Best bike for CSRA

[ec494]

Riding a hard tail KLIEN ATTITUDE presently. Great bike, super stiff, handles like crazy at speed. All that is great but I ride slow and I am 40 and weigh in at 215. Looking for something that is more forgiving and has a more upright stance. My concerns are weight and pedaling efficency it is hard enough to climb. I am thinking a 3-5 inch full suspension bike. What works best for our area not just FATS?

[azdrawdy]

Once you get away from FATS and Petersburg, as you know there are tons of roots out there! I like that you are looking for a bike that will be useful on the other trails.

First, you have to set a price point. The Attitude is/was a sweet bike. No doubt about it. It was not cheap in its day. Are you willing to spend $1500? $2200? Three or four grand? Once you have decided on the $$$$ amount, then just look at what the various shops offer. Most manufacturer's 5" travel bikes pedal with extreme efficiency. Although I don't ride one, I think Giant has hit a great price-point with the various models of the Trance. Cannondale has the Rush in various models. I am head over heels in love with my Specialized Stumpjumper (now I want a 29er Stumpy).

Some of our bike shops are more roadie in nature, some have more personality than others, but they all offer something worth looking at. Pick your price point, do your homework (or ask more detailed questions here), and then hit the shops armed with knowledge. If a local shop does not have what you want, and a phone call finds that dream bike sitting in a shop in Woodstock, ROADTRIP! You do not want to buy without throwing a leg over it first. Also, make sure you look at the reviews given to various models in Mtbr.com.

Michael

[dgaddis1]

I think Michael pretty much hit the nail on the head. If you're looking for a full suspension bike, I'll give another recommendation towards Giant. I haven't ridden a Trance, but I own an Anthem. Both bikes have the Maestro suspension design, which works incredibly well on the Anthem. I run mine as a single speed and don't notice any pedal bob.

Comparing the Anthem and Trance, the Anthem is closest to what you're riding now. It's short travel (3.2"), and very quick handeling. I put wider bars on mine because I felt it was a little too twitchy. It's got an "head down ass up" racing seating position, which I like. But, it sounds like you're wanting something closer to the Trance, which is more upright, and more relaxed geometry. The Anthem is lighter than the Trance howerver.

I've heard great things about the Trance. I've also heard great things about the Trek Fuel/Top Fuel bikes. Good luck on deciding what you want!

[ec494]

Thanks for the advice. I will look at the Giant and Stumpjumper and the Rush.

Eric

[jumbobike]

Take a look at a 29er. The most important thing around here is a good front fork. We do not have alot of big drops. The 29er rolls smooth. You will be amazed at the bull dozer effect at fats. Also a hard tail climbs better. No bounce on the up hill.

Also buy from Phil. he does more for Sorba than the other shops. He will let you take a 29er out. No charge.

[azdrawdy]

Jun 9, 2008 17:48:07 GMT -5 jumbobike said:

Take a look at a 29er. The most important thing around here is a good front fork. We do not have alot of big drops. The 29er rolls smooth. You will be amazed at the bull dozer effect at fats. Also a hard tail climbs better. No bounce on the up hill.

Also buy from Phil. he does more for Sorba than the other shops. He will let you take a 29er out. No charge.

Definitely won't argue about Phil's contributions to SORBA/CSRA. He does a ton for us. You still can't rule out the products the other shops offer. You bring up a valid point with the 29er, and EC is indeed tall enough to consider them.

But perhaps you are not looking at the OP's quest. The OP is looking for some cush. Nothing wrong with well-designed cush. I won't argue that a 29er hardtail doesn't have virtues, but simply going from a 26" bike to a 29" bike doesn't negate the capabilities of a well designed suspension. Phil gave me a 29er C-dale for a weekend and I took it to WC/TC, but I have been riding riding suspension for 13 years and thought my backside was going to explode within a mile. There was no magic like every 29er rider wants you to believe, and I wasn't used to having to lighten for every root. I have resigned to ride my FS 26" bike for a bit longer and then go to a full cush 29er. It will happen, just not right now. It seems that for taller folks, the 29er makes lots of sense. A well designed 29er FS might just be magic, and EC is indeed tall enough for one. Once again it boils down to how much does he want to part with!

[Timothyjames]

Having ridden a 06Trance 1, 07 fisher procaliber and owning an 08 fuel ex9 the difference in cushion is subtle. I noticed the trance shock wasn't set up very well for my body weight (180) where as the rp23 on my trek didn't need any adjustments. Pedal efficiency is as simple as flipping the lockout on the shock and the pro-pedal feature is nice for a little bounce. I'm partial to remote lockouts which fox didn't offer till this upcoming 2009 model year. The trance and procaliber both had rock shox forks, a SID WC on the GF and reba on the trance. For the most part these are strictly XC bikes but i felt the trek handles the complexities of fats much better. No worries about breaking the procaliber and the trance geometry felt like i was sitting to relaxed. Guess i'm sold on the endless travel feeling. although if you want plush i'd look into the 'all-mountain' category for deeper cushion. humble opinion.

