Ok so here's my delema:skep: I'm finding that do to time limitations (mainly), travel money constraints, terrain(elevation availability), and riding partners, I'm not getting out to do much big bike riding these days... Most the guys I ride with are scattered around, and we are lucky to ride once a week as most of us work full time, and most of them have families. I work full time, college full time, so there's not much time till next summer(when I finish my bachelor's) to travel to "Tha Goods". (Snowshoe, Whiteface, Platekill, etc)
This being said, I have been doing more xc (2-3 times a week) than DH riding and I'm wondering if I should just huck the Faith and pick up something more trail oriented? My issue is that every xc bike I've ridden, I don't like. I enjoy the geometry of the bigger bikes, I like to sit upright, I like the beefyness for when it's needed, etc. I slapped some 2.3 xc treads on the faith with some xc tubes and the thing rolls pretty nicely around the xc trails. I know it's a bit overkill, but it handles pretty good for how heavy it is. I was looking at some trail/AM bikes such as the Specialized Enduro line, the SX Trail etc, and I'm just wondering if I'd have more fun with a trail bike for the trails I've "Mainly" been riding. I enjoy DH and FR, but I'm realizing that I can only do it once a week at best because our two spots are about an hour to 2 hours south of here, and the rest of the DH stuff is a good 5 hour drive. That being said, Ohio has some epic xc, I just got back from a ride called Findley Lake and it has taken the number one spot for xc that I've ridden for flat land rolling xc.
Most the xc around here is rolling flatland, however I've managed to keep up a pretty good pace on the Faith with different tires because there's no major climbs. I can't really see myself riding an xc bike, but I could definently drop down to something like the Enduro SX Trail. However, it seems that people have been posting that the thing is a friggin' beast (weight wise), so I'm wondering if it's even worth it.
The reason I'm looking at Specialized and Trek is because I can get a bike from one of those two companies cheaper than others because I did some work for a guy who owns a shop that really helped him out, being an ex- mechanic and all so he's offered to help me get a trail bike if I want one.
I like the idea of that Specialized enduro sx, but 40 lbs for that bike seems like a lot of weight, when my faith is in the 45 range with 8 inches of travel and bomb arse parts.
Would there be a big difference between a 38-42lb bike vs the 45-49lbs I'm pushing? I'm really getting back into trail riding, it's fun, challenging, good for the body, and as long as I'm keeping up a good pace, it keeps my interest. It would be great to have something lighter so I can go faster with the same effort, but it still needs to be bomb proof for when I do get a chance to shred.
Comments and suggestion's wanted.
This being said, I have been doing more xc (2-3 times a week) than DH riding and I'm wondering if I should just huck the Faith and pick up something more trail oriented? My issue is that every xc bike I've ridden, I don't like. I enjoy the geometry of the bigger bikes, I like to sit upright, I like the beefyness for when it's needed, etc. I slapped some 2.3 xc treads on the faith with some xc tubes and the thing rolls pretty nicely around the xc trails. I know it's a bit overkill, but it handles pretty good for how heavy it is. I was looking at some trail/AM bikes such as the Specialized Enduro line, the SX Trail etc, and I'm just wondering if I'd have more fun with a trail bike for the trails I've "Mainly" been riding. I enjoy DH and FR, but I'm realizing that I can only do it once a week at best because our two spots are about an hour to 2 hours south of here, and the rest of the DH stuff is a good 5 hour drive. That being said, Ohio has some epic xc, I just got back from a ride called Findley Lake and it has taken the number one spot for xc that I've ridden for flat land rolling xc.
Most the xc around here is rolling flatland, however I've managed to keep up a pretty good pace on the Faith with different tires because there's no major climbs. I can't really see myself riding an xc bike, but I could definently drop down to something like the Enduro SX Trail. However, it seems that people have been posting that the thing is a friggin' beast (weight wise), so I'm wondering if it's even worth it.
The reason I'm looking at Specialized and Trek is because I can get a bike from one of those two companies cheaper than others because I did some work for a guy who owns a shop that really helped him out, being an ex- mechanic and all so he's offered to help me get a trail bike if I want one.
I like the idea of that Specialized enduro sx, but 40 lbs for that bike seems like a lot of weight, when my faith is in the 45 range with 8 inches of travel and bomb arse parts.
Would there be a big difference between a 38-42lb bike vs the 45-49lbs I'm pushing? I'm really getting back into trail riding, it's fun, challenging, good for the body, and as long as I'm keeping up a good pace, it keeps my interest. It would be great to have something lighter so I can go faster with the same effort, but it still needs to be bomb proof for when I do get a chance to shred.
Comments and suggestion's wanted.