[Closed] Anyone riding a nicolai geometron as a UK trail bike?

I picked up a G1 last Friday, previously had a Privateer 161.

161 got ridden everywhere from April when I got it, local xc loops and days away to FOD/Shropshire/Peaks. If the bike fits properly and is setup well, then it will do whatever you want, 161 was no slower round the local xc loop than my hardtail or the Reactor 290 that I sold, would a dedicated xc bike be faster, but I'm not racing the clock am I.

4000ft days were no problem on the 161 and on the G1 it feels easier again, shock is very good when pedaling and amazing on the downs.

Build of the bike and selecting sensible tyres will get a built which is pretty respectable if weight is important. I'm 92kg and if we did bike weight as a percentage of body weight, then you soon see bike weight is relative.

I have a hankering after a Saturn 14 for a trail bike for local stuff to replace my hardtail. Fortunate enough to be able to have an enduro bike and trail bike, as it fits with the riding I do. I could just ride the G1 all the time though and swap wheels in and out, but N+1....

Would also add the Nicolai is amazing quality and is head an shoulders above the shite that other manufacturers are pumping out and charging the earth for.

Its well worth demoing a G1 at Geometron, its a very different buying experience and will guarantee that you are on the right size and on a properly setup bike, rather than the traditional model demo day of taking it for a quick spin and being dissapointed.

I've had a G16 as my only mountain bike for 3 years now which is unprecedented for me. It's also the only bike where I'd have another from the same brand no question if I could justify it. There's nothing I'd like to replace it with other than a G1 but I plan to use mine for as long as possible.

Mine is on the robust side of things with heavy duty tyres on so it can be a bit sluggish. For me it's the riding position that makes it so versatile. It puts you in a great position to just sit and spin your legs so riding up and along for extended periods of time is much easier than you'd think. It climbs so much easier than much lighter bikes with bigger wheels but slacker seat tubes. The slack head angle doesn't just work when descending it helps keep the front end down during climbs.

It made me realise how much more important geometry is than weight so I can run burly parts and proper tyres and enjoy the stuff I love (chunky, horrible DH stuff) while having a tolerable time everywhere else (featureless, crappy bridleways and fire roads). I bet a G13, built for speed would absolutely fly but I've never ridden one.

Still, it's an acquired taste and it took me a while to get used to it. I was wondering if I'd bought the right bike for the first few weeks. You should definitely visit HQ and do a test ride. If you're anywhere near Sheffield you can check mine out but it's not exactly what you're after.

I've been riding a G1 for a year and a bit now. It gets used for trail bike duties in the sense of riding singletrack in the local woods on a week-night then into the hills for bigger rides with bigger elevation at the weekend. It even gets taken out for 'XC' rides on the NY moors when I visit my parents. When I bought the bike I did wonder if I was going to need to buy something extra to keep the tamer woodland singletrack rides fun, but it just wasn't necessary. I love riding it on the tamer stuff. I find it a lot more agile and playful than the weight, numbers or travel might suggest. It climbs well and It obviously really comes into its element when the trail gets fast and rough!

I could be wrong but I think Geometron class the G13/15/16 as 'heritage' bikes and will no longer be building / selling them. I don't know whether Nicolai are still making the G13/15/16 but if they are and Geometron aren't selling them it might influence your thoughts and decisions. It's deffo worth a phone call to the folks in Monmouth.

I think a G1 is probably brilliant as a trail bike in the UK!

Naranjada

I could be wrong but I think Geometron class the G13/15/16 as ‘heritage’ bikes and will no longer be building / selling them

Gi has replaced both G15 and G16 as it can take either wheel size. And they can do a short travel G1 too, which replaces G13.

Wouldn't it just be rather boring? Have you considered taking up road cycling?

i had a g16. amazing bike , but too much bike for all but trips away. got a g13 2nd hand and eventually got ride of the 16 as it wasnt getting ridden
The g13 now has 150/front 148mm rear travel and its at home pretty much anywhere. can ride it locally on flat trails all day and its super comfy but doesnt feel too much bike. take it somewhere steep and it handles pretty much anything i could ride on my g16.

I’m riding a G13 with 150mm Lyrik up front and 130mm CCDB IL. Best trail bike I’ve ever had. Climbs so much better and goes down like a mini DH bike.
Not light (32lbs) but only really notice that when lifting it over something.
Only problem is lack of bottle holder but fixed that with a Fidlock strap-on.
It’s ace.

Depends what you ride and where you ride maybe? I’ve got a g1 as my trail bike, cool shock, heavy tires and currently trying a pair of 180mm boxxers on the front. Pedals fantastically and is great to ride - I wouldn’t have anything else.

