So if I were to get a new mtb.....

[rocknrollgirl]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! RM on the mt bike forum!!!!!!!!!!

YEE HAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK so I have two bikes:

Bob- Marin East Peak-full suspension all mountain. Just shy of 32 pounds. Heavy for me, but man can he take a hit. Tracks well, descends well. He is not WSD and I am small. Under 5'4".

Gidget- full suspension Titus Racer X . Under 25 pounds. Fully loaded. Can't take a hit like Bob, But man can she climb. Much more $$$ than Bob. Still not technically WSD.

I test drove everything , including the Juliana before I bought Gidget. I liked the Juliana, but for me, for racing, it was just not there.

Test drive on a trail if you can...I am so excited to see you here.

[emily_in_nc]

I have an XS Titus Racer-X I love. Not technically WSD, but I ride WSD in road bikes, and she fits me like a glove. I bought used (Ebay), then upgraded some needed components, so have about $2K in her now. Really need a new front fork, but am resisting as I hate to spend another $600 or so. Anyway, a used bike might be an option if you know what fits you.

I had a less $ REI Novara WSD MTB that fit well that I was able to use measurements from to verify that the Titus would fit before I bought it. I also looked at the Juliana, but it weighed more, and since I'm very light, I wanted the lightest fullie I could afford. I don't race, but I just wanted light to make it up the hills, and I can now!

Keep us posted on any decisions you might make!!

Emily

[Running Mommy]

RNR, I'll have to look into renting one the next time we are in Moab.
This past weekend Tony rented a Nomad because he wanted to make sure that the feel was right.
He has a superlight that has many miles on it and he still loves it. But he also bought an intense 5.5 a couple of years ago thinking that he wanted more travel and a cushier ride. I call it the couch! His friends call it his Grandpa ride.
The thing is, he HATES it. I think it has too much cush, so he works too hard on it. I told him that I think it's zapping his energy. All he knows is he HATES it. So he was hesitant to buy another bike with similar geometry w/out testing it first. He took it on Baby steps and Klondike in Moab and gave her a good go around. He was more than impressed and has declared that he MUST have one before our October Moab trip. Soooooo I'm thinking that maybe I need to take one on a "true" ride too. Not just a spin around the p-lot at the LBS.
Thanks all for your input..
A Titus.... mmmmmmmnnnn that would make the boys jealous!

[han-grrl]

na na na...na na...SHOPPING...repeat...shopping...shopping!
WOO!

I recommend test riding. Bikes handle differently. Make sure they don't have to do TOO much drastic things to make the bike fit (like put in a super long seat post - that happened to a friend of mine)

...make sure you have clothes to match (hahaha!)

I have the Trek Fuel WSD from 2001, although now it is "pimped up" thanks to hubby

I bought the Big Sur GS (Gary Fisher) a year or so back.

I like the hard tail for its simplicity, i find i ride better on hard tail. I tend to get a little "lazy" with the full suspension. that's just me. I like the full for long rides though, it does spare the back.

When you choose your bike, think about the type of riding you plan on doing - lots of climbing? technical? so you want to think about suspension travel and weight as well.

Then there are wheel options - ie regular or tubeless. I like the concept of tubeless - BUT if you do have to put a tube in, its SO HARD to get the tires off the rim. And the likely hood of damaging a tubeless rim increases with the level of technical terrain it seems. I know some people have had really good luck with it. So i guess its a matter of choice.

Have fun shopping!

Hannah

[BikerJen]

I have a Santa Cruz Superlight. (The Male version of the Juliana). I didnt like the color options for the Juliana, plus I've got long arms and legs, so the medium frame Superlight fits just right. Love my bike, had it since Sept 2005 with few problems!

[atombessy]

I bought a Juliana about 6 weeks ago and I LOVE it. I had been riding a Schwinn hardtail circa 2001 or so, and the difference is incredible. The technical riding I see is typical Pennsylvania woods, lots of rocks, hills and logs, and she EATS the ground up. I can see the suspension being a little too much for fast climbing (but I'm slow anyway, so it doesn’t matter for me) but I've seen very few downhill areas I haven't been able to handle on her! (and I'm kind of a wuss).

WSD-wise, I'm 5'3 with very short arms, and my small fits perfectly. Big difference from my previous frame, much better upper body position.

[bouncybouncy]

I ride a Julianna...and I LOOOOOVE it!!!!!!

My next full-suspension will most likely be a Truner Nitros (if I fit on one)...my hubby rides a turner and the customer service is above and beyond (it is helpful when you ride hard like he does)

I do not have any quams with Santa Cruz service, but I have nothing to base it on since I have had zero isssues with mine! I have set it up with very light components and a Fox RP23 rear shock so I can (so-called) lock it out on the climbs. Everyone who has had a Juli has nothing but good things to say...but I hear that about the Racer-X & the Nitros...

You got lots & lots of rides to test...so go get dirty and keep us posted!

[Running Mommy]

Bouncy, I can assure you that SC service is top notch. A few years ago Tony cracked his superlight frame- they replaced it no questions asked. We have also been to their shop when we lived in nor cal and they were super cool peeps.
But I see that Titus is made here in Tempe... Hmmmm... For some reason I'm leaning towards a smaller company. I'm not feeling the mass made bikes like the Treks and the Specialized of the mtb world. Nothing against them, I'm just leaning in a different direction.
Oh boy, what can of worms have I opened?? I just wish I had Moab-esque trails out here to ride. We have some homegrown trails that Tony likes, but I think are a bit too sketchy. I can't get a rhythmn going on them, and they are pretty loose. Loose can be unnerving when you have cacti all around you!

[Juliette]

I know people who have Julianas, Treks and Specializeds; they all like them just fine. Myself, I ride a Titus. It really is a joy to ride after hardtails for 15 years. It's used. I couldn't afford a new one off the shelf but by some type of serendipity, someone posted here that she had an xx-small for sale back in December. I pounced on it and haven't been sorry since.

BTW - Try Papago park for riding if you are new. There are some real mild trails there. Kind of like goofy golf for bikes. Or Pemberton trail at McDowell Mtn park, nothing technical there, just 15 miles of fun.