Bike Dilemma

kevgaa · 04-01-2021 10:21pm #1

Hi Folks,

I'm a dad and over the last year instead of standing in bike parks every weekend while my son rides the trails I jumped in with both feet and spend the time on borrowed and rented bikes doing the blue and red trails at the gap and ticknock instead and love it. Now its time to invest in a bike when one come available...

I have a budget of 2k available via the cycle to work scheme and trade in but I have a dilemma, do I look after myself or spend the 2k+ on a full suspension bike that my son will take over in year or so when he wants to upgrade his hardtail ( trek xcalibre 7) to a full suspension bike..

I'm 6ft 3 will need a XL frame my sons bike is currently a L and he will be over 6ft shortly at 13 so he will definitely grow to an XL but is it too soon also..

My options are

1). Go for a hardtail for myself was looking the trek roscoe 7 or 8 or similar but open to recommendations

2). Pay the little extra and go for a full suspension that my son can take over when he grows into it in a year or so and if so what would one recommend?

thanks in advance

Alkers · 04-01-2021 11:57pm

kevgaa wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I'm a dad and over the last year instead of standing in bike parks every weekend while my son rides the trails I jumped in with both feet and spend the time on borrowed and rented bikes doing the blue and red trails at the gap and ticknock instead and love it. Now its time to invest in a bike when one come available...

I have a budget of 2k available via the cycle to work scheme and trade in but I have a dilemma, do I look after myself or spend the 2k+ on a full suspension bike that my son will take over in year or so when he wants to upgrade his hardtail ( trek xcalibre 7) to a full suspension bike..

I'm 6ft 3 will need a XL frame my sons bike is currently a L and he will be over 6ft shortly at 13 so he will definitely grow to an XL but is it too soon also..

My options are

1). Go for a hardtail for myself was looking the trek roscoe 7 or 8 or similar but open to recommendations

2). Pay the little extra and go for a full suspension that my son can take over when he grows into it in a year or so and if so what would one recommend?

thanks in advance

What would you do when your son takes over your bike?
You could (just) pick up two secondhand FS bikes for close to that money...

kevgaa · 05-01-2021 1:19pm

Alkers wrote: »

What would you do when your son takes over your bike?
You could (just) pick up two secondhand FS bikes for close to that money...

Yeah good point and who knows where his head will be in a year as this year isn’t a true barometer as no other sports competing for his time.
I am thinking more along the lines of a hard tail for myself. As most of the money is tied up in the bike to work scheme it will be a new bike. Any recommendations?

comanche_cor · 05-01-2021 3:36pm

have a look at the nukeproof scout
https://nukeproof.com/products/2021-scout-290?variant=35459285024922

basically, IMO< you should be looking out for
- frame geometry, slack head angle
- fork - good for 130 mm or more with 29er
- brakes - don't need top end but do need em good!
- groupset - 1x11 or 1x12, new deore 1x12 is very good, don't need anything fancy as groupsets are so good these days.

kevgaa · 07-01-2021 5:04pm

comanche_cor wrote: »

have a look at the nukeproof scout
https://nukeproof.com/products/2021-scout-290?variant=35459285024922

basically, IMO< you should be looking out for
- frame geometry, slack head angle
- fork - good for 130 mm or more with 29er
- brakes - don't need top end but do need em good!
- groupset - 1x11 or 1x12, new deore 1x12 is very good, don't need anything fancy as groupsets are so good these days.

Thanks,

Yeah have tried the nukeproof full suspension in the gap and it was a lovely bike. However they are difficult to source currently.

Currently the choice available to me in a few weeks are

1). Trek Roscoe 7 or 8

Or

2). Trek fuel ex 5

Next question is do I go hardtail with the Roscoe or spend a little more for the fuel ex 5.

Regards
Kev

Peter T · 08-01-2021 9:28am

You could keep an eye out for a second hand hardtail for yourself and hold onto the btw for if either yourself or your son want to upgrade next year.

Donal94 · 10-01-2021 8:53am

I have just recently bought a voodoo bizango after having an old specialised bike for the guts of 15 years. The difference is absolutely amazing feels so different. I've take it to the gap a few times and to the hill of Allen and I'm delighted with it. Excellent value too.

xxyyzz · 14-01-2021 6:24pm

The roscoe is a good shout. It's a nice trail bike with good geometry at a reasonable price. If you were looking to push the boat out for a full suss, then a trek fuel ex or a trek remedy are good options for around the 3k mark.

Wanderer78 · 15-01-2021 6:25am

xxyyzz wrote:

The roscoe is a good shout. It's a nice trail bike with good geometry at a reasonable price. If you were looking to push the boat out for a full suss, then a trek fuel ex or a trek remedy are good options for around the 3k mark.

Mate has the remedy, stunning bike

xxyyzz · 15-01-2021 8:22pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Mate has the remedy, stunning bike

Yeah, I have one myself so I'm a bit biased but it's the perfect bike if you're not a racer but into steep chunky stuff. Sadly I think trek will phase them out next year because apparently if it's not a 29er you might as well have square wheels according to the bike industry.

