The littler kid is currently on a small 27.5 Anthem. It was bloody great for the money at the time but he's grown out of it and wants something burlier. He's pretty handy so I'd quite like to get something decent. He wants something triple clamp forks ( or whatever they are) cos it looks cool but he's also quite light and lazy so I'm not up for that. Given the stuff he chucks his Anthem down I reckon anything modern and trail/ enduro will be great.
My starting point was an Occam, cos I love mine. Or maybe a Rallon, cos it's a burly Occam.
But I've noticed that the Orbea size charts say 160-175cm for medium and 170-185cm for large. He's 172cm at present, and his bruvv is 176. Would it be a waste of time getting a medium in that case? Seems nuts to go from a small straight to a large though...
And this us where it gets silly... if indeed he could use a large well, then a Rallon or something would be amazeballs as I could nick it.
Or, getting even more stoopid a Rise. 🙂
I'm 184cm. His mum not so much, so I doubt either kid will grow much over 5'10". (15yo and 17yo.)
So tell me:
1) can a 173cm person usefully use a large Orbea?
2) what other amazing bargaintastic bikes are there that he would love to ride down steep hills on and jump?
Tricky question. We have growth charts that the kids are mapped against. Since birth they’ve been consistently on the same curve. Both show they’re set to be an inch or two taller than me. Based on this I put my eldest on a medium after an XS as a small wouldn’t last v long.
Got him a 140mm travel Polygon T8… bargaintastic. 12s SLX, 4 pot brakes, 29er.
If you have their birthday heights over the years you might be able to work their height trajectories out?
1) can a 173cm person usefully use a large Orbea?
I'm 172/173 and a large Occam would be far too big for me.
As a short legged 179cm I’ve always ridden medium Orbeas- had a few as I used to sell them. Not sure if any of the geometry has changed though.
Bargaintastic option: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-reactor-290-pro-alloy-bike-gx-eagle-/rp-prod202630
The new Neuron is crazy money and now with updated geometry
If you have their birthday heights over the years you might be able to work their height trajectories out?
Not really, but I do defo know that they've always been small compared to their peers, so I very much doubt they'll be more than 5'10" eventually.
I’m 172/173 and a large Occam would be far too big for me.
Useful to know. Tbh I think I'm kidding myself that they can use a large at present.
So the reactor does look cheap, but most of the blurb seems to suggest that it's quite heavy and burly ( wheels especially). The kids are both skinny as heck so I want as light as possible.
There is this one but still not that light:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/nukeproof-reactor-290-elite-carbon-bike-slx-1
This looked very light, and should be good ride:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-escarpe-29-amp-mountain-bike/rp-prod206177
Anyone tried one?
The Sommet is the enduro version but can't find any lighter ones in medium
< Edit. Looks like the wheels on the Vitus and the Reactor are exactly the same! Silly me>
Or this Occam does look good.
https://startfitness.co.uk/products/orbea-occam-h20-lt-mountain-bike-2022-anthracite?variant=43069545545936
Only worry is whether it'll feel a bit cheap, heavy and lumbering... his bro's Trance was similar price/ spec and feels like a bit of a lump. Don't want to make that mistake again.
@hazzatrazza Apologies, but I notice you wrote the following on another thread:
I currently have an Occam H20 with upgraded suspension sitting in my basket for a bawhair over £3k. Waiting for my Remedy to sell before hitting the big red button
Did you buy the H20?
Do you rate it?
@blitz You sold an Occam for an Escarpe...
Any views on which I should buy?
