Newbie...just ordered a Vitus Sentier Deore

Keith5d

As the title says, I’ve just ordered my first MTB in probably 15 years on the Cycle To Work scheme.

Caught a deal on the Vitus Sentier after looking at the Nucleus, but after trying both bikes the Sentier felt better to me. A few online reviews swing me towards the Vitus’s in the first place and I’m looking forward to picking it up.

I live in an area of Northern Ireland with more forest parks and trails than you can shake a stick at so finding places to ride won’t be an issue at all, and I’m itching to get in the saddle!

Opinions on the bike in question are welcome if anyone has experience of them, or input on what’s good/not so good with the components etc.

For £765 I’m happy, and with the savings on the scheme it’s a bonus. Well under budget and hopefully it’ll be a good machine to learn on

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-sentier-hardtail-bike-deore-1x10-2018/rp-prod159764

slc123

I think you've bought a decent entry level bike for the money.

The new M396 brakes get really good reviews for the money, decent geometry, wide rims and chunky tyres. I think it will be ideal for what you are looking to do.

My only comments, would be add a dropper post (it's got routing for a stealth dropper already) and a very minor criticism would be that I would prefer 34mm stanchions on 140mm travel forks.

Enjoy!

billycool

That's a great bike for the money. Just go and ride it!

As above, a dropper post can really help, but as a newbie it's not essential. If you find you don't need to keep adjusting the saddle height on the fly, then it's not critical (they are great to have though).

It's also a nice weight so should go like stink!

Let us know how you get on with it.

steve_sordy

slc123 wrote:

...............

......and a very minor criticism would be that I would prefer 34mm stanchions on 140mm travel forks.

.........

That is a valid point as certainly forks with that travel will be stiffer with larger diameter stanchions. But you have to be going like stink on rough ground or in gnarly turns before you notice, and then you have to know what you are looking for. My first 7 years of mtb had 32mm dia stanchions and the first 3 with front skewers. For five years I had two bikes (one after the other) with 140mm travel Fox 32 forks. I did not notice any lack of stiffness at all. It wasn't until I got a bike with a Pike fork (35mm dia) that I noticed the benefit of the extra stiffness. Only then did I know what to look for!

So, all those with 32mm dia stanchions with 140mm travel, do not worry, just get out and enjoy the ride.

slc123

steve_sordy wrote:

slc123 wrote:

...............

......and a very minor criticism would be that I would prefer 34mm stanchions on 140mm travel forks.

.........

That is a valid point as certainly forks with that travel will be stiffer with larger diameter stanchions. But you have to be going like stink on rough ground or in gnarly turns before you notice, and then you have to know what you are looking for. My first 7 years of mtb had 32mm dia stanchions and the first 3 with front skewers. For five years I had two bikes (one after the other) with 140mm travel Fox 32 forks. I did not notice any lack of stiffness at all. It wasn't until I got a bike with a Pike fork (35mm dia) that I noticed the benefit of the extra stiffness. Only then did I know what to look for!

So, all those with 32mm dia stanchions with 140mm travel, do not worry, just get out and enjoy the ride.

I did say minor criticism... I have 32mm stanchions on my XC bike that is absolutely fine for pretty much most UK riding, as you mention going to 35 you do notice the difference when things get gnarly.

But yes, I agree don’t go rushing to buy new forks especially on my advice!

Keith5d

Thanks for the input guys!

I'm a photographer so I'm treating riding like I did with learning about photography...use the gear I have until I get to it's limitations and have to upgrade. I was offered a dropper post as an optional add on, but at the minute it's just something to complicate all the other things I have to be focussing on (like staying on the damn thing haha).

I can't wait to collect the bike now and get out with it. At the minute I'm looking at a lot of the basic skills videos on YouTube and the like to see what I need to be working on straight out of the gate.

slc123

Keith5d wrote:

Thanks for the input guys!

but at the minute it's just something to complicate all the other things I have to be focussing on (like staying on the damn thing haha).

You are doing the right thing... Once your skills exceed the bike (if that's even possible, I think that's an illusion i've created to keep upgrading!) you can upgrade.

Although a dropper when you point down hill can be the difference in staying on as the body position it allows you to create is significant. Made me feel a lot more confident when I shifted over.

steve_sordy

Keith5d wrote:

...........

I can't wait to collect the bike now and get out with it. At the minute I'm looking at a lot of the basic skills videos on YouTube and the like to see what I need to be working on straight out of the gate.

I'd been riding bikes for years but when I first started mtb, I went on an Introductory MTB skills course. Best money I ever spent. It got me going straight out of the gate. MTB is different to road.