Anybody know much about mountain bikes
Discussion
I’ve got a Scott comp racing about 8ish years old but hardly used, I got it as part of an insurance payout and it's just stood around. It really is like new.
I want to start using it regularly for day trips, I have brought a bundle of mountain bike magazines for some ideas and see that for £1000 which mine cost, all the new bikes come with disk brakes (which mine doesn't have).
That then got me thinking is my bike the fairly good standard that I thought it was or has bike design moved on light years ahead?
Is it good enough to take on trips or would I be better off buying something newer?
Thanks in advance.
I want to start using it regularly for day trips, I have brought a bundle of mountain bike magazines for some ideas and see that for £1000 which mine cost, all the new bikes come with disk brakes (which mine doesn't have).
That then got me thinking is my bike the fairly good standard that I thought it was or has bike design moved on light years ahead?
Is it good enough to take on trips or would I be better off buying something newer?
Thanks in advance.
I disagree, bike technology hasn't moved on light years in the last 8 years and your bike is far from obsolete. If you do feel the need for any new bits they'll still fit your old bike.
The only caveat to that is disk brakes for which you generally need a frame/forks with the right mountings. However I think this has more to do with the prices coming down (and fashion), rather than some major technological breakthrough. A well set up set of V-style brakes will be all you ever need IMO.
The only caveat to that is disk brakes for which you generally need a frame/forks with the right mountings. However I think this has more to do with the prices coming down (and fashion), rather than some major technological breakthrough. A well set up set of V-style brakes will be all you ever need IMO.
Frik said:
I disagree, bike technology hasn't moved on light years in the last 8 years and your bike is far from obsolete. If you do feel the need for any new bits they'll still fit your old bike.
The only caveat to that is disk brakes for which you generally need a frame/forks with the right mountings. However I think this has more to do with the prices coming down (and fashion), rather than some major technological breakthrough. A well set up set of V-style brakes will be all you ever need IMO.
The only caveat to that is disk brakes for which you generally need a frame/forks with the right mountings. However I think this has more to do with the prices coming down (and fashion), rather than some major technological breakthrough. A well set up set of V-style brakes will be all you ever need IMO.
I agree, I don't think it has moved on lightyears at all. Just bits are getting lighter, really. Could you imagine a carbon fibre frame eight years ago?
And I agree ENTIRELY with the point about V-brakes. I have never found a set of cable disc brakes that are better than a set of vees. TBH, the only real difference with (hydraulic) discs is that they work better in the rain, and even this is only marginal. I'd have a nice set of vees over a set of discs that is the same price any day. As soon as you get a pair of discs that is more than the highest priced vees is the only time you sohulsd start looking at discs.
rustyveedub said:
It is a hard tail and the frame states "pro spec", i think it was the bottom of their competition range. It has Rock shox Judy forks and everything else is Shimano deore LX apart from the brake leavers which are Avid.
Everything on it should be fine then... LX is the middle of the range version, and Avid are well known for their good brakes.
Judys are okay forks for XC (cross country) too, but if you're planning on doing some hardcore downhill stuff or jumping then you will probably need to replace them. If you want to use your bike for commuting, I would replace them with rigid forks.
TBH, it doesn't seem to need updating at all really. On a mountain bike forum I use all the time, the mentality is basically buy it as it breaks. Bike bits are so expensive, and get broken so often, it's not really worth just buying it because it's newer and more shiny.
Budget would be helpful. 
No one can agree on disc brakes:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=339939&f=174&h=0
No one can agree on disc brakes:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=339939&f=174&h=0
Sharief said:
Could you imagine a carbon fibre frame eight years ago?
My current steed is a 10 year old FS carbon frame, so
Re: discs, Avid cable discs are way ahead of other brands and are actually worth bothering with.
Hydraulic is the way to go, though.
Yes, a good set of V-brakes will perform as well as an average set of discs in the dry, but as son as you take it off road into the mud & stuff, you'll appreciate the fact that discs don't suddenly lose all braking performance as soon as you hit the first muddy puddle.
