Originally Posted by achc
With the parts you have on there, its a half rider bike, half race bike.
i.e. - those Marta SL are for racer. I will just use Marta (non SL) for normal riding.
But if you race and get sponsor, get the 07 XTR 970 Crank. I saw the actual product and its dam light. When it comes to racing and if you get sponsors, price and durability isn't an issue as long as it last you the race. The new NEW M970 comes with carbon Ti chain ring for the middle ring. The new XTR SPD that took over the 959 are also lighten up by around 25g. I like eggbeater quad ti more tho.
This is the M5 Epic loaded. Why not a S-Work Epic with full carbon if you get sponsor? If you don't forget that. I don't like the carbon S-Work. But if you can sponsor and race, you should.
If you race, RockShox are lighter then Fox altho Fox is better in terms of performance.
Last the wheels. Looks like you got Crossmax there. I can tell which model exactly but lets just say its SL (the top line ones from last year) (its call SLR now...)
that is 3.35lbs. Get DT 240s on ZTR Olympic Disc Rim and lighten up.
DT 240s Disc hub front and rear is 0.94 lbs
ZTR Olympic Disc Rim are 347g each
That comes to 2.47lbs before spokes and nipple...
Put DT revolution 1.8/1.5 that is 261g for all
You will save 0.3lbs on the wheels
Originally Posted by CaptMatt15
Just 'cause he's "sponsored" doesn't mean he has an unlimited budget. I got the idea that his team is sponsored by a shop and he simply got a discount on the bike. He probably doesn't have an unlimited budget, otherwise he probably would've bought the full-out carbon bike in the first place.
Oh, and please tell me you've used ANY of the parts you listed (I haven't), your post comes across totally as one made by a 15 year old who simply reads magazines and doesn't ride.
Ok so its not a huge sponsors. Its just that things I have listed can be upgraded since he is a racer so weight is an big issue. Like I said at the beginning, if you ride for fun, there is no point to do those upgrade.
Have I used all those parts I listed? NO
Have I used some? YES
Have tried...
DT 240s on Mavic 717 Disc
Chris King ISO on ZTR
RockShox SID Team and World Cup w/ carbon crown vs. Fox Float RLC (I have all 3 + Fox Vanilla RL but that is not comparable here)
SPD 959 (similar to XTR SPD) and Time ATAC Carbon
What I have not tried...
XTR SPD, M970 Crank...coz they are both new this year and biking season has not start in Toronto.
The S-work Carbon (coz I like hard tail)
Marta SL (I have Marta NON SL) coz I ride for fun and don't care about that little extra weight
austinmyers is just asking for 'how other people think' its just my input and he/she or you do not have to agree to it.
Honestly, To ride, there is nothing to upgrade. Its a decent bike with great XC setup. But to race, there are things that can be improved.
We all know that once you get up to a certain point, shaving off a gram can cost thousand esp below 22 lbs on a FS or below 18 on a HT MTB
Like I said, they are not necessary for normal riding but it would be nice to have them if you are a pro racer?
Someone ask what I ride? First I do NOT race. I have a Santa Cruz with XT/XTR, king wheels, thomson elite, Juicy 7, Hope, Nokian NBX tires, SLR saddle, EC70, etc
Two of my other bikes have full XT, one with Fox Float RLC, two other have RockShox SID Team and World cup, King/240 wheel, Mavic 517, XTR rim brake, etc...I posted them on the Forum a while ago...
I do have a couple of friends that are racer...
This is what some of them have
A) Scott Scale Carbon XTR loaded, Mavic SLR, Cinelli carbon loaded, and a SS for training...
B) Scott Scale LTD, XTR, Marta SL, had Easton wheelset last season...dunno what he have now, SID Race (<18 lbs)
C) 7 mtb...do u want me to list them...I can't remember all he has...
06 S-work carbon Epic full XTR, Cannondale F4000 Team Replica, Cannondale Scalpel Team Replica, Turner Flux, Ellsworth sth, Litespeed Niota Ti, and I can't remember...(he does not get sponsor)
They are all racers and I do not have those bike myself...but that is an example what racer use.
Originally Posted by MattP.
Now now, let's not bust out the stereotypes. Just cause he races, weight is a big issue? I never heard him say that weight is a big issue... Maybe I am blind?
Just cause you race, weight isn't always a huge issue. I have friends that are racing a few events at Sea Otter (and a perfect bike for Sea Otter would be 6x6) on a 55 lb RM RMX R1... He races, but races cause it's fun, and honestly, doesn't care if he shaved some weight by spending another $400 on a new set of brakes. Granted, that is DH, but still, I'm SURE there are people who race XC on fairly heavy hardtails/full suspension, just cause they love it, there out there to have fun, not to have the lightest/blingiest bike out on the course.
Well it depends on what you race. If you do DJ/FR/DH, ummm not really. But if you are into extreme XC racing, yes. I am just making a suggestion here. His Epic is a great bike with great parts and its not on the heavy average weight side at all. If you race to have fun, this bike is defiantly good enough. Its just for real completion like the 24 hours ones, 8 hours endure, etc.