How much travel?

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

Hi
I'm hoping to treat myself to a new bike, and im planning on building it custom. But im currently unsure how much travel i should be aiming for.
I've planned for it to be a full sus, but i dont want a burly DH bike, or a aggressive angled XC bike. I plan on racing it next year if health allows, and my main target is the endurance races(12 hour races if i deem it do-able)
So my main question, is how much travel is recommended for a full suspension marathon bike, i know 140mm is about the maximum, but is that too much still?
And finally, carbon or alloy? for frame my maximum budget being 2k, but i really really only want to spend 1-1.5k.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Josh

bennett_346

You need to be more specific really, what sort of riding are we talking? How technical is it?

Marathon bikes can be anything from 100mm front and 90mm rear to 120 mm front and 130mm rear. I would say stay away from anything longer than that; you'll be dead in the water since afterall, it is a race.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

sorry..
the technicallity of all the riding the bike will be doing varies massivly, from cannock chase, to wales, and the dark peaks. But so far my 'not'so trustworthy hardtail with 100mm upfront has taken me over all that aswell, obviously with alot of discomfort and alot of sketchy moments. Which is why im unsure about how much travel is really necersarry on a fullsus?
Josh

bennett_346

So thats bordering on entry level enduro really. I could quite fancy that stuff myself actually, good discipline.

In that case i'd say your outside the marathon xc category firmly go for something with 140mm front travel, but try to keep the weight down whilst maintaining good strong components, you don't want things breaking up in the peaks.

Maybe something like a lapierre zesty or even a specalized pitch, you can't go far wrong with them and theyre even better after some weight shedding.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

cheers for the help
Thats what i was thinking now i've just got the difficult job of deciding what frame to go for, as much as i like the look of them i love making them up myself from scratch so think il go for that again. Afterall it gives me something to do over this most cold of cold winters
Cheers
Josh

bennett_346

If you decide to build from scratch i'd secure your budget at 2k, you end up losing value for money. But ofcourse you get a nice shiny handbuilt bike with whatever you want at the end

Perhaps a U turn fork? That way you'd have a much more versatile bike for the variation in riding. I'm sure someone with more knowledge of forks than me can help in that respect.

Also are you going triple or double and bash? I'd personally go for double + bash because if its all off road you're not going to run out of gears with a 36t chainring and 11-36t cassette.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

Ah no my budget for the bike isnt set yet, due to it being an over time-as the pay comes in- project. The budget i previously mentioned was just for the frame, as i know for a decent from it costs, and ive had bad experiances with frames breaking...so not taking any chances
i think im gonna go for the double and bash, seems to make more sense to me at this moment in time, though im sure by the time im ready to get crankset my mind will of changed multiple times
Cheers
Josh
oh yeah, im a big fan of the formula brakes, but which set would you say is for my type of riding? i no the r1's are great brakes but im not sure whether they would be to lightweight for me or not?

Smiler15

Im sorry but a specialized pitch or a zesty for marathon racing??! A pitch is suggested as a mini DH bike in some threads on here so why on earch you'd want to be racing it for 12hrs solid is obsurd.
Get yourself something like a giant x3/x2 120mm travel sounds about right

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

hmm ok then :? now im confused
bearing in mind i wouldnt buy either as i wish to build my own, are you saying that 140 is to much no matter how you build the bike up-sensibly of course.?
for example last year there was the cannondale rz one twenty and the cannondale rz one forty, assuming i choose one of each at smiliar spec, which would you say would be better?
cheers
Josh

Pudseyp

something like a Giant Anthem, though this is a bargian and ripe for future mods to lighten..
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=44311

The Scott Spark is also worth a look..the Pitch would be bloody useless with it's 150mm travel and the Lappy no better at 140mm these are more AM bikes...

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

ah but thats the thing im looking for a mix between an AM biek and an XC bike so i wasnt sure if 140 would still be able to do the job or if i should just live with a bit less comfort on the downs and go for 120?
and no offence to cube owners or cube them selves, but i really dont like a look of that bike, just doesnt do anything for me :oops:
Cheers
Josh

bennett_346

He said he didn't want an agressive XC bike...

It all works out anyway, instead of having to try your hardest on the downhill sections you can use them as a relax/breather and tear up the opponents, then on the climbs sacrifice some time.

And i wasn't aware the pitch had been upped to 150mm, i agree that is too much.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

see now that is the arguement i had. climbing has always been my best part, but i wasnt sure whether it would make enough difference to either gain time or lose time.....
Josh

Mccraque

or get a zesty 314...then you don't have to sacrifice anything much up or down.

