new ride

[thekarens]

Great bike! I've wanted a 650 for a while.

[Owlie]

I like the idea of a 650b, and depending on your terrain and trails, it makes sense.

And it looks sharp! Congratulations!

[Wahine]

RnR, I'm with you. I've never tried a 29er that didn't feel quite right for me and I've decided to build a 650b this winter.

Happy riding!!

[OakLeaf]

Lust is right! Enjoy!

[rocknrollgirl]

Update:
Today we rode the toughest park that we have in a 90 min drive radius. Lots of climbing, not many rock, but lots and lots of rooty, twisty single track with big water bars and washed out logs. It was leaf covered and wet.

It took me a few miles to get my mojo going. From the lot you climb in any direction that you go, so no warm up. But she climbs like a dream. Once we hit the height of land, it is a twisty rooty downhill. I have had to relearn how to descend on the new bike, but I got it all worked out today. I have also had to tweak my climbing because the front end it light and I am used to a larger, heavier wheel, so it feels a bit squirrely. So I just had to readjust my boobs to the tube while climbing and I got that issue settles.

To anyone that is contemplating, I have only good things to say!

[TigerMom]

5ft 1in me got to demo a $8000 Scalpel 29er Carbon TEAM with SRAM XX1. It rode like a dream!! I loved having shifters on just one side and only having just one front ring so that you don't have to worry about cross chaining. I loved the ability to lock out one or both of your suspensions on your handlebar (no reaching needed). Locking out both suspensions definitely made some difference when climbing uphill; but the bike still had a tiny bit of suspension to smooth out the bumps on the ride up. I loved how light this full suspension bike was in a size small (21pounds). The 29er actually "floated" downhill over bumps (I don't know if it was the 29er wheel or the carbon or the suspension....I'm sure that it's all of the above). Yes, I had more difficulty with the handling. But, I tried the 650B aluminum bike and the handling was still a lot more difficult than a 26er.

I think I need to ride more twisty terrain during the bike demos. But, the handling of the 650B vs the 29er was not that different for me, but both bike sizes are harder than a 26er. However, the 29er was WAY better for going over roots/rocks. I think that maybe I am falling in love with the idea of a 29er over a 650B because that Scalpel 29er Carbon TEAM with SRAM XX1 made me feel like a great mountain biker. I was actually less scared of going downhill compared to usual because it was so SMOOOOTH and because it was lighter than my 28pound Santa Cruz Juliana, I felt that I had more control of the bike.

[ridebikeme]

Ah...it's great to have a new TOY... many happy miles and adventures!!