Adventure pushies

**NordieBoy** · 5th March 2014, 20:19

Originally Posted by Crim

on this years dusty - passed about 15 oldies MTBing through Black Forest - reckon 65 - 85 years old (there was one old fella about 10ks ahead - fire in his eyes, and he opened a gate for us - I want to be him!)

Dad's 67 or so and biked the Queen Charlotte on the weekend.
Rides a Giant Trance.
Did the Rainbow Rage a few years ago too.

**NordieBoy** · 6th March 2014, 17:44

Been playing with bars and grips...

I've been riding the Stumpy hard tail with 750mm low rise bars and ESI foam grips.
Decided to try narrower bars again.
With narrower bars I have to use ergo grips or my hands play up so I got a pair of Specialized Contour grips, small diameter but still ergo.

1. 680mm flat bars - too much weight on my wrists.
2. 680mm risers - didn't really like the grips.
3. 750mm low rise with foam grips - see what old faithful goes like tomorrow...

It's good to be back out on the bike again, relatively pain free

**R650R** · 6th March 2014, 19:53

Totally unscientific but weighed both bikes today standing on bathroom scales and deducting body weight.
Fuel EX7 and the Slash both came in at 14.9kg, both bikes have dropper posts and standard setup.
Might sound heavy to some but still climbs sweet

**NordieBoy** · 6th March 2014, 20:22

Originally Posted by R650R

Totally unscientific but weighed both bikes today standing on bathroom scales and deducting body weight.
Fuel EX7 and the Slash both came in at 14.9kg, both bikes have dropper posts and standard setup.
Might sound heavy to some but still climbs sweet

How much travel have they got?

My 12.5kg Blur XC is only 100mm and climbs really well.
Until I ride it after the Stumpy HT.

The Stumpy descends really well too.
Until I ride it after the Blur.

**Gremlin** · 6th March 2014, 20:53

Torpedo7 has a special on Avanti. I'm tempted by a Coppermine 29.2... I know I really shouldn't be tempted, but anyone got any opinions on whether it's a good buy vs competitors?

Avanti Special: http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/division/bike/picklist/5137

**NordieBoy** · 6th March 2014, 21:24

Looks quite Trance'ish.

I want an Avanti Circa

**Padmei** · 7th March 2014, 06:41

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Torpedo7 has a special on Avanti. I'm tempted by a Coppermine 29.2... I know I really shouldn't be tempted, but anyone got any opinions on whether it's a good buy vs competitors?

Avanti Special: http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/division/bike/picklist/5137

loooks like a lot of bike for the money.
It does open up the 29er debate tho. You've done a bit of riding before?

Ahhh as per most deals there is a catch - have you seen what sizes are available?

**nzspokes** · 7th March 2014, 07:31

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Torpedo7 has a special on Avanti. I'm tempted by a Coppermine 29.2... I know I really shouldn't be tempted, but anyone got any opinions on whether it's a good buy vs competitors?

Avanti Special: http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/division/bike/picklist/5137

Or you could I could have a look about to see what we have.......

If your looking.

**Gremlin** · 7th March 2014, 08:01

Originally Posted by Padmei

loooks like a lot of bike for the money.
It does open up the 29er debate tho. You've done a bit of riding before?

Ahhh as per most deals there is a catch - have you seen what sizes are available?

Currently got a Kona Cinder Cone (HT), 26er courtesy of mr spokes. Getting back into it, started again last year. Will eventually have a full suspension as my riding gets better, but at these prices, it's tempting to capitalise... then gotta flick off the HT, as I don't want to be one of those guys

Size not a problem (which is why it's tempting). Kona is a 22", so XL in Coppermine it is... Purchasing 2nd hand is an option, but you never know what you're buying into, buying someone elses problems, and not often XL bikes come up. 26 vs 29... I don't care who runs what, and bikes would be too different to try and compare. That said, long as 29er parts are available long term

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Or you could I could have a look about to see what we have.......

If there is something going, let me know, no rush or urgency. Only got my ear to the ground to spot bargains... typical kiwi thing

Or an opinion on the Avanti would be choice.

**MisterD** · 7th March 2014, 09:41

I've had an Avanti Agressor 29 for a couple of years now, takes a bit of effort to get it up and going but it just flys once you've got a bit of momentum on.

It's a heavy bike (well compared with my old Tange Prestige-frame single-speed) and I reckon adding full suspension would be extra weight for not much benefit - it soakes up trail buzz nicely anyway, and I'd be worried about the strength of the wheels on bigger hits. For me 26 and full, or 29 and HT, YMMV etc.

While I'm on the subject, if anyone has any short-travel (60-75mm) forks, I'd really like to get that SS on the trail again and I've given up trying to find a way to re-pressure its Magura Quakes

**R650R** · 7th March 2014, 15:52

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

How much travel have they got?

120 on fuel and 160 on Slash. And I'd say the Slash prob climbs better overall but due to the 2x10 setup you get to the right gear faster.
The Fuel is great bike but bottoming out on the faster trails I like in places where there's still more big hits lined up and rough stuff.

**NordieBoy** · 7th March 2014, 19:36

Originally Posted by MisterD

While I'm on the subject, if anyone has any short-travel (60-75mm) forks, I'd really like to get that SS on the trail again and I've given up trying to find a way to re-pressure its Magura Quakes

A set of black RST Aerosa's do the job?