Soldato
Honestly would say, that back in the day when I rode XC, this would have tempted me.
Shame the low BB can cause issues though, although I guess you adjust your riding style now to suit.
****The Official Mountain Bicycle Gallery Thread****
- Thread starter Feek
- Start date
Honestly would say, that back in the day when I rode XC, this would have tempted me.
Shame the low BB can cause issues though, although I guess you adjust your riding style now to suit.
I am getting up hills that i was failing on my previous bike so the new geometry is defiantly worth it. with 130 fork its plenty for most things really for me small jumps. I hear the new term is down country.
Soldato
A couple photos from a 50k ride i did a few days ago.
Soldato
A couple photos from a 50k ride i did a few days ago.
Looks like that drink would have last at least 200k
Hats off for getting out right now though, when many, myself included have the bikes wrapped up for the winter..
Soldato
Heh yeah i don't drink much while riding, used half a bottle when i did a 90k ride a few months back.Looks like that drink would have last at least 200k
Hats off for getting out right now though, when many, myself included have the bikes wrapped up for the winter..
I built this bike for winter so my Vitus Sommet can stay wrapped up warm
I barely drink on a ride, or I'll get the urge to pee
On a ride in the summer I did about 40 miles on dirt trails, about 10miles in I realised I must have carried all my stuff to the bike but left the bottle on the floor at my door...
I'm with EMTB though so 40 miles is probably more like 20 miles of effort if that.
seeing bikes with the tiny bottom bracket area and a skinny downtube just seems wrong to my mind now.
respect for getting our their in this weather though! far too much wet mud for my liking, I've done a few local rides and even with gloves my hands started to feel a bit cold and numb.
TBH though the muds not really the problem, it's how much of it fat MTB tyres kick up even if you ride at 5mph, and on any bumps you get like 2kg of crap falling from the front mud guard
Last edited:
Associate
After 9 years off the bike I finally decided to get back at it. Used to ride full suspension bikes back in the day having had a few Specialized bikes, Bighit, SX Trail and Demo 8.
A lot has changed will be learning a lot too as I go.
Decided to go for a hardtail nothing too expensive to start with decent spec.
Saracen Mantra Elite,
A lot has changed will be learning a lot too as I go.
Decided to go for a hardtail nothing too expensive to start with decent spec.
Saracen Mantra Elite,
Soldato
After 9 years off the bike I finally decided to get back at it. Used to ride full suspension bikes back in the day having had a few Specialized bikes, Bighit, SX Trail and Demo 8.
A lot has changed will be learning a lot too as I go.
Decided to go for a hardtail nothing too expensive to start with decent spec.
Saracen Mantra Elite,
Have had a similar history.
That looks fun and well chuckable
Associate
So far so good need to cut down the bars are they are 820mm wide! I used to ride 760mm.
Caporegime
Bloomin eck! I know we are riding wider bars than ever but thats silly. What size is the bike? I haven't been super into MTB bike tech for the past few years but when I bought a new set of bars I think they were 800mm stock and very few people kept them at that.
Soldato
Associate
Bike is a Medium, I'm 5ft 8 felt like if I took the bars off they would be taller than me
. Cut the bars down 770mm today and feel much better.Tried a wheelie and failed, not as young now plus I forgotten how to manual although the bike is much longer then what I used to ride.
Caporegime
Bike is a Medium, I'm 5ft 8 felt like if I took the bars off they would be taller than me
Tried a wheelie and failed, not as young now plus I forgotten how to manual although the bike is much longer then what I used to ride.
Long and slack my friend. Long and slack. The amount of suspension on many bikes is ridiculous as well now. 160-170mm on bikes people largely do XC loops on. I think the majority of MTBers don't understand what a proper trail looks like. I wouldn't fancy doing some of the black trails at BPW on my 140/120mm rig but that largely because I am not good enough to clear the features without dying. I can do all the reds there quite happily on it. A bit more squish would be nice but for the average stuff I deal with down local trails its absolutely plenty.
Soldato
Quick little test ride on my Sommet after a bunch of upgrades over the winter and the bike sitting for 5 months.
