[Closed] Can a racey cross country bike be fun?

Fun? On a XC race bike?
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Nino thinks so. 🙂

I had similar thoughts and bought a scott spark, it was s''t. If you like jumping, buy a hardtail you can jump instead, something like a chameleon.

Something with a slacker head angle will be more fun going down obviously, but won't be the best going uphill. What about something that'll take a longer fork and give a slack angle, and then a dual position fork so you can run it at 100mm for xc. Weight would be your only penalty.

yes they are fun. and not just on the downs, sections that used to be a slow grind uphill you will suddenly find you can motor along and enjoy the swoopyness at speed.

Not really going to be appropriate on full on DH courses but for a trail centre they are a blast.

My anthem with a reverb was perfect for blasting round every where flat out. I've now got a scale and it is even faster but a less comfortable place to be after 3 hours....

I did wonder about a Solaris with a 100/140mm fork, I'm 6ft so im pretty sure I can make a 29er 'work'. Looks like i'll need to demo a few bikes however i'll be building it from a second hand frame and most places want you to put £50ish down to demo.

Two of the best demo rides I have had we're on an Anthem and and Epic. Amazed at how much fun they were on twisty narrow, rooty stuff and on steeper bits. Enjoyed them far more than stumpys or fuel ex's.

my idea of fun is carving through singletrack in woods and caning climbs, steep angles, twitchy, responsive is good.

What is your idea of fun?

I have fun on my cannondale f29. 90mm forks and a stiff light frame make for a seat of the pants ride at speed.

I'm pretty certain my Anthem 29'er is the best bike I've ridden. Much faster on everything than my Nicolai Helius CC set up at 130mm.

I have a racy cross country hard tail, and although I've only ridden it 3 times (so far), I'd say it's fun.

My view would be the Mojo is the perfect bike for any of the fun stuff, and plenty capable on 95% of the xc stuff too. If you want a race bike for the odd race, get one for that purpose, not to ride the other stuff you already the perfect bike for.

Get a cheap 29er HT from O-One.

I'm running a Santa Cruz Highball (the aluminium one) and it's good fun for lots of XC, trail centres etc.

I'd avoid steel if you intend to race it. Needlessly heavy...

Epic would be a good choice, or take a look at a Salsa Spearfish.

I, and most of the people I ride with, only own what you'd probably consider racey bikes and we always have lots of fun...

GB

They are indeed a lot of fun, though you need to be putting the effort in to find the fun 🙂

On One Whippet. Cheap as chips, light(ish). I've raced XC, 6hr, 12hr and marathons on mine over the last couple of years. If you're going to get a racy hardtail, get a racy hardtail, not a steel hardtail

🙂

All the bikes I had from 1988 to 2002 were all xc geometry ..because that was pretty much it....no Trail / Enduro type banners...they were no fun at all ...actually I don't know why I bothered to mtb in them days...it was shit .... 😉

Get an RC2 100-160 fork* for the mojo, whats not to like ? Works well on mine....

*other similar forks are available

I've got a mojo hd 160 and Titus fireline 29er think I've got most bases covered 🙂
Trying my mates fat bike tomorrow, wish me luck.

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yes, the above with me on board eats the chase for breakfast, except the black bits which gets stuck in between its teeth...

Chap I ride with has a Trek 29er HT, a proper XC bike which he uses for pretty much everything - and he's serious quick on techie stuff, whether up or down.

Nice bike, Whathaveisaidnow.

The angle makes it look like you've got a 27.5" rear wheel and a 26" front wheel.

Hmm. I see a new niche market coming on.

I've got a 26" 100mm travel On one scandal which is my do everything bike. Its fairly light at around 22-23 lbs and gets used for anything from usual weekly rides on the Quantocks/Haldon, xc races, Triscombe D/H runs, and I've even done an enduro on it.

I think the lack of weight and it being a bit sketchy going down makes it more fun to ride and its really quick on the flats & uphill 8)

Kinesis ff29? I looked at that and a Solaris for 'just riding about'and racing. Got the Solaris because I liked the looks and favour steel. I was also thinking 12hr+ races. For short course the kinesis is lighter and probably better.

And yes, racey bikes can be fun. I had a hardtail with short rigid forks, step head angle and narrow bars, kept the steering just the right side of lethal. Steered by thought not action and went down narrow singletrack like a rocket. The replacement is 'better' but less fun.

For me nothing works like my xc hardtail Killi flyer
If your in the mood to put in the effort it flys
But I would not have one every day for
If you like climbs and going hard out of evey corner its perfect

another +1 for Anthem 29er, best bike ive ever owned defo.

Anthem 29 advance here, best bike I've ever ridden/raced bar none, so much fun to ride. Anthem 29 alloy for the misses too.

The Ibis Mojo HD isn't overbiked for anything, if you've built it sensible it'll be great for all day epics. I used to have one and do relatively big days out in the mountains on it.

If you want another bike, go for it, its not going to be any better for the riding you're stating than the Mojo, just different.

