It’s been over a month since I received my entry confirmation for this year’s Transwales and laid out my worries and plans for the event, so here’s an update on how my preparation has been going (or not).
Back then, I mentioned that I had two main concerns regarding the event:
A-Â Â Â Â My severe lack of fitness
B-Â Â Â Â Â My lack of a suitable bike to ride
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Somehow, the past 4 or so weeks have vanished in a flash and my fitness hasn’t improved at all! In fact, I’ve barely been out on my bike for any substantial period thanks to sitting my finals at University and then going on holiday for a week.
However, far from being overly concerned, I’m feeling slightly optimistic with regards to fitness. I’ve scheduled at least 2 good rides a week into the coming months and I’m going to ditch the car and cycle around town to get to the shops etc – as I figure any extra riding has got to help!
By the way, there are still spaces available if you’d like to try the event this year just click here.
Now, the important bit – The Bike.
I’m still undecided as to what bike to get for the Transwales. I’ve decided to go for something in the 100mm travel category, as anything more is likely to be too much. So an all-mountain xc styled machine with lightweight and comfort being the key ingredients is on the menu.
Which leads me to a quandary. There are a lot of bikes in that style out there – so which one do I go for. So I’ve made a bit of a short list of some of the ones I like for you to comment on and help me decide which one would be best. Or you could also suggest others and lead me back to square 1 🙂
Option 1: Sunn Shamann
The Shamann comes with 100mm travel SID World Cups, Rock Shox monarch shock, Sram X9 gearing, Truvativ Noir cranks and mavic crossmax wheels. Sunn claim the bike weighs in at 22pounds.
Option 2 : Cube Ams Comp
The AMS has 100mm reba’s, Manitou radium shock, Shimano deore shifting and cranks. Suggested weight is 28 pounds.
Option 3 : Merida Ninety-Six
The Ninety-Six has a 100mm Manitou fork, Sram x9 shifting and Fsa cranks.
Option 4 : Scott Genius 50
The Genius is a little different to the other bikes on the list as it comes with 409 revelations, giving a little extra travel up front yet it still weighs in at an apparent 29 pounds.
These four seem like the most likely to me, except I can’t decide which one to go for – any ideas?
Never ridden any of the above, but since when has ignorance stopped anyone from chipping in their two pen’orth on the internet…?
Everything I’ve ever read seems to suggest that the Giant Anthem should at least be on your list.
something nice and light with 100mm should be fine. I’d be much more concerned about my fitness than what brand of bike to ride!
Good luck with the event though, maybe I’ll have a go one day..
Anthem
Santa Cruz V10. Shoot some videos aswell
Scott Spark (over a genious?), Giant Anthem X, Lapierre X-Control, Cannondale Rush ..
What’s in the cellars at STW Towers? Super4, Rush, Blur LT, Ibis Mojo SL would all work great for TW and you can have a go on each of them to “see if it’s right”, no?
The Anthem surely needs to be on the list; there are two good reasons that you see so many of them; value and performance.
That Merida is supposed to be great to race on; but for a ‘non racer” I wonder if it’d be a “twitchy” or “harsh”…
However, I’d go the Scott from your list; fitness is gonna be a factor and extra “skills compensation” would go amiss at the end of the 3rd or so day running of multiple hours on the bike…
“…Wouldn’t go amiss…”, rather!
Doh!
I would say concentrate on your fitness rather than what bit of shiny kit you are going to ride on. As a student why do you have a car and why do you feel the need to drive it around town?
Singlespeed the event, get drunk every night, eat curry and generally feel quite rubbish but have an amazing laugh and event with some really good friends you make along the way.
That’s what 4 of us did last year and it was probably one of the best weeks of my life, damn my lack of holiday this year
Blur LT with an adjustable fork and get some miles in. Worked for me. That and having a dry bag to keep your kit in. Good luck with it.
Thanks for all the comments folks:
I’m thinking the fitness will build itself up as I go along, whereas if I get the wrong bike only a week or so before the event then I may end up struggling more than I would otherwise.
ThruntonThrasher – I only use the car to do my grocery shopping and get to work – both of which will now be replaced with pedal power!
Skills Guiding – Funny you should mention it, I do have an old singlespeed rig laying around!
Nath, we had such a laugh on them last year, the last day was spent holding seatposts on climbs and throwing peat bog at each other.
I’ve never laughed as much as i did that week, gutted i can’t join it this year. Fingers crossed for next year! Awesome event would recomend to ayone.
turner flux or sultan would be the best none of this ready made stuff make sure you are running tubeless as well
cannondale rush gets my vote or a fuel ex.the timed sections are very downhill biased although this year there,s a 1km climb tt.doesnt exactly balance it out does it??
Spesh Epic Marathon. You know from the STW test last year, it’s the fastest bike out there.
The Flux would come in at about 25-26lbs.
The Anthem – not sure, but both are fine 100mm travel full sus bikes.
Anything heavier and, well, you’ve got to do the pedalling, and as you well know, an extra 4lbs on any bike makes a whole world of difference.
Would it not be a fine idea to choose one asap as the event is not that far away and if it doesn’t work out, back-to-back-to-back-to-back (etc) days are going to cripple you if the bike is not quite “right”?
Have you considered a full sus’ 29er as it would eat up the miles with consumate ease.
As an observer (photographer) of the race – I would imagine you could get around on just about anything – but if you want to compete then you really only need to think about what is going to be quickest on the special stages.
Having done it last year I’d echo the comments of rightplacerighttime.
All the special sections suited a lightweight full sus bike, though not necessarily a short travel one. The mens solo winner was on a off-the-peg trek fuel ex9 and he was streets ahead of anyone else on the timed sections. (obviously fitness and riding skill may have had something to do with it.)
Whatever you choose you have to be comfortable on it for 6 hours a day for 7 days on the trot.
I’ve got a Sunn Shamann S1, slightly lower spec than the one in the pic and it was a genuine 23.5 llbs out the box. It’s a freakin sweet bike, i love it, really poppy and fun ride. I’d recommend one
Rode last year and came away thinking s’speed was the way forward. No maintenance and get to ride with other ss’ers. They seemed to be having all the fun. Thought some of the riding was quite technical, so whether you’ve got 27 or 1 gear it don’t make a lot of difference. Not riding this year, but will next.