During the several past years mountain bike industry has gone through strong diversification. 20 years ago there were only mountain bikes (MTB), mostly hardtails. About 10 years ago, the first big MTB dilemma hit the market: fully or hardtail? During the several next years MTB fully-s started, to take over hardtails domination. In the beginning just coyly, but today very boldly! But that was only the beginning. Further diversification comes from the various applications: cross country, race-machine, mtb-marathon, tour, Alp-crosser, all mountain, downhill, enduro, freeride, dirt. Now even subcategory started to appear.
Mostly the specialised MTB journalist invented these names. Similar as the rock-critics fighting to coin the most creative name for the new music, these guys are inventing new MTB subcategories. However, people were crossing Alps with mountain bikes even 20 years ago, and all the present-day bikes coming from any of their subcategory are so much better than any of all that 20 years old bikes. So, my guess is that any of the present-day bikes will take you to the most challenging adventure, if you determined to do so. So, why bother reading reviews about different bike types and performances? Why not, just pick up some entry level mountain bike and go on the trail?
I guess because we are not living in the perfect world, but in the world predominated by consumerism state of mind, rather than enoughism paradigm.
If you could switch your state of mind towards enoughism just choose one of the entry levels MTB and do not bother to read reviews. (Hint: Ghost ASX 5100 would be the perfect choice.) On the other hand, if you like me undetermined, or for whatever reasons you want to ride on the cutting edge bike or tune your own bike, proceed reading and perhaps help me to choose or build my own perfect bike. In order to find that out, first we need to define area of application.
Prerequisites
Since I live at north-east of Germany at the moment, intended use would be in German low mountain range (Deutsches Mittelgebirge: Sachische Sweitz, Harz, Erzgebirge…) at least one weekend per month or hopefully more often. So I hope to ride at least 100-150km with 1500m height difference per month (rough estimated) on regular basis. Since, I coming from Croatia, I spend my holidays on the Adriatic coast. Height difference from sea level to the highest mountain peaks is something less than 2000 m – a perfect riviera. For the highlights of the seasons I hope that during the time, I will get fit enough for some intermediate alpine crossing. Ambitions does not end here, I would also like to take part in some MTB marathon and even multidisciplinary adventure race. According to that, I have decided that I need a bike from all-mountain category.
All-mountain – set-up
Diversification of MTB categories is mostly determined by the frame-set and the suspension deflection (front usually 100-140 mm and rear 130-140 mm). Other diversification criterion is disc brakes sizes (recommended at least 180 mm, at front and ear, but often 200 at front wheel. Wheels to support tire from 2.25 inches or even better 2.4 inches width. A gear-shifting does not play an important role here, but the more expensive it is, it would be lighter (each gram counts) and probably more reliable, therefore it is expected to get better overall performances to the bike.
According to that set-up and German MTB journals, Canyon Nerve AM 8.0 is the best all-mountain bike that one could get on the German market in the price range about 2300 EUR, so I have called Canyon, but they seem to be very busy. It was not easy to get them on the phone, but after I got them, I was very disappointed to hear that if I order my bike today (beginning of May, 2009) I would get it in the middle of August. So, I have started to look for alternatives. There are two possibilities, either to order some complete bike or to build my own.
1. Complete bikes:
1.1 Ghost AMR 7500 plus – 2300EUR
1.2 Cube Stereo K18 – 2200 EUR
1.3 Radon Slide 8.0 – 2400 EUR
2. Build my own:
2.1 Framesets
1.1.1 Canyon AM frame set, although bikes will be available only in 3 months frames are available immediately for 1200 EUR with FOX float RP 23.
1.1.2 LiteVille is available for 1800 EUR with FOX or DT Swiss SSD212L tuned
1.1.3 Fatmodul new ALL-Mountain frames are in development, and it would be available in winter 2010.
2.2 Forks
2.2.1 Fox 32 TALAS RLC cca 870 EUR
2.3. Brakes
2.3.1 Avid Elixir 203/185 about 300 EUR
2.3.2 Formula the One 200/180 is about 500 EUR
2.4 Wheels
2.4.1 Shimano XT
2.4.2 DT Swiss
2.5 Gear-shifting
2.5.1 Shimano XT or mix it with SLX to reduce the price
2.5.2 SRAM X.9 or mix it with X.7 to reduce the price
Looking at the prices of individual components it is obvious that, it would much more expensive to build my own bike, then to buy assembled one. However, during the next days I am going to visit some of the bike-workshops in vicinity to see how much it would they charged me to order the parts and assemble the bike for me. Until the next time, if you have some advice for me, I would be glad to hear it.
Happy shopping, happy biking!
2 comments:
Hey Goran - you might also take your old bike(s) to Hesslich here in Cottbus and get a new bike as substitution - for a lower price then. That`s what I did. Have a good day, Gregor
Gregor, thanks for your cooment. Unfourtunately my old mountain bike was stollen. That one I was also using for everyday commuting.
However, I bought my new one by weltmeister (Hesslich), indeed, but this one is for everyday commuting only, and for daily tours in Spreewald, but definetly not for the mountain.
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