My Anthem X1

Dick Scruttock

Ever since selling my old Anthem X custom build i regretted it. Was a great bike and for what i sold it for i should have kept it. So i have splashed out and bought myself one of these, a nice Anthem X1 2011:



Its getting dispatched tomorrow and will be with me on Wednesday. Its a shame i am in Toronto until Thursday as i cannot wait to get out on it.

Here is my old X custom:

road_donut

Nice one Rick I love the Anthems ... Might even look at getting another myself as i miss my old one too

ohhhhh and you have way to much cash

Dick Scruttock

road_donut wrote:

Nice one Rick I love the Anthems ... Might even look at getting another myself as i miss my old one too

ohhhhh and you have way to much cash

They are beautiful bikes to ride, so fast to accelerate as well.

LOL Its a benefit of spending half a month if not more outside of the UK! I am able to buy stuff like clothes and electrical stuff far cheaper than i could do in the UK so in turn saving a fair wedge of cash as well.

I could have bought the Anthem abroad and had it shipped to me but i want the backup of a UK dealer should anything go wrong on it.

mikeyj28

hi Rick

how do you find the anthem compared to the Santa Cruz? Also how do you rate the anthem going uphill in comparison with a fairly decent HT of about 23lbs (not a £5k superlight one though haha).

Lovely looking bike and am very jealous!!

Dick Scruttock

I really like the way the Anthem climbs, used to own a 23lb Merlin Malt 4 and I think the Anthem has the edge over it when climbing. The rear wheel really digs in and gives great traction.

Dick Scruttock

Here we go. Got home from Toronto to find this sat in the hall:



All straightened up and almost ready to roll:

Detailed picture, love the blue anodized XT rear QR and the blue anodized nipples as standard:




Lockout lever on the bars:

Ready to ride, should be able to lob some weight off it quite easy. Tubeless conversion been one way of saving weight along with lighter pedals:


Also these arrived, had bought them for my Blur but might fit them on this instead as they are so amazing light and super effective:

obeytherules

take the frisbee off, otherwise looking pretty smart

Dick Scruttock

Obeytherules wrote:

take the frisbee off, otherwise looking pretty smart

Dont worry its going later on!

lawman

Those wheels must be heavy, that's only half a pound lighter than my HD looks really nice though, giants 2011 bikes look the business

Thewaylander

Nice bike.

to light for me but a great all day riding bike or enduro machine

Dick Scruttock

lawman wrote:

Those wheels must be heavy, that's only half a pound lighter than my HD looks really nice though, giants 2011 bikes look the business

Thanks, I have been looking at a custom Pro 2 evo build, alloy nipples, revolution spokes and Crest rims. Think the finishing kit is pretty heavy as well, aiming for 23lbs like my old one was eventually.

Really love the colour scheme of the bike, looks sooo much nicer than my old plain one.

lawman

Rick Draper wrote:

lawman wrote:

Those wheels must be heavy, that's only half a pound lighter than my HD looks really nice though, giants 2011 bikes look the business

Thanks, I have been looking at a custom Pro 2 evo build, alloy nipples, revolution spokes and Crest rims. Think the finishing kit is pretty heavy as well, aiming for 23lbs like my old one was eventually.

Really love the colour scheme of the bike, looks sooo much nicer than my old plain one.

yer White crests, blue pro2 evos and White revolution spokes! That's what I'd have on that anyway I'd probably change the finishing kit to kcnc, they're 710mm sc wing bars are fantastic, and I'd be tempted to run a 35ish tooth single ring at the front, then it would be mega light and aggressive for xc 8)

Dick Scruttock

I was thinking more Black crests, blue nipples, black spokes and blue hubs. Not really sure i am that keen on white rims.

Been busy this afternoon, it had to be done really:

mastermosher

Nice bike. So shiny and new. Enjoy. Show us some dirty pics....if thats the intended use.

StumpyPaul

Looking good.

Dick Scruttock

Should have its first real kicking tomorrow hopefully depending on the weather! Been pretty shocking here today.

weescott

SID blue Fox forks?

Dick Scruttock

New wheels ordered. Pro 2 Evo Hoops with crest rims. Cannot justify spending £100 more for lighter spokes and nipples when the savings are not huge.

