Upgrade an old bike or get a new one?

craker

I was at Cwmcarn last Sunday - great fun. Me & my mate were easily on the oldest bikes there but that's not stopped me enjoying the riding.


It's a 2000 Jamis Eureka, alu hardtail. I upgraded the shocks to some Marazocchi bombers a couple of years ago, but after a big prang at Cwmcarn last year (broken collarbone) I've decided it's not right for that sort of riding (that's the freeride section at the top with the big jump). My front wheel just plummeted over the jump leaving me in a heap at the bottom

- Is it technique? I think the Bombers have made the bike more front heavy. It's a cross country bike anyway
- I quite fancy getting hydraulics (after a sticky brake cable made Sunday's ride a bit hairy). But I'd have to change hubs if I wanted hydraulic disks. £200+
- Is a £700-800 full susser worth it? I suppose I might get a bit more speed on the faster trails, are they any good at the freeride stuff? I'm not into downhill riding (at the mo.)

Cheers

Splasher

To try to answer your questions in order:

Technique is a large part of it, you need to use enough speed so that your front wheel doesn't just fall off the drop or jump and adust your body weight so that you and the bike land as you want (flat or pointing slightly down depending on the nature of the landing area). A very heavy fork will make this more impotant since your C of G is already front heavy.

You could by a set of disc wheels for less than £100 and a good set for £200. Similarly you could get a deal on hydros for £100 a pair.

At £700-800 you would probably be better with a burly hardtail than a susser where economies have to made to pay for the rear suspension. Also, you have to learn good technique on a hardtail which pays dividends later.