[Closed] I finally found my perfect bike

Nice ..hope you get there

Might be a while!

I tried a top spec Orbea Occam TR 29 today. Similar idea and it flew!!

They're brilliant bikes. Use mine more as a trail bike with the forks beefed up a bit. Nice having a bike that's fun on the downs and is still quick on the up. Depending on size I think there are a few in last years colour which are heavily reduced.

what's the mud clearance like ?

I tried a top spec Orbea Occam TR 29 today. Similar idea and it flew!!

2nd on my list of bikes to ride although I have a preference for vpp.

Depending on size I think there are a few in last years colour which are heavily reduced.

All that cash and not even a cursory bit of xtr on it? Blimey.

Orbeas are far better specced for the cost 😉

I'm going to need someone to convince me an Occam is a raceable Marathon bike with 130 up front and a slacker HA (I think) The SC has the perfect numbers in weight, 68 HA, vpp and rear travel - the Occam a bit more.

Why not look at a full suss xc bike? A marathon isn't going to need 130mm of travel, and something with a more xc bias is going to be more efficient.

Not wanting to open a tin of worms but what's wrong with your anthem?

It rattles? 😀

Nothing really, I rode it yesterday and will be doing the 2018 Marathons on it. I'd like a modern geo bike though and am lining myself up for end of year 2018 offers.

Sure another Anthem or Spark type bike would be fine most of the time but this is also my everyday bike so I want to be able to have a bit "more" from it without it being a 150mm monster.

These is one in that colour in by local shop built with ragle. It looks lovely.

How do you know it weighs 26lds?

These is one in that colour in by local shop built with ragle

like Eagle but made from old clothes?

😳

How do you know it weighs 26lds

Its 26.17 on the SC mobile website, with dropper and maxis tyres. I'd change to a KCNC post & schwalbles

I bought one earlier this year and have built it over time at the burilier end of the spectrum with plus wheels. When funds allow i’ll get some nice lightweight 29 wheels for XC and genuinely think I’ll have two bikes for the price of one-and-a-wheelset!)

Well I rode the Occam today, 45 miles ish. It didn't give up much to a shorter travel bike.

[img] [/img]

where?

Any Santa Cruz dealer should have access to the jungle stock list but for a plug pedal and spoke in peaslake will be able to help. Pretty sure Howard has one in the shop actually.

I borrowed a Tallboy 29’er from Stif in the summer to do the Nidd Circuit.. coming from my CXer I thought it heavy at first but it was really comfortable and quick over that “rugged” terrain.
If, [i]iiiiiif[/i] I was looking for an XC bike it would probably be a tallboy... but I’m not.

Can you not try one out first?

Can you not try one out first?

It is my intention to do so. Ive 4 bikes on the list, the 3rd being a Spark 900 RC the 4th the new Anthem.
,

I got a demo from Skyline at Afan last winter...

Would a 100mm bike with a dropper not be far more capable than a 130mm one without? Probably lighter too...

Demo'ed a Tallboy 3 and a Hightower. I was all geared up to buy the Tallboy, but I got a better deal with the Hightower.

Love the Hightower, but the Tallboy was really good at everything!

I saw one of those Occams in Cyclesurgery yesterday. My god they're weird looking bikes! Why are the "tubes" so FAT? Looked like an eBike. Me no likey.

^ are you looking a different bike??

Dezb probably wasnt even looking at an Occam, he gets confused.... 😉

Definitely an Orbea! It was a orange coloured carbon thing. Had some kind of asymmetric linkage going on. 2018 model , I think.

Oh, it was a Rallon
Not my fault they have stupid names is it?!

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/orbea-rallon-m10-2018-Q1310093.html?colour=4525

Doesn't really fit with your aims though does it?

Too much travel and weight to race and how can you keep in zone going down stuff? 😉

Frame only @ £3k* worth a shout? I cant see £2ks worth of gear on your chosen bike.

*or is there a difference between the frame only option and your bikes frame?

Reported....

