for another 1 to 2 months. Enjoy the search!
Dave, don't rule out the anthem just because you have seen some people struggle. There are lots of them out there and I have seen some guys fly on them. Also one of the bike mags did a head to head test between the Fisher and the anthem when the anthem first came out and there wasn't that much in it handling wise.
Jet Cycles are good to deal with although I am trying to avoid riding a 29er so I don't have to buy one.
@ps, you know you want to
I can recommend Brookvale Bike Factory. They've got a great multilevel carpark out the back for trying your bike on some gradients.
Got my Trek Cobia 29er there, after good advice from the staff. Best bike i've had.
Cool so I've got to check them all out, don't think I'll make it to the Northern Beaches because of time and having a girl attached to the hip.
After a FS as I love enduro + touring and can only see a hardtail making me more tired not a better rider (in my personal opinion). Have done 5,000k's with a bob trailer helped my technique.
Cranks Chatswood - Niner, Giant
Clarence Street Cycles - Garyfisher
CBD - Cannondale
Jet Cycles - Specalized
Brookvale Bike Factory - Trek
Thanks for your comments guys makes it easier, keep them coming.
Definitely nothing ruled out as yet, the Anthem is just too well spec'd for the price to do that (I watched the vid of the AMB Anthem/Superfly shoot out last night)! Interested to see what, if any, changes there are to the Giant 29er line up for 2012. Giant is the brand that I probably know the most about so want to ensure that I go out and understand more about other brands. I appreciate that in the end what is sitting on the bike is what is going to make the biggest difference!
Just remember that if you have a problem with your bike and you have to return it a few times to get it resolved, you'll be going back and forth to where ever you buy it from. Personally, I would always now buy from my nearest LBS that stocks the bike I want.
Thanks Kymbolino, I'm in Cairns it's a little hard to test ride great bikes, thinking it's worth the effort.
Anthem 29ers get launched tomorrow I believe, my mole tells me there will be 3 spec levels this year so lots of options to choose from
I've tried not to geet involved in this thread, but I just cant resist any longer.
I can honestly say (regardless of personal sponsorship) that Specialized make the best 29ers. Whether that is duelly XC (Epic) duelly trail (Stumpy) or Hardtail XC (S-works).
The spec's are superbly well thought out, the frames are the lightest out there (I know coz I weigh everything I have) and the product support (should something go wrong) is second to none.
Giants offer amazing spec for $$. There is no denying the perceived value for money on a Giant.
Without wanting to sound like a w@nker though, my Hyundai has a great stereo, but its cheaper for a reason.
Go and see Mark at Jet, if he doesnt have a bike you can test ride, if you fit it, you can try mine. I also hear that you will get some pretty keen deals on 2011 bikes 'run-out' stock.
Jet Cycles is plan for lunchtime tomorrow. I've only had to look at ps's Specialized to realise what nice bikes they can be. This is exactly what I am after, a bit more knowledge about what is out there and a lot more time spent testing some of these bikes. We're lucky to have a lot of great bikes shops with really passionate people working at them who are really keen to have a chat and help you out.
I'm probably going to end up spending double on my next bike compared to my last bike (Trance) and I know what I want out of it and are prepared spend up to that sort of money to get something that really suits me if need be. After someone, someone has to make sure that sponsors keep shipping Ants the goods!
Might make a trip there myself at lunch to check out the 29er's. Have to keep an eye on the run out stock and try and be a little bit patient!
I've been doing a little N+1 research as well
It is good fun, just have to calm myself about the $$ that I will need to fork out!
@Brian, you have N+1, surely you're heading for N+2? I think I'll probably end up with N+2 and won't be able to bring myself to sell the stumpy!
I sold the Trance last week so I have a spot to fill.
On a seperate note, but related, I'll be selling my 2011 S-Works Hardtail in a month or so.
If anyone out there is after an XL race bike for marathons, that has been maintained regardless of cost, with direct support from Spec themselves, let me know. It really is a killer bike, and the only reason I'll move it on is to get new colours (as 2012 isnt changing the bike itself, just paintjob)
It weighs in at around 8.9kg, and is full Sram XX.
The price will be very reasonable.
Went and spoke to Mark at Jet at lunchtime. Great guy who was very helpful and and the Epic is definitely a nice bike. Where I was a little uncertain about to-29er or not-to-29er I am now firmly sold after speaking to several different shops. The Epic really is a very nice looking bike and the price is not too bad considering what's on it an you can fork out a little extra to get extra carbon bits, upgraded cranks and brakes. Standing in the shop it's easy to get sold on things such as "the brain" as the idea is fantastic but I guess it gives rise to the question of whether it is necessary and effective, whether you should just go a hard-tail if that's what you're after and if it is another thing to break. Does anyone have an experience with the brain and what are their honest thoughts about it?
