First MTB - DBR Summit Air or Saracen Mantra?

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Comments

  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Standover clearence is meaningless.

    As an indication I am 5'9" and ride a 16" Carrera (also built by Merida the same as your Voodoo and size for size the geo is pretty much identical), you really would be better off on a 16" for any offroad use, it will be fine on the road (my commuter is a 19").
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • GazzaKJB
    GazzaKJB Posts: 16
    It's probably too late now since I got them to build it for me & handle ends get scuffed when resting the bike on the floor, feels great when riding anyways, I'm really gonna have to improve my fitness though. The only thing I'm gonna have to get used to with its size is stopping properly without falling off.

    The seat height's perfect at its lowest, leg's completely straight on the lowest pedal. The chain came off twice when switching gears though as the manual gave a really convoluted explanation about when to switch front gears. I'll only be using the bottom 8 for now anyway because the upper ones kill me.
  • hainman
    hainman Posts: 699
    basically you'll use the small ring at the front with the 3-4 biggest rings at the rear for hill climbing,from 3-4 down to small ring at the back will be used with middle ring and big ring up front for flat and downhill,sounds like a smaller frame would have been better suited if your riding with the seatpost so low,i have medium frame and my seat post is out 3/4's of the way,and thats my perfect leg length.
    Giant Reign 2
    Crohnie
  • GazzaKJB
    GazzaKJB Posts: 16
    Cheers! The seat is actually a good 5 inches from its lowest point, but I think screws in the frame prevent it going lower.

    I've just adjusted the sag which has lowered the fork by 10mm and the frame by a bit I guess. It was over 130mm when I got it home with sag less than 10. Will this need checking/change regularly?

    Also, is it normal for me to have to pull the brake handles over half way back before they start working? I was expecting them to be a bit more responsive
  • hainman
    hainman Posts: 699
    dont adjust it to much,the suspension should be good to go,the brakes will need a wee bedding in,few hard braking and it should bed them in,my brakes move a bit before they bite,but when they bite,they are lethal,not sure if its seat post length,my mate rides a big feckin post that has more post showing fully down than mine when its at its right riding position,
    Giant Reign 2
    Crohnie
  • GazzaKJB
    GazzaKJB Posts: 16
    I went up to Holden Forest on Saturday so as promised, here are some before and after pics:-

    9vrr.jpg
    te9p.jpg
    0h7x.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    thwd.jpg

    The bike handled beautifully - though I was knackered - gave her a thorough clean yesterday ready for round two this Thursday 8)
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    Good stuff. Bought the same bike for my wife.

    When you've got the budget you may want to consider swapping the tyres for some lighter folding ones with better grip - the original tyres are pretty nasty.

    You may want to consider cutting an inch or so off the seatpost so that you can lower it a bit if you come across some more technical sections and you want more room to move.
  • sgtpepper1969
    sgtpepper1969 Posts: 61
    Get yourself a couple of marsh guards
  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    Nice I like the headtube badge so nice to see a proper badge rather than a sticker. If you are comfy with the seat at the height in the photos I would say you got the right size frame.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • GazzaKJB
    GazzaKJB Posts: 16
    chrisw333 wrote:
    When you've got the budget you may want to consider swapping the tyres for some lighter folding ones with better grip - the original tyres are pretty nasty.

    Yeah, they were the only thing that felt iffy when I've been riding. If I don't have my weight fully at the back of the bike so I'm leaning behind the seat, the back wheel skids when going over large roots or rocks, though the ground's pretty wet at the moment.
    sgtpepper1969 wrote:
    Get yourself a couple of marsh guards

    Mud guards and a drinks holder are my next purchase, my back & butt were caked in dirt and my face got splashed a fair bit too. It was a laugh until it came to driving home.
    stubs wrote:
    Nice I like the headtube badge so nice to see a proper badge rather than a sticker. If you are comfy with the seat at the height in the photos I would say you got the right size frame.

    I love that too, awesome little detail. Yeah it feels spot on, though I haven't had it lower to compare.

    Really looking forward to tomorrow, the only thing I don't like is the journey there. I keep an eye on my bike in the wing-mirror all the way and my stomach sinks every time we turn a corner. Are bike racks supposed to wobble that much?
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Haven't read all the comments, but you maybe interested in discounts ar Real Cycles:
    http://www.realcycles.com/m1b0s2p4697/S ... Trail_2013
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • croptonboy
    croptonboy Posts: 164
    Well, even if you'd have limited yourself to the first page you'd have seen the OP bought a Voodoo :P

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