Cube Hanzz Pro

Squarepants

It does climb well for a FR bike. I believe there are better climbers out there and if you do a lot of XC / AM riding I'd possibly look at something like a Reign (although I have never ridden a Giant - I simply hear they climb very well and are able to handle descents equally).

The issue I find with long XC days on the Hanzz is the slack seat stay angle, when you raise the seat for climbing it really rakes backwards and lengthens the cockpit. Your pelvis is moved well behind the BB which isn't conducive to climbing. That said, I love my hanzz, I do ride XC on it (I put up with the less than perfect climbing angle - and who knows - your experience may not mirror mine) and when things point downwards I wouldn't want to be on anything else. The spec is great for the money and if you can find one I've seen the 2011' model Pro being sold off for cheap (cheaper anyway..)

It comes with a 2 and bash X9 rear so it has a good range for XC and isn't too heavy to pedal around a mountain range. I've done Nant-Yr-Arian 42km all dayer and .... lived, just

To answer your question in short, yes it is possible and even enjoyable to climb on, but there are much better climbers out there..

Squarepants

My 'crash' (possibly as lame as the lame crash that Ben had that was lame)

http://contour.com/stories/james-crash-cwmcarh-dh

and a decent run from top to bottom of Y Mynydd with a little breather in the middle. Ben (The Northern Monkey) videoing both. Ledgend..

http://contour.com/stories/cwmcarn-dh-2 ... g-james--2

Squarepants

Few more vids (for my own reference if nothing else). From yesterday with Ben up Caerphilly mountain exploring and finding some nice natural lines to shred. Vids don't really show how steep it is in places. Great morning, hope to get up there again soon and link up the lines we found/find some more with the boyos

Cheers again to Ben for videoing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg2btT2x ... ture=share

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... -line-1--2

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... -the-trees

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... ough-trees

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... l-drop-off

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... top-line-2

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... n-got-lost

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... wrong-line

http://contour.com/stories/caerphilly-m ... t-looks--2

The Northern Monkey

Dude, had to delete the youtube vid... will let you know why (Something to do with nipples )

Squarepants

Did we ride past a gaggle of nudists that I didn't notice :shock:

No worries dude!

apjs87

thats a very nice bike!

and those trails! they look awesome

Squarepants

Cheers bud

The Caerphilly element has a lot of potential I think, doesn't get more natural and it seems to take no time to get back to the top. Great feeling to be totally unaware of what's in front of you and finding your own way down a line and nailing it.

If you're ever up this way let us know

smokymcjoe

lovely bike, interesting thread and good video too. more of the same please

thank you kindly for passing some of my time in work

Squarepants

Thanks mate glad it's even mildy interesting to anyone else

I know how important it can be to occupy your hours in work too (This week I 'ave been mostly perusing Pinkbike )

WebbyM3

Nice shoes for the uplift day :P

Squarepants

£12 from Sports Direct 8)

Ohh that should be :oops:

I refuse to pay 11millionteen pounds on Five Tens

The Northern Monkey

Squarepants wrote:

£12 from Sports Direct 8)

Ohh that should be :oops:

I refuse to pay 11millionteen pounds on Five Tens

you sure??

Squarepants

Now if they were Nukeproofs.. :P

Squarepants

Had a jaunt today, trying to get some regular local rides in now in prep for Snowdon next April. Went from my place up to Rudry forestry, killer climb on tarmac and then as isolated as you like on top of the mountain and through the woods. Well almost, saw a guy in a suit with a doctors bag walking up a fire road in the middle of nowhere :? random.

Must have been about 8 miles and was fun to get lost in the woods for a while, just trying to stay upright was a challenge with all the fallen trees and the soaking muddy conditions. Found an awesome inroad cut through the forest so went exploring





Then found a natural trail pointing down so dropped the seat and hung on



Incidentaly on the way way home on the road section I rode past a roadie (slowly as I was going uphill) who had pulled over on a drive way. The 'conversation' went

Me: (covered in mud) It's fun in the forestry!
Him: Totally blanked me (after acknowledging my existence) and generally looked aloof
Me: (after a few seconds of waiting for some kind of response) Well fuck you mate

and I rode on. Really, any need to totally ignore me? I'm working on the assumption that he isn't totally deaf, and if he is at least he didn't hear my insult

if he's not deaf - I hope his lycra rips on the bum crack and exposes his tampon string.

