Alps on a hardtail?

dirtbiker100

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...

ride_whenever

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.

tom_majski

Its doable, but he will definately suffer.

dirtbiker100

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
maybe head to cwmcarn for a day n see how he copes. might waken him up a bit!

Stuey01

If he finds he is struggling surely he can just hire a bike locally?

Problem solved.

gpsBRM

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

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!

dirtbiker100

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 .

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

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

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.

Stuey01

dirtbiker100 wrote:

bike hire will be 400 euros for the week

:shock: really?

In that case n+1

Great Ayton

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

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!

dirtbiker100

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 . he'll get a shock i think.

P-Jay

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 . 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.

dirtbiker100

At least Its better than the forest of dean...
personally i can't wait, it'll be a right laugh