Jonesy101 · 18-01-2021 9:51am

Merida Big Trail 600 1800€ pretty sweet HT

El Vino · 19-01-2021 5:55pm

Fuel EX is a good shout, As you get older you will be grateful for the full suspension, especially places like the GAP. Don't buy anything with 27.5 in wheels at your height. I'm not going to debate the merits of wheel size just that the industry is only going one way especially for larger sizes. I have an 2017 Fuel EX 29er and love it, new one is supposed to be better (aren't they always)

benneca1 · 19-01-2021 9:56pm

xxyyzz wrote: »

Yeah, I have one myself so I'm a bit biased but it's the perfect bike if you're not a racer but into steep chunky stuff. Sadly I think trek will phase them out next year because apparently if it's not a 29er you might as well have square wheels according to the bike industry.

Amazing how fashions change and things come an go. I have been mountain biking since early nineties when 80mm travel on front was cutting edge -who here remembers rockskock Judys

Amazing the one thing that has really made life better for me is not more or less travel or suspension but the dropper post. Really makes a difference - funny.

Personally I love a hardtail as you really feel the trail and it does make you better.

Tenzor07 · 20-01-2021 12:21pm

benneca1 wrote: »

Amazing the one thing that has really made life better for me is not more or less travel or suspension but the dropper post. Really makes a difference - funny.
Personally I love a hardtail as you really feel the trail and it does make you better.

True, droppers are great, in the past you had a quick release lever and I used to mark off my saddle height on the seatpost..plus trying to get the saddle pointed straight!

All the New MTB'ers don't realise how lucky they have it with droppers, hydraulic brakes, suspension systems and big grippy tyres!

Glad to see more and more hardtails around Ticknock last weekend,,

fatbhoy · 20-01-2021 12:40pm

I used to try to lower and raise the QR seatpost without getting off the bike :pac:

comanche_cor · 20-01-2021 1:06pm

fatbhoy wrote: »

I used to try to lower and raise the QR seatpost without getting off the bike :pac:

Was relegated to not having a dropper for a while and was trying this also!

Glad to be back in the land of the dropper.

Lemming · 20-01-2021 2:06pm

fatbhoy wrote: »

I used to try to lower and raise the QR seatpost without getting off the bike :pac:

I do not miss those days. Having to stop for a friend to do the whole stop the bike at top of downhill run, get off their bike and drop their seatpost, etc. made me realise just how effortless dropper posts are. My first ride after mounting a dropper post, I also scared the sh1t out of myself mid-ride when I realised just how much faster I was riding a particular trail because I didn't have to periodically contend with a saddle trying to donkey wallop me :pac:

Seriously though, dropper posts, hydraulic disc brakes, and bolt-thru axles have made such a change. I'd like to say frame geometry changes too, but that's a bit too abstract a notion in of itself.

Tenzor07 · 20-01-2021 2:23pm

Lemming wrote: »

Seriously though, dropper posts, hydraulic disc brakes, and bolt-thru axles have made such a change. I'd like to say frame geometry changes too, but that's a bit too abstract a notion in of itself.

Bolt thru axles are great, QR skewers and the axles used to like to snap a lot back in the day...

I think the latest Gravel bikes are just like the old skool MTB, just with drop handlebars..

kevgaa · 21-01-2021 12:30pm

Thanks folks,

At the moment if I want a bike in the next few weeks is its a toss up between a

Roscoe 8 - Only issue I have with this is that the roscoe only come with 27.5 tyres

Full suspensions are generally not available till the 2nd half of 2021 if I want to wait till then however I have the option of a Giant tranche 29 3 in a few weeks also.

I'm only started MTB this year in march and get to ticknock and the gap most weekends so what would people in the know advice.

regards
Kev.

mad turnip · 21-01-2021 1:42pm

I'd take the giant. With your height the 29er wheels will give that bit extra suspension along with the slightly bigger fork. The bikes are specced quite similarly besides the lack of the rear suspension on the Roscoe and I guess that probably shows in the price. I prefer the tire combo also on the Giant. The Roscoe lies more in an XC category while the Giant is more in trail (all arounder) should you find yourself trying to be more adventurous the Giant should feel much better on tougher terrain.

xxyyzz · 21-01-2021 3:10pm

They Roscoe is a trail bike, not an xc bike. The x-calibre is Trek's xc hardtail offering. The Roscoe has a pretty relaxed geometry albeit a little short on reach.

Wailin · 28-01-2021 7:05pm

What's the main differences between a trail and xc bike? Bigger suspension and slacker head tube angle on the trail?

Been wondering what category my 2020 vitus escarpe falls into. Certainly not an enduro or dh bike. They claim its an "all mountain" bike i think. 150mm front and 140mm rear shocks.

xxyyzz · 28-01-2021 9:22pm

Xc bike is optimised for climbing, steep head angle, twitchy steering on descents and very short reach, they're bloody awful really IMHO for any sort of the trail riding unless you're an xc racer. They're grand for flying around trail centres too. They're usually around 100 to 120mm of travel on spindly 32mm forks.

A trail bike is a fairly broad category, full suss or hardtail. 130 to 150mm. They'd have a beefier fork like a pike or fox 34. Slacker head angle, longer reach. It's a do it all kind of bike.

All-mountain kind of overlaps the trail and Enduro category. Around a 160 fork and 150mm rear travel.

Wailin · 28-01-2021 10:46pm

Yeah my escarpe has the fox 36 fork so beefy enough. It's a great bike but I'll probably upgrade it to something a bit slacker sometime late this year, early next year. A nukeproof mega would fit the bill perfectly.

Bike Dilemma

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