what exactly is a 'mountain bike'?...

ZHendo · Dec 9, 2009

that's exactly the kind of bike i want to build up once i can afford 2 bikes. i agree that the "do-it-all" idea isn't really realistic or the most fun option. in fact, i'd much rather ride something like you have there until i could afford a big bike.

Delimeat · Dec 9, 2009

I like it. My machine is similar except with a dropper post and Hammer****.

A mtb to me is something that can climb up and rail back down, maybe not doing the 30 ft step downs... but capable of pulling off some **** under a skilled pilot. Its amazing how many riders equate travel to the bikes ability, it simply is not the simple. Great pics btw.

Banshee Rider · Dec 9, 2009

Sounds like you've seen the light

You've got a nice bike, I've got mine set up similar and enjoy it equally as much!

al-irl · Dec 9, 2009

Similar setup to my morewood shova. Mines a bit burlier and i want to lighten it a bit, but it truely does everything and It rocks. Nice build you have there its given me a few ideas for mine. What ring are you running on the front.

Dogboy · Dec 9, 2009

Looks great man. Turned out really nice! :thumb:

jonKranked · Dec 9, 2009

punkassean said:
You may remember my recent post ( http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225073 ) about the current state of the mountain bike. In case you missed it, here's the cliff notes. There are lots of sub-disciplines within the realm of MTB nowadays and most are so specialzied as to pretty much defeat the original purpose. Mountain bikes are meant to be capable of covering all kinds of terrain fairly efficiently. Not to be back-flipped, 360'd, cliff hucked or skate parked. Nothing wrong with any of that...but it ain't mountain biking. just sayin'...

Sean, I get what you're saying, but I'm of the mindset that mountain biking is, first and foremost, about having fun. Some people like to get down different ways, and that's cool - and I think that's what makes the sport so great: that there's so many ways to enjoy it. So what if some people like to freestyle it out, and some people like to kill themselves to 6,000' climbs, and some people like to pin it on gnarly descents. They're out there gettin their jollies in instead of holing up on a couch in front of a tv, so I got props for wherever and however people spin their wheels.

edit: sick bike! nice shred pics too; I'd kill for some of that nice loamy dirt right about now :cheers:

yuroshek · Dec 9, 2009

sick bike for sure! everyone i know that rides a trance X is in love with theirs. the bike is sooo comfortable to ride and it will go thru just about anything you want.

check out a video of alex moschitti and I on ours

yesimaddicted · Dec 9, 2009

been want to make something like this. but been looking at a nomad, that feels like it would be a bit on the heavy side. or i could go blur lt . i just dont know. we will see

DamienD · Dec 9, 2009

mountain bike is a bike meant for mountains

slowitdown · Dec 10, 2009

that's a nice bike, nice riding, nice shots.

who cares what niche name(s) apply? looks a lot like what I like to ride. on a mountain bike.

oh yeah -- points for clips.

Biffff · Dec 10, 2009

As I allready have a DH bike, freeride/trail bike, and hardtail beeter bike I can completely get what your saying about the state of MTB. It just seems to be the way it evolved. Everything can be done on one bike, but it can be done better on specificly designed machines. The only gap (for the riding I do) in my stable is a more XC oriented bike. I do believe I will be getting a Trance X for that purpose later in the year.

Great looking bike and riding pics too.

johnbryanpeters · Dec 10, 2009

Nice clean build. I like it.

chillindrdude · Dec 10, 2009

i'm really digging your bike. very nicely spec'd...and your pics are kickass.

i'm using my yeti 4x for different kinds of riding as well. 70% of the time, i trail ride with it, and the other 30% is spent at the track, and DJs. i really like the concept of a slack short travel bike.

kidwithbike · Dec 10, 2009

i am one that is in love with this concept of a mountainbike also. My trance X epitomizes this genre and is my favorite bike ever. i like it and have developed almost more of a connection with it than my venerable DH race bikes too.
i used to hate riding up hills on heavier, not as good pedalling bikes, but this bike has changed me! the thing is a rocket ship, it will blast anywhere. yet you can still beat the piss out of it and most every type of terrain you encounter.
i love your build, mine is quite similar. enjoy your mountainbikes people.

jonKranked · Dec 10, 2009

DamienD said:
mountain bike is a bike meant for mountains

mountain? check.

bicycle? check!

:rockout:

mattmatt86 · Dec 10, 2009

I remember in your other thread you mentioned the trance X with a 150mm fork to slacken it, what travel are you riding the trance at? And how do you like the Haven wheels? They look so Solid I'm thinking about picking up a set before I even figure out a frame.

