| Author | Message | ||
     Mark (Kobeyman) New Member Username: Kobeyman Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2003 |
What kind of bike do you ride? I'm thinking bout getting a Specialized Stumpjumper/Epic/FSRXC, Cannondale Scalpel, or Fisher Cake 2. | ||
| Chris Vestal (Conceptvision) New Member Username: Conceptvision Post Number: 16 Registered: 07-2003 |
Racing Cross Country 9 years. I have a Trek 9.9 with all the goodies. IMHO Of those 3, I like the Epic rear suspension a lot. You do not waste pedal power in the suspension. Fisher Cake 2 is a great frame/ but middle line good components Scalpel is a great package all round, great frame, great components. | ||
| Nick Bowerman (Nickb857) Member Username: Nickb857 Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have a cannondale F2000. I love it. It is very light and has some good components. I like bikes that have small frames so they are easy to move around and this one worked perfectly. I dont like some of the Coda parts like the brakes and the headshock but otherwise it is nice. If i was to get another bike it would be the Intense Uzzi SLX. But of those three i would have to agree the the Scalpel is a nice all around package. Nick | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 2602 Registered: 02-2002 |
I have a Scalpel 1000. Louise Disc, XTR 9 speed, front / rear lockouts. Very fun bike. | ||
| Eugene (Eugene) Member Username: Eugene Post Number: 178 Registered: 02-2003 |
Started biking back in college on a Cannondale F700. The bike went everywhere with me on the northeast. I used it for mountain biking, commuting, picking up water samples for geology research, etc. I picked up a Specialized Stumpjumper M4 several years ago. Both bikes are tons of fun. | ||
| Robin Marshall (Sirrobin) New Member Username: Sirrobin Post Number: 20 Registered: 08-2003 |
Did you look at the Crackandfail (just kidding-they're good) jekyl? the scalpel is very much an XC/racer, the jekyl a little more versitile in my opinion. Specialized are just plain too expensive where I live. Agree that the fisher is expensive for its components and I'm not sold on the 29er thing. trek makes some nice bikes also (fisher is owned by trek). while i'm on opinions-I would stay away from the hydraulic discs unless they've gotten a lot lighter and less leaky in the last two years. Watch out for the early shimano non-drilled discs, they caked up too fast. A good site is www.mtbr.com. | ||
| Tim '92 RR (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 709 Registered: 12-2002 |
Dean Ti | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 2604 Registered: 02-2002 |
Oh Yeah Tim. Very nice. The snap-on of mountain bikes.  | ||
| Devin Walton (Devin_walton) Member Username: Devin_walton Post Number: 43 Registered: 03-2003 |
I just went for my first ride on my new Intense 5.5 this weekend. It is absolutely the best FS bike I have ridden to date (not that I've ridden every bike, but I've ridden quite a few). Sounds like you're looking for an XC style bike, so the Spider might be a good option for you. Also the Santa Cruz Blur has the same VPP design that locks up the rear suspension when under pedaling loads. It's also tough to go wrong with the Epic. Since Specialized/Fox modified the rear shock, it seems to work pretty well. One of the guys here at work has a Scalpel, but hasn't ridden it much so I haven't heard much feedback on that bike. Have fun shopping! Devin | ||
| Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 150 Registered: 12-2002 |
Cannondale Raven (Carbon Fiber overlay on Magnesium Spin) - extermely light weight. Disk brakes, tubless wheels/tires, fox float rear and Cannondales single shock (Fat Head) up front. It's a sweet ride with the exception when I was 5 miles into 10 mile trail and broke the frame during a nasty spill. | ||
| Ryan Graham (Ryangraham) Member Username: Ryangraham Post Number: 57 Registered: 01-2004 |
I ride a specialized rock hopper hard tail and love it. Wasnt expensive, but tough as nails. Had experience with several different specialized and I think their quality and value are unbeatable. | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Senior Member Username: Jack Post Number: 284 Registered: 03-2002 |
What kind of terrain, and/or where will you do most of your riding? Which bike shop will give you the best service, supports and maintains your local trails, and treats you like a valued customer? That should be a factor in your decision - IMHO. BTY - The Santa Cruz Blur is a great all around bike, but a little pricey. | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 746 Registered: 02-2003 |
If you can I would get the S-Works Epic with the fox Terra-Logic fork. I got an S-Works hardtail and a Klein hardtail. I think one bike is just about as good as the other, just as long as its comfortable is all that matters to me. Mark you gonna race? I wouldnt want one of those lightwieght XC machines, I think depending on what you ride you compromise strentgh for liteness. well depending on how big you are. indeed a number of varible's to consider when buying a new bike.......... | ||
