[Closed] Alps bike advice.

Heckler?

Hecklers coming with me in June when I head there...In the process of alpifying it just now, slackened the head angle, 160 forks on on their way, and just ordered some minions....

yes..its 3 months away, but I can't wait to see the Heckler in his natural environment!

Heckler would be cheaper - is it as good a bike? Any age differences I need to know about for heckler frames?

Unless your 'Dale is goosed i'd stick with that and put your money towards a pair of Pro2/Flow wheels,some 2.4 tubeless tyres, some 740mm bars and a dropper post. I guided out there on a 120mm full suss for a season then an Orange P7 with a pair of Pikes on the front and didn't need anything bigger.

I understand if the lure of the shiny new bike proves too strong though 😀

I do love my 'Dale. It already runs tubeless with MK2 protections on Hope pro2/mavic xm819 ust wheels, has carbon 710mm bars - so only a dropper to add!! It's in great nick and is a 2011 with nice Fox forks, so certainly would do the job. I just already have another 120mm FS, but not worth as much as the RZ, so I thought I might be able to "Explore my envelope" a bit more in the alps on a 150 bike.

Great stuff so far chaps, sometimes you need other opinions to take the blinkers off.

575's a great allrounder, and some good deals about too.

I have had a Heckler out in the Alps and it was a good ride. Money permitting I would upgrade the Pikes to Lyriks for next trip. It will be even more fun then. 🙂

Edit: Just to add that the Heckler is my ride every day bike.

I bought this for my trip to Morzine last year

http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s1p2817

Swapped the forks for a 2nd hand set of Lyriks and sold the Marzocchis for the same amount I paid for the Lyriks.

I would have liked a downhill bike and there were few times out there I wish I had something with a bit more travel/ slacker, but overall I get more use out of the Reign back home than I would with a DH bike.

For a weekend away I would go too crazy. Get something that'll work here and it will work over there just fine. The trails aren't particularly steep/gnarly/aggressive there's just lots of them and lifts to get you to the top so you spend more time going down.

Heckler works on the UKs trail centres just fine, although I run it with a 150 front end day to day. Not sure what it'll be like with the the Marzhoci 55s on it.

My one gripe is the ridiculously short toptube which means its a great 'fun bike' but not massively comfortable for any XC orientated stuff, IMO. Would be a blast in the alps however, and from what I can see fairly indestructable.

Don't think the older models have changed massively either, so a tatty one a few years old might be perfect!

stick with what you got mate you will be fine , i went les gets/morzine last year and took my 100mm Cube HT with St high rollers Front and back with me and had a blast .. if anything there was more grins as it was on the edge had a swap with one of the challet guys for his FS and even he admited he enjoyed it ..

even The DH trails are pretty smooth and at that time of year they wont be minced by wannabe robo cops braking bumps .. Run what you have and you will have a great time , that said buy a new bike and you will also have a great time !

I'd happily rent my Socom to people who were coming out and could be on hand for tech support if any maintenance was needed on bikes.

Ideally you do want a bit more travel upfront (140+) and yes the Yeti and Heckler would be a great all round bikes plus a long list of other AM types, if you've got the cash use the Alps trip as an excuse to upgrade 🙂 definitely get some alps tyres, high roller double skinned etc

Note the lifts open full time from mid June, check your dates and the info on les gets website which has been linked to I other threads here

IMO the DH type rigs are restrictive as they don't pedal well and I enjoy riding a mix of trails - I'd highly recommend lunch at the small restaurant at Mont Caly as an antidote to the downhill stormtrooper frenzy. Accessed via Mont Chery lift in Les Gets then pleasant double track to tiny village. Return via blue/red or easy black "dans le gaz"

You have two 120mm bikes. Keep the Rize, sell the other one, buy that Reign above. Job done, Alps/DH trips sorted for the foreseebale.

"downhill stormstrooper frenzy"....like it. You forgot to add "Brits Abroad" to the start though.