Should be with me in 5 days or so.

Dick Scruttock

Not been out on it just yet, combination of waiting for the new wheels and poor weather means i have been using the road bike today.

Hopefully someone wil come in and take the old XT XT brakes and wheels soon though.

Dick Scruttock

Big thanks to Si and Matt at 18Bikes in Hope and Hope technology for some great service. Ordered these hoops over the weekend (blue hubs wanted so not kept in stock) and the order was passed to Hope first thing on Monday morning. 10.30 this morning they turned up at 18Bikes so I popped over to collect them. Yellow tape and valves were installed by Matt and 2 small bottles of stans sealant all included in the price:





Just waiting for the 160mm Formula rotor to arrive tomorrow then its all done. Cannot wait to ride it, might do a solo ride on Thursday just so i can take my time and fettle the suspension without anyone moaning

sheepsteeth

that is such a good looking bike, i have nothing further to add

jay12

wow that looks amazing 8)

only thing is i would change the giant own brand bits to something blingy, nothing wrong with giant parts but you know what i mean

Rich9

Man.. that is such nice bike. Love the blue and white. 8) 8)

Not sure about the gaffer tape CS protector though

Dick Scruttock

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Giant finishing kit will eventually be changed for something different, possibly Ritchey.

Rich9 wrote:

Not sure about the gaffer tape CS protector though

http://www.biketart.com/collections/cha ... /framewrap

Rich9

Rick Draper wrote:

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Giant finishing kit will eventually be changed for something different, possibly Ritchey.

Rich9 wrote:

Not sure about the gaffer tape CS protector though

http://www.biketart.com/collections/cha ... /framewrap

Thats actually a bloody good idea :oops: 8)

Dick Scruttock

Rich9 wrote:

Rick Draper wrote:

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Giant finishing kit will eventually be changed for something different, possibly Ritchey.

Rich9 wrote:

Not sure about the gaffer tape CS protector though

http://www.biketart.com/collections/cha ... /framewrap

Thats actually a bloody good idea :oops: 8)

Its brilliant, fit it on all my frames on the drive side chain stay. Miles better IMHO than a velcro chain stay protector.

Dick Scruttock

Did a quick 10 mile hard climbing loop on her on Thursday. Focusing on climbing as i know this is the area i am at by far my weakest. Made me realise i should never ever have sold my other one. Just climbs like nothing i have ever ridden. Managed the loop in a shade over a hour so will give it another go this coming Monday and keep at it until i am properly under the hour mark.

All in all the Shimano XT 3x10 performed as well as expected, crisp smooth shifts and nice spread of ratios. I do need to mess around with grip, shifter and brake positions as i am not happy with them at the moment and i also need to have a good read up and a ride fiddling with the fork and rear shock settings to get them to feel how i want.

Dick Scruttock

2 Pictures from my iPhone of the first ride:


Out on it again tomorrow on the same loop hopefully.

Dick Scruttock

Done a few more miles on the Anthem. Such a fantastic bike, really pleased with it.

The only problem i have is of my own making. I cannot get comfortable with the Formula brake levers and the XT shifters, the Shifter needs to be where the lever is for me to feel comfortable. Tried the shifter on both sides of the lever and its just not right on either side. So i have just bought some XTR M980 shifters from Tweeks cycles (£10.50 cheaper than the next cheapest place and already been dispatched). Hopefully the extra adjustment of the XTR shifter mount will get me comfortable as I really love the feel of the shift on the shimano set.

Also on route are a pair of TA Specialites Chinook double 40/26 chainrings, KCNC Blue anodized short chainring bolts, a Ritchey Superlogic UD Carbon riser bar, Formula Blue anodized pad retaining bolt, Formula Blue anodized lever bolts, Tune DC15 Fox Thru axle in Blue, Tune DC17 Rear Skewer in Blue.

Cannot wait to drop them all on it, going to be after the bloody bank holiday now though.

JamieRa

wow. that is absolutely beautiful. :shock:

bonezy

Stunning bike, lovely details and just a properly designed, sexy frame. I also love the 2010 X4 Anthem. I'd be proud of that too. Enjoy it!