Bike for Duathalon around £1000?

Mark909
Mark909 Posts: 456
edited September 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hello, my mountain biking has fallen by the wayside for the last few months as I've been training to run a 10k. Now I can do this I'm thinking of entering an offroad duathalon. Does anyone have any experience of these events. I've got a trail hardtail but i think it might be a bit too heavy for the xc stage. I think i'd want to lighter bike. Maybe even a 29er. I cant imagine the routes being too technical and imagine a fair bit of bridleways as opposed to singletrack. I might be pleasently suprised though. So guess suggestions for a lightweight xc bike around £1000. Thanks for any help!

Comments

  • nax-ian
    nax-ian Posts: 209
    Hi, very timely post, as we're just in the throes of organising such an event here. Sorry cant help with bike choice, the market is so flooded with choice! But, one major tip I can give you is practice going hard on the bike then going straight in to the (2nd) run. Have fun
    Finished
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    if it's a trail hardtail, then it'll probably be fine. Are you entering with the aim to be an outright winner, or just to compete and have fun?
    My photos
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    No i doubt id ever get to the stage of winning an event! More of a mid pack finish i think!

    My bikes got a pretty slack head angle and although it's great for my current riding I think it could be a pain for going flat out for 20-30k along bridleways, etc.
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    Mark909 wrote:
    Hello, my mountain biking has fallen by the wayside for the last few months as I've been training to run a 10k. Now I can do this I'm thinking of entering an offroad duathalon. Does anyone have any experience of these events. I've got a trail hardtail but i think it might be a bit too heavy for the xc stage. I think i'd want to lighter bike. Maybe even a 29er. I cant imagine the routes being too technical and imagine a fair bit of bridleways as opposed to singletrack. I might be pleasently suprised though. So guess suggestions for a lightweight xc bike around £1000. Thanks for any help!

    Where I used to live the bridleways were singletrack but aside from that, if its a race it almost certainly wont be on bridleways as you arent allowed to use them for timed race events. Probably be on private land and therefore could be anything from a taped field to natural singletrack.

    You didnt say what your existing bike is but assuming its a 100-120mm hardtail I'd use that for a first event and see how you do. Why throw a grand at a lightweight xc racer you might not use more than once?

    Runnings great - all you need is a pair of half decent trainers - 100 quid - duathlons drift into more expensive territories!
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    My bikes a 2009 Marin Rocky Ridge. It's got 140mm forks. You're probably right. I'd probably be better off getting comfortable riding it for 20-30km at speed. I guess if I do decide to buy an xc racer later my time will improve from not having to lug a tank around the course with me! ;P
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    You'll probably be fine. I've done a few enduro events on an AM machine. Mountain bikes are all pretty capable machines.
    My photos
  • Chinley Churner
    Chinley Churner Posts: 313
    I race a lot of these through the winter and the technicality of the bike courses does vary quite a lot but is never massively hard.. which one are you thinking of entering.. some, such as the Evil Sheriff at Sherwood Pines are completely non-technical (I race it on a cross bike) and others, such as Whinlatter, Fearless at Llandegla and Grizedale use red graded trails. I race most of them on a Giant XTC 29'er and am normally at the sharp end of the field... last season almost all the top 10 at most races were on XC 29'ers... I'd be looking for something light and fast, do plenty of bike to run sessions and practice your transitions.
  • Chinley Churner
    Chinley Churner Posts: 313
    Few options here...

    http://bikemagic.com/gear/800-1100-29er ... -best.html

    my pick would probably be the Spesh..
  • Woody80
    Woody80 Posts: 324
    Are you actually going to get a much lighter and more race orientated bike for that type of money? Might be better off upgrading your wheels to drop some weight? Depends how into the event type you get, you might decide after the first it's definitely worth dropping a load of cash on a specific bike.

    Personally I'd tweak the current bike and see how it goes.
    Bludgeon
    Cider Rider
    Missile
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    Maybe a lockable fork to get rid of unwanted bounce from the 140mm on a climb but then you can unlock for decents and benefit? And lighter wheels/tyres to get up to speed easier.
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    Chinley Churner wrote:
    I race a lot of these through the winter and the technicality of the bike courses does vary quite a lot but is never massively hard.. which one are you thinking of entering.. some, such as the Evil Sheriff at Sherwood Pines are completely non-technical (I race it on a cross bike) and others, such as Whinlatter, Fearless at Llandegla and Grizedale use red graded trails. I race most of them on a Giant XTC 29'er and am normally at the sharp end of the field... last season almost all the top 10 at most races were on XC 29'ers... I'd be looking for something light and fast, do plenty of bike to run sessions and practice your transitions.

    Thanks for the advice chinley! Do you know of any training plans I can follow? I've only really got into running over the last 3 months but miss mountain biking so a duathalon sounds like an ideal event for me!

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