Submitted by LadyToast on Mon, 09/06/2008 - 21:36.
Hi mate,
I actually "think" I could go better than that but my legs were really tired from the marathon ride the day before on the same bike, plus I had a pretty bad off on the wet boards which slowed me down.
It was the medium sized test bike from Bike Addiction, pretty well specced up, nice and light. Crossmax wheels, SRAM stuff and some carbon bling.
How do I rate it? I love it. Just trying to figure out how I can get one
Submitted by LadyToast on Mon, 09/06/2008 - 22:07.
Well yes, this is the very thing I am thinking about. I haven't ridden the large but I know it's more suited to my size. The funny thing is that the medium is the same size as my large Trek Fuel which is probably why it felt so familiar to me.
I was expecting it to be great on the down hills, and it was. You get to obstacles far quicker, although it doesn't actually feel any faster (if you know what I mean). The thing that struck me about the bike was how well it climbs compared to my bike, not surprising considering mine has 3.5" travel compared to 5.75" but with the pro-pedal off it just grips, you can pedal up pretty much anything and know it will stick.
If there where any negatives... The Fox floats didn't really blow me away, I couldn't really tell a lot of difference over my bombers to be honest (shock) which feel more plush and deal with the same drops even though they don't have the same external controls. The juicy's had too much lever travel for me, but I guess that can be dialled out. I'm used to Hope M4's and use one finger which was impossible on these as the level came back so far. The modulation was nice though, and they were strong enough (and didn't squeal like the hopes!)
The big question I am trying to answer is it the bike worth all that money over what I have.. and what colour to get when I get one
Eh? Your Trek only has that much? Thought it was a lot more for some reason.
The demo fork probably needs tuning to your... erm... mass.
How much travel in your current fork? You could always just get a 575 frame and swap fork/brakes while putting on a new drivetrain if it's size is right? Maybe? Dunno how old it is or anything.
FWIW, yeah, you can adjust the lever movement on the Juicys - I single finger no drama.
As for value, well, like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder!
Submitted by LadyToast on Tue, 10/06/2008 - 08:24.
Nah, my Trek has 3.5" on the back, I just don't respect it. It's got a non adjustable Cane Creek AD5 shock which has been unbelievable reliable. I have never serviced it or even adjusted the air pressure since the bike was new in 2002. It even has a gash in one side and it still doesn't leak. Cane creek should get a lot more attention I reckon, this thing is the bomb!
On the front 130mm (why do they mix imperial/metric like that?), because I put some new forks on it in 2003. I would like more adjustabilty and they are probably heavy by modern standards.
For the bikes age I'm happy with it. It was encouraging to compare with the Yeti and find it similar in some areas, granted my testing wasn't extensive but getting back on it after the Yeti the Fuel still feels nimble and well set up.
Anyway.. I am keen on seeing what the Talas 140's are like. They seem light and I could switch to 100-120 for XC races.
The Pike's are also interesting but I don't want to ditch the QR as I need it for the car rack and I like my hubs. My understanding is that they don't come with QR, but I could be wrong. If I did go down the Yeti route I would certainly be getting only the frame and forks and swapping my bits over.
... especially for a bike you don't know!
So how did you rate the 575 and what spec was it?
I see this was over a minute faster than your last time[1], how much bike, how much training?
[1] There's a hot laps tab on your account if you didn't know:
http://nobmob.com/user/746/hotlaps
Hi mate,
I actually "think" I could go better than that but my legs were really tired from the marathon ride the day before on the same bike, plus I had a pretty bad off on the wet boards which slowed me down.
It was the medium sized test bike from Bike Addiction, pretty well specced up, nice and light. Crossmax wheels, SRAM stuff and some carbon bling.
How do I rate it? I love it. Just trying to figure out how I can get one
Interesting... although wouldn't medium be too small for you? Faster still with a bit more room to stretch out and get comfy?
Well yes, this is the very thing I am thinking about. I haven't ridden the large but I know it's more suited to my size. The funny thing is that the medium is the same size as my large Trek Fuel which is probably why it felt so familiar to me.
I was expecting it to be great on the down hills, and it was. You get to obstacles far quicker, although it doesn't actually feel any faster (if you know what I mean). The thing that struck me about the bike was how well it climbs compared to my bike, not surprising considering mine has 3.5" travel compared to 5.75" but with the pro-pedal off it just grips, you can pedal up pretty much anything and know it will stick.
If there where any negatives... The Fox floats didn't really blow me away, I couldn't really tell a lot of difference over my bombers to be honest (shock) which feel more plush and deal with the same drops even though they don't have the same external controls. The juicy's had too much lever travel for me, but I guess that can be dialled out. I'm used to Hope M4's and use one finger which was impossible on these as the level came back so far. The modulation was nice though, and they were strong enough (and didn't squeal like the hopes!)
The big question I am trying to answer is it the bike worth all that money over what I have.. and what colour to get when I get one
Eh? Your Trek only has that much? Thought it was a lot more for some reason.
The demo fork probably needs tuning to your... erm... mass.
How much travel in your current fork? You could always just get a 575 frame and swap fork/brakes while putting on a new drivetrain if it's size is right? Maybe? Dunno how old it is or anything.
FWIW, yeah, you can adjust the lever movement on the Juicys - I single finger no drama.
As for value, well, like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder!
Nah, my Trek has 3.5" on the back, I just don't respect it. It's got a non adjustable Cane Creek AD5 shock which has been unbelievable reliable. I have never serviced it or even adjusted the air pressure since the bike was new in 2002. It even has a gash in one side and it still doesn't leak. Cane creek should get a lot more attention I reckon, this thing is the bomb!
On the front 130mm (why do they mix imperial/metric like that?), because I put some new forks on it in 2003. I would like more adjustabilty and they are probably heavy by modern standards.
For the bikes age I'm happy with it. It was encouraging to compare with the Yeti and find it similar in some areas, granted my testing wasn't extensive but getting back on it after the Yeti the Fuel still feels nimble and well set up.
Anyway.. I am keen on seeing what the Talas 140's are like. They seem light and I could switch to 100-120 for XC races.
The Pike's are also interesting but I don't want to ditch the QR as I need it for the car rack and I like my hubs. My understanding is that they don't come with QR, but I could be wrong. If I did go down the Yeti route I would certainly be getting only the frame and forks and swapping my bits over.
Thanks for entertaining my ramblings Rob