So sorry for this post being somewhat long-winded and not very "specific," but here goes!
Next year I will be at UCSB, and they have a competitive XC team there. While DH has always been (and will probably continue to be) my focus, I would love to get into riding and racing XC. I have always ridden a decent amount of XC, but I've only raced once. While I only own a DH bike now, I miss the feeling of hammering for a couple hours up and down, as opposed to the hike-a-bike sessions on the big bike.
I don't have a ton of money laying around, but working at a shop does have its advantages. I think I want to get a hardtail; FS bikes for XC have always felt too "disconnected" for me, and I'm pretty lanky with a background riding hardtails and BMX, so I think that it is the better option for me at this point. Our shop carries primarily Specialized, so I'm looking at getting a Stumpjumper hardtail. The Comp and the Expert Carbon both catch my eye. Not sure I could justify the extra price on the Expert Carbon, but it sure is a cool bike.
I think that right now, my best option would be to get the Comp, and focus on getting in lots of miles this summer, and then next year start training harder with the team at school. Is it simply a dumb idea these days to buy a hardtail when the full-suspension bikes have gotten so good? Is the "faster" feeling of a hardtail nothing but an illusion? I know that they're good, but like I said, they just don't quite feel right to me a lot of the time.
Anyways, just thought I'd get a second opinion as far as my approach to the sport, and specifically the racing aspect of it. Any other XC noob advice would be appreciated as well! Thanks!
By the way, here's a photo of the bike I'd probably be looking at:
Next year I will be at UCSB, and they have a competitive XC team there. While DH has always been (and will probably continue to be) my focus, I would love to get into riding and racing XC. I have always ridden a decent amount of XC, but I've only raced once. While I only own a DH bike now, I miss the feeling of hammering for a couple hours up and down, as opposed to the hike-a-bike sessions on the big bike.
I don't have a ton of money laying around, but working at a shop does have its advantages. I think I want to get a hardtail; FS bikes for XC have always felt too "disconnected" for me, and I'm pretty lanky with a background riding hardtails and BMX, so I think that it is the better option for me at this point. Our shop carries primarily Specialized, so I'm looking at getting a Stumpjumper hardtail. The Comp and the Expert Carbon both catch my eye. Not sure I could justify the extra price on the Expert Carbon, but it sure is a cool bike.
I think that right now, my best option would be to get the Comp, and focus on getting in lots of miles this summer, and then next year start training harder with the team at school. Is it simply a dumb idea these days to buy a hardtail when the full-suspension bikes have gotten so good? Is the "faster" feeling of a hardtail nothing but an illusion? I know that they're good, but like I said, they just don't quite feel right to me a lot of the time.
Anyways, just thought I'd get a second opinion as far as my approach to the sport, and specifically the racing aspect of it. Any other XC noob advice would be appreciated as well! Thanks!
By the way, here's a photo of the bike I'd probably be looking at: