You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi All,
I have a £1000 Cycle-to-Work voucher burning a hole in my pocket, ready to replace my stolen, 10-year old Santa Cruz Chameleon.
I can pick up a 2014 Marin Rocky Ridge 7.4 for this, which seems to tick most of the boxes in terms of a reasonably well-spec'd, fun 650b "hardcore" hardtail, but I'm concerned that of the very few reviews out there for this bike, this one from MBUK [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/hardtail/product/review-marin-rocky-ridge-7-6-14-48933/ ] is very critical in terms of the geometry.
This contrasts with a couple of US reviews from Dirt Rag Mag, which are genetally very complementary about the platform. So I just wondered whether anyone out there had any experience of this bike, owning or riding, and could offer any real-world opinions?
My 06 Rocky Ridge was my favourite all time bike up until I bought a Bandit 26 in 2013. In many ways the two are similar, short and relatively steep in the head angle vs the trend. Yes long low and slack means you can travel at warp speed down stuff with little need for ability but the downside is they're barge like and flip flop at lower speed. I ride my bikes for fun, I want it to wriggle and jiggle under me, I like the back end breaking loose and tightening my line when I commit to a corner. It makes me laugh, even when my shizzle runs out and it spits me off into the bushes. Depends what you like in a bike, whether your skills are up to it. I had a C456 with a -2° headset in it and didn't get on with it at all, i found a Grapil competent but dull, and the latest Five is just a slack lump of a thing. Saying that I've not ridden the bike you're talking about, a test ride is the only way you'll know for sure!
I'm keen to hijack this thread to see if you took the plunge applecat??
I've been offered the 7.2 as an insurance replacement for my stolen Sunn Tzar S2 - alu version, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sunn-tzar-s2-hardtail-bike-2013/rp-prod121794...
Looks to be a good comparable spec and upgraded in many ways, i'm just slightly nervious about the 1x9 drive-train (upgrade to at least 1x10 could be straightforward though) and the same concerns over the bike radar review vs dirt mag. Generally i think Dirt are more reliable in the reviews but 2 stars from the uk review is a bit terrible!
that being said the worries about the shot top tube could be a positivein my case as i'm only 5ft 2!
so any further thoughts out there?? - Can't really find many other hardtail bikes out there with a 120-140 fork, maybe the Vitus? sadly all the whytes at this price point are 100mm travel and seem a bit straight laced!