/rant.

thegiantbiker

Hmm, I usually get a friendly wave off roadies when I see them. A nod at least. Maybe this guy had gone over his max target heart rate or something.

Squarepants

Maybe, he didn't look particularly bonked but who knows, hardly spoilt my day though I haven't lost my faith in the rodie clan yet..

Bike all cleaned and serviced ready for the next muddy instalment

The Northern Monkey

Looks fun mate! Sorry I couldn't get out today

Deffo this weekend though!

Squarepants

No worires dude, I didn't tell you about it in fairness

I'll have a look at Dec re uplifts

The Northern Monkey

Squarepants wrote:

No worires dude, I didn't tell you about it in fairness

Welll Fck you then

Squarepants

Welsh_Tom

TBH m8 he was most likey pissed off at you.....

There is you, covered in mud, with a big ass grin on your face. And all he has to show for his hard work is a bad ass.... I to would be pissed off

Squarepants

CRC!

Ordered a Nukeproof armour jacket, CRC DH jersey and armoured sub shorts last Wednesday, rung to see when they'd be arriving today and - not even left the warehouse



First time you've let me down CRC, why did it have to be on this order!

:roll:

Uplift day tomorrow just won't be the same...

Squarepants

Well just called them for the third time today after not getting the promised ring back this afternoon. Was met with simple "it's on it's way, it will be with your shortly"

I know it's not the end of the world but when CRCs mission statement is to get items dispatched on the day of ordering having to wait a week and then get a generic "yea we're sending it out" isn't really cricket. No explanation and little interest is how it came across.

/rant

The Northern Monkey

Boooooo

Squarepants

Boo indeed. Just took the bike out, fell off and I've pulled an arse cheek muscle and my thigh

Oh my days

Squarepants

Just received a few bits.

Firstly the Nukeproof armour jacket, it's a large and fits very nicely. First impressions are it seems very well made, there's a little less adjustment in the straps than I thought there would be but it doesn't effect anything negatively. Feels comfortable on and is quite slimline.

Haven't worn it on the bike yet but will report back when I have.





Also got some 661 sub shorts and a CRC jersey.. Just need an uplift day now..

Squarepants

Bit of an update. Haven't ridden that much lately given work etc and have neglected that Hanzz a little; leaving it dirty after a few local rides etc. Went to Cwmcarn with Ben @NORTH3RN_MONK3Y yesterday, up at 6am :shock: and there by 7:45, still wasn't the first in the car park

Not too much snow in the car park and beginning of the trail but got heavier and icer as we moved up to Airstream / FR section

Couple of pics of the day

Ben looking plucky near the car park





As we moved on up













A few seconds after Ben told my phone to "Acknowledge my finger!"



Top of the FR section. The Canyon with new SLX cranks, all the mods look sweet, looks like factory intended.





Top morning, even though I did have to go to work and do 5 hours overtime afterwards :?

And finally given the Hanzz so TLC this morning so she's good as new

MountainMonster

Quite some nice bikes there! Looks like you guys had a bunch of fun!

Squarepants

Cheers mate, fun + squeaky bum moments in equal measure

Some vids too, cheers again to Ben for capturing and uploading

What is this Ben!?

http://contour.com/stories/20120402-2-c ... -in-snow-2

http://contour.com/stories/20120402-3-c ... tream-snow

http://contour.com/stories/20120402-4-cwmcarn-red-1--3

http://contour.com/stories/20120402-5-cwmcarn-red-2

Bit slower than normal due to conditions

The Northern Monkey

Some superb photo's mate! weill be stealing some of those
Great day out, very early start but well worth it!

Nice to see you actually cleaned the Hanzz too haha!

Where to next weekend?!