Hardtail - road rider looking at dark side - Trek Superfly 5
Discussion
When you say "trails", are you thinking "swanning along without a care in the world, enjoying the views" or "Yay! Let's get the adrenaline flowing!"
That Trek is very much XC focused, so if you're thinking more towards the adrenaline (and I bet you would be once you'd got started, even if you don't think it now!), I would be inclined to maybe go for something a little beefier up front, as the forks on that might prove a bit lightweight for the more adequately insulated rider once the going gets properly bumpy.
One possible alternative (plenty of others out there, I just picked this one as a quick example) would be this Commencal
As for the 29" wheels, I don't remember you being that much taller than me (5'10")? If you can, try both a 29 and a 27.5 before you buy (Corridori in Banstead are great, and would, I'm sure, be able to help you out, at least on Specialized bikes), as I found the 27.5 to be significantly more agile than the 29.
Either way, once you get what you get, if you fancy a tour of what the Surrey Hills have to offer off road, give me a shout.
That Trek is very much XC focused, so if you're thinking more towards the adrenaline (and I bet you would be once you'd got started, even if you don't think it now!), I would be inclined to maybe go for something a little beefier up front, as the forks on that might prove a bit lightweight for the more adequately insulated rider once the going gets properly bumpy.
One possible alternative (plenty of others out there, I just picked this one as a quick example) would be this Commencal
As for the 29" wheels, I don't remember you being that much taller than me (5'10")? If you can, try both a 29 and a 27.5 before you buy (Corridori in Banstead are great, and would, I'm sure, be able to help you out, at least on Specialized bikes), as I found the 27.5 to be significantly more agile than the 29.
Either way, once you get what you get, if you fancy a tour of what the Surrey Hills have to offer off road, give me a shout.
Aluminium frame, you say?
About a grand, you say?
Bright yellow, you say?
Bird. Bird Zero.3, to be specific. Trek are a bit shy about publishing weights for their bikes, but Bikeradar show the Superfly 7 (£1300) as 11.44kg, so expect the cheaper '5' to weigh a little more.
Bird state 12.0kg for their Zero frame built with 1 x 10 gearing, so add a few grams for the 2 x 10 (only) build of the Zero.3
It's a Shimano Deore/SLX build, with a Shadow+ rear mech, decent wheels, and can be supplied set up as tubeless too. Quite a few customisable options, although not as many as when it first launched, and a choice of Candy Blue with white graphics, or Acid Yellow with pink graphics. Most important bit that's different from the Trek is a much better X-Fusion Velvet RL2 130mm fork over the RockShox XC32 unit on the Trek. Find an extra £225 and they'll build your bike with a Reverb Stealth dropper post too. The Bird sits on 27.5" wheels, whereas only the small 15.5" frame uses that wheel size on the Trek. Bird are local to me, three chaps who dreamed of building bikes specifically tuned for the sort of riding that they do. Frames built in the Far East (as are the Trek bikes at this price point), but assembly takes place near Eversley, Hampshire (between Basingstoke and Reading). Great website, you'll most likely speak to one of the organ grinders if you phone them, and they're usually amenable to a visit if you're close enough. They also have a fleet of test bikes at their HQ, and do quite a few demo days too. Give 'em a whirl - you've nothing to lose really.
http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-3-439.html (images for the blue frame finish)
http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-1a.html (more expensive at £1310, but shows the [same] frame in the Acid Yellow finish)
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/frames/... (review here from October last year)
ETA: Oh, and if you decide you still want the Trek, look at Pedal On in Tadley, near Reading. Their "Podium Points" deal gives you a point for every £50 you spend, and there's a section on their website where you can convert those points into 'free' clothing, spares, and accessories. I got a s
tload of gear with my new road bike from them, pedals, shoes, helmet, lights, etc. Only issue with them is the lack of any really extensive test rides, just a couple of laps around the block usually
About a grand, you say?
Bright yellow, you say?