[dparrott]

Just bought a Giant Trance XO yesterday and gave it a run on Bartram today - felt like I was sitting in a cadillac but with the handling of a Porsche. I think it's about the best bike for the buck and it's all-around capabilities will take you anywhere.

While Phil's contribution to SORBA is huge, don't forget Andy - he and Drew measure up just as well to SORBA's cause.

[Macho Retro]

Jun 15, 2008 22:16:33 GMT -5 dparrott said:

Just bought a Giant Trance XO yesterday and gave it a run on Bartram today - felt like I was sitting in a cadillac but with the handling of a Porsche. I think it's about the best bike for the buck and it's all-around capabilities will take you anywhere.

While Phil's contribution to SORBA is huge, don't forget Andy - he and Drew measure up just as well to SORBA's cause.

1. $3000+ is best bike for the buck? Do you really need a bike that costs that much in order to ride.

2. Support does not equal involvement.

3. Selling a bike to club members is neither involvement nor support.

[azdrawdy]

DP: Glad to hear you got a Trance. They are very impressive spec-wise and you do get a lot for the money.

KC: Nope, you can ride a $75 bike if you want to. I saw numerous people out this weekend, riding Bartram, on bikes that cost way less than three grand. They were all grinning. You pick your price point and purchase what you want. DP in no way insinuated that you have to spend three grand to ride. You do, however, get great components and a sweet ride in the Trance at that price point.

Drew and Nate have indeed stepped up to the mountain bike scene, an area that Andy had no desire to participate in, as he is a roadie at heart. They have initiated a weekly mtb ride. Additionally, the shop has indeed supported SORBA/CSRA monetarily on several occasions.

Put that glass of HaterAide down

[seenvic]

KC,
What would you recommend to a 40 YO with a Klien Attittude that says he wants to get a F/S bike?
I thought the answers in this thread were reasonable based on what little I know of this guys demographics.

What you would you recommend?

I didn't make a recommendation because I'd tell him to get a steel hardtail. Which is not what he wants to hear. After that choice, my advice would be pretty much along the same lines herein....a mid price F/S from Phil or Andy. Mid priced is $1200-$2500 and that seems to buy alot of bike these days.

But below $1200, I don't really advise F/S.

On the shops that support us, Phil and Andy are the best we have in this concern. We need to get creative in finding ways to get volunteers out to the trails and I hope these shops continue will be part of that. We are in need of a team of worker bees to cut back the vegetation on many trails. In addition to financial support, I have worked along side of owners and employees of both shops on the trails.

Would you like to get involved with SORBA CSRA? I'd like that very much. Hell, I'd like about anyone to get involved.

[ec494]

Once again thanks for all the input. I love the KLIEN on smooth uphills and flowing downhills, both tires stick like glue and out of seat pedaling is extremely responsive. The problem is seated pedaling over roots, rocks or any other surface irregularities. Last bike was a 1991 FISCHER PRO CAL full rigid w steel frame much more forgiving or maybe that was because I was younger. Anyway sold the KTM 450 SX to prepare for this purchase and a new business venture. I am thinking of maybe starting with a used high end frame (YETI, VENTANA, TURNER etc.) and building as things progress or just buying something complete in the 2-4k range. I am leaning towards the building aspect because I can spread the cost out over time while I still ride the KLIEN. The cheaper the better but quality does cost money.
I used to work 70 hrs/wk and could only ride once a month, now I am on my own schedule and can focus on getting into better shape and maybe I will learn to utilize what I have.

Thanks again,

Eric

[seenvic]

Jun 16, 2008 21:23:23 GMT -5 ec494 said:

Last bike was a 1991 FISCHER PRO CAL full rigid w steel frame much more forgiving or maybe that was because I was younger. I am thinking of maybe starting with a used high end frame (YETI, VENTANA, TURNER etc.) and building as things progress or just buying something complete in the 2-4k range. I am leaning towards the building aspect because I can spread the cost out over time while I still ride the KLIEN. The cheaper the better but quality does cost money.
I used to work 70 hrs/wk and could only ride once a month, now I am on my own schedule and can focus on getting into better shape and maybe I will learn to utilize what I have.

Thanks again,

Eric

OK, now we have some good info.

I'd say the 91 Procal was smoother because it was/is steel. I still have my 89 Procal frame hanging in the shed. I started on steel and have always had at least one steel hardtail to ride.

I would be leary of a used F/S bike unless you know its history or it is just barely used. F/S frames have a moving part and like every other moving part it wears out. You don't want someone else's worn out pivot(s). You prolly already knew that.

I just got a Turner Flux and can't get off the thing! I think there are so many good F/S bikes out there now it is hard to go wrong. You certainly won't if you stick with the brands you named in here. Or if you went with any of the other suggestions in here. I bought my Turner to ride in Pisgah and other mountains. And once the newness wears off, I hope I can put it away.

[dgaddis1]

Jun 17, 2008 12:47:42 GMT -5 seenvic said:

I bought my Turner to ride in Pisgah and other mountains. And once the newness wears off, I hope I can put it away.

Haha, you've been saying that for a while now....