A bit stuck

jsync

Hi,

I have a Rockhopper comp 2011 that i have upgraded with 120mm reba's an formula brakes. I'm generally appy with the bike but after a couple of trips o Afan and Cwmcarn I have decided that it's not best suited to these types of trail. I've had a few offs which I have put down to the geometry (ignore skill for he moment) as the bike is substantially more twitchy than a friends trance.

So I think it may be the time for a new bike, but the thing is I think the trance is a bit too safe, so is there a middle ground between that and the hopper? I like the idea of a stumjumper or zesty 314 but am a little intrigued by the shorter travel full suss bike like te camber. I suppose one option is a 2012 camber expert framset and swap my bits over if possible, are the for sale? Any idea on price?

One thing to note from my experiences is that he rocky trails really do hammer me and saturday's 40km ride of w2 and the wall really was hard work on a ht as the repetitive rocky descents were hard on me compared to my companions n their trance / reign etc.

Opinions appreciated.

paul.skibum

Last time I did the W2 I did it on my 100mm travel hardtail and I thought it was fantastic fun and my bike was perfectly suited to it. I therefore conclude that you should just MTFU and learn to ride a bike properly.

However, if you are determined to spend money to buy a bike specifically to ride around Afan and a hardtail doesn't suit you then I would be inclined to go for something like a trance or a stumpy (comparable bikes I'd say) as they are good trail bikes with decent travel and will allow you to expand your riding horizons considerably as and when you want to.

The Camber is an excellent option too - a little more xc than trail but still entirely suited to the majority of UK riding.

The stumpy is available frame only, probably not at sales prices - not sure about the camber (check specialized's website) but bare in mind only the camber is suited for your forks, the stumpy wants a 140mm fork.

To be honest though if you are falling off on the W2 on a rockhopper you are doing something wrong or riding at the very limit of the bikes ability - I suspect the former. A skills course would eb a better use of a smaller amount of money.

jsync

Yeah the mtfu was an option as was the skills course. I think the issue at he moment is the amount of rain we've had over the last few weeks has washed a lot of the sandy soil away leaving a very rocky track. When i rode cwmcarn it was torrential rain and nothing like the smooth track seen on youtube. That aside the hopper is very twitchy when pointing downhill, maybe i ride faster than you

felix.london

Pah! I'm blasting my '06 'hopper with 120mm Reba down Alpine DH trails. Fun, fun, fun! It's all about going fast and picking your line. I crash a lot too...

chez_m356

not the latest but has fox shock http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Specialized- ... -92-0.html

Greer_

felix.london wrote:

I crash a lot too...

It's how I can tell I'm pushing myself! at least that's what I tell myself

The Rookie

I only seem to crash in low speed silly manouvers...Cannock isn't as rough but I do it just fine with 100mm (Of travel that is.....) if you're struggling downhill maybe you need more preload (air) and/or more compression and/or less rebound to reduce the amount it's nosing down at the front and steepening the head angle, you could also move the grips back in relationship to the steerer via stem/spacer/bar changes or adjustments so you move the weight back for stability (and keep the fork length longer due to less weight on them).

That is the benefit of long travel hardtails, the ability to run softer without running too steep a head angle, that is they only really gain comfort!

jsync

chez_m356 wrote:

not the latest but has fox shock http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Specialized- ... -92-0.html

Thanks for that, may be an option.

And to everyone else with the set up / training suggestions too. I need to do some experimenting with the fork in particular and make sure i feel comfortable. Oh and stay off the brakes too!

leaflite

Twitchiness may not just be down to the frame. Try a shorter stem and wider bar, Ive found this has made my bike much more stable.

passout

AQs above, a short setem & wide bars are worth a punt - especially stem length IMO. Review your tyres too. I'd get a steel or carbon on one 456 myself - a frame swap?