Marin trail muncher.

Splottboy

Bout 7yrs ago, did the "old" Marin in 2hrs 10mins, from the Cafe on stilts, Llanrwst and back, including the long hard climb near the castle. One pee stop...
I was on an Airborne Luckystrike Ti hardtail/Original Blue Sids, XT/Sram mix. Normal tyres, think they were Panaracer XC Fires Kev, 2.1.
It was one of those "Dreamdays" where even though it was hot, humid, dry and dusty, you were just flying! Don't get many of those now. I saw absolutely no-one on a lone mid week ride. In fact, I almost went round it again, I felt that good, but time was tight.

Having busted my leg at CYB - Mothers Day '08 - and still off recovering from different injuries currently, I'm sulking and contemplating a new aggressive XC frame/bike after I sell some bits/stuff to fund it.

Considerations are: C'dale Rise, Marin Mt.Vision, Ventana X5/Ciclon, Giant Trance, but open to ideas/suggestions or even Hardtails. No BROCAN, sorry, CARBON!
Must be sub 27lbs, climb like a monkey with it bollocks on fire and descend faster than Gordon Browns popularity.
Put on about a stone since then, but quite a bit is muscle tho due to Bosu/Swiss ball, own body weight circuits/very light free weights, indoor hard turbo sessions and cake!!!!
Real riding non-existent-limited til Doc/Hospital gives the all-clear but fitness quite good.
This is my very own "Lance" comeback for late 2009/2010. If I do it in same/better time, I'll know I'm back!!!

bomberesque

thought about a Van Nicholas? reborne airborne, so to speak

and you should watch that video of the carbon bike vs the lump hammer. They're tougher than you think

seriously though 27lbs isn't very ambitious so you should be able to achieve that any number of ways. XC climber + DH descender is a harder ask. Whats your budget?

RealMan

stumpy maybe?

ride_whenever

my 456 with pikes is about 27lbs iirc, should weigh it again...

If i were you i'd build up a Ti hardtail with sids on. Maybe something like a cotic soda when they next get them in, or even the steel soul...

Anonymous

What's the deal with the carbon haters here? So many MTBers seem convinced it's going to shatter like glass :roll:

Splottboy

I've had 2 pairs carbon road forks go, after slight crashes - both not my fault!
My Carbon TCR Giant is great, having won it in a Giant comp, plus 4 days at last years Tour de France, free kit, all expenses paid, was even greater!
Stumpy FS S Works was the one I was on when I broke femur. BBBBBRRRR!!!!! Not the bikes fault, was ME this time...
VN, the long travel one - didn't get a great review recently, due to angles etc.
Mite look at Trek, EX 8 or new Spec Enduros.
But, Ti "may" be the ticket, guy's. Have to look on ebay now...

Just got cheap £119 Deore g.set to build up used Norco Bigfoot 70quid frame, pristine too.
But, rear end is s-t-i-f-f. Thudbuster works on climbs but no good on steep ruff downs.
Biggr rear tyre could save my physio bills a bit too. Should be fair trail bike, around 29lbs made up with some XC type kit. This'll do to get riding again, til dreambike turns up.

Splottboy

I've had 2 pairs carbon road forks go, after slight crashes - both not my fault!
My Carbon TCR Giant is great, having won it in a Giant comp, plus 4 days at last years Tour de France, free kit, all expenses paid, was even greater!
Stumpy FS S Works was the one I was on when I broke femur. BBBBBRRRR!!!!! Not the bikes fault, was ME this time...
VN, the long travel one - didn't get a great review recently, due to angles etc.
Mite look at Trek, EX 8 or new Spec Enduros.
But, Ti "may" be the ticket, guy's. Have to look on ebay now...

Just got cheap £119 Deore g.set to build up used Norco Bigfoot 70quid frame, pristine too.
But, rear end is s-t-i-f-f. Thudbuster works on climbs but no good on steep ruff downs.
Biggr rear tyre could save my physio bills a bit too. Should be fair trail bike, around 29lbs made up with some XC type kit. This'll do to get riding again, til dreambike turns up.

hoathy

yeehaamcgee wrote:

What's the deal with the carbon haters here? So many MTBers seem convinced it's going to shatter like glass :roll:

its not really a "mans" material though... Not reel like steel. Ti is also a lot cooler than carbon.

Splottboy

I had Raleigh Ti Mtb bike, Airborne Luckystrike, and Airborne Zeppelin road bike, all ok.
In fact, went thro hedge/wall near Betws on road bike. Went to same place following week with Mrs, couldn't believe it was the ONLY spot where barbed wire was pushed down. 12ft drop, front sommersault with bike still attached! Landed 2 foot from broken TV with glass everywhere.

Winded, shocked, but nothing more. Could have been reeeeeel serious.
Had to use bike at full stretch to get back up to road, like lifeline, to my mate Phil.
( He was calling for me and peed himself when he saw me in the ravine, ha,ha ha...ha.)

Anyway...point is, bike only had rear slow puncture, NO other damage at all.
Carbon mite have been nice magazine rack after this particular crash.

Said my prayers Twice that nite.

Barteos

Maverick (Durance, Matic or ML75) - IMO the most efficient and the most underated fs bike in the history.
£660 for ML75 frame is a bargain (J E Cycles).
Check MTB Reviews.

Anonymous

Splotboy, just a quick head up in case you hadn;t kept up with MArin's bizzare re-naming, the Mount vision isn't an XC thoroughbred anymore. Sure it still climbs very well, but it's more of an all-day do it all trail bike now.
If you're after something that's more of an XC race bike, then you may well be best looking elsewhere.