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Am heading to Wales soon - Probably going to ride Coed Y Brenin on one of the days. Am weighing up whether to take the Zesty (in 26" flavour) or whether to pull out the Cotic Solaris, in plus sized tyres.
I've not ridden there for probably 5 years...so can't remember whether it's so rocky that my arse will regret not having the full bounce, or whether it's worth a go on the plus sized HT....although I would need to swap out the paper-thin trailblazer on the rear.
Anyone experience that they'd care to share?
Edit: There is a 3rd option...which is more costly. Am considering updating the full suss (which is 8 years old) to a more modern equivalent....although am a little hesitant because I am not sure that, with a family (cost and being more time poor than before), I can justify having new bikes. Has anyone upgraded like for like? How much have bikes really come on in the last 8 years (the zesty still feels "modern" enough to me in terms of geo...if not the old school wheels and flexi forks)
Well this is a timely question, I was there on my new Solaris on Sunday.
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The Beast was OK, if a bit rattly in places (False Teeth is shut at the mo). I was glad I switched to my FSer for Tawr afterwards though.
B+ would probably add a welcome bit of cush.
Some bits more fun on a hardtail, some on a FS in my opinion. Most fun is coming back and attempting to ride the bits you rode flat out last time on a big FS, only now on a short travel hardtail and wondering when your eyes will rattle out of their sockets.
You will make it just fine on HT.
Having said that, there are a few bits that *felt* like they were aimed at FS due to the constant, almost deliberate, rocky awkwardness...FS for the comfort.
I've only ever ridden there on hardtails. Perfectly fine.
If he can happily do the Red Bull on 20" wheels I reckon you might be ok..
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Rule 5.
in fairness, he looks way better than I.
I did it on a Cove Stiffee once. Never again.
Kudos to the kid, needs to dig those heels in further though 😉
Well, if we are into pics of offspring...
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1573/26327423816_6495670cf8_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1573/26327423816_6495670cf8_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/G7sVSh ]Wales Holiday - Easter 2016[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
I've only ever ridden there on hardtails. Perfectly fine.
Ditto, in fact when I started MTBing there in the late nineties, [four Yorkshiremen sketch]we 'ad to ride everything on fully rigid bikes with cantis and 8 speed (IF we were lucky and had upgraded to STX-RC), AND we 'ad to ride 10 miles down the road to get to the trails![/four Yorkshiremen sketch]
False Teeth is shut at the mo
I hope they get it open for two weeks time, that's one of my favorites!
I've ridden there on an Anthem, a Jeffsy and an XTC - most of my PRs were set on the XTC. Jeffsy undeniably more comfortable and less fear-inducing though.
Ditto, in fact when I started MTBing there in the late nineties, [four Yorkshiremen sketch]we 'ad to ride everything on fully rigid bikes with cantis and 8 speed (IF we were lucky and had upgraded to STX-RC), AND we 'ad to ride 10 miles down the road to get to the trails![/four Yorkshiremen sketch]
eeee. 1993 and I were ridin' with that there Daffyd Davis chap, ee' were workin' at the outdoor centre at Arthog, and I were' a lad on placement there.
Nowt but tree's and a rigid Marin to be seen...
It was surprisingly quiet on Sunday, loads of space in the car park despite the lovely weather.
Is it a bit less busy than it used to be? Or just time of year/because of the diversions?
Nowt but tree's and a rigid Marin to be seen...
My first visit was 1997, riding my fully rigid Eldridge Grade - 7-speed XT, DX cantis. Did Red Bull and the Karrimor. I do remember being slightly intimidated by Snap, Crackle and Pop.
1995 and a rigid Pine Mountain in the wet. Discovered just how sketchy the stock (Quake) tyres could be...
I don't remember what tyres were on the Eldridge, but I had a fondness for Continental Cross Country in those days, so it was probably those. In the wide 1.9" size, not the racy 1.5"s.
I'll tell you Monday.
in response to Shadowfax
dig those heels in further though
Is his weird head position connected in any way to the heel position?
I'm always flummoxed by the fact that his spine and neck seem to be almost at right angles to each other. It looks damn uncomfortable.
But it seems to work...
1996 on a then-knackered 1989 Raleigh Mustang on Panaracer Smokes 2.1's that I had trimmed down the side knobs of the rear tyre to prevent frame rubbing due a slightly buckled rear rim!
We had to give up half-way around as my mate's supermarket bike broke in a number of ways.
I've subsequently ridden it on all kinds.
On the subject of new bikes v old:
My 2007(?) Kona Dawg full susser on Mk1 coil Pikes is good fun on rocky stuff, but like a very heavy museum piece and less good on smaller stuff. Plush it is not.
It was best on a DHX 5 coil shock rather than the current RP23(?) air shock, but weighed even more....
My 2003 Kona Stuff (in singlespeed or geared guise) hardtail on Dual air Rebas is still a fairly light, great bike to ride.
I'm always flummoxed by the fact that his spine and neck seem to be almost at right angles to each other. It looks damn uncomfortable.
Is that not him mid-front wheel plummeting like a stone - ie he has tried to manual / wheelie and then the front pulls you down, so snapping your shoulders forwards and down...
Have rode it many times on a 29er Scandal with 100mm fork on it, you'll survive easily enough..
I've done it on the rigid, the second lap (went over the road to the old red bull trail) got a bit tiring on the arms.
Did it on a Brodie Holeshot Ti followed by a day at another trail centre (forget which one); by the end of the second day I was utterly shot to pieces. However, the bike handled everything fine.
You'll be fine on the Cotic.
A lot depends on how much you're used to riding your h/tail IMO. I've rode the Beast, Tarw & then back to the MBR in a day on the Scandal. Felt fine afterwards, but I was only riding that bike at the time so was used to getting beat up a bit...
No reason you can't ride the whole place in a day on a rigid bike with canti brakes....
(As long as you're super-human, that is...)
https://www.strava.com/activities/568883284
😯
(Not me, I hasten to add!)
I've ridden everything there on a rigid singlespeed but it's more enjoyable with suspension. Like Matt says, some parts seem to be unnecessarily lumpy. Wonder if Rockshox bunged them a few quid to push people into getting bikes with suspension.
Is that not him mid-front wheel plummeting like a stone - ie he has tried to manual / wheelie and then the front pulls you down, so snapping your
shoulders forwards and down...
He's definitely plummeting, but he certainly hasn't tried to manual/wheelie.
He just wanted to ride down in.
He's often in that weird hunched up position.
Finally did some of it on a full suss last year, not as good imo- makes the rocks less lumpy.
Looks a bit like the lad is trying to sight ahead but he's having to tip his head back to see past the visor? Can you take the visor off? Just a thought.
back to see past the visor? Can you take the visor off?
genus, sheer genius.
I'll have a look.
ta