| Nick Bowerman (Nickb857) Member Username: Nickb857 Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2003 |
this is a little off of the subject of what bike to get but it has to do with the cannondale single headshock. Has any one else ever had all of the oil leak out of theirs it has happend to me a couple times and i had to get a new cartrige each time and then i had to inflate the thing with air. I was just wondering if any one else had this problem. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 506 Registered: 08-2003 |
Not that new, but... Specialized Ground Control. Keeps me in shape when I'm not playing football or baseball (which is year round for both). | ||
| andrew adia (Drew) Member Username: Drew Post Number: 72 Registered: 03-2003 |
-Independent Fabrication Deluxe-Buttery smooth hardtail. The Specialized is a great ride with the fox in the rear. I think that Fox also has a lock out, which is must for a FS, in my opinion. I second Jack with supporting the local bike shop with great customer service. You just can't get that experiance with mail order companies. Drew | ||
| Kristopher March (Apexdisco) Senior Member Username: Apexdisco Post Number: 385 Registered: 02-2002 |
Older Gary Fisher Big Sur hardtail. Its my first real mountain bike. I'll never let it go. Who's in NC? Anyone been to Tsali? I did it a year ago. Really nice trails. | ||
| Kent S. Wilcox (Kswilcox) New Member Username: Kswilcox Post Number: 21 Registered: 06-2003 |
Mark, It looks like you've got a lot of bikers here waiting to give you advice, but to really be any help we would need some more details. Where do you (or plan to) ride? Are you planning on racing? (XC, or 24Hr) What is your budget? There are a lot of good values out there, but first you have to know how you are going to use it. It seemed like every bike I bought had to be lighter than the last (i.e. XC race bikes), but I really didn't do that much racing. Now I rarely ride anything but my trail bike (Intense Uzzi), I'm willing to push a few extra pounds up the hills, for the reward on the way back down. Any bike you get is going to have compromises in certain area's of performance. A 4" - 5" travel trailbike is going to be your best bet for a do anything mountain bike, but it won't be the best climber, or the best downhiller. My .02 I also second checking out www.mtbr.com | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 747 Registered: 02-2003 |
I am in NC. I frequent tsali in the spring... Tsali I think leaves a little more to be desired, not big enough hills. however a fun place to ride. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 2607 Registered: 02-2002 |
Phil, How many hours is that from eastern NC? | ||
| David Caton (Catonincarolina) Member Username: Catonincarolina Post Number: 79 Registered: 05-2002 |
Paul, Its about 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Greensboro. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 2608 Registered: 02-2002 |
So about 6 hours for me. | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 748 Registered: 02-2003 |
yeah prolly about 6 hours from Tarboro maybe more. I got to WCU so its like 40 minutes give or take. | ||
| Tim '92 RR (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 712 Registered: 12-2002 |
Paul- Oh Yeah Tim. Very nice. The snap-on of mountain bikes. LOL, I am considering a webpage with an in-depth explanation of it merits and high quality pictures. | ||
| Abraham (Roverthen) New Member Username: Roverthen Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2003 |
Nick, The only time my Cannondale F700 leaked from the Headshok was from storing it upside down on hooks. Once I replaced it I never used the hooks. That was three years ago, had the bike for seven years. Very reliable. | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 749 Registered: 02-2003 |
I know there are some people that really really really like C-Dale's but IMHO I think the head shock is garbage. They make nice bikes but headshock suck. Anyone plan on going to Tsali? | ||
| Daniel Patterson (Mygoatboy) New Member Username: Mygoatboy Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello, I have been mt. biking myself for a long time now. I just got a Specialized Enduro Expert after much debating. I was very close to getting a Litespeed because I think that they are excellent bikes and they ride very fast. I doing only XC. | ||
| Jake (Alpineski) New Member Username: Alpineski Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2004 |
After riding Gary Fisher, Marin, Kona, Cannondale, Santa Cruz, Raleigh, Schwinn and Specialized, I chose Iron Horse of all bikes for my new FS. Mostly known for downhill bikes. But they make a nice bike for the money. Follow the trail on any bike and it leads to taiwan, probably the same conglomerate of factories too. I am not promoting one brand over another, I would have been happy with something else I am sure. As long as the geometry was good for me. Look for a geometry that works for your pedaling style. Want to eliminate the pedal induced rear wheel movement through geometry not suspension. Then have a good suspension to push it back through the geometry. The bike doesn't make the rider, the ride makes the bike. |
