Trek Question..

[billy1561]

Morning Billy..

This is what I'm thinking about when I should be sleeping last night..

I really like the Xcaliber and my thoughts were to get one and use it as my main off roader which I could use on the road as well, then change the tyres on my mtb for some good road tyres to use as my road bike.
But then I keep thinking about the DS as its more road bias... then my mind drifts to a Specialized Comp and keep my mtb..

Do you have this problem as I seem to be going round in circles..

Yeah it's called bike porn, ever so tempting isn't it...

 

[Boon 51]

Just me dribbling on..
Went to 3 bike shops this morning, Felt, Giant, and Trek and this is what I've noticed..
They dont stock the whole range of bikes only some models. If one shop had 30 bikes on show 10 were road bikes 20 were mtb and 18 of the mtb were 29ers..
There stock consisted of either low end of the range or high end stuff nothing in the middle, no hybrids at all?
Plus they seem reluctant to get bikes in for you to look at.
Lucky I'm coming to the UK in two weeks time.

 

[Cyclist33]

why are you even considering buying a non road bike for a bike that youll only ride on roads?

 

[Boon 51]

why are you even considering buying a non road bike for a bike that youll only ride on roads?

Due to a large weight loss I wanted a bike that was or is less taxing than my road bike.. just trying to get the best option really.

 

[Kevin Airey]

Wow Paul your still pondering

A 29er will fly and be a better all round bike than your 26" MTB or a hybrid, spend as much as you possibly can and try and get a carbon one with top end equipment. Yes I know its extravagant but if I had just spent top money in the first place I wouldn't have had to go through the mid-price range stuff wondering what could have been. My 29er is probably too big for you, but you are welcome to try it, weighing 10Kg it rides like a dream and would be amazing on slick tyres, but I don't want that. The Scott compliments my road bike and I have exactly what I want for now, carbon road wheels next!

I find that the 26" MTB is not a comfortable bike to ride now, it is true what they say that a 29er you feel like you are sat in and a part of the bike, whereas a 26" you are sat on top of it. This theory will probably apply to you as your no short arse....

If you want to have a chat you know where I am.....

 

[billy1561]

Agree with Kevin re bike ride position. On my 29er i feel part of the bike. Much better position then my old mtb. My cobia is Gary Fisher g2 geometry. Same as the xcaliber.

 

[Kevin Airey]

The problem in Spain is there is not really any try before you buy, they rarely have the bike you want let alone a demo. Only chance is a used one in the shop or a hire bike that is the same but these are rarely high end bikes.

Loving my 29er....

 

[Boon 51]

Wow Paul your still pondering

A 29er will fly and be a better all round bike than your 26" MTB or a hybrid, spend as much as you possibly can and try and get a carbon one with top end equipment. Yes I know its extravagant but if I had just spent top money in the first place I wouldn't have had to go through the mid-price range stuff wondering what could have been. My 29er is probably too big for you, but you are welcome to try it, weighing 10Kg it rides like a dream and would be amazing on slick tyres, but I don't want that. The Scott compliments my road bike and I have exactly what I want for now, carbon road wheels next!

I find that the 26" MTB is not a comfortable bike to ride now, it is true what they say that a 29er you feel like you are sat in and a part of the bike, whereas a 26" you are sat on top of it. This theory will probably apply to you as your no short arse....

If you want to have a chat you know where I am.....

Hi Kevin..

When I first came to biking 5 months ago I read the forums and the opinion was sell the wife , kids and house and get a road bike at all costs so I started with a road bike and for me that was the wrong move as I loose too much weight on the road bike.
For example I did my first 100k on the road bike a short whole ago the result was I used 2,830 calories add to that the 2,500 you use daily and thats well over 5,000 calories for a day and my body just cant take the hit.
So I want a middle of the road bike?

29ers have come with good reviews but I'm not sure on riding around on mtb tyres as the wear rate must be high.

I have been looking at the Specialized Sirrus Comp, Specialized Crosstrail, or the Cannondale Fat Boy 2 all light weight and good gearing with 700 wheels.

I would love to spend more on a bike, but I have to sell either of the two house that I have for sale or the Blackbird, so one of the above will have to do for the moment.

Laters

 

[Boon 51]

The problem in Spain is there is not really any try before you buy, they rarely have the bike you want let alone a demo. Only chance is a used one in the shop or a hire bike that is the same but these are rarely high end bikes.

Loving my 29er....

I'm going to the UK before the end of this month and I will buy from evanscycles as they have demos and a large range of stock but you are right there is nothing to try over here..

 

[Boon 51]

Agree with Kevin re bike ride position. On my 29er i feel part of the bike. Much better position then my old mtb. My cobia is Gary Fisher g2 geometry. Same as the xcaliber.

Morning Billy..
I did go to the Trek shop but they didn't have an Xcaliber and if I ordered one I think I was expected to buy it..

 

[billy1561]

Morning Billy..
I did go to the Trek shop but they didn't have an Xcaliber and if I ordered one I think I was expected to buy it..

Morning Paul.
When you visit the UK again sounds like your best plan then as fas trying out a bike goes.

 

[Boon 51]

Morning Paul.
When you visit the UK again sounds like your best plan then as fas trying out a bike goes.

About two weeks and I will be over... it would be nice to talk tecnical stuff in English for a change rather than trying to do it in Spanish all the time.

 

[Boon 51]

Billy...
What sort of mileage would you get out of a 29er's mtb tyres?

 

[Kevin Airey]

I think you are over-thinking this Paul and need to step back and take a look at what you really need?

Originally you wanted a hybrid or better geared bike to get up a certain hill, now you need a bike so you don't burn as many calories. I am not sure you are going to find the latter answer in another bike, okay you may get an easier gear but if you are still doing the mileage you will find yourself trying just as hard and burning up the same amount of K's, I know I do. The new bike wiped 30 minutes off a previous route that had a 3 hour PB and I just put the same amount of effort in! Understand there is a health issue here with weight loss, surely that means dropping mileage, effort and training. I am not really sure buying another bike to burn less calories is viable...

Are you using a heart rate monitor to determine calories? Don't rely on time and mileage calculations from Strava or your Garmin unit, my actuals with a heart monitor are 40-50% less than time and distance calculations.

Maybe if you like your road bike and 26" MTB and find them comfortable for your needs, I would get a set of road tyres on the MTB. If that works for you have a complete spare set of wheels so you can swap out quicker. The real answer may be to use a bike hire shop there are a few in Marbella, at least then you can have a few days on one riding your routes as even a demo bike probably won't tell you very much...

A new Orbea dealer has opened in Malaga, would be worth checking them out as well?

Good luck anyway I just hope you make the right decision, but I can see you buying a hybrid, then a 29er. Just invest it all in the best 29er you can afford!

 

[Boon 51]

Hi Kevin..

I think that a loss of a stone in weight is a bit too much for me, I was 10st 12lbs and now I'm 9st 13 lbs and I suppose the questions on getting up hills and better gearing on a bike are to me all related.

People are remarking how thin I'm looking so I need to stand back and take things easy and one way is to stay off my road bike and get a more jack of all trades bike and take things at a more steady pace.

So I looking at getting a middle of the road bike and hopefully I will put a bit of weight back on and if I do I will get rid of the road bike..

PS I have just got some road tyres for the mtb and just waiting for some inner tubes to arrive and I will see how I get on.