new bike dilemma

[Jarek]

lads, I am looking at getting a new bike around xmas, need some advice here on suspension etc,


been cycling for a few months, mainly on road, leadmines and fairy castle, checked out balinastoe recently and absulutely love it,


was thinking about getting giant reign but not sure if its not overkill for wicklow mountains, did half of the singletrack on a 200 quid bike last week, ok very slowly, but managed to get thru,


I am only a beginner but definately cant use my birds bike cause I am gonna wreck it after a few rides and need to get some proper mtb,


anthem seems to delicate for the abuse my bike suffered last week, trance - not sure what it is, seems to be just filling the gap there, and finally reign, looks like something I would like to ride down the hills but does it then go up with no bobing?


fitness-wise I would be able to cycle up for an hour very slowly no problem in the granny gear but its the bobing that I am sort of affraid of


hard to describe what the bike would be used to but mailny going to balinastoe in the morning for say 3-5 hours of mad going up and down the forest, I would like to do e few marathons as well for fun, not exclusing racing and adventure racing when I get more into MTB,


so can you now please advice which bike you think I should be getting, they all come in different versions and prices but its mailny about suspension and geometry


anthem

trance

reign


appreciate any comments,


cheers

[diamondG]

Hi Jarek,


although the reign is an 'all mountain' bike, it would be a lot harder to climb than a hardtail, anthem or trance (they're in the order of easiest to climb/more skilled descent).


Think of 'all moutain' bikes as downhill bikes that can be pedalled up hill. They can be, but because of the long travel suspension, weight and more importantly the riding position, they are much harder to climb. They're also more expensive.


So unless you're planning on doing savage downhill, drops, jumps etc I personally wouldn't consider a Reign, not for a first bike anyway.


Try to come out to the Trails day in Ballinastoe on Sunday (see the other post), and get a go of a couple of bikes you're interested in. Compare hardtails to full sus etc


for a first mtb, consider a hardtail, it builds the most skill..

With the bonus of a better component spec for your money.


Also, its a good time of the year to pick up a bargain on an 08 model.


Graham

[Jarek]

appreciate the comment and agree with the advantage of hardtail for climbing, but my point is if I get a new one now I wanna make sure it will not need to be upgraded next year when I decide I really need suspension,


no way I am gonna do downhill and jumps, just a fitness sort of cycling and occiasionally some racing in the future, if you think HT is fair enough for balinastoe that basically answers my question I guess,


unfortunnately cant be there on sunday,


would going down very rough single track damage anthem?

[PolishPeter]

What is the price you are going to pay for it? That's the first question

I have Kelly's Toxic and I can get almost everywhere.... also racing

The distributor for Ireland is in Limerick.


Form what I heard Anthem is typical race bike, Trance - All Mountain and with reign you can do even more.


I think that you should try each and see which YOU feel is the best...


Good luck!


PS: If I were you I'd go for Anthem if only three above you consider, especially when you race a little bit...

[diamondG]

yeah, it really is about personal preference.


I like hardtails. Probably because I think they're cooler, more savage. If its good enough for Seymore its good enough for me :)


The anthem would make the rocky sections in ballinastoe easier and faster, and the trance even easier. But its mountain biking so you've got to decide where the line is, you don't want to make it too easy, that takes the mountain out of it :)


the Anthem would be similiar to a hardtail for climbing, and you needn't be worried, it wouldn't be delicate


If you can't make Sunday, get a go of peoples bikes up there next time.


Anyone will give you a spin on their steed around the carpark. Just tell them how pretty it looks.

Try compare a nice hardtail to a nice XC full sus.


personally, I would rule out the Reign though.


enjoy

[Jarek]

great stuff lads, yeah I had the feeling that the reign is too much for what i will be using the bike for, definately need to ride a few of them but was looking for some opinions anyway, thanks everyone

[Scrivo]

Buy this, it looks nice. Might be able to get a good price now that he is looking for "offers" too. http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5707

[shane]

the anthems can take a beating and are made to


if you wanted some suspension i would go with a trance


if a hardtail is what your after some of the other may be able to help you


if you want to try an anthem out let us know

[TomH]

There are some good deals to be had on 2008 Lapierre Zestys in cyclesuperstore (tallaght based bikeshop), you will prob get a decent discount off the price on the website,I certainly did two weeks ago on a Spicy, great machine but the zesty would suit your needs better..good luck with whatever you go for, you'll never look back..;)