FlipFantasia · Dec 10, 2009

punkassean said:
I totally agree with the concept of MTB being about stoke and doing whatever floats your boat. I like jumping and whistler is my favorite place on earth but I'm an old school mountain biker and to me the truest definition of MTB is riding for hours up and down and all around, pinning it and railing corners, making the most of the terrain and challenging yourself mentally and physically. I'm just sick of all the marketing and hype. build a nice solid, reasonably light bike and ride the piss out of it!

so so true! while my do it all bike certainly isn't the lightest (cove hustler, 33.7 pounds) it certainly does it all, and does it pretty damn good! weekly toonie xc races, the occasional phat wed dh race (won the crank it up one on it), 4 day 4 jacks stage race, 8 hour epics in the chilcotins, steep gnarly valley trails after steep gnarly climbs to get to them....heavier than I'd like for climbing, but I like going down more! do it all bikes rule!

gravitron, just before the snow took over this fall

top of windy pass in the chilcotins after a few hours of climbings, about 17km or so I believe....

kill me thrill me

phat wed action

going for the pass and the win

Mulestar · Dec 10, 2009

Nice build and really the best kind of bike to own. I've been going crazy only having a DH bike since I put my slalom bike up for sale. I just can't ride as often with the restriction of only a downhill bike. I'm building up a morewood shova with a pretty similar build to your trance...can't wait until it gets here.

Orvan · Dec 10, 2009

punkassean said:
Havens rule. They feel basically as stiff as the Havocs I had before and are a lot lighter and UST ready....and they look rad.

You got me at "UST" ....you know us at Hutchinson, tubeless is in the blood. MMmmm, do you have any tire needs at all, by chance??

Pete.. · Dec 10, 2009

Wow! That's such a sick bike! I saw those pics in the Norcal forum a couple days ago and was wondering the full spec of the bike. Glad to see it. Soooooo dialed!

Acadian · Dec 10, 2009

Poserassean..

glad I could contribute (in more ways than one) to this thread.

Bicyclist · Dec 10, 2009

I'm with you 110%, these days all I really want is a "mountain bike". Here's the only [lame] pic I have of it, but it's a large Blur 4X. Sits at 30 pounds, 1x9, XT build...I don't have to worry about it, I can literally ride 95% of what I could on any other variety of mountain bike (jumps, DH, XC, etc.) and it's just a given that it will work well.

William42 · Dec 10, 2009

Serious question: I'm a major flip flopper between keeping my DH bike and getting something lighter and more "trail bike" oriented such as a Trance X, remedy, or reign, I'm a struggling student and two bikes simply isn't an option for me. I have by far the majority of fun on my DH bike, so I have a DH bike, but the lure of getting to ride all day (plus getting to ride constantly, I have no problems climbing, and the idea of 100% ride time with no shuttling or taking the lift sounds pretty sweet) keeps making me seriously consider the idea of selling the DH bike for a trail bike.

Again, more fun on the DH bike per amount of time spent, but the lure of more time riding, more freedom of where to ride and when to ride keep making me think maybe I should sell and buy a trail bike. Lets hear some opinions.

Bicyclist · Dec 10, 2009

William42 said:
Serious question: I'm a major flip flopper between keeping my DH bike and getting something lighter and more "trail bike" oriented such as a Trance X, remedy, or reign, I'm a struggling student and two bikes simply isn't an option for me. I have by far the majority of fun on my DH bike, so I have a DH bike, but the lure of getting to ride all day (plus getting to ride constantly, I have no problems climbing, and the idea of 100% ride time with no shuttling or taking the lift sounds pretty sweet) keeps making me seriously consider the idea of selling the DH bike for a trail bike.

Again, more fun on the DH bike per amount of time spent, but the lure of more time riding, more freedom of where to ride and when to ride keep making me think maybe I should sell and buy a trail bike. Lets hear some opinions.

I have 2 bikes right now and am thinking of getting rid of my DH bike for the money aspect...if you race though keep the DH bike and suffer

I used to only ride my Demo 8 everywhere, and really liked it, but something about my priorities shifted and now I actually like climbing for some reason so for me it's all about maximizing enjoyment by not giving up too much on the climbs or descents. I'd say if you couldn't care less about climbing/XC-type rides then keep the DH bike, if you want to do longer rides, don't really race, and just want to have fun (but aren't reliant on a DH bike to have fun like I used to be) get a shorter-travel bike. I'm a huge fan of either a 4-5" bike OR an 8" bike...something about the 6/7" bikes doesn't feel good to me, since they climb about like a DH bike will, but aren't as fast...at least with a truly short travel bike you gain some nimbleness on the descents, and don't just lose any positive aspects of having more travel.

Banshee Rider · Dec 10, 2009

Downhill bikes require a mountain with proper trails to maximize enjoyment; add a chairlift or shuttle truck to the equation for the majority of people for good measure.

A trail bike requires motivation and a path thru the woods. Some of my best rides this year weren't even on rad singletrack. There's something about turning pedals and covering ground that would make me choose my trail bike over my downhill bike if I couldn't have both.

mattmatt86 · Dec 10, 2009

Banshee Rider said:
Downhill bikes require a mountain with proper trails to maximize enjoyment; add a chairlift or shuttle truck to the equation for the majority of people for good measure.

A trail bike requires motivation and a path thru the woods. Some of my best rides this year weren't even on rad singletrack. There's something about turning pedals and covering ground that would make me choose my trail bike over my downhill bike if I couldn't have both.

