What Bike?

Torchy Peden Rules
Torchy Peden Rules Posts: 6
edited March 2019 in MTB buying advice
I am considering buying a racing bike and am looking at two options. Both Are Norco's, the Optic or the Revolver (FS). I race in a fun weeknight league and do 3-4 weekend races. Pretty flat terrain where I live with fast ,flowy trails, nothing too technical.
Thanks

Comments

  • Torchy Peden Rules
    Torchy Peden Rules Posts: 6
    oxoman wrote:
    Might be useful to post bike specs to help people advise you

    Thanks for the advice oxoman
    Optic Carbon C2 (XL) $5099 CDN$
    29er frame
    Front Rockshox Pike 130mm
    Rear Fox Float
    SRAM NX Eagle 11 spd drivetrain
    SRAM level brakes
    Novatecc front 110 x 15 boost & DT Swiss rear hubs 12 x 148 boost
    WTB rims w/maxxis minon 2.3 tires
    Head tube angle 67.5
    Seat tube angle 74.9
    wheel base 1115
    BB height 338

    Revolver FS 2 Carbon (XL) $5199 CDN$
    29er frame
    Front Rockshox SID RL 100mm
    Rear Rockshox Monarch RL
    SRAM GX/XG Eagle 12 spd drivetrain
    SRAM level brakes
    DT Swiss M1900 hubs
    WTB rims w/maxxis Icon 2.2 tires
    Head tube angle 71
    Seat tube angle 74
    wheel base 1174
    BB height 330
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    Quite different geometries, esp slackness - is there a good reason for the choice only being between those two?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Buy one, then you can decide what you want to race. They are very different bikes...
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,443
    Everything about the Revolver says it is better suited to XC racing than the Optic. It has a steeper head angle, narrower faster rolling tyres, less travel. I'm willing to bet that it is lighter as well. It could be a hard ride though.

    But if you want a fast trail bike, one that inspires confidence on the rougher stuff, then get the Optic!
  • Torchy Peden Rules
    Torchy Peden Rules Posts: 6
    larkim wrote:
    Quite different geometries, esp slackness - is there a good reason for the choice only being between those two?

    I am a mid pack racer with an old FS Epic and sense the guys beat me through the twisty stuff and on the climbs, although I know climbs are more fitness. I want to see if I can ride with some of the faster guys.

    I have a Norco dealer close, so just wanting something local
  • Torchy Peden Rules
    Torchy Peden Rules Posts: 6
    steve_sordy wrote:
    Everything about the Revolver says it is better suited to XC racing than the Optic. It has a steeper head angle, narrower faster rolling tyres, less travel. I'm willing to bet that it is lighter as well. It could be a hard ride though.

    But if you want a fast trail bike, one that inspires confidence on the rougher stuff, then get the Optic!

    Thanks for your thoughts Steve,.

    When you say hard ride do you mean difficult or harsh through the rough terrain?
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I think he means harsh on rough terrains.

    The Optic is way too much bike for an XC style race (which your description suggests is what you're doing).

    Have a look at the Canyon offerings as well, what about a Scott Spark, great XC machine and surprisingly capable on rough trails as well.
    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.
  • Torchy Peden Rules
    Torchy Peden Rules Posts: 6
    The Rookie wrote:
    I think he means harsh on rough terrains.

    The Optic is way too much bike for an XC style race (which your description suggests is what you're doing).

    Have a look at the Canyon offerings as well, what about a Scott Spark, great XC machine and surprisingly capable on rough trails as well.

    The Scott Spark is another bike I am considering, but the closest dealer is quite far away, but with your recommendation, maybe looking further at that one would be good. Thanks
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,443
    Torchy Peden Rules wrote:
    ...............

    Thanks for your thoughts Steve,.

    When you say hard ride do you mean difficult or harsh through the rough terrain?

    I mean a jolting ride that will be hard on your contact points. If you reduce your tyre pressure and/or adjust your suspension to take the sting out, you will slow down the bike!
  • robertpb
    robertpb Posts: 1,866
    Steve, reducing tyre pressure gives less rolling resistance on off road riding so you go faster, as long as they stay on the rim.
    Now where's that "Get Out of Crash Free Card"
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Still won't make an XC bike a trail bike.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,443
    robertpb wrote:
    Steve, reducing tyre pressure gives less rolling resistance on off road riding so you go faster, as long as they stay on the rim.

    Yes, I know that. I wasn't assuming that he was starting with 60psi, but something more normal. The OP said he rides "Pretty flat terrain where I live with fast ,flowy trails, nothing too technical" If he overdoes the pressure reduction he may get a smoother ride on the small roughness, but it will slow him down on the smoother stuff.

    This is what caused my breakthrough in tyre pressures!

    https://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tues ... -2011.html 8)

    Despite asking loads of people loads of questions about why they were so much faster than me, nobody ever told me about the impact of tyre pressures. Instead they told me all about fitness, gearing choice, fitness, line choice, fitness, suspension set up, fitness, skill, fitness, nerve, fitness............... :lol:
  • robertpb
    robertpb Posts: 1,866
    I see your line of thought there Steve.

    My breakthough on tyre pressures came in 1985 when riding with Geoff Apps who was riding 650b's with 18psi.
    Now where's that "Get Out of Crash Free Card"
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,443
    robertpb wrote:
    I see your line of thought there Steve.

    My breakthough on tyre pressures came in 1985 when riding with Geoff Apps who was riding 650b's with 18psi.

    Mine came with the video from PinkBike, but was confirmed the week after when riding with a guy nicknamed the "mountain goat" - it seemed that there was nothing he couldn't climb. I was following him on some random trail in the Peak District and we came to an impossibility - a steep slope that was covered in pebbles! Why didn't they all roll down to the bottom? Maybe they had just been laid there and would be all at the bottom in the next year, but right now they weren't! He went straight up, whereas I spun out and generally scrabbled about at the bottom making a fool of myself.

    We were both tubeless, but he had front & rear 26x2.4 Continental Rubber Queens (precursor to Trail Kings) with the black chilli compound mix rubber (sticky). I had front & rear 26x2.35 Maxxis Ignitors, no special mix, but designed for hard and loose surfaces. I thought I'd gone pretty low at 26F and 30R,as I was 92kg in my riding gear. He was 70kg but was at 16F-18R psi. At his urging, I dropped to 20F-22R and I winched straight up at my first attempt! I was concerned that subsequently I'd ding the rims on the waterbars we crossed at speed later that ride, but I had zero problems. Revelation! :lol: I've been low ever since.

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