I went through years of having 13 or so bikes at any one time, now down to - road bike and a 5spot. I couldn't buy another full sus to supplement the 5spot as its not additional benefit, whereas a hardtail or singlespeed would reduce maintenance.

Like I said, if you want a new bike, buy it, don't try to justify it as the only justification you need is that you want it 🙂

I love my niner air9 - long reach plus short stem, and surprisingly chuckable. Descends not too badly cos its long wheelbase means its pretty stable, but its light enough to fling around and remain nimble. Was chasing a mate on an alpine 160 the other night - safe to say I couldnt keep up when it got properly lumpy, but then again, I wasnt that far behind... especially since it was dark and I didnt have a helmet light for the twisty stuff.

I built a Kinesis FF29 to compliment my Five. It does what it says on the tin i.e. it is faster over less technical terrain and is a better option if you want to mix some trails with large amounts of road or fireroad. It does cope with the technical stuff pretty well too, but I wouldn't call it fun. In fact I find that I almost always prefer to take the Five. A modern trail bike (with modern shocks) gives up surprisingly little on the way up but gives up a lot more grins on the way down in my experience.

I dare say that there are fun XC bikes, even fun HT 29ers and for some people just going fast is fun in itself, but the FF29 is more about speed than fun in my opinion.

I have an Enigma Ego Ti with 100mm 2012 SIDforks, and based on yesterdays "is my Reba too harsh" thread had to think about my answer.

My Enigma seems to be great fun during the summer, as its fast and agile particularly in swoopy forest singletrack. I've found the fork to have "stiction" even after 18 months/15 rides use out of the shed/if left for more than 15 mins - which doesn't occur when riding and to me it never feels "plush" as does the F120 on my FS bike. I've had all the travel out of it and played endlessly with pressures and settings. I wonder then if this taints what I'm about to say...

...and that is, during the winter months and through various events I've found it too be not fun at all. I've found the slow slogging crashing over roots etc uncomfortable and would prefer the FS. I also don't think the front end "helps" its agility in anyway and this cause it to feel hard work at say, the latest Bonty 24/12.

Now. I'm not sure if the fork, or my personal comfort/MTFU levels have affected my judgement and that I just find hardtails less fun in the winter, but somehow I feel I shouldnt be suffering with the above becuase others dont. However, the SS (Kinesis decade virsa, rigid fork) doesn't seem to exhibit these issues. Based on this may answer to the OP is "no".

On the other hand, the ASR5 (120mm) is perfect for trail centres, peaks, forest and so on. I don't feel the need to go bigger and I love riding it. Based on that, my answer is "yes".

If any one (sorry for the hijack) has an answer for the above I'd love to hear it....

I have a Curtis S1. Salsa Cromoto forks, singlespeed, lightweight wheelset - I'd say it was 'racey'. Its a good bike but simply for getting out and about on. I wouldn't have said it was fun.

Then I shoved a 60mm stem and some 780mm Renthals on it and it transformed it. Still really quick but its amazing what a slightly shorter stem and some stupid bars has done to the ride. Its not just a bike for getting filthy on anymore - its a real good fun alternative to the Five for when you want something a bit different...

Yes..
really enjoy riding my Ellsworth Carbon Enlightenment 26er.

OK, my El mariachi is SS and steel, therefore not 'racey', but is 'XC'.

It's a hoot after years on progressively bigger bikes, and 9 times out of 10 it'll match downhill strava times at trail centers I set on my Pitch, only losing out on rougher stuff like Cavedale in the Peak.

I reckon the marketing has a lot to answer for convinceing bikers that what they ride is somehow not 'XC'. Convincing slow blokes like me that a heavier less responsive bike that you'll rarely reach the limits of was what they needed to have more fun.

Yes. That thing when you attack the pedals and it tears off like a rocket, is fun as hell! I borrowed a Scott Scale carbon 29er for a ride and it was instantly wanting to be in the big ring totally caning it into everything until I exploded with effort. I almost bought one.

That and being able to change direction on a sixpence due to the lack of mass, and the reactivity of the steering compared with the slack beasts that seem more popular these days (me included). Not for the feint hearted though.

I borrowed a Scott Scale carbon 29er for a ride and it was instantly wanting to be in the big ring totally caning it into everything until I exploded with effort. I almost bought one.

sounds about right. I did buy one 🙂

here's my carbon Ellsworth.
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Unfashionable wheel size but I have great fun on my Cube Elite Super HPC 26" hardtail.

Doesn't feel too steep at the front but it's quite long and with a low BB so it feels so stable on fast turns but is light enough to change direction quickly (far quicker than I am).

It only weighs around 20lbs so you need to concentrate on rough stuff as it gets pinged around but it's turn of speed is awesome.

this is my [b]Stumpy Expert Carbon 29'er[/b] which has been given the "Evo" treatment with 100mm forks, big tires, 750mm Easton bars, 70mm Thomson stem and flat pedals

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It started life as a "race bike" and frame is only 1.2kg, but with the changes I made its huge fun to blast around on and feels very fast / lively for trail riding

Yes, in short. More flickable and easier* to climb, if that floats your boat.

