Recommendation for endurance MTB race

happygoose · 08-01-2010 8:15pm #1

I'm planning on trianing for this event... http://www.celticxtreme.com/index.asp ...which is due to take place in June.

Can anyone recommend a good bike for in or around €800 to €1000 for it?

Ta, P.

martyc5674 · 08-01-2010 10:12pm

I dont think youll get a bike in that price range for what your planning on doing, maybe second hand (I reckon youll need a full suss)
Have you bike to work scheme??
If so you could put 1000 from work towards a good full suss, and a few quid from your own pocket.
If you are going for a hardtail...the boardmans are good value, and Trek 6000 series and a few specialized will come in around your price range.
Marty.

happygoose · 08-01-2010 10:31pm

Cheers Marty, yeah I've the scheme, probably wouldn't buy otherwise...I had been looking at hardtails because they come in a bit lighter but I'll have a look at full suss's now.

martyc5674 · 08-01-2010 10:34pm

Hi happygoose,
I had a quick look @ therace schedule and im guessing most people entering it will be on full sussers (i may be wrong and ive just emailed the promoter for their thoughts)
A hardtail would be quicker but just not sure how rough the terrain will be...your back could be shot after 90Km on a hardtail if the terrain is rough.
And then having to do it the next day again!!
Looks like a class event and its the first ive heard of it so cheers for bringing it to my attention, the price to enter it though is a bit high i reckon for camping only?
Cheers,
MArty

happygoose · 08-01-2010 10:46pm

Thnks for looking into it Marty.

It is expensive isn't it. Super event tho, found it after googling the Trans Alp...still the main package will include everything you'd need for a week, I'd prefepay about €450 for it mabe, the cost has me questioning it.

Lookin at the 'Ten' series in Scotland, so so much cheaper to do.

martyc5674 · 08-01-2010 10:52pm

No worries but get a few more opinions regarding bike..im only MTB'ing 18Months or so and am only thinking of getting my first full suss this year coming.
Id be interested in doing some of the stages if that were an option(dont have the holidays to commit a full week to it)
It does seem on the expensive side though...i wonder will they get many competitors?

Back to the bike...you will get a decent hardtail for the money your talking but a decent full suss will be 1500+ unless you get a good deal on a 09 model thats still in a shop etc.
Best of luck with it....keep us posted.
MArty.

billy.fish · 09-01-2010 10:27am

Hard tails are fine. Did Trans Wales on one, know many people who did Trans Rockies on them too.

Have a look at peadalon should be able to pick up some bargins at the moment.

Also have a look at : http://www.bikechallenge.pl/

The Trans Munster is looking pretty expensive to me.

See you in Poland

nomadic · 09-01-2010 2:00pm

Single Track: 16%
Double Track & Fire Road: 48%
Asphalt: 36%

Maybe a cyclocross bike would suit best.

cipo · 10-01-2010 1:35pm

i rode ht stumpjumper in tranAlp this year and i would recommend as much as money allows buy a FS!!

back to back days pound the body !! do not take the percentage of asphalt blah blah blah as anything to rely on for choosing a bike!! this will be a proper xc event with varied terrain that will knock you about alot !!! and certainly dont use an cross bike!!! :eek:

look for a secondhand FS. a few went for fair prices recently on adverts.ie

d

mtbireland · 11-01-2010 2:07pm

Hardtail all the way..... Unless you have 4k to spend on a really light full susser like a Scott Spark then I wouldn't go down that route. I did the Transrockies on a hardtail and there was only one stage that the full sus would have been quicker on and it was a 40km time trial mostly on rough single track. Looking at the description for the Celtic Xtreme race I've no doubt you'll be grand on a hardtail. Full sussers for your price range would be big heavy yokes and when you're lugging around 10kg's of extra weight for every stage the extra weight will make a huge difference.

hillclimber · 11-01-2010 7:35pm

Something like an Anthem X would be ideal for this, light,and 100mm travel to take the sting out of your arse.:D
Agree with the comments re.cost for this race ,way overpriced.

blorg · 11-01-2010 9:02pm

Worth looking at www.wiggle.co.uk, they have up to 50% off hardtails and full-suspension bikes at the moment, have a number that might suit your budget.

happygoose · 11-01-2010 9:24pm

Thank guy, you've all been very helpful!

Gonna suss out some HT's I think I might post one or two here and see what you guys think. P.

Home:Ballyhoura · 11-01-2010 9:47pm

McConveys up north have a pretty good sale on at the moment if you want to have a look at what they have!

If you could even stretch you budget as far as one of these it would be a really lovely bike....I would really love one of those Specialized Stuntjumper HTs for myself...drool

Now that you have the BTW scheme on board do you think you could up your budget a tad?

Enduro · 11-01-2010 11:41pm

mtbireland wrote: »

Hardtail all the way..... Unless you have 4k to spend on a really light full susser like a Scott Spark then I wouldn't go down that route. I did the Transrockies on a hardtail and there was only one stage that the full sus would have been quicker on and it was a 40km time trial mostly on rough single track. Looking at the description for the Celtic Xtreme race I've no doubt you'll be grand on a hardtail. Full sussers for your price range would be big heavy yokes and when you're lugging around 10kg's of extra weight for every stage the extra weight will make a huge difference.

And speaking as someone who did the tranAlps on a HT this year, I agree with everthing mtbireland says (very rare, that!).

MushGSXR · 12-01-2010 1:26pm

I bought a Scott Scale 40 hardtail off Evans Cycles last year for 1049. V light for an alu frame and fox suspension up front. recommended

cx · 06-02-2010 10:36pm

New to brds.ie
brian from celticxtreme.. hg thanks for your interest & hope to see you at the startline(better again at the finishline)
To give you an idea of the terrain involved - it ranges from ballyhoura singletrack to very rough, rocky forestry tracks /bog roads & includes some steep(rooty) technical dh eg. mallow & rosnacroo. So the HT will be good to you on the climbs & smooth stuff but harder work over the rough,steep stuff, depending on your ability. Anyone who wants to try it on a cyclocross is welcome!(please read the disclaimer well)
The event is rideable &will likely be won on a HT but will be a well earned victory. As mtbi says light weight is king – whether you are racing or just on a big day ride(average day on CX is 70+kms & 2000+ climb)Most riders(incl. myself) will be happier on a full susser.(saw a bargain rocky mtn element on CRC if you can stretch the budget – good all rounder)
No fan of tar but this event is put together as a continuous route, point to point 427kms from start to finish – we do not do laps, loops & racing does not stop at the yellow&black barrier – almost all tar sections are one lane country roads & are included to link areas where no dirt is available or to finish a stage into a town. We have fronted up & put our terrain stats online please compare with the biggies.
Anyone who needs any more info can contact me at info@celticxtreme.com

Recommendation for endurance MTB race

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