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Having my annual slump in riding, combined with a new C2W offer at work, has me thinking about properly racy Hardtails... again. (*new Scott Scale launch no coincidence either).
I always associate proper racy XC bikes with Summer, Speed, and feeling fit - for all my local riding I've flitted between hardtails and Gravel bikes for a few years.
Whats out there, what have you got?
2 grand, maybe 3, Carbon, Designed for Speed. Shiny glossy paint jobs, slammed stems and big logos all very much the way to go too!
Not everyone does something suitable these days, so where could I look?
Orbea Alma M20
Cannondale Scalpel HT
Vitus Rapide CRX
And of course the Specialized Epic, Trek Procaliber, Giant XTC etc...
Particularly, do any more of the smaller/direct sales guys do suitable bikes? Any obscure euro brands to look at?
I have a canyon Grand Canyon, the one which costs a bout a grand.
Nice bike, very happy with it and no issues with the direct sales model but not used it enough in 2022 🙁
Spesh Chisel, by all accounts a great ride, and even though it's 'only' alu, the frame is 1350g. I'd find the best spec for the money, as inevitably the bigger brand specs aren't the best on that front. Sonder do C2W so you could always go for a ti Broken road XT, not an XC race bike per se though. As above, if it's cyclescheme then you can get Canyon through that, and their spec/value has always been v good.
I did have a Scott scale. I do have a Pivot Les. The Scott was better
I had the Pro-Cal 9.8. Expensive for a hardtail, but it was damn light and fast.
I’ve recently bought a gravel bike and now thinking I’d have been just as well to have kept the XC hardtail.
I used mine for long distance rides, ridgeway and the SDW type rides. The Pro-Cal was the quickest out of my bikes for the SDW in a day.
I did look at the chisel but at the time found the spec was a lot lower than what I could get the equivalent priced Trek for.
If I was looking to buy now, Scott Scale 910 (GX AXS and I’d prefer a FOX 32 SC Performance over a Reba)….I know it’s typical of STW and over budget, but you never know until you chat to the retailers….the Scott just looks fast.
Example….
Voodoo Bizango Carbon Pro
I thought Decathlon had some Uber light carbon xc bike for about £3k but can’t find it now.
I quite like the Voodoo or the Cannondale. This XC stuff is new to me but similarly looking for something fun and lightweight for that kind of money
Judging by the replies I got the other day, await incoming C2W related posts
I popped into my local to see if they had any heads up on the new Scott Scales, thinking maybe spring time.
"Computer says September so realistically it'll be 2024" well that's that one off the list.
A few others of interest coming up though -
Mondraker Podium Carbon
BMC Twostroke
Or the alternate... An airwolf/China carbon frame, buy a RS SID and build the rest, which given I've got some wheels, brakes, and 11spd XTR knocking about... Might work!
Snotrag, the scale frame only are available January in both the World Cup HMX (I’ve ordered) or the HMF frame (very reasonable price the HMF one)
Following with interest. That Voodoo looks great value. I was between a Sonder Dial or a Sonder Camino and can't decide whether to go XC or Gravel. £1650 for a carbon frame could swing it. Currently have an older Diverge.
Not quite comparing apples with apples, but doing some digging has made me realise that carbon doesn't necessarily mean better/lighter. Which might be obvious to some, but was ingrained in my brain. So I'm back on the Dial train.
Sonder Dial Aluminium GX £2,049 weight as tested (by Singletrack) 11.5kg
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sonder-dial-gx-eagle-review/
Voodoo Bizango Carbon Pro £1650 claimed weight of 12.4kg
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2023-voodoo-bizango-carbon/
I’d have thought there would be very little difference in frame weights, still think the carbon is probably going to be that little bit lighter. Most of the weight difference will be in the wheels, tyres, tubes, fork etc.
I’d be more focusing on the components than the out of the box weight. For example, if buying the Voodoo adding a lighter set of Hunt XC wheels, you’re likely to be able to drop a couple of hundred grams, same for the tyres and going tubeless. You’ll end up with a similar weight for the same money.
And then it’s a judgement call on whether you’d want GX or Deore and whether you want a 120mm SID select or a Reba. The Voodoo Carbon Pro also comes with a dropper while I don’t think the Sonder does as standard and it’s mentioned as not having one in the STW review. That’s another bit of weight difference, but with the extra weight comes a performance increase…..
It’s a shame the Sonder no longer have the Shimano groupsets as an option.
The carbon frame will be lighter. The wheels and tyres probably account for most or even all the difference in weight - the Sonder is running unfashionable narrow rims and lighter tyres.
I looked at the Specialized Epic and all the reviews I read said it was a harsh ride. Looked at the Cannondale Carbon on C2W but missed out on my size so I bought a Chisel which gives a very comfy ride, wish I went frame only as the Specialized Spec for the money is utter shite and I swapped most of it out straight away.
Trek Procaliber surely....
Lightweight, comfy, looks, pedigree, what's not to like?
Carbon wheels for ~£3k
Well I've been round the houses a bit,, spent hours studying geo charts, hovering over buy on an Airwolf China special and looking for deals on last year's bikes but it looks like the option presented by @jonnyrockymountain might be best!
My LBS is just confirming availability but they do appear to be on the shelf currently at Scott. They will do if on C2W for me, And it's the bike I really wanted with its bang up to date Geo.
Have you received yours yet Jonny?
Great news, mines due this week pal, hoping to get it built by end Feb/March, just picking bits up as I go along 👍
It's here, and it's an absolute stunner...
The picture doesn't do any justice to the sparkly blue paint job at all. I'm definitely going to have to invisiframe this one, it's too nice not too, unlike the powder coated chunky steel pipe hardtails I'm used to!
How you get a frame on c2w !
Just asked! They didn't care. Frame, BB and a snazzy matching stem.
Very nice, mines currently being wrapped, so will have it built up in next few week 👍
Nice frame.
I know I can get parts on my C2W but not tried looking at frames.