Bike choice for CT

[dgjessee]

I'm looking to do the Colorado Trail in 2012 as fast as I can.  I currently have a Marin Pine Mountain 29er (steel) set up as a multi-gear bike and love it.  But I'm considering a full suspension 29er, like a Scott Spark 29 Comp or Elite, and trying to figure out which would be best.  I'm still at that point where if I want a new bike I will probably have to sell my current rig to afford it so as much as I would love to keep the Marin around I probably cant.... but that being said I never buy bikes planning to sell them any time soon. So one of my reservations about the FS 29er is maintenance on the frame linkages and longevity over yrs.  The other thing is lost efficiency and would the extra control on rough terrain be worth it.

I've gotten the steel bike down to 27.8 lbs for a large with upper-middle class components and I've seen reports of the Spark 29er Elite being under 25 out of the box, so that is enticing. 

OK, feedback, GO!

[sherpaxc]

The bike doesn't really matter that much.  Being fit physically and mentally is way more important.  As long as your bike works well and you fit it well I'd just use what you got.  There are people (myself included) who have spent a hell of a lot of money just for the CT and others (myself included) who have just decided to run what I've been running.  Both groups have dropped out after a day or two or finished the whole thing. 

That being said if you REALLY want to spend money, then do it.

[Blammo]

In the past, I would disagree that the bike does not matter.  This summer I did a decent length ride on a total piece of junk that I rented from some small town chamber of commerce.  The bike was never really and issue, but I was on a rail-trail most of the way.

[Slim]

I do not know what the CT is like but here are some comments about bikes in general.
Full suspension bikes are not 'less efficient', in most off road situations they are more efficient. Then there is the reduction in fatigue from not having to use as much body power to absorb shock and chatter. If you are concerned about out of the saddle pedaling look at something like an Specialized Epic or Scott that do great in that situation.
There are more parts on a full suspension. Any part can wear or break. That being said, most modern designs are fairly reliable.
I would say, from a pure riding standpoint it is easy: full suspension is faster and more comfortable off-road. Whether it's more fun is a personal decision.
The issue of wear and tear on the extra parts can not be predicted exactly beforehand.

[JCarr13]

To be honest, I would agree with Sherpa. Having a bike that will involve minimal thought out on the trail is key. This past year I tried a few different options before I did the CTR. I did a quick little jaunt on a full packed S-Works Epic 29er and a short trip on a steel Spot SS. Once the S-works started creaking and making odd noises at the end of the trip my mind was made up. True, most of the CT is gnarly, bumpy, technical trail, but if a bolt breaks or comes loose and falls out on a full suspension, you could be stuck. There are some backcountry spots where you could be walking for a while. I would recommend sticking with a hardtail for the CT, mainly from a maintenance standpoint. If you are running the CT with some support and want to have fun riding each day and can have access to a bag of extra linkage bolts and grease. Do it. If your looking to go out, enjoy the CT for its beauty and vast expanse, and want to finish it self supported, ride the Marin. There are so many variables, so it really comes down to how comfortable you are with knowing there is a lot more to go wrong with a full suspension. Either way, you will have blast. It is a great adventure.

[dgjessee]

Thanks for the input everyone!  I'm really excited to be planning this trip and the bike is just one of the big details I'm enjoying researching.  All I need now is for Frontier to let me buy a plane ticket 10 months in advance  Maybe I'll see a few of you out there!

[Mr Mack]

I rode the CT last summer on a steel hardtail 29er but I did add a Thud Buster seatpost to help my fragile lower back.  I think this was a good compromise to a FS bike-- I was really glad for the suspension seatpost in the gnarly sections.  I will second a previous reply in that physical and mental toughness are far more important attributes to a good ride than suspension travel.  I found I had to go really slow on the downhills just to keep the bike from gaining un-controllable momentum and I doubt that I would have been going faster on my FS bike.

It is a great adventure--

Carlo

[bartspedden]

All bikes break, even rigids. I forget who it was, but someone broke a titanium frame on the TD and had to have it welded in Steamboat. I've ridden the CT with car support on a trek Fuel EX9 and loved it. I've also done the CTR on a Giant Anthem and loved that as well.  It really is about preference and I love FS bikes. If I thought I could handle the beating (and I probably can't) I'd be looking at the ninner air 9 carbon SS with a belt drive.

[JCarr13]

I went back and forth on the belt drive for the CTR. But was a little worried what I would do if it happened to break...

[bartspedden]

No doubt, it's either bring another belt or you are screwed! I doubt you could buy one at a bike shop along the trail.  And clearly, they aren't bomb proof either: http://twentynineinches.com/2011/01/30/the-gates-carbon-belt-drive-report-a-true-alternative-to-the-chained-life-part-iii/

But I've broken something like 6 chains over the last 5 years and am not in love with metal chains.  I've become a maintenance freak on my chain because of these experiences and have learned to become a smarter shifter too. All that being said, if I was going SS the belt drive would be on my bike for all my early season training until that point that it proved to be something I no longer wanted for a race. And I know lots of folks have differing opinions, but for me, if I was going hardtail I would just assume the position and ride a fully rigid ss too. But all of this is totally hypothetical because at this point in time I'm not sure my body would like me much on anything other then a FS for a multi day effort. But man, that ninner sure looks sweet for single day epics!

I'm not sure the ninner will work with a belt drive though, can you get the belt on?