Bigger forks mean you can run bigger rotors, which will help alot in stopping and arm pump

FYI I have a Reign with 160 forks and it's an excellent bike for the alps for me (I'm certainly not a "big road gap" type rider). You do want decent brakes too eg 180/160 or 203/180

My other top tip would be extend the trip, you won't regret it, 3 or 4 days not 2 !

I rode a Heckler last year and it was fine with 140 Rev's up front. This year I am taking a Cotic Bfe with 150 Ti Bombers..... I can't wait !

Although if you want a bike that you can ride here the other 51 weeks of the year then you need to base it more on what riding you do here I would say.

I just cane creek double barrel'ed and 160 forked my five for my alps trip lol

You can tell the differences in people riding shorter travel bikes compared to dh bikes out here (good vs good rider) it depends what you'd get more enjoyment out of- if its singletracks and covering terrain then a 160mm bike is ideal (or less) if its hitting a lot of stuff blind and your riding faster than your ability I'd say a dh bike is what you want.

I rode for 3 weeks on a dialled alpine and that did an ok job but it wasnt as fun... depends what you want out of your riding.

If anyone needs any suggestions on where to go or wants to ride just ask.

If you’re going to bomb wicked steeps and stick big drops, you better trust your ride. 😛

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the bike that gives you the most options in the Alps is probably a coil-equipped Patriot. Strong enough for any of the DH bits, light enough to pedal, reasonable geometry for climbing.

Probably pointless for the UK though - just too heavy at mid-30s.

Having said all of that, for a weekend I'd just stick with what you've got or hire a bike - €80 per day is a lot cheaper than what you're planning, and you don't have the hassle and cost of getting it out there, nor care what happens to it when you're riding.

Been out twice to morzine / les gets and used my santa cruz super light all xc setup.... did all the runs and only the main morzine run it suffered...

I'd keep with your current rig unless your really unhappy with??

what does "did all the runs" even mean? jeesus lots of useless garbage on here

I had my DeVinci Dixon out there last year, it takes a bit of abuse but still builds up pretty light. Freeborn have the 2011s on offer at the minute.

Lots of good advice coming out!!! We are planning lift-assisted XC, with a little light downhill, and will have 4 days on the bikes :-)).

My second bike is a trek fuel ex I've built up - originally for someone else who ended up getting a very special- ized Xmas present - and I've decided that one is the keeper, due to liking both, and the higher resale value of the RZ. It seems silly to have 2 bikes so similar, hence the AM bike quest!!

I think my preferred options are either a Yeti 575 or ASR 5, or a Heckler. I think the Heckler frame is slightly heavier, but cheaper. Anybody tried either of the other 2, in the Alps in particular? Also, anybody happen to be selling a medium frame??????

We have enterned the passportes du soliel... one of our group is/was doing it on a 120mm trek fuel ex.

We finally got him in the peaks this weekend, it's the first time he realised 120mm wasn't going to be enough for 85km of pure ROCK in the Alps. So your making the right decision.

Buy a used Nomad though ;-)... then sell everything else and buy a hardtail for the lighter UK stuff. You will just end up riding the nomad all the time anyway.

2 different types of "DH" riding IMO.

1. Groomed pistes - fast, technically straightword in most ways, can be steep, man made features, braking bumps, relatively short, all downhill. A proper DH bike has to be 'best' for these if best mean riding comfortably and quickly

2. Off-piste DH - often slow, nadgery, technical, occassionally might get off or have a look, rocky steps, proper switchbacks, some pedalling needed - sort of thing you get riding au natural in Chamonix or Spain. Might get an uplit or might pedal up. You really dont see many riding on DH bikes on these. But defintely more folk on 160mm bikes than a few years ago when Pikes seemed to be as big as it got.

Alex - you obviously know your stuff, but it's a bit of a leap from a Dialled Alpine HT to full on DH 😉

Back to the OP - if you're going for such a short time, you want to maximise your fun, but do you really want a bike for 2 out of 365 days a year? I'm going for a long trip this year and decided to stick with my Blur LT and whack on some coil Lyriks and big rotors. Already running 2 x 9 + bash and a dropper post. Gone for wide bars and short stem too. Reckon that will do it. I wont be able to keep up with an equal rider on a V10, but I'll have more options. Back to air Revs when I get home and some lighter tyres.