This is exactly what happened to me last year and I attribute my change in attitude to Pisgah national forest in NC. My freshmen to junior year I would go ride there and do nothing but shuttle with my DH bike, mostly because I only had a DH bike. Then my senior year I had a couple other bikes along with my DH and I would go to Pisgah with my XC bike and ride to the top of the mountains. And there was just something special about reaching the top under your own power and for some reason those same descents I did on my DH bike seemed so much more enjoyable because I earned them. May sound a little corny but oh well.

davec113 · Dec 10, 2009

William42 said:
Serious question: I'm a major flip flopper between keeping my DH bike and getting something lighter and more "trail bike" oriented such as a Trance X, remedy, or reign, I'm a struggling student and two bikes simply isn't an option for me. I have by far the majority of fun on my DH bike, so I have a DH bike, but the lure of getting to ride all day (plus getting to ride constantly, I have no problems climbing, and the idea of 100% ride time with no shuttling or taking the lift sounds pretty sweet) keeps making me seriously consider the idea of selling the DH bike for a trail bike.

Again, more fun on the DH bike per amount of time spent, but the lure of more time riding, more freedom of where to ride and when to ride keep making me think maybe I should sell and buy a trail bike. Lets hear some opinions.

I'd go with a '09 Remedy or '10 Reign X built light for a ONE bike. My 31 lb Remedy is fun at Sol Vista and Keystone, it's very stable at high speed and awesome on smooth stuff and woodwork, but suffers in high speed chop, rockgardens, extremely steep stuff, jumps and drops... so if this is a majority of what you ride keep the dh bike. There's definitely parts of Sol and Keystone where the Remedy doesn't feel like enough bike.

I just got a Session 88 and I don't know which one I'd choose if I had to sell one. The Session 88 with lighter wheels and tires could do xc.... sort of.

FlipFantasia · Dec 10, 2009

I'd just like to say that this thread gives me hope for mountain biking.....power to the pedal

Rockland · Dec 12, 2009

punkassean said:

Gorgeous bike man!

ebarker9 · Dec 12, 2009

punkassean said:
I finished building it up about a month ago and I've ridden the bejeesus out of 'er since. I'm just as comforatable going fast and jumping as I've ever been on any of my 'do-it-all' bikes, some of which weighed as much as 7 lbs more than this bike does, and had a few inches more travel. Obviously the new bike climbs a lot better being nice and light but it really doesn't give much up on the rough stuff. I'm very happy with the overall stiffness and tracking of the bike as well as the quality of the suspension. So far, so good!

Gorgeous bike. And I'm impressed that you can climb well with it with a 36 tooth chainring and low seatpost. Oof.

How do you like the XCX on there? Debating between that and a full LG-1 on my "mountain bike".

JRogers · Dec 12, 2009

William42 said:
Serious question: I'm a major flip flopper between keeping my DH bike and getting something lighter and more "trail bike" oriented such as a Trance X, remedy, or reign, I'm a struggling student and two bikes simply isn't an option for me. I have by far the majority of fun on my DH bike, so I have a DH bike, but the lure of getting to ride all day (plus getting to ride constantly, I have no problems climbing, and the idea of 100% ride time with no shuttling or taking the lift sounds pretty sweet) keeps making me seriously consider the idea of selling the DH bike for a trail bike.

Again, more fun on the DH bike per amount of time spent, but the lure of more time riding, more freedom of where to ride and when to ride keep making me think maybe I should sell and buy a trail bike. Lets hear some opinions.

Of course, it depends on your preferences, but I would choose a more versatile bike over a DH bike if I could have only one. I love riding DH, but the bikes are too limiting to have as the only one. I like DH the most but probably ride that bike the least- I spend more time on the road and xc trails.

b1k3_r1d3r · Dec 12, 2009

I know its a little late sine you got you're bike already but here's some advice to everyone else. If you dont want something as tall as a 5 inch bike but want half decent geometry I have a 2008 Giant Trance with a 20009 RS Reba team with maxle lite. The higher fork slackened her out to 67.5 and i put a stroke reduced in the shock and its just a tad under 67 now with a reasonable bb height of 12.5 (the original was 12.75). the bike its pretty sick with that set up right now.

Banshee Rider · Dec 14, 2009

punkassean said:
I do raise the seat for climbing, ya know. The 36t ring poses no issues though, especially on a bike this light.

XCX is dope. LG1 offers a tad more security and a lot more bash protection but its also a lot heavier, although still much lighter than running a standard triple/double. You elimiate the weight of the front shifter, derailleur, cable/housing and big/small rings in exchange for only adding the weight of the guide. I seem to recall when going to the old LG1 over a DRS I dropped 1.25#.

Have you dropped a chain or missed a pedal stroke with your XCX yet? I'd love to shed 150g with the XCX, but I'm concerned it might not be as reliable when it comes to pedaling out of a rough turn. Basically, all I need to hear is "I can't tell the difference" to be sold.

what exactly is a 'mountain bike'?...

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