Ok the spring skiing season looks pretty dead so I’m thinking of updating my MTB. I have a top of the range Raleigh Dynatech, or at least it was top of the range 20+ years ago. Its only concession to modernity is a Marazocchi Bomber fork with a whole 80mm of travel although it does have Magura Hydraulic Brakes.

I was thinking of getting a second bike but something radically different, a full suspension.

So what can people tell me about suspension travel and disk size? I’m not going to be bombing down gnarly descents at my age but seeing as my current hardtail is still good for X-country I’m thinking something that will handle the single-tracks and rock gardens you find round these parts.

I decided that 120mm of travel was about right for basically the same terrain, it seems a fairly common choice. I’ve got a FOX Float RP23 on the rear and it’s OK, it’s the first and only rear sus’ I’ve had so I can’t compare it much. I like the propedal on the Fox, set to firm it’s OK and any other setting it drains me even on the road on a mild gradient although I’ve had a cold and been below form slightly.

And I’ve got 180mm discs which seemed to be the common advice.

It’ll be interesting to see how that works in Welsh forests over the next couple of weeks.

I guess the easiest place to start is to ask what’s your budget? and are you planning on buying new or second hand? It’ll make it easier to figure out what’s suitable & what isn’t. In the meantime this series of articles http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/buyers-guide-to-mountain-bike-suspension-part-1-28367 is a good place to start informing you of what’s out there these days.

ise - 11 May 2011 03:49 PM

I decided that 120mm of travel was about right for basically the same terrain, it seems a fairly common choice.

my XC bike is 100mm either end, great for all but the biggest stuff.  It climbs and rides all day so well!  The thing is as you start going up in travel unless your forking out a lot of money the climbing and pedalling is really going to be effected and make your day hard.  However it will probably descend like a dream, but then why not get downhill bike… And also if you have more travel on your bike, unless your really hammering it then you will become a lazy rider.

ise - 11 May 2011 03:49 PM

e. I’ve got a FOX Float RP23 on the rear and it’s OK, it’s the first and only rear sus’ I’ve had so I can’t compare it much. I like the propedal on the Fox, set to firm it’s OK and any other setting it drains me even on the road on a mild gradient although I’ve had a cold and been below form slightly.

I’ve had an RP23 for many years now, great!  I have a little pro-pedal on, run with a little more air than your supposed to for my weight.  But depending on the frame design you may need more pro-pedal to get it pedalling well.

ise - 11 May 2011 03:49 PM

And I’ve got 180mm discs which seemed to be the common advice.

It’ll be interesting to see how that works in Welsh forests over the next couple of weeks.

I’ve just equipped my XC bike with 2.3inch tyres, a 203mm rotor up front and 185mm rotor on the rear ready for Chamonix descents this summer.  I had previously ran 160ish mm rotors front and back with no problem except on the very biggest descents.  So around 7inch rotor wise is a good call.

I’ve just had 2 days in Snowdonia riding with a good friend.  Top stuff! And today I called in at an old haunt near Shrewsbury for miles of lovely singletrack!

I think you need/want a full sus David.  Medium size tyres, medium size rotors, short-mid travel and you’ll have a blast!

OliC - 11 May 2011 10:02 PM

I’ve just had 2 days in Snowdonia riding with a good friend.  Top stuff!!

anywhere in particular? I’ll be in Coed Y Brenin which is supposed to be good and Penmachno looks worth a blast as well.

I was thinking of something not too expensive like the Felt Compulsion 3. The 2010 models can be bought for under a 1000 euros now. Have a lot of travel, 140-150mm at both ends. spec looks ok, obviously not top of the range stuff.

frank4short - 11 May 2011 07:33 PM

I guess the easiest place to start is to ask what’s your budget? and are you planning on buying new or second hand? It’ll make it easier to figure out what’s suitable & what isn’t. In the meantime this series of articles http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/buyers-guide-to-mountain-bike-suspension-part-1-28367 is a good place to start informing you of what’s out there these days.

Very interesting link, I’ve certainly learned a lot more about suspension.

Have you heard of Canyon? They’re a German company that only sell direct. Amazing value for money in terms of specification & they’re supposed to handle really well too. Might be worth taking a look to see if there’s anything within you price range. http://www.canyon.com/_en/

Edit: Just had a quick look at that Felt if you can get it for under a thousand euros it would be a great deal. As the MSRP in the US is $3k.

frank4short - 12 May 2011 03:26 PM

Have you heard of Canyon? They’re a German company that only sell direct. Amazing value for money in terms of specification & they’re supposed to handle really well too. Might be worth taking a look to see if there’s anything within you price range. http://www.canyon.com/_en/

Edit: Just had a quick look at that Felt if you can get it for under a thousand euros it would be a great deal. As the MSRP in the US is $3k.

be careful with the Compulsion 3 2010, it is the old 4 2009, bottom of the range of the Compulsion series. I think it retails around $1850. I can get one for 830 euros (sans pedals).

I always ride an Orange, not that they are easy to buy in France and they probably seem expensive when you compare them to one of the global brands. Although I am an XC rider I tend to ride a fairly heavy bike, even for the multi-day stuff.

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2011/alpine-160/

You can’t beat them for reliability, the designer rides in Verbier a lot and also Morzine, so it’s very Alpine orientated (hence the name), he’s in his 50’s and rides like a whippet up and down the hills!

Orange Bikes? I remember them from the late 80s, good to see they are still going.

It’s a great company, smaller than it appears, run by mountain bikers, all the full sus frames are made and sprayed in Halifax. This is there more XC offering

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2011/five_pro/

You might remember the “Clockwork” from the late 80’s, this is the latest version

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/p7_pro/

I have one from the ‘98, my clockwork from ‘89 was nicked in Leeds

Note the Isla bike, highly recommended for the kids, they seem a bit pricey but they hold there value for resale.

PS, I have a 16” Alpine 160 for sale:

http://www.endoftheride.com/2010/03/orange-mountain-bikes-for-sale-2010/

and some others too.

FAO Endlessride/Gareth
Me and the girlfriend are in morzine from mon 23rd for about a week.  Training location for the company i’m working for this summer.

It’d be great to meet for a quick drink or something to talk the fine details of IML, running a business in France, etc, etc

I’m free all week accept Tuesday, give me a call when you get here.