But, if you want a bigger bike, for £2k you can get a Cube Fritzz - that was my other option.

I had both! - My mate took a cube fritzz out last year and loved it - he wasn't much slower than he was on his sunday - when it comes to the bigger stuff though if your not pushing it then you'll be fine but if you would like to hit it - I don't think the cube would be massively confidence inspiring within a holiday period.

I'd say more importantly than travel is geometry out here.

I was hoping the 3 options I had selected would be fine for regular uk riding too, especially as I will still have a really nice 120mm bike too.

a guy off here used his heckler dont think he liked it too much - he's on a mega now and so is the guy who had the fritz.

If the yeti is the one with carbon stays then steer clear as my mate got one brand spanking- the stay snapt 3 months later and they wiped their hands of it even though it was clearly manufacturing and no impact marks.

my vote for a good all rounder? a mega or a 5" trek / giant

[b]dantsw13[/b]
I was hoping the 3 options I had selected would be fine for regular uk riding too, especially as I will still have a really nice 120mm bike too.

I took this last year to Morzine: -

[img] [/img]

It was really good on everything I rode, but the blues are full of braking bumps which in turn destroyed my back wheel 🙁

My biggest tip would be.... get a coil rear shock on what ever bike / frame you buy. Air is just not upto the job if you want to put the hammer down.

Air is fine on larger volume shocks but on short travel bikes I would tend to agree - nice ride mate

Do those front neoprene things work... after being blinded by stuff getting flicked up at speed on my last few rides I'm getting tempted even if they do look a bit dodgy

Hi.

Sorry to Hijack the thread a little but [b]tpbiker[/b] can you PM me please regarding the headset you have for sale, you've no email address in your profile or I would have emailed you direct.

Hijack over, again my apologies.

Cheers

Michael

GSP1984 - don't bother buying one. Get an old inner tube, open it up, cut about 12 inches of it, and attach it between the crown and the bottom of your head tube - voila for free!!!!

gsp yes they do - i havent bought one yet - but innertubes usually rip - I bought a sheet of 30cm by 30cm neoprene off ebay for about £3 and cut them up for my bikes - I'd recommend doing that or just buying one if you dont have the time

I wouldn't think the Yeti ASR 5 would be much different to the Rize or the Fuel Ex?

Get some big volume dual ply tyres and run them at low pressures - it'll be like having more suspension, only much cheaper than buying a new bike. As others have said it only feels harder than the UK because the trails tend to be longer and you do more of them because you're not having to spend most of your time riding uphill.

I took my Heckler with a coil shock and Lyrics and it could cope with more than I could ride.

Use it most weekends in blighty too.

@gps - I put a crud catcher on 5yrs ago and have never taken it off, works for me Alps and UK

Bigger forks mean you can run bigger rotors, which will help alot in stopping and arm pump

What???? My 100mm Durin takes a 210mm rotor.

Anyway, the significant thing is "How much to you weigh"? A 20stone guy needs more suspension than a 10 stone guy as when they land there is more kinetic energy to absorb.

I rode happily with 120mm rear and 140 up from on a Stumpy FSR, but I'm only 10 stone.

Remember it's just dirt. You are a bit higher up than in the Lakes, but that just means the runs are longer, not necessarily steeper or rockier. Whatever you run, it'll be great, the guides in my group were on 120mm hardtails and seemed to cope fine.

The Heckler's an awesome bike for the alps, mine is getting stripped and re-built for with some bigger fork's and a coil for 2012. The lads i went with last year took Stumpy's and where only let down by Elixir 5's and rubbish wheels.

Don't worry about the bike, there are so many trails to choose from you will find something to suit you and your bike. If you have to buy something before you go buy a really good set of grips (ODI lock ons) and a couple of sets of spare brake pads.

Definately upgrade your upper body strength. Basic press ups will save your forearms, wrists, and hands from taking a battering.

You can always hire a rig out there if you want to get knarly. You can choose from a massive range of bikes starting at £75/day.