V-brakes are fine for very flat, dry XC use and commuting.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
The Avid cable discs ( bb5, bb7) are brilliant. But, for the same money, you can get a Shimano Deore hydraulic brake, the best bedget brake by far.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
The Avid cable discs ( bb5, bb7) are brilliant. But, for the same money, you can get a Shimano Deore hydraulic brake, the best bedget brake by far.
snotrag said:
V-brakes are fine for very flat, dry XC use and commuting.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
Frik said:
snotrag said:
V-brakes are fine for very flat, dry XC use and commuting.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
I agree. The correct spelling is "they're". Outrageous.
Frik said:
snotrag said:
V-brakes are fine for very flat, dry XC use and commuting.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
Yeah, you've got to wonder how Steve Peat, Rod Warner and company managed back in the early to mid 90s perhaps even in the days of your standard cantilever brakes or gosh earlier than that U brakes?
You must be so much faster than they ever were!
By the way, I've got XTR V brakes on the Klein, and 95% of the time theyre as good as my dads Hope disk brakes on his Pace.
phillvr6 said:
Frik said:
snotrag said:
V-brakes are fine for very flat, dry XC use and commuting.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
However, anyone who says there not neccassary for proper mountainbiking is not riding fast or hard enough - there is no way I could hit any of the trails at the speed I do without the backup of my 8'' rotored Hydraulic discs.
Yeah, you've got to wonder how Steve Peat, Rod Warner and company managed back in the early to mid 90s perhaps even in the days of your standard cantilever brakes or gosh earlier than that U brakes?
You must be so much faster than they ever were!
By the way, I've got XTR V brakes on the Klein, and 95% of the time theyre as good as my dads Hope disk brakes on his Pace.
Tup, snotrag, stop talking out of your arse.
I rode DH years ago on V Brakes and never had any problems. I only used discs now because they are superior in several ways including in the mud. I still use an XTR V brake on the back of my Trek, and its fine.
Can I kindly point out to you that you shouldn't be using your brakes if you are so bloody fast?
[quote=phillvr6][quote=Frik][quote=snotrag]You must be so much faster than they ever were!
[quote]
Quite the opposite... I'm nowhere near as skilled as Peaty, as at their level the brakes are not as important. Hence the reason during his time at Orange Peaty would use a Mono mini as opposed to an M6 brake, as they simply don't use them as much as a regular rider.
I was talking about me, and I stand by that I would not be able/have the bottle to go as fast as I can on the trails I ride using rim brakes.
There are other benefits too - longer pad life, not relying on your wheel being true, not wearing your rims out...
The fact is that the only mountain bikes over say 400ish that you'll find with rim brakes are Mod trials bikes, and ultra lightweight XC race bikes...
[quote]
Quite the opposite... I'm nowhere near as skilled as Peaty, as at their level the brakes are not as important. Hence the reason during his time at Orange Peaty would use a Mono mini as opposed to an M6 brake, as they simply don't use them as much as a regular rider.
I was talking about me, and I stand by that I would not be able/have the bottle to go as fast as I can on the trails I ride using rim brakes.
There are other benefits too - longer pad life, not relying on your wheel being true, not wearing your rims out...
The fact is that the only mountain bikes over say 400ish that you'll find with rim brakes are Mod trials bikes, and ultra lightweight XC race bikes...
Look - i think this is my perhaps incorrect use of the word 'neccassary' that has brought this on - I'm not stupid, I own bikes with V-brakes, Ive ridden DH on them, and at no point have i said i am un uberskilled rider, im not.
Im just saying, these days, if your looking at a high end mtb, your most likely to be looking at one with disc brakes.
Im just saying, these days, if your looking at a high end mtb, your most likely to be looking at one with disc brakes.
snotrag said:
The fact is that the only mountain bikes over say 400ish that you'll find with rim brakes are Mod trials bikes, and ultra lightweight XC race bikes...
Thats partly down to marketing though. A bike with discs is considered more desirable than one without.
A well set up V-Brake will lock the wheel. Thus it is powerful enough. The main advantage with discs for me is the mud clearance and modulation.
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