For Kryton though dropping the XT for X0 would get down in the weight too. Be the kind of XC bike I'd love to have - as in it's not really an XC bike but would be good enough for the fun end of it all

Why the 900RC and not the 'regular' Spark 900. That'd be more of a direct comparison to the Occam and the Tallboy.
A little slacker, more front and rear travel and 34 vs the RC's 32SC on the RC bike

Fair point BearBack, in was nervous of the 67 degree HA being a step too far. The 34 adds weight, and there needs to be a post to replace the dropper. On the plus side the ability to ride is at short travel with a bar mounted switch helps.

Last night i read a review of a US national that had gone from an Epic to a 120mm Spark and loved it. Seeing as im not the most confident descender it may work for me.

They’ll always be a compromise I guess, so it’ll come down to testing.

Are you giving this a bit too much thought at your level of ability/speed ? Will the exact right bike make THAT much difference ?

We're getting into the realms of having 5 sets of tyres just in case it rains 20 mins before, super lightweight carbon wheels to give an extra rolling speed of 0.1mph.

Test the bikes and buy whichever you like the feel of the most... .it could be argued that being comfortable on a bike is worth more in speed than the actual components hanging off it ?

If you wait a year I'm sure there will be loads of the jobby brown, shit stain coloured bikes discounted.

Pooh bike.

Are you giving this a bit too much thought...

Of course 😀

Test the bikes and buy whichever you like the feel of the most...

I thought thats what I said in the post above yours. To be fair, nearly 4k - hopefully less once they are on sale - is a lot to spend on a bicycle so I want to get it right.

I thought thats what I said in the post above yours.

Apologies then 🙂

You seem to spend a lot of time thikning about "oh what if XYZ forks are better than".... "What if 64deg is better than 64.5deg" "Do i need a 35mm stem or 45mm"...

Whereas i think if you just ride them, then the differences will either be apparent or not, it won't be the exact model of fork that makes or breaks it, or the 11 speed v 12 speed, the XT brakes over the formula.. etc.. You're just going to ride one/some and think "Yeah that one feels the best"

Well, that's my thoughts 🙂

Ok - well the reason is that I find my hardtail geometry absolutely perfect, confident and very comfortable so I'm trying to replicate that as much as possible.

£5400 and you don't even get a Factory fork 🙁

£5400 and you don't even get a Factory fork

Quite. I specced the Occam M30 up yesterday with all the optional kit - Factory fork/shock and lighter stem/bar/post and it came to £3700, XT build.

Kona HEi Hei is my other choice, need to sort a rest ride.

Seeing as im not the most confident descender

I wouldn't be so quick to ditch the dropper then. My trek superfly 100sl has one fitted and it's not going anywhere. Sure you can save 300gms but it makes the bike so much more fun and confidence inspiring.

Not trying to put you off or anything but I know of a lot of people who have broken their frames on Occams . Warranty seems pretty good but one person is on his fourth frame . Cannondale Scalpel might be worth a look as well .

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-2018-santa-cruz-tallboy-cc-frame-large-brand-new-2100-ono

Well I reckon this is the one to kick off, what wheels to replace my, what angleset for my, what dropper to replace the dropper I removed etc

🙂 🙂 🙂

well the reason is that I find my hardtail geometry absolutely perfect, confident and very comfortable so I'm trying to replicate that as much as possible.

That hinges on the assumption that HT and FS geometry [i]should [/i]be the same, IME that is not the case.

And that's before you throw the 'are those static vs sagged vs dynamic figures' problem into the mix.

Comparing on paper will only get you so far, I know you already know that, but just saying it again 😉

Hence the need for testing Amedias...

Mikewsmith - nah, KCNC post and Mt Zoom flat carbon if needed... no angle sets. 🙂

Good choice. I have had my 2013 carbon Tallboy for over 15k km and still love it. Done a few stage races on it, now spending more time becoming a more confident descender, it is a fantastic bike and seems to be built strong enough for someone crash-prone like me. I've got the 120 SID (2016) on it and would probably put a 120 Pike on it now if money/hassle was no object.