Go once, and you'll want to go again so may as well get a bike you'll enjoy more.
I've been out there on all manner of bikes now, from an intense m1, transition blindside to what I have now, a giant reign.
I have lyriks on the reign and Wang a coil shock in there for dh duties.
It coped brilliantly last year in Morzine and when back here, I stick a lighter wheelset in for xc rides.

Incidently, I swapped frames from a heckler to the reign because I found the heckler a but flexy in the back end, but maybe that's just me...

Isn't an ASR5 quite similar to a Fuel EX?

If I were you I'd start with a blank sheet of paper and look at your budget and your intended riding (both in Alps and back home).

Personally I'd recommend a lightweight all-mountain bike with 160mm travel and a big fork (Lyrik, Fox 36 etc) as a complement and contrast to a Fuel EX.

boriselbrus - most forks have a maximum rotor size, beyond which you invalidate the warranty. So, whether you exceed this or not is a question of how risk adverse you are and whether you think you'll need a warranty repair job!

Not sure I agree with the "it's just dirt" comment, DH runs maybe, but go and ride around Chamonix etc on footpaths and your talking long rock gardens and rooty sections like you'll never find in the UK. Sure, you can ride on short travel HTs, like a 4X rider, but who wants to?

Anyway, there's no right answer to this one, horses for courses really

OP - if you're going in June [b]most of the lifts won't be open[/b] so you'll need something you can pedal unless you want to spend all your time on just the Pleney and Chevannes.

IMO stick with what you've got, get some DH High Rollers and do some fitness training.

i have booked my first trips to the Alps for the summer. I now also want to buy my first FS. On the list so far

Canyon Strive
YT Wicked 150

both look great on paper but being a lanky git I think they will be too small

also considering a Yeti SB66, very expensive but, well y'know, and I like the slack and long geometry. A Heckler, Nomad, 5, Mojo also on the list

And also 29ers - particularly the Specialized Camber, Kona Satori and Tallboy

lots of test riding to be done 😀

We are going last week of June, so the Morzine and Les Gets lifts are open. I am expecting a lot of climbing, hence the want for a bike I can build fairly light. I am never going to be a gnarly DHer, but do want to expand my horizons a bit.

I see my options as:

1. Keep my current bike. Cheapest option, and will be ok for most stuff out there. Leaves me with 2 similar bikes.

2. Heckler frame to build up. Sounding like a good option. Great bike for alps, not thei lightest.

3. Asr5 frame. Takes a 140mm fork, so would be better than my current bike out there, and would really suit back home. Maybe not the best alp bike, but better long term.

4. 575 frame. Great alp bike. Reasonably light for its travel.
More than I would normally need back home, but would complement my Fuel ex really well. And it's gorgeous!

So really, I am down to a heckler or 575 frame I think!! I travel to the states regularly with work, so have the option of buying there as well. Time to buff up my Dale for sale and keep my eyes open.

So many peaple on this thread are loving the Heckler, i bought a 2010 one a year back and sold it after 2 days, just hated the steep head angle, its meant to be an agressive trail / AM bike and i just don't think it is.As far as i am aware the frame is the same as it's baby brother.I just think the bike is a little confused and doesn't know what it is.

I have a medium SX trail frame for sale - it was fantastic in the alps last year, so fantastic I came back and got myself one the right size!

I've been out there a few times now. The DHI was the best overall (but then it was very light and pedalable for something with that much travel) The SX was great with 160mm 55's up front, never felt out of it's depth. The big hit was bombproof but lacked finesse.

The new SX will be going this year with lighter tyres.

A friend of mine took his SX trail over in 2010 and 2011 - great bike.

I rode a Dialled Prince Albert with pikes in 2010 which was great fun, but I got beaten up a lot! 2011 I took my specialized Pitch with a DHX4 coil on the back. The Pitch was the winner for me.

Have you ridden a 575 or a Heckler?

Neither would be on my list at all. You may love them of course, if you have tried them.