Bird. Bird Zero.3, to be specific. Trek are a bit shy about publishing weights for their bikes, but Bikeradar show the Superfly 7 (£1300) as 11.44kg, so expect the cheaper '5' to weigh a little more.
Bird state 12.0kg for their Zero frame built with 1 x 10 gearing, so add a few grams for the 2 x 10 (only) build of the Zero.3
It's a Shimano Deore/SLX build, with a Shadow+ rear mech, decent wheels, and can be supplied set up as tubeless too. Quite a few customisable options, although not as many as when it first launched, and a choice of Candy Blue with white graphics, or Acid Yellow with pink graphics. Most important bit that's different from the Trek is a much better X-Fusion Velvet RL2 130mm fork over the RockShox XC32 unit on the Trek. Find an extra £225 and they'll build your bike with a Reverb Stealth dropper post too. The Bird sits on 27.5" wheels, whereas only the small 15.5" frame uses that wheel size on the Trek. Bird are local to me, three chaps who dreamed of building bikes specifically tuned for the sort of riding that they do. Frames built in the Far East (as are the Trek bikes at this price point), but assembly takes place near Eversley, Hampshire (between Basingstoke and Reading). Great website, you'll most likely speak to one of the organ grinders if you phone them, and they're usually amenable to a visit if you're close enough. They also have a fleet of test bikes at their HQ, and do quite a few demo days too. Give 'em a whirl - you've nothing to lose really.
http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-3-439.html (images for the blue frame finish)
http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-1a.html (more expensive at £1310, but shows the [same] frame in the Acid Yellow finish)
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/frames/... (review here from October last year)
ETA: Oh, and if you decide you still want the Trek, look at Pedal On in Tadley, near Reading. Their "Podium Points" deal gives you a point for every £50 you spend, and there's a section on their website where you can convert those points into 'free' clothing, spares, and accessories. I got a s
tload of gear with my new road bike from them, pedals, shoes, helmet, lights, etc. Only issue with them is the lack of any really extensive test rides, just a couple of laps around the block usually Edited by yellowjack on Friday 17th July 08:43
anonymous said:
[redacted]
If you don't mind a lairy colour this is MUCH better spec and £Hundreds left to buy a dropper post and some equally lairy Enduro clothing 
http://paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s155p5544/CUBE-LTD-29...
Edited by richardxjr on Friday 17th July 08:52
richardxjr said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
If you don't mind a lairy colour this is MUCH better spec and £Hundreds left to buy a dropper post and some equally lairy Enduro clothing http://paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s155p5544/CUBE-LTD-29...
Oi you're 5 years younger than me 
I can wholeheartedly recommend Pauls, they're well known internet specialists of last years' stock. It's all proper stock, virtually fully built. 3 close mates have all bought from there in the last year. You can phone them up too, it's a proper shop.
If you're not fussed about colour that is just a great spec. Reba fork is 2 notches above the XC32 on the Trek
I can wholeheartedly recommend Pauls, they're well known internet specialists of last years' stock. It's all proper stock, virtually fully built. 3 close mates have all bought from there in the last year. You can phone them up too, it's a proper shop.
If you're not fussed about colour that is just a great spec. Reba fork is 2 notches above the XC32 on the Trek
Edited by richardxjr on Friday 17th July 10:52
If its pants give me a slap on RL100When you say you bought it, I think "it" was the operative word! I just clicked on the link to see the colour scheme on a large screen and got an error message saying "this product is no longer for sale", so I think you must've got the last one.
I'll have to check dates with my wife, as we're ferrying the kids to and from grandparents over the next couple of weekends. Alternatively, can you do evenings? This time of year we could start at 6pm and still get a couple of hours in before darkness forces us to the pub.
I'll have to check dates with my wife, as we're ferrying the kids to and from grandparents over the next couple of weekends. Alternatively, can you do evenings? This time of year we could start at 6pm and still get a couple of hours in before darkness forces us to the pub.
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