I've had the Giant Trance 2 for a season and absolutely love it! 
Good Mountain Bike?
- Thread starter SR.GRINGO
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HEY, I have a Santa Cruz Chameleon frame, XL, in super duper shape that I'd sell you as a starting point!
Santa Cruz Bicycles - chameleon
Mine's Duke Blue and a couple years old, but I haven't ridden it for two seasons after I built my 29er SS.
My inseam is 32" as well, and I'm 6'1", and I typically ride an XL in 26" bikes. XL Santa Cruz Chameleon, XL Titus Racer X . . .
But a Large in 29er frames . . .
I'm not a 29er "zealot", but my experience has been, just like 26" wheels, it depends on the wheel build. I've been on floppy 26" wheels and floppy 29" wheels. The wheels on my 29er SS I haven't had to touch for a full season. Salsa Delgado 29er Disc rims laced to Paul Disc hubs, 3-cross, 14gauge spokes. They've been pretty bomber.
I like big wheels. I usually opt for my hardtail 29er over my RacerX 26er now because of wheel size. They roll so much nicer through the rock gardens, etc. And I'm in the market for a full-boing 29er to replace the Titus, as sweet as that bike is. On the other hand, when I do get on the Titus now, it feels like I'm riding a BMX bike and it's no problem to flick it through anything, throw it around, shove it through the corners, etc. It's all in what you like. They both have their advantages.
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I agree. When fitting bikes he should be looking at toptube lengths. At 6'4" with being slightly torso long, he really needs to be looking at a 25-25.5" effective toptube length, an XL from most manufactures.
Yep, I broke my teeth on an Avalanche...Pun intended!
I prefer my IF steel now...
As far as learning in the rough. That worked for me and now I can rock it with a SS and no suspension cept' for my 2.4's.
I ponied up for a SS deluxe and once I rec'd it I could not get enough. I rode and raced it exclusively for 2 years before I decided to purchase a Cross bike of the same make, (SS as well). I then raced/rode those two bikes for another year.
I am now, after not racing this past season, a bit out of shape and have been riding my multi speed Breezer lightning.
Cant say enough good things about the IF, fit and ride is incredible.
For the original poster, I would recommend steel as a lot of folks have said. The IF may be out of range money wise, but just have to say they are sweet as well as very nice people to do business with.
Bingo. Top Tube length. That and standover are the main two criteria I look at for sizing. To get a similar TT length in a 29er, I usually have to drop a size.
Local guy down here races SS for IF. He's a great guy. Sweet bikes, fer shure. If I had the cash, I wouldve opted for a hardtail from them.
Eddy,
I like your idea.....it is pretty dam flat where I live. Sometimes I may bring the dog for a peddle. The price is right as well. I have been checking out mtbr and lots of bikes but not sure I need anything over $1,000. Starting to think either ebay special or the redline...... How do I figure out the frame size? My inseam is 32" @ 6'4" 240 pounds..... Also when you guys say go for the hard tail with good componets any thoughts as far as brands/models to look for?
Thanks,
Gringo
As far as components go, it should have at least a Shimano LX group (if you aren't going with the 1 speed
). I'm pretty sure that the LX monogram is still the XT group painted black, so its pretty bombproof. Disc brakes are really popular right now, but I still prefer cantilever--its all you really need. I am rather anal about rims (after taco'ing quite a few). I like bontrager rims--the more bombproof the better. Most bike manufacturers will spend more money in one area and less in another. For some reason it always seems to be either rims or the drivetrain that is skimped on. try to look for a good balance between weight, frame and componenets. For me, I would rather have a good drivetrain and rims as opposed to a super-high tech frame (especially if you are going with a steel frame), as these components are the most likely to fail under normal to moderate use, and/or cause the most annoyance when they won't stay adjusted.
When I started racing, suspension was just starting to come on the scene. After a couple of seasons racing with a straight blade bontrager fork you got really good at staying loose in the legs and arms.
I met that dude, (with the pink bike)...Eric right? Yep rode with him some at the Mountain bike fest up in Mass some moons ago. Think I bumped into him at one race or another.
Actually, I guess I should say there's a handful of locals from central and southcentral PA that race for IF. Yeah, Eric is one--used to be connected with Mt. Nittany Wheelworks in State College. Another is Brian Keich, he rides an IF painted the colors of Troegs Nugget Nectar (green and orange). He won the SSWC05 in State College.
If you do want to go a steel frame and want to build it up from scratch, there are two frames you should really check out.
1) Soma Fabrications Groove - $350 or so.
2) The Nashbar Signature 853 frame for $290.
The Nashbar frame is an unreal deal.
1) Soma Fabrications Groove - $350 or so.
2) The Nashbar Signature 853 frame for $290.
The Nashbar frame is an unreal deal.
- Thread starter
- #34
Lets say I do build one up..... How do I figure out which parts are compatible with each other? I have a couple of months to do my research. I like the idea of disc brakes, strong wheels, good head set, etc....... There is another thread about where to purchase parts but not real sure how everything matches up.
If you build it up, the most economical way to do it is to get a build kit and add a fork. Check these build kit's out:
Build Kits at Price Point
You can also come up with a list of parts and have Larry at Mountain High Cyclery or Chad at Red Barn Bikes price it out for you. Both are great guys and have lower prices than the larger mail order places. Compatibility should not be an issue, things are very standardized and by ordering from one of the small guys, they will tell you if something is wrong or won't work.
Cary
Build Kits at Price Point
You can also come up with a list of parts and have Larry at Mountain High Cyclery or Chad at Red Barn Bikes price it out for you. Both are great guys and have lower prices than the larger mail order places. Compatibility should not be an issue, things are very standardized and by ordering from one of the small guys, they will tell you if something is wrong or won't work.
Cary
I've also heard good things about Larry.
Where are you going to stay when you come to the US? Via MTBR you could make a request for help in one of their local forums and someone would probably help you receive the parts and build it up. I would, but I'm 500 mi north of the border. I know some folks in Tucson or San Diego that would help.
The Groove is a very sweet steel frame. I built one for my
--we swap it between SS duty and 1x9. She really likes the way it rides and that's on rocky, rooty, twisty East Coast trails.Sr. Gringo, you could build a very nice steel hardtail for $1000 or less, depending on your choices, and not be disappointed.
Oh yeah, if you want, I'd be willing to give you an idea of what parts you would need to build it.
You can get pretty good deals through craigslist too. Around here it is a center of bike-related commerce and good stuff. I bought a brand new full squish Giant for an unreal deal off craigslist for my fiancee. Just find a friend who knows what he is doing and is reasonably thifty and you can find a decent deal... I think there is nothing wrong with used personally...
Good advice here in my opinion otherwise...
I'm 230 and I ride aluminum frames, I have been riding a Specialized stumpjumper that I got for a steal and it has been solid as a rock... My only one I'm mildly worried about is a Gary Fisher 29er single speed I'm building up that is super light and seems super thin so we'll see how it holds up...
Good advice here in my opinion otherwise...
I'm 230 and I ride aluminum frames, I have been riding a Specialized stumpjumper that I got for a steal and it has been solid as a rock... My only one I'm mildly worried about is a Gary Fisher 29er single speed I'm building up that is super light and seems super thin so we'll see how it holds up...
- Thread starter
- #40
Most likely Tucson although sometimes end up in Phoenix.....Costco is in both places! The when is the harder part....most likely not for a couple of months. I really appreciate all of the kind offers and the great advice. I will be up sooner but the problem is I am flying and I think the customs would kill me.