I'd get a second hand Pitch comp and stick a coil shock and 36s on it, but then I'm a bit biased. For me the perfect alps bike without spending lots of money.

what are the rest of the group riding? STick to something similar to them.

You will get away with 120mm if you stick to the singltrack stuff, nothing that isnt a DH track there is more technical or aggressive than the peaks so you will be fine.

If everyone has a DH bike just buy one for about a grand before you go and sell it when you get back. I got a glory and it cost me £100 for a 2 week road trip. I wouldnt use it at home so bargain!

Also and most importantly if you are going in June take your winter riding kit as there is a HIGH probability the weather will be pants, i.e. wet for days

@ Whippersnapper - how tall are you? I've got a large Wicked 150, I'm 6'2" and it's fine, loads of standover due to shape of toptube/brace, but still plenty of seatpost to spare.

I'm going to morzine in July with my brother. We're both taking norco team dhs we picked up for £500 off ebay and we've got a ex5 and a stumpjumper for the XC / singletrack. As I think it's been said, the Fuel EX you've got is plenty enough for XC here, Get a cheaper DH bike for the DH runs and to knock about and scratch. That would be the way I would go anyway

I've been in Morzine for about 5 summers in a row, 1-2 weeks at a time. Normally I've ridden my Blur Classic with a 130mm Talas. Last year I bought a second hand 150mm Enduro, and I had 2 weeks on it at the start of the summer and another week in Sept.

For what you're talking about doing, I'd say the 120mm bike would be absolutely fine. You can ride down everything, but maybe just not quite a fast, and it may hurt your arms a little more. If you're going to stay on the main downhill runs for most of the time, then a longer travel bike will definitely increase your enjoyment, but only if you're happy to pick up speed and get some air.

When my mates wanted to go on a longer xc run and spend a lot of the day pedalling, I wished I had my Blur, but for the gravity stuff, 150-160mm is hard to beat.

But if I didn't head back there every year, there is no way I'd buy a longer travel bike than I was happy riding at home. I've also ridden those trails on a 80mm hardtail and had a blast.

Spent a week there with my Kona Dawg running 130 Rev's until they popped on the last day. I quickly learned to stay away from the Pleney runs (not wanting to get in the speedsters' way, etc), and got out into the rest of the area. Certainly felt underbiked when in town but fine everywhere else (even during a quiet run down the Swiss National - even though i didn't find out till later what "that hairy run" was... :?).
I mean, can't imagine the climb to do the Col Du Coux ridgeline on a HD beast would be pleasant. Still, when i go back i reckon same Dawg with some 150's would be fine (140 Vans on now and they're neat, too).

Buy a frame. Frame swap, sell the frame after you return. Sorted.

This way you can get something 'bigger' but not too big and still keep your pride and joy.

And the award for most first-world thread of the day goes to: Which four figure bike for 2 days riding 🙂

i have booked my first trips to the Alps for the summer. I now also want to buy my first FS. On the list so far

Canyon Strive
YT Wicked 150

both look great on paper but being a lanky git I think they will be too small

also considering a Yeti SB66, very expensive but, well y'know, and I like the slack and long geometry. A Heckler, Nomad, 5, Mojo also on the list

And also 29ers - particularly the Specialized Camber, Kona Satori and Tallboy

lots of test riding to be done

Mate I've ordered the ASR5, new importers aren't the best from the sounds of it, but fingers crossed won't need to go back to them. I was reading all this and chuckling as I'm pretty sure sam was on hardtails in the alps until last year?

even The DH trails are pretty smooth and at that time of year they wont be minced by wannabe robo cops braking bumps

Err, have you been? The trails are normally knackered fairly quickly, certainly on the more popular bits.

I second the advice on a coil shock, I had a 7 inch travel bike running an RP23 and it soon felt out of its depth.

If you're spending the day at Les Gets riding the Dh tracks then I'd say get something a bit bigger. Or do what my mates did and take their short travel bikes, then hire DH bikes when they thought it necessary.

So, Ive ended up with a 2007 Heckler frame with a DHX5 coil shock - for £300!! I'll probably get an air shock for back home. Hope she rides as sweet as she looks!!