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new bike
col123 - 5-10-2007 at 07:35

been thinking about upgrading for ages mycurent bike is now 10years old...

i bike a fair bit, road work etc with fair bit of off road, but i do like full suspension, etc

this lock out business, am i right in thinking it just locks your suspension so it's a hard tail etc..

need a new bike and budget doesn't really matter..

Any ideas etc

i do like spookers toy but as with most stuff there's so much choice.

why did you lot buy your current toys??

nick-r - 5-10-2007 at 08:21

col......you can hire a "specialized enduro", (same as spooks) at coed y brenin mtb center where we're all meeting on saturday morning....

lockout does exactly that.......locks out the suspension. front and rear (on many)...along with rebound and damping settings....and even a pedal mode on some shocks(fox pro pedal)

"SPECIALIZED"

Spooker - 5-10-2007 at 08:28

Col - you'll need something from JCB - I believe they "specialize" in moving heavy things

AndyW - 5-10-2007 at 16:44

quote:
why did you lot buy your current toys??


Just bought my new toy a hardtail for trail riding, climbing / downhill. Hardtails are fast, great climbers. Modern hardtails are still pretty good on downhills unless you plan on going to the Alps in which case a full sus is the way to go.

I don't think you can get away with one bike does it all, I wouldn't want to be riding a full sus bike on the road. A hardtail is ok for a bit of road work if you have summer tyres on but if you put winter mud tyres on then forget it.

First thing is to decide what you want to do on the bike.

If you go full sus you need to know a bit about setting up the rear shock and be prepared to have to keep playing about with it. Also got extra say £80 per year servicing charge which in some cases means sending the shock away.

Hardtail is more of a get on and ride bike, excellent for learning skills.

Definitately need lock out on suspension, forks and rear shock for climbing and roads.

For the same amount of money a hardtail will be better speced and lighter and shouldn't have to spend over £5/800 max. For full sus this is the starting price really.

At the end of the day it comes down to personal choice and getting the right size frame. Most of the bikes I looked at just didn't get on with the sizing so ended up buying which ever brand fitted which turned out to be specialized as they have more size intervals than Giant and Scott which I had been looking at. Try before you buy.

Good look with the search.

Andy

jon d hat - 5-10-2007 at 16:48

This would be my first choice

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33444

jon d hat - 5-10-2007 at 16:51

A close second

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33435

col123 - 5-10-2007 at 18:08

thats the sort of thing i was thinking jon..

this lockout, i'm sure iv'e seen handlebar mounted levers, or was i dreaming, or is it a case of stop adjust and carry on??

what about one of these TREK Fuel EX8 Project One


[Edited on 5-10-2007 by col123]

justal - 5-10-2007 at 18:26

What did you get Andy??

Al.

Spooker - 5-10-2007 at 19:00

Don't overplay the maintenance of full sus. I have ridden 3 full sussers for the last 7 years. In all that time I have put a little air in the rear shock once or twice a year, cleaned them occasionally and done NOTHING else. Never had a problem, no breakdowns, no adjusting etc - and I don't give them an easy life either!

I have a hardtail as well which I keep because its fun to ride, light and simple. But although it's marginally more efficient in climbing on smooth surfaces, on the rough the suspension wins every time up or down. If I did more road work I'd ride it more, but then as we all know - roads are just for gaining altitude - for the DOWNHILL

nick-r - 5-10-2007 at 19:11

quote:
Originally posted by col123
this lockout, i'm sure iv'e seen handlebar mounted levers, or was i dreaming, or is it a case of stop adjust and carry on??


just reach down and flick the little lever on the shock..similar action for locking the forks...all done while on the move...you can get handlebar mounted lockout..but i don't think it's necessary.

specialized fsr xc comp






nick-r - 5-10-2007 at 19:31

"dragons back"rated severe

thats where we're going tomorrow if anyone else is coming along.10am coed y brenin mtb center..it's not as bad as they rate it, although there are a couple of "well dodgy, over the handlebar type sections"....about half way around...

[Edited on 5-10-2007 by nick-r]

AndyW - 6-10-2007 at 19:14

Al,

I got a Specialized Rockhopper Pro in the end. I wasn't intending to copy you with a Rockhopper but it was a better fit than Giant or Scott frames for me anyway! Fantastic bike, very light and fast. Had it's maiden outing on Thursday on the hills, lovely...

Spooker,

I quite agree a full sus bike is better if you are riding off road a lot and especially for the the MTB centres but col mentioned road work. Maybe two bikes would be best ;-)

Modern bikes are just so much fun to ride whatever you choose.

badexcuseforasailor - 7-10-2007 at 12:35

quote:
Originally posted by nick-r
"dragons back"rated severe

thats where we're going tomorrow if anyone else is coming along.10am coed y brenin mtb center..it's not as bad as they rate it, although there are a couple of "well dodgy, over the handlebar type sections"....about half way around...

[Edited on 5-10-2007 by nick-r]


That sounds like the gomez section to me

nick-r - 7-10-2007 at 14:15

that was fun.....

cadair next weekend then.????

shem - 7-10-2007 at 16:24

Hey, give the wind a chance!!!!!!

nick-r - 8-10-2007 at 16:11

can't remember if it was hermon.....

just as dodgy as the last time though...

had to stop and dismount though. coz sombody was blocking the way....(which was'nt such a bad thing). i think graham and spooks made it down though.

we're doing cadair next weekend bxfs if you're up for it. so far it' me, jon, computer says no, so i'm not stopping(graham), spooks, captain blubeard and the reef girls......al and tony are invited again of course.....maybe col if he's got his new bike
thats if the wind forecast stays as it is of course.

mary jo's monument(or wotever her name was).same time as last week....



[Edited on 8-10-2007 by nick-r]