[peteshoe]

I would consider your component choice as important as your bike. I had to ride into Salida to get my hydraulic brakes fixed this year, and am now considering mechanical discs for next year. I rode a fs 29er with no issues other than my brakes, so you never know.  It's  just one of the many choices you have to make and IMO is part of the fun of planning.  But like someone said in their blog, you'll be riding like a six year old before too long, so I would just use a bike you are super comfortable On and go over it with a fine tooth comb before you fly out.  Good luck with you decisions and your race!

[grannygear]

No doubt, it's either bring another belt or you are screwed! I doubt you could buy one at a bike shop along the trail.  And clearly, they aren't bomb proof either: http://twentynineinches.com/2011/01/30/the-gates-carbon-belt-drive-report-a-true-alternative-to-the-chained-life-part-iii/

But I've broken something like 6 chains over the last 5 years and am not in love with metal chains.  I've become a maintenance freak on my chain because of these experiences and have learned to become a smarter shifter too. All that being said, if I was going SS the belt drive would be on my bike for all my early season training until that point that it proved to be something I no longer wanted for a race. And I know lots of folks have differing opinions, but for me, if I was going hardtail I would just assume the position and ride a fully rigid ss too. But all of this is totally hypothetical because at this point in time I'm not sure my body would like me much on anything other then a FS for a multi day effort. But man, that ninner sure looks sweet for single day epics!

I'm not sure the ninner will work with a belt drive though, can you get the belt on?

No.  That frame will not work with a Gates Carbon Drive set up...unless you have a hacksaw and gnarly glue.

[bradh]

There are advantages to a hard tail, but for me I wouldn't consider it for the CT.  There's enuf rough stuff to make FS worthwhile.   I recall a post from a CT racer who said that it was very demoralizing to have to walk a downhill in the Cochetopa hills.  I think I know the section he was talking about & I'm not sure I could have ridden that long loose section of baby heads on a hardtail either.  Pivot 429 rocks for this kind of ride.

[bartspedden]

I built a bike specifically for the CTR last year. I looked at so many frames that I bored my wife, and she rides. For a variety reasons (good geometry for me, an amazing amount of space for a frame bag for a FS, and I LOVE the maestro dual pivot rear) I went with a giant anthem 26'er. Even after demo'ing an anthem 29'er I decided that the 26 platform was better for me, for this year, for this race. I built it up with:

• Hayes carbon Strokers
• Mavic Crosstrails
• Specialized The Captain 2.2s
• Crank Brothers stem/bars/seatpost/seatpost clamp
• ODI Rogue
• Fizik Nisene Saddle
• SRAM X0 rear derailleur
• SRAM X9 rear shifter
• Extralite 30T chainring
• Paul Components chain guide
• Cane Creek Headset
• Manitou R7 MRD 100mm
• SRAM 12Tx36T Cassette
• Shimano Deore XT cranks
• SRAM 1091 Chain

I liked most of the build and it did the job. But I think the important thing was the process, not the end result bike.  I had to make decisions about every individual part of the bike.  That made me very intimate with my machine from a nuts and bolts perspective and made riding it an enjoyable and satisfying part of the race.  

If you are looking to do the CTR as fast as you can you have to make some really hard decisions about everything from hygiene to tires.  If I were you dgjessee I would decide on a 26/29 HT/FS combo based on your anticipated fitness. No one who finishes this race is weak, mentally or physically. It's more a degree of how strong you are. I was honest and fair with myself and decided on a 26 FS. On the opposite side of the scale is the fully rigid 29'er. I dream of being that strong and I set my yearly goals marching in that direction. A fully rigid won't be comfortable, and it will be slower on the downhill, but for this race I think the pure uphill aspect makes me want the LIGHTEST pony I can figure out.

My bike weight was 25lbs naked. A fully rigid 29'er can drop 5 lbs from the start.  That's a BFD! But I'm not ready for it yet. My body would reject the harsh ride and I would most likely drop out. The right guy/gal can rock that bike though! dgjessee you've got to decide where your fitness is and start the mind games... Where do you think you're fitness is going to be? What are you leaning towards and why? Can't wait to see what you end up with!

[dgjessee]

Thanks for all the input everyone.  I actually just scored a Niner Jet 9 frame so I'm going to experiment with that and my steel HT 29er over the winter and spring so by Summer I can hopefully have my rig ready so all I have to worry about is final gear tweaks and maintaining what I hope will be a stout base from the winter/spring. I noticed a few more threads on the race starting up so I'll jump on those too. There's lots of good long-distance trails here in the Southeast so if anyone ever wants to get a multi-day bikepacking trip in over the winter and doesn't want to head to AZ, shoot me a message.

[Dave-W]

You will like the Jet9, I plan on using my Jet on the CT. (someday)  IMO - I think it will make a great bikepacking bike.  The last multi-day trip I did was in AZ, for that trip I used a Steel Spot (made in the US version)  I was VERY disappointed in the frame and how it performed.  In short the bike felt like a wet noodle under me all the time and was all over the place on technical descents.  I absolutely love the bike on single track riding, but once you add all of the gear the frame was just too flexie.  Be sure to try your steel bike fully loaded on technical descents before you make the commitment to use it on the CT. 

For the Jet you may have to get custom bags made for it.  I tried putting on a Revelate designs tangle bag and gas tank on the top tube with out any luck. I had lots of problems mounting the front strap to the bike head tube.  If you come across something that works please let me know.

[dgjessee]

Excellent advice.  The only bikepacking I did on the steel rig I just threw everything in a backpack, so I was the wet noodle.  But i did a road tour with it and had a good bit of gear in some panniers on an OMM Sherpa and it was frightening to stand up and crank.  I felt like I was running either 10 psi or my wheels were made of jelly.