Unfortunately Specialized demo days are finished for the year and they apparently don't have an Epic 29er that can be test ridden which is an obvious negative to purchasing a Specialized when the other brands do have bikes available for demo. Not sure I am keen to fork out that much dough when I have a reasonable idea of what I am after and am keen to get on the bike to see which one feels best!
(not busy at work - so happy to respond quickly)
I write this as a racer of a hardtail - but as a rider of a brain equipped duelly, and previously as a racer of a Scott Spark (no brain, but with lock-out).
For out and out speed, literally break-neck speed (and I mean literally) then the hard tail is the choice. I would have to say though, for 98 out of 100 riders, a duelly would be faster and more enjoyable.
On the 'another thing to break' - I remember my dad saying that about electric windows in cars. Sure - it is another thing to go wrong, but its also there for a reason. To improve things. I will say for certain that the new generation brains are one of the single most impressive things I have ridden.
Without wanting to sound too Spec biased, the Scott Spark I had was awesome. The full lockout (via the lever on the bars) was excellent. It worked well, but did mean there were more things on my bars - and ironically (given the 'another thing to break' comment) the lever snapped in a crash.
All XC related suspension systems need some sort of pedalling platform. Some brands build them into the frame design (Superfly springs to mind) and a 'pro-pedal' platform on the shock. Spec have them seperate, so the inertia valve can be closer to the axle of the rear wheel, making it more effective.
The brain equipped epics (26 or 29) are the only dual suspension bike in the top 10 of the World Cup XC in the last few years. Everyone else rides a hardtail. I think that says it all.
Re the test bike. Thats really disappointing. Maybe once you have cut the list down a bit, there will be 2012 bikes available for test.
Dave, are you planning on keeping your current bike, if so, what is it. The reason I ask is you don't want to end up with a similar bike to the one you have if you are keeping it and you want choice for the different tracks. I currently went through the process of buying a 29er and went for a HT as I was keeping my existing bike (140mm travel FS). The 29er is my enduro bike for races and my FS bike is my play bike.
PS. I have never tested a bike I have bought. Make sure you do your research to get the right size but as for testing bikes, unless you can have them for a few rides they all take getting use to. I even find now after riding the 29er the FS bike takes a bit to get use you and visa versa.
Also, I had never ridden a HT before getting my recent 29er and I'm absolutely loving it. You do have to be way more active and more out of the saddle but its no where near as rough as I thought it would be.
The reason that I really like the idea of the brain is that I actually don't mind hills that much (ok, the Fling last year got a bit much) but I hate the endless squishing of the rear suspension, I always forget to switch the propedal and I don't find it all that effective anyway. That's probably to do with me being 90-odd kgs and it only being an RP2 but still, I'm definitely looking for something that leaves the bike feeling more solid.
I currently have a Trance X2 which I really like for what it is and will continue to ride it for laps of the Dam and up at Red Hill. For longer rides such as Terrey Hills that are not technical and where you can get a good head of steam up, as well as for enduros, I would use the new bike. Thus the reason I am keen to get a more race oriented 29er than a trail bike. That does leave the suggestion of a HT but I really think my body needs the suspension over 100kms!
I didn't test the Trance but thought it would be a good idea for this bike since I (think I) know more about bikes and what I want it to feel like. Having said that, these bikes are all awesome and I am sure they would all blow me away.
I've got an S-Works Stumpjumper 26" bike, with a brain. Its the Spec equivalent to your Trance.
You are welcome to give that a go against the Trance - just to feel the difference of the brain.
Of course, as Brian says, its set up for my body weight and ride style etc (its my 'play' bike) but if you need a brain vs no brain demo, then it might be the go?
I am a hardtail fan, but am always tempted by the Epic. Ideally, I'd have two.
The Husky this weekend - Hardtail course. Dirtworks - dually. Cap Punishment - hardtail. Fling / 3 Ring / Willo - hardtail. National Marathon in Qnsland this year - Dually.
I think what I am trying to say is that the grass is always greener. You'll always wonder about 'the other', but you are likely to gain more speed by being used to one bike, than trying to re--learn a riding style by switching each race...
Dave, The brain does work and while its a bit fiddly to understand what its doing when you make an adjustment it makes for a faster bike. As ants mentions the world cup results prove that it works.
Anyway when you want to ride a large 26inch bike let me know.
Ants how tall are you, you mention its a XL frame.... I am guessing you must be 6'2 or above?
How much you looking for?
Yep - its an XL. I am 6'3 (ish) I'll PM you.
I can vouch for anthony's bikes condition. Everytime I've seen them, they've been immaculate.
If I were a few inches taller, this would be tempting!