Yes its long, but i need the forums help,
With a new job comes new fiscal advances, thus it is time for another bike.
Ive had to locate to the prairies for such job, which means no more sweet luscious DH riding for me on the regular basis. Instead Im roughly a 6 hour drive from some decent trail riding. However since I still have that jumping playful itch, I will be spending whatever time possible further out west to ride the promise land. With that being said, I need this new bike to ride around here, yet be able to come with me and ride the British Columbia Interior as well when Im out there (trails around here are without much elevation, more so roller coaster rides as in 50 feet up 50 feet down, single track kind of stuff, there are jump lines and built stunts and it is hard packed enough that there really isnt a lot of pedaling required to go up, its more so a sort of long river valley pump track). So my question is what frames should I be looking at? Something that pumps and jumps hardpack trails well 80% of the time, but is capable to point its nose steep down a rock face when needed?
It will be a frame up build as I still have good contacts and thus good pricing, so the components wont be in question, just need to know as to where the chassis should come from. Im thinking something in the 5-6 travel range, 1.5 or tapered so I can throw an angleset in there, I like shorter rear ends but am not a stickler for bottom bracket height. Also Im in that in between height range for most brands sizing, 59 and change and always feel like mediums are either too big and the small is too small or vice versa (Medium giant reign feels too long, seem to like santa cruzs TT length to st height better).
Not a lot of brand loyalty but due to exclusive deals where Ill be buying from, I have no access to santa cruz, norco, kona, trek, specialized, or cannondale. So now you see why its getting more difficult. I was thinking a regular giant reign frame might do the trick with a slightly burly build (fox 36, 50mm stem ect) or I have been looking at possibly the phoenix firebird, ibis mojo hd, knolly chilcotin or the new endorphin, banshee rune or any others that you guys think I should check out. Thinking for build regardless of the frame being completly air sprung, a dropper post, mixture of xt and xtr, 1x10 drive drain (which sucks for the giant since there are no iscg tabs) angleset and probably hopes on a stans flows. Light crankset since Ive historically been easy on them, and a 180/160mm break set probably xtr trail.
My riding style is defiantly more of a line picker then a smasher and thrasher, Im not hard on components and my weight is currently 165lbs, so Im even considering taking some risks with lighter than usual components. Rode a Reign X0 all last season and that would defiantly be too much bike for what I need here, at least in its stock build set up.
So ridemonkey help me out. Recommendations for a frame and build that you think can do what I want it to do
Also for reference, ive owned a lot of bikes in the 4 and 7+ range, not a lot in the middle group, thus my need for help
With a new job comes new fiscal advances, thus it is time for another bike.
Ive had to locate to the prairies for such job, which means no more sweet luscious DH riding for me on the regular basis. Instead Im roughly a 6 hour drive from some decent trail riding. However since I still have that jumping playful itch, I will be spending whatever time possible further out west to ride the promise land. With that being said, I need this new bike to ride around here, yet be able to come with me and ride the British Columbia Interior as well when Im out there (trails around here are without much elevation, more so roller coaster rides as in 50 feet up 50 feet down, single track kind of stuff, there are jump lines and built stunts and it is hard packed enough that there really isnt a lot of pedaling required to go up, its more so a sort of long river valley pump track). So my question is what frames should I be looking at? Something that pumps and jumps hardpack trails well 80% of the time, but is capable to point its nose steep down a rock face when needed?
It will be a frame up build as I still have good contacts and thus good pricing, so the components wont be in question, just need to know as to where the chassis should come from. Im thinking something in the 5-6 travel range, 1.5 or tapered so I can throw an angleset in there, I like shorter rear ends but am not a stickler for bottom bracket height. Also Im in that in between height range for most brands sizing, 59 and change and always feel like mediums are either too big and the small is too small or vice versa (Medium giant reign feels too long, seem to like santa cruzs TT length to st height better).
Not a lot of brand loyalty but due to exclusive deals where Ill be buying from, I have no access to santa cruz, norco, kona, trek, specialized, or cannondale. So now you see why its getting more difficult. I was thinking a regular giant reign frame might do the trick with a slightly burly build (fox 36, 50mm stem ect) or I have been looking at possibly the phoenix firebird, ibis mojo hd, knolly chilcotin or the new endorphin, banshee rune or any others that you guys think I should check out. Thinking for build regardless of the frame being completly air sprung, a dropper post, mixture of xt and xtr, 1x10 drive drain (which sucks for the giant since there are no iscg tabs) angleset and probably hopes on a stans flows. Light crankset since Ive historically been easy on them, and a 180/160mm break set probably xtr trail.
My riding style is defiantly more of a line picker then a smasher and thrasher, Im not hard on components and my weight is currently 165lbs, so Im even considering taking some risks with lighter than usual components. Rode a Reign X0 all last season and that would defiantly be too much bike for what I need here, at least in its stock build set up.
So ridemonkey help me out. Recommendations for a frame and build that you think can do what I want it to do
Also for reference, ive owned a lot of bikes in the 4 and 7+ range, not a lot in the middle group, thus my need for help