Alps on a hardtail?

dirtbiker100
dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
edited February 2009 in MTB general
Just recieved an email from a friend and i thought i'd get your thoughts on the matter, we're heading to morzine in august:

"yea went for a run, going to try and do that everyweek. get in shape for france! i think the run was the most exersize iv done... ever!

im not going to get a new bike for france just going to be hardcore and go on my hard tail."

He's got an Orange Hitman (unsure on front travel) and the people he's gonna be riding with are on: marin quake, devinci ollie (7" travel), norco 6.3, spesh pitch pro. Can he do it? or will he suffer? Its all going to be downhill riding although whether we do some xc descents i dunno...

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    He will suffer, I'd say he can do it, but he'll want to hit the gym to build up some extra strength and endurance.
    Neeermad
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  • tom_majski
    tom_majski Posts: 432
    Its doable, but he will definately suffer.
  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    yep its what i thought.
    i'm a touch worried, he found the forest of dean dh runs hard work on a hardtail last time we went...
    least it'll give the rest of us a good laugh :lol:
    maybe head to cwmcarn for a day n see how he copes. might waken him up a bit!
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    If he finds he is struggling surely he can just hire a bike locally?

    Problem solved.
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • gpsBRM
    gpsBRM Posts: 123
    He should have no trouble. Took my old Maxlight XC Pro hard tail to the Alps for the last 4 years (done passportes for last 2). No probs what so ever. Mate took his Orange Clockwork to. Its great fun overtaking the "big rigs" on the downhill courses then riding past more of them on the uphills.

    Guess if he's worried he's could get a suspension post or as stated above hire one localy. Although you'll spend a bit of time getting used to it.

    It about how you ride not what you ride.
  • mygiantmtb
    mygiantmtb Posts: 57
    i had a marin alpine trail full sus but i broke the weld at the bottom of the frame! (so gutted) and i did some heavy xc and some downhill. I still have a giant terrago (heavily customized lol) i use that for downhill it copes fine, i cope fine and i'm sure your mate will cope just fine!
    8)


    i am still looking for a new full sus!
    "Giant NRS 4 2003"
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  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    gpsBRM wrote:
    It about how you ride not what you ride.
    ha yeah there's the other half of the problem ;) i'm seriously recommending travel insurance to him!

    i do xc on an on-one inbred so know what you mean about enjoying beating full sussers :D.

    yeah he'll be alright i'm sure. i look forward to seeing the first time he hits the braking bumps on le pleney at speed :D

    oh and bike hire will be 400 euros for the week? might as well buy a new bike at that price. its trying to be a budget holiday...
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    There's no reason why he couldn't do it, but I wouldn't want to use a Hitman, I thought they were more of a jump/hardcore trail bike. I'd use my SubZero, lot beefier, slacker angles and 7 inches of travel.
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  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    dirtbiker100 wrote:
    bike hire will be 400 euros for the week

    :shock: really?

    In that case n+1 :D
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • Great Ayton
    Great Ayton Posts: 337
    Orange Hitman as in single ring, short travel forks and weighs a fair bit? If I am thinking of the right bike its quite a very poor bike to pick. Its really just a dirt jump bike.
  • RIKO
    RIKO Posts: 559
    Yeah you can do the alps on a hardtail done it myself, yes it is hardwork and the brakebumps on some of the main downhill runs can get a bit wearing but it's also awesome fun. Word to the wise though fit the biggest downhill highroller you can fit at the back so you can run it soft for a bit of comfort!
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  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    Great Ayton wrote:
    Orange Hitman as in single ring, short travel forks and weighs a fair bit? If I am thinking of the right bike its quite a very poor bike to pick. Its really just a dirt jump bike.
    exactly...
    RIKO wrote:
    Word to the wise though fit the biggest downhill highroller you can fit at the back so you can run it soft for a bit of comfort!
    thats a good point, should've thought of that. I've got a 2.5" high roller 40a and some proper 2.5" maxxis tubes in the garage. will lend it to him for a day n see if he finds it any better.
    we're gonna hit cwmcarn and see how he gets on. should be good fun :D. he'll get a shock i think.
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    dirtbiker100 wrote:
    Great Ayton wrote:
    Orange Hitman as in single ring, short travel forks and weighs a fair bit? If I am thinking of the right bike its quite a very poor bike to pick. Its really just a dirt jump bike.
    exactly...
    RIKO wrote:
    Word to the wise though fit the biggest downhill highroller you can fit at the back so you can run it soft for a bit of comfort!
    thats a good point, should've thought of that. I've got a 2.5" high roller 40a and some proper 2.5" maxxis tubes in the garage. will lend it to him for a day n see if he finds it any better.
    we're gonna hit cwmcarn and see how he gets on. should be good fun :D. he'll get a shock i think.

    He'll get a shock alright, attached to a frame and as many inches as he can lay his hands on. Just remember Cwmcarn hasn't got the vicious braking bumps of the Alps so it's only really a taster rather than an example of what's it's going to be like.
    Shocker Enduro
  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    At least Its better than the forest of dean...
    personally i can't wait, it'll be a right laugh :D

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