( * depending on the climb. I find awkward techy climbs are a gnats tackle easier on a lightweight HT. )

Loving my Pivot-LES

Bought it as a team race bike this year with the intention of running it alongside my Anthem X29 (also a enjoyable bike) but I've enjoyed riding the Pivot so much that the Anthem has remained in an un-built state in the shed since I took some bits off when I initially built up the Pivot...

Handles everything that I have thrown at it; short course XC, endurance/marathon type events and just messing about in the woods.

Additionally, enjoying riding it has encouraged me to ride/train more which has been on of the factors in my improving race results.

I also have a dropper fitted which I think adds to the funness.
I think I've also read some reviews where they were running the frame with 120mm forks (I run 100mm).

In race mode:
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I've decided no. Based on really wanting to buy an absolute bargain* of a Nicolai Helius AC, It didn't feel right for my riding (ex Stiffee, Hustler, now GSpot rider). I always wanted a Nic, though the AM/FR type ones, but this AC came up and I thought winner, dreams answered... it just felt too twitchy, quite odd really and I felt sad 🙁

*XTR group, Talas forks, King wheelset and HS, Elixir brakes.. all [u]well under 2K[/u]

Does no one else think hardtails are just a slow, uncomfortably plod in the winter mud?

nope - hardtails are fun, and good at making you remember to pick lines as opposed to clatter through everything. I want another stiffee..

The winter comment is interesting. I guess I did find my FF29 fun back in the summer when the trails were dry, it was shod with Racing Ralph rubber and I was attacking every climb. I've tended to assume that it was the arrival of the Five that made the FF29 feel boring, but maybe it was winter.

hardtails are just a slow, uncomfortably plod i

Nope, but some riders are slow and plod along in the mud? 😉

I've a slack enduro gnarpoon, and a twitchy light XC race bike (29er, spanky wheels, sids, flat bars and bar ends. Tho the bars are wide and there's a dropper on there now).

Both are fun, so long as you're riding it like you stole it.

I ride the HT more in the winter (with the gears off in SS guise). You can have a lot of fun caning a techy descent on a spanky light bike, on the edge of control, keeping up with/catching folk on big bikes.

The light bike, but wide bars + dropper is an interesting combo, it's the mullet of bicycles really, business up front, party in the back.

So, having accused my FF29 of not being fun I took it out for a night ride last night and had a blast on it. I'm even thinking of treating it to a shorter stem and some wider bars now. Make of that what you will. It's all a mystery to me.

nice bike....leg hair is a disgrace though!

Does no one else think hardtails are just a slow, uncomfortably plod in the winter mud?

Interesting comment. After fast dry summer trails riding anything in winter mud can feel like a slow uncomfortable plod. Though I do feel HTs are a bit better than FS in the mud.

I find that a 29er is fun as long as I can stay on top of it and keep the momentum up. Once I start to tire though I find them to be more of a slog than a 26" bike. It could just be in my head, but I've found it to be the case with a few different 29ers.

That would fit with he summer/winter effect. On dry trails I can keep it spinning along, but once I get bogged down in the mud I find it harder to get going again.

Can a racey XC bike be fun?

Of course! What is not to like? 😀 Ditch the slack DH skill compensator and embrace the "more engaging" ride of a XC whippet 😀 You won't have a dull moment on an XC orientated bike and the extra speed in 90% of situations is pretty addictive

Always got on with mine. Did have a 'trail' bike for a while a few years back, and it served a purpose, but I always find myself missing the pure speed. I have a set of DT240/Alpine wheels for my Top Fuel, but prefer how it rides with the Podiums, so always end up using those. They're no worse for it.

Don't know whether it counts, but I've got a twitchy whippety late 90s skinny steel number which was pretty light to start with and has just got lighter and steeper with a couple of light bits, rigid forks and removal shifters and all but 2 sprockets.

It's flipping brilliant. Feels like a big BMX in twisty stuff, but springy enough to still be nice over long distances, feels better the more you push it - Same deal as the scott scale stories at the top of the page - and the same result!

richP, but isnt pivot your sponsor? If it wasnt your sponsor, would the Anthem be built up?

I love my racey xc bike in the summer, but the only real option for the winter mud and slop is a cyclocross bike! the narrow tyres and cut through the mud and add to the fun! also less moving parts, increased difficulty of riding it and mechanical simplicity of cantis is a bonus!

Are there other bikes then?

andypaul99 - Member

richP, but isnt pivot your sponsor? If it wasnt your sponsor, would the Anthem be built up?
Posted 1 day ago # Report-Post

I think that you may be overestimating the level of sponsorship involved in the Pivot Boompod team... 🙂

I bought the frame at an incentivised price with the expectation that I would use it for races, but with no expectation to use it outside of this. (Gets ready to be corrected by team captain..)

I have acquired replacement components for the Anthem to replace all the stuff that was transferred to the Pivot when that was built up, just have not felt the need to (or got around to) building it up yet.