Giant Anthem

Glenn S
Glenn S Posts: 17
edited February 2008 in MTB buying advice
Please help

Does anybody have any input,experience, views or opinions on said piece of kit. Trying to track one down in the london/essex area for a testride is impossible.

Any advice mucho appreciated. including alternatives for fast xc, must be a good climber.

Comments

  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Glenn S wrote:
    Please help

    Does anybody have any input,experience, views or opinions on said piece of kit. Trying to track one down in the london/essex area for a testride is impossible.

    Any advice mucho appreciated. including alternatives for fast xc, must be a good climber.

    You might want to read the group test in this months MBR - the Anthem won hands down with 9/10 over the likes of Scott, GT, Tomac, and Cannondale. The 'dale Scalpel only scored 3/10 cos it's frame fell in bits... :oops:
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  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    Hi Glenn, I have an '07 Anthem - and if I had to pick a few words to dexcibe it, I don't think I could do better than "Fast XC bike" and "good climber".

    It actually makes climbs enjoyable. And it's the fastest bike I've ever ridden round my normal woodland singletrack.

    I've had holidays in Scotland and Wales on it too, and it coped surprisingly well with all but the steepest and scariest stuff. It rides like it has a lot more suspension than it does. The Maestro system is fantastic. I was overtaking 7" travel Konas on the XC trail downhill at Cwmcarn and almost keeping up with a mate on an Enduro on Glentress black route.

    Actually, I live in Herts - close to the Essex border. Where do you normally ride?
  • Glenn S
    Glenn S Posts: 17
    Thanks for the tips.

    Chaka i'm normally found thrashing round epping forest.
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    I'm currently on my second having upgraded my alloy anthem for an anthem advanced :wink:

    Consider the Merida LRS frames as well.
  • Dan67
    Dan67 Posts: 658
    you still got the old anthem then or did you sell it?
    Kinesis Maxlight XC
    Timber- Improving MTB in Thetford
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    Sold it.
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    Glenn - What frame size are you? I'm only a few miles from Epping Forest so you can have a spin on my medium Anthem if you like.
  • Glenn S
    Glenn S Posts: 17
    Thats a nice offer only prob i'm a bit of a whopper six foot three and 100kg.

    Could you subject your bike to it??
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    I can tell you for a fact if you are 6'3" then you need a large.

    I'm six foot exactly and the medium is right on the upper limit.
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    Glenn - Sounds like you might be a bit tall to judge the bike properly, but I'm happy to meet up if you wanna check it out.

    Haven't been over Epping for years and could do with someone to show me the way round again.
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    I have an 07 Anthem 1 and really like it. I bought it after returning to cycling from a 12 year break so I just figured figured a light bike with 90mm travel is all I need (having started MTBing before any suspension came along :p ).

    After a few months with the Anthem I don't regret buying it but if I had to make the decision again I'd probably get something with a bit more travel. But if you're sure you're just after a pretty light, shortish travel XC bike then I'd highly recommend the Anthem. I'm 6ft and the medium is fine for me.
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    I can second that actually. After taking my Anthem to a few trail centres I was thinking maybe I'd have gone for a bit more of an all-rounder if I were choosing again.

    But then when I get back on it in my local woods I remember what an amazing bike it is, and how perfect it is for most of my riding.

    And I now have other bikes for other occasions anyway.

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