Wouldn’t it just be rather boring? Have you considered taking up road cycling?

Well.....no....due to my neck and back being FUBAR but still wanting to ride and try something so I can cycle more than once every ten days, road bikes aggravate my conditions beyond belief but thanks for making me contemplate my options.

Cheers for the replies and insight

I saw someone winching one up a local fire road, presumably going back home. He did not look happy or comfortable as I cruised past 🙂

One of the great strengths of the G1 is that the geometry puts you in a great, comfortable position on the bike and allows you to stay there for longer than most other bikes. You don't need to constantly shift your weight around to keep the front down or keep traction etc, just sit and spin away. For me, it felt right almost immediately, climbing and descending.

I use mine as my only mountain bike and happily ride it on mellower terrain. The one word of caution I'd have is that the bike wants to go fast all the time. This suits me but won't work for everyone.

Like driving an Audi RS6 around a city - it'll do the job just fine but you might have more fun in a Fiat 500. It depends how you like to drive.

I've had a g13 for 3 years.

I've spent a lot of time in the peaks on rocky singletrack. It's brilliant!

It was ace for a week in Whistler. I was quicker on my g13 than the DH bike I tried for s day. I had a ball keeping up with folk on full dh bikes.

It was ace for a week in torridon.

Its been ace thice on the Jen ride- 100 mile bike packing ride in the lakes.
Currently it has a 160 pike and ccbb coil. It was just as fun with the like at 140 and a fox float.

I've got a hardtail for smoother stuff. Realistically I could just run the G13, I just like having an option for something different.

My brother in law bought a 160mm Capra, he always seemed over biked. I've been super happy with the 130mm at the back.

G16 amd G13 owner here.
G16 gets used mostly for uplift days but does occasionaly get taken out on an XC ride.

G13 gets used for everthing. It really is a very versatile comfy bike.
Big days out in the Alps with 1500 meteres climbing, no problem, a day riding the chairlifts, no problem, a local 30 mile woodland loop no problem, a 10 mile tarmac ride to the pub, yep also fine for that too.

Oh and this thread needs more pics.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/37334451271/in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/48682929372/in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/48396315071/in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/49951323543/in/dateposted/

One of the great strengths of the G1 is that the geometry puts you in a great, comfortable position on the bike and allows you to stay there for longer than most other bikes

That's how I always describe it to people. It's heavy, it's got a crazy head angle, I run big knobbly tyres but all that is fine because it's a nice place to sit and just spin your legs.

I'm a reluctant climber and I don't measure my rides in mileage but even I can sit and spin away quite happily. The traction on climbs is unreal considering I just sit there mashing away on flat pedals.

I'd really like to trial a G1 for something more than a couple of hours. It's a massive commitment to just buy one and hope that it will feel good after a month of adjusting to it. But it's the only thing I'd really consider as a next bike so I'm a bit stuck! I don't mind sitting and spinning up fire roads as long as the position is comfy (like a lot of other people have mentioned).

Nice photos up there 🙂

From bike packing to bike park!

Man those bikes are slack!!

Man those bikes are slack!!

Or maybe this is how mountain bikes would have always looked if they weren't based on 1980's road bikes.

I genuinely don't think mine look slack any more.
Your perception of things change pretty quick if you just get on with riding it instead of looking at it.

Wish I could justify spending £3k on a frame and shock, if only they did any cycle to work scheme..

I reckon they could produce a Grim Donut and get away with it...

Your perception of things change pretty quick if you just get on with riding it instead of looking at it

That's true, the problem is going back to a normal bike.

My mate has a brand spanking Bronson which is a beautiful thing but I took it for a spin the other day and it was like going back in time. Knees almost touching the stem, nose over the forks and when it points uphill your arse is over the back axle.

I'm sure I could get used to it but I won't go back to a regular bike until they catch up. 5mm here, half a degree there, sell a new improved model every couple of years.

Wish I could justify spending £3k on a frame and shock, if only they did any cycle to work scheme

I was lucky (kind of) that when I moved across the country I got a mechanic job in a shop to get settled in. I absolutely rinsed the trade connections and built my first ever fully custom build. I never could have bought one at rrp.

If they did cyclescheme though, I'd 100% buy a G1 with EXT front and rear!

That’s true, the problem is going back to a normal bike.

And that is why i've ended up with 2 Geometrons and a hardtail with a 62 degree head angle.

I had a cove stiffee when I bought the geometron. It felt terrifying after I got used to the long and slack bike.

I went to an orange clockwork with a a slack set, still felt very weird swapping back and forth.

I'm on what became the on one hello Dave. Bought second hand for cash, not a pre order!

Kneepads used to keep my knees safe from the bars 🙄