my experience with FS bikes is limited. very limited. the only ones i've spent more than a couple of minutes on were proper DH bikes on a couple of uplift days at innerleithen a few years back. so this isn't a review of the whyte E120, kindly lent by alpine bikes to recent visitor matt, just a chance to ride the sort of bike that people seem to want these days. i risked the 'merican brakes to take it out for a quick spin on weel kent trails this morning to broaden my horizons a little - both in terms of brakes and gears (this was also the first mtb that i've ridden 'properly' with gears for 8 years or so). clearly i'm not the right sort of rider to fully review a bike which shouty reckons is up there as an 'ultimate trail bike', i've nothing to compare it against.
out the door, onto the coastal path and then a carry up to the heughs. so far, so good. both ends locked out and on the big ring all the way (have gears always been this low?). surprisingly easy to heave up to the heughs - which is very overgrown at the moment (legs still tingling from nettle stings 12 hours later). however, even when locked-out the thing feels sluggish - seems to take an enormous effort to get the fucker wound up and moving fast - a lag between putting the hammer down (ahem) and getting the reward.
it's not until braefoot that i get the chance to unleash the beast and point it steeply downhill. it's here i can see the point (a bit). the tricky bits can be ridden without thinking. even the bit above the gun emplacements that i normally have a wee think over are rolled effortlessly. real point and shoot stuff. didn't attempt any of the proper jumpy stuff along there, couldn't find the skilll compensator++ setting...
the gear were a major pain in the ass. they were set up just fine, but so fucking
L
O
W
not sure what the granny was for? catching the chain after a mis-shift?
bit disappointed not to like it, thought it'd be more fun. will continue to flick past reviews in the mags.
5 comments:
To be fair, it's maybe worth another ride - it's so far removed from what you're accustomed to that a bit of relearning and unlearning may be required to get the best out of this sort of bike. While I'm not claiming that it's the best bike of it's type, it's far from the worst.... and it's probably the best selling category of bikes (5ish " trail bike) over a grand - due to it being the best balance of skill compensator, while also climbing pretty well.
Like I say - try again, or another bike of that ilk - you might find you gel with it better.... The dragginess is almost certainly due to it having gears rather than squish (though I don't know how much sag you were running...).
All that said though, I still smile most on my rigid SS..... Just nice to chop and change bikes to alter the way you can ride the same trail - good way of saving it from getting old....
most probably. don't doubt there is a bit of re-learning to be done to really make the most of a bike with boingX2.
forgot something - found the endless fucking about with lockouts a bit of a pain too.
Perhaps you have to get off your american influenced singlespeed high horse.
i cannae, i've only wee short legs and they dinnae reach the ground...
Your legs may be short, but you could still kick anonymous in the bawbag.
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