I've a 514 and it's an absolute rocket.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

thats the 140 bracket isnt it?
Josh

bennett_346

Its up to you in the end. A pitch at 150 is too much, and tbh unfortunately you'll be unlikely to get a 2010 which were 140.

I'd personally go for a 140 or 130 bike as my climbing skills are good and mean i can give myself time to recover on the downs as im not fighting for control. The bike will also last longer as its generally stronger. Some will contest this but i have personal experience of it.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

im falling towards the 140 i think, after all you can lock out your forks and shock, you cant grow your travel whilst riding..
You have definatly given me something to think about
Cheers
Josh

bennett_346

Remember, U turn if youre having second thoughts perhaps?

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

yeah as far as it goes forks havent been even considered yet:P
Cheers
Josh

Pudseyp

Think you need a time out to decide what you want..140mm in most peoples eyes are aggresive XC or AM which the Zesty is aimed at....as per your first post it points to 120mm travel or less..

There are hundreds of bikes in the 140mm range..less travel great for climbing...more travel better on decents..so decide what you need...140 is enough for any UK trail centre so racing you would be better at 120mm

Also not sure of many 130mm bikes and as for strength what a loss of tosh...a 120mm bike will be as strong as a DH rig if used in the way it was designed for !

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

thats why i came here, to see what others opinions on the matters were, 120 appeals to me for the racing side of things, but this will be my only bike so i wasnt sure whether 120 would be enough for my weekend trips.
Cheers
Josh

Pudseyp

Josh, I have a Marin Mount Vison which is 120mm (see link) I have been riding years and it will handle any UK trail centers...only two weeks ago I was up at Glentress and Innerleithen on the reds so in my eyes 120mm will be fine...unless you doing big drops then a 140mm bike will be more of a hindrance

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

sounds like sense to me:)
so il go with that so 120 it shall be
now to just choose a frame......hmmmm
Cheers for all the help
Josh

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

oh yeah and thats one nice looking bike!

RIKO

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR could be the one to go for I reckon.
http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Specialized- ... 5-0-0.html

individual6891

Just read this entire post, 140mm will be too much for you. Stick with 120mm.

If you wanted an all-round bike AM bike then 140mm is standard "Trail Bike" territory. But you've said you enjoy climbing, and racing, 120mm will fit your bill. CRC are currently doing the Cove Hustler for 1K (here)

Although something like the Trance X frameset is lighter and more future proof (tapered headtube, press fit BB), possibly stiffer. The 2010 frame weighs 2.5kg. (here)

Or go carbon as suggested above by RIKO. Plus comes with fork.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

Ok, so 120 so far sounds ideally suited for me.
But what about bikes such as the scott genius? where travel is easily changeable? would you still say that they are to much(not meaning price here)?
also i just read the article on that 6day brazil ride, the bike that he was riding is a 140mm bike, so why has he gone for that instead of a 120? just wondering

Cheers
Josh

Shaggy_Dog

I do a variety of technical riding in Wales, both on trail centres and in the back country and more sedate local Cotswold stuff which burns your thighs and lungs, in my experience the bikes that handle a bit of everything and never make you feel over or under-biked is a 120mm trail like like a Trek Fuel EX or Yeti ASR-5, or a good 29er hardtail like a Niner Air 9 or Trek Paragon.

J.A.YSUPERNORMAL08

now thats what i wanted to here:)
so i think il stick with the 120 then
cheers
Josh

rockmonkeysc

How about a Giant Trance X with a 140mm u-turn revelation fork?
Mine takes as much abuse as I can give it even with the original fox F120 forks. New frame has tapered head tube to make it even stiffer as well.

sheepsteeth

if i was only going to own one bike, it would be a 140mm bike built to be around 30lbs with adjustable travel

it would be tough enough for riding rougher and more technical trails, light and eficient enough for riding all day.

there is no such thing as one bike to do everything properly* and although many people use one bike for everything, it doesnt mean a single bike is the best for everything. it is going to be compromised in some places.

i tried 120mm bikes since i started riding and i enjoyed them but th angles and feel of a 120mm bike dont ride as well as a 140mm bike in my opinion and is why i sold my last one and replaced it with a 140mm bike.

im still riding the same trails and terrain asi always did but i enjoy it more on a 140mm bike.

the only way you are going to know what suits is to ride a trail on a 120 and on a 140mm bike and see what you think.

*except for my edison which is the best bike ever and anyone who wants one bike should own a bionicon.