Scott don't have the obscure 34.9 seatpost sizing anymore, 31.6 across the board.
Sure the 34 adds weight over the RC's SC and the slacker HA comes from the extra 20mm travel. (34 and regular 32 have little weight difference)
My 29er'd 700 plus is slacker still but aside from steep technical climbs I don't notice it on the up, but its as capeable as a 150mm bike (front and rear) on the way down with the stock 130mm 34s and 120 rear.
The RC has a shorter stroke shock and is only 100 rear.
900RC because of weight puts you into a different category of bike than a raceable trail bike. The RC (race concept) is pretty much race dedicated imo.

I'm still not quite sure why you're even discussing more travel and more capable bikes when the first thing you're going to do is take the dropper off. On anything approaching steep terrain I'd rather ride a rigid bike with the saddle dropped than a 130mm full sus with a rigid post.
Different strokes for different folks and all, but you really are missing out.

Keep the dropper if you have probs descending, worth seconds a lap I would have thought.

Well, I'll be testing a Spark 920 which comes with one, so we'll see...

As a complete build that doesn't look great value.. You could surely get a cc frame (rather than the c you will get as a full build) only deal and spend the 2400 left over on parts of your exact choice.. Probably get carbon wheels for that kind of money.

As an aside, do santa cruz sell c frames only, I'd be tempted with a bronson if so but can't find them anywhere.

And lastly.. Have you considered a asrc? You would easily get a nice one for that kind of cash and it genuinely is a great bike, more trail orientated than an anthem, way lighter than a tall boy, and pedals great when the shock is in climb mode. I'm biased as I have one, but for that cash you could build up a sub 22lb version easily. Granted it's not vpp, and it's not going to be as capable on the downs as a tall boy.. But it's still a very capable bike.

Have you considered a asrc

Yep. Reviews said a bit noodly at the back, and I had an ASR5 of which the rear swingarm broke...

It's not noticeably noodly and I'm 83 kg, but without the shock on firm it is wallowy when pedaling uphill..thats been picked up by most testers.

Regarding snapping rear triangles.. As mine is no longer in warranty I'm just keeping fingers crossed although I have looked and I can't see any mention of it snapping online.. Not saying it won't happen mind, and I certainly can't argue with your concern! They do come with 5 years warranty now though I think.. Mine was ex demo so only got a year..

Sounds like you have already dismissed it however so out of the options you are looking at I'd go for the anthem. My 26er was best bike I ever had.. I imagine throwing 5 k at one would get you an incredible bike.. Only downside I can see is the seat tube diameter.. But given you don't want to run a dropper probably not an issue

I imagine throwing 5 k at one

I don't want to spend £5k and I don't have £5k to spend. The OP was based on the fact I'd found the bike I want... but the price is an issue.

What marathon events need 120 /130mmm full suss?
Maybe the Dyfi enduro , the world cup descent is the hardest I have come across in an organised event.
Most of the Scott events are tame by comparison.
Overbiked for HONC fo shure
Is it just the numbers are almost an exact match for your HT ? so out the box its a nice fit , will be comfortable for long days out , and pedal efficiently.

None.

But i want a bike thats also a bit of fun on the trails, not the Equivelent of taking an F1 car around the Sussex country lanes. But i dont want that bike to comprimise my racing. I want a Marathon/Trail Fs, not an XC race bike.

What marathon events need 120 /130mmm full suss?

Oh my god! There's actually a thread full of love for that hideous bike I saw in Cyclesurgery! 😯
I won't go on there and upset them. They do seem to have actually ridden the beastly thing 😆

But i dont want that bike to comprimise my racing. I want a Marathon/Trail Fs, not an XC race bike.

umm

Now, that is a contradiction. I dont want a bike to compromise my racing, but I dont want a race bike..ookkayyyyy

I want a F1 car with BF Goodrich Mud terrain tyres so it doesnt compromise my off road capability.