Best Bike for Downieville?

Yes

balldoc54 said:

My question...I know that people can do downhill on a hardtail, so can't a bike with only 4" of travel handle Downieville?

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Especially one equipt with 650 or 29" wheels.

How about a Tallboy / Epic 29er / Anthem 29er? A FS 29er may not be more agile, but if it's an all around XC weapon you're looking for, they're pretty darned impressive.

I was smokin' those trails on small GT Carbon Marathon. 3.5 inch rear travel 120 fork (my FOX rp23 has a pretty small air chamber too). I am 44, so will looking to buy a 4 inch travel bike, w/ FOX 140 Fork. Probably sub 25 lbs. Those NOMADS are too downhill oriented for me (sweet bike), I too like cross country rig.

Thanks guys. I'm not sold on 29ers though. I think if I can fit a 650 on the SC Blur XC then that might be the way to go. That and get a fork with 120mm.

balldoc54 said:

Ok, so I love Downieville and it is definitely the most extreme riding that I do with mostly xcountry otherwise so I don't need to overkill it with too much suspension travel. I had a Santa Cruz Nomad that ate Downieville's Butcher alive! I loved that bike, but want something faster and more agile for xcountry. I hate the looks of the SC Blur Trc, but afraid that the SC Blur XC Carbon doesn't have enough suspension. My question...I know that people can do downhill on a hardtail, so can't a bike with only 4" of travel handle Downieville?

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You can ride downieville on just about anything. back in the day coyote adventure company rocked santa cruz super lights with wtb velociraptors and v brakes. And they all survived.

These days you can get a damn good bike with more travel and great pedalling efficiency and still light weight.

If you are going to have just one mountain bike, buy a Ibis Mojo.

If you are going to have several mountain bikes - all the better!

Your perfect setup right here!

balldoc54 said:

Thanks guys. I'm not sold on 29ers though. I think if I can fit a 650 on the SC Blur XC then that might be the way to go. That and get a fork with 120mm.

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Disclaimer: Pic and review complements of Hurricane Jeff!

http://forums.mtbr.com/650b/4-full-susp-650b-765244-post9017122.html

There are a lot of light pedaling, 5" and above travel bikes that do equally well at D'ville and on XC rides. The Mojo HD or SLR and the Pivot Mach 5.7 Carbon would be perfect D'ville bikes if money was no object. Despite it's long travel, I was shocked at how easy the Mojo HD is to pedal uphill. The Mojo SL is still plenty of travel for D'ville & costs less. You can also just rent a bike at Yuba or DVO - they have nice selection.

:thumbsup: Now THAT is what I'm talking about. Cheers for that dude. I'm gonna message the owner.

Yeah if frame was in my budget, that's what I'd have put my 650 wheels on.

Twenty years ago, we were bombing D-ville on full rigids.
If you were really something special, you might have the old original black Rock Shox fork.
So many great D-ville capable bikes on the market now. Really hard to go wrong in the 4-5" travel range.

Have to agree. Going up Big Boulder?

I have a 6 in bike that's 27lbs. Works good

Brewtality said:

Twenty years ago, we were bombing D-ville on full rigids.
If you were really something special, you might have the old original black Rock Shox fork.
So many great D-ville capable bikes on the market now. Really hard to go wrong in the 4-5" travel range.

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Those were some halcyon days. If mtn. bikes weren't yet invented, we be going down in truck tires, on wheelchairs, or aboard grocery carts. In all seriousness, I broke my Bridgestone's top tube breaking in Downieville. I am excited for you, as I too have flipped some bikes for a new rig this year. I think, so far, people are suggesting the cat's meow indeed. I rode an SL-R over the winter, own an SL, and just bought a Mach 5.7c. Using your limit of a "sub Nomad", and heading to D'ville (I live an hour away) I would grab my Pivot- for going up and down. Next would be an HD. The SL-R is too restricted as crank choice, chain-line to plunk the money. The SL right now is the budget go to, if money is a scrunch. Congratulations in your position, the greater Sierra trails beckon your...sled.

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the blur xc is plenty IMO. i have a buddy that rides a blur and can ride fast up and down & doesn't seem to be an issue. i think it comes down to riding style and what you are comfortable with, as well as, riding ability. i see a lot of guys with too much bike IMO but that's the cool thing about bikes and having so many options.

Huck Pitueee said:

This.

carr009 by Huck Pitueee, on Flickr

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yup! That ^^^^^

I have a lighter wheel set and tires for the HD and can't bring myself to slap them on. After seeing friends get major sidewall cuts and me getting one a mile into a big ride and repairing a nice messy side wall cut I'd rather go big, low pressure and surf down the baby heads!
The above shot was taken just below the Black buttes in the 5 lakes basin.

yeti 575