Review- Giant Anthem W (as in for women)
Ok, funny that *I* the self appointed tri geek would be reviewing a mtn bike, but I just had to do a write up.
I'm currently on a Santa Cruz Juliana, but I just found my new love. Yes, I'm selling Jules to buy an anthem- woman style...:D
Background: I consider myself a beginner- intermediate mtn biker. My favorite trails are in Moab. Klondike bluffs, Sovereign and Gemini bridges. Unfortunately our terrain out here is very UN- Moab like. :(
We have very loose trails with lots of rock gardens and cacti to scare the jeepers out of me. We also have lots of big daddy rattlers to keep me on my toes- but thats another story. ;)
My weakness is defintely climbing. But I also hate taking big drops. I'm a big old skeerdy cat. I don't like falling- in loose rocks OR cactus. :rolleyes:
And we have lots of washes that I have to drop into, wade through the sand at the bottom and then climb out of. Not fun for a girl who can't climb and hates drops. :confused: Hmmm.... might be why I don't mtb all that often now huh? hee hee
Anyway, we had a Giant demo last weekend and I took out an xs Anthem W.
MAN was I impressed! She climbs like a dream. There was NO pedal bob, and I felt quite confident in the drops that I did attempt. - Even with only 3.5 inches of travel.
It was funny, during the ride I didn't think about it, but after the ride I realized that I didn't have to fight the bike at all. She went where I wanted her to, and just kind of became a part of me. I also realized that I cleaned climbs I've never been able to before, and I've been out of the dirt for months.
It was then that I realized she needed to be mine.
Jules is a nice bike, but she bobs a bit too much for me. Running son tells me it's because she's a "single pivot". He's becoming such a bike geek. :D
Overall I'm thinking that the anthem would be a great race bike, and for anyone doing xterra she would fly. She's very nimble.
Running hubby likes the manly version, but he insists that he still needs a 5+ inch "couch". Tho he also agreed, the Anthem is one heck of a climber!
So there ya have it.. Anthem W gets a BIG OL thumbs up!!
So happy the rep left her with me, as I get to ride her again tomorrow morning!! yippeeee!!!
(anyone wanna buy an 07 xs Juliana?? :) )
