NSMB - 2023 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

Posted by: DanLees1978

As you can see from the below pic, my eldest as grown "a little" since we built up his Sonder 2 years ago...

We are now in the market for a new hardtail frame, with a budget of around £650.

He is now 5ft8 and is blessed with long body and long arms but short legs like his dad so longer reach shorter seat tube bikes are ideal but it does limit the choice somewhat. Having had him ride my 470 reach Banshee Prime around a bit and my friends 460 reach Bird Aether9, a 460+ reach and 420 seat tube would be ideal.

Obvious choice is a Cotic BFeMax and they get a lot of love, rightly so. Other options considered...

Intrigued by the Marin El Roy, slightly cheaper option at £595 inc headset - the regular is a massive 480 reach but might be a bit too much bike for local trails but great fun when we head somewhere bigger/steeper.

Chromag Rootdown but they are hard to get hold of in the UK now, and I'd like to avoid a pressfit BB to be honest.

Pipedream Moxie - out of stock and over budget.

Nukeproof Scout 29 - his "little" brother has one and they are shorter reach for a given length of seat tube.

Ragley BigAl/BigWig - they are also shorter reach for a given length of seat tube.

Another Sonder Signal ST - ditto.

Banshee Paradox - over budget (though possibly not with the loyalty discount) but they aren't quite long enough in Reach in a medium and the seat tube is too long in the large.

Stif Squatch - looks good but not quite as good as the Cotic, and more £.

Bird Zero29 - ditto.

Stanton Switch9er - also ditto.

Pace RC529 - no mediums in stock.

Seeing as you mentioned a Nukeproof Scout, what about a Marin San Quentin or Kona Honzo ST frame (if you can get one)? They've got really short seat tube and modern trail geo/reach....

Put a boinger on the front of the SS a week ago. Gone from 485 A-C to 550ish. Possibly a bit slack for the kind of tech climbing a love but so nice to operate with a bit more Gary abandon in the downy bits.

Suntour Zeron that I've got it as low as it can go at 130mm. Now I'm trying to think of a bodge to get it down to 100mm travel. 

I reckon it will be a lovely thing if i can manage it. 

Stay tuned. 

Imma get my grinder. 

https://nsmb.com/photos/view/21313/

https://nsmb.com/photos/view/21314/

Posted by: Vikb

If you are within striking distance of Vancouver Island and want an excuse to check out the Cumberland trails I'm organizing a NSMB Meet Up 9-11 June 2023. Hardtails welcome!

Details --> https://nsmb.com/forum/forum/ride-planning-and-tales-8/topic/nsmb-cumberland-meet-up-9-11-june-2023-132625/

Great idea Vik, I'm interested and will see if I can pull those dates together!

Posted by: Vikb

If you are within striking distance of Vancouver Island and want an excuse to check out the Cumberland trails I'm organizing a NSMB Meet Up 9-11 June 2023. Hardtails welcome!

Details --> https://nsmb.com/forum/forum/ride-planning-and-tales-8/topic/nsmb-cumberland-meet-up-9-11-june-2023-132625/

Cool idea Vik! I am booked solid at that time of the year but if I'm headed out that way earlier I will drop you a line.

Even me from 2 years ago can drop the current me.  I don't know what the hell is going on with my fitness beyond I've put on at least 10 pounds since then.  I'm starting to wonder if it's something else all together but blood tests and physicals don't reveal anything unusual.  My blood pressure is good apparently.  I think it's being mid-50's, desk job, weekend warrior being my only source of decent exercise.  My heart rate tends to get in the dangerous zone when I push myself.  Using the 220 minus your age approach, I should be 165 bpm max but I'm hitting 188 to 190 on climbs, especially ones where you've got to really exert to clear obstacles.  Maybe it's lingering Covid effects too?

Am I die out there?

(Sorry for the derail from the glorious hardtails etc.)

Posted by: GiveitsomeWelly

Put a boinger on the front of the SS a week ago. Gone from 485 A-C to 550ish. Possibly a bit slack for the kind of tech climbing a love but so nice to operate with a bit more Gary abandon in the downy bits.

Suntour Zeron that I've got it as low as it can go at 130mm. Now I'm trying to think of a bodge to get it down to 100mm travel. 

I reckon it will be a lovely thing if i can manage it. 

Stay tuned. 

Imma get my grinder. 

https://nsmb.com/photos/view/21313/

https://nsmb.com/photos/view/21314/

Looking good. I spy Wainuiomata. 

Looking good. I spy Wainuiomata. 

Yup that's the local for me. Great place for SS'ing and now with the squishy fork I can feel safer going faster on the likes of 491 and Pav...

Re Nuggets 

It is a strange time for heart problems. I had something come up this year as well that is unexplainable thus far. Feeling great the last 6 weeks but it was strange for the 3 months prior. High heart rate, stayed high after exercise, resting heart rate was abnormal. It’s tricky cause I look damn healthily compared to a lot of people in the health care system. 

Since there are so many unknowns from the past couple years, specially with heart stuff, I doubled down on health. Started supplementing iron (advice from a friend who had myocarditis), cut out all garbage (chips, fries etc), became a vegetarian (fuck really). I Drink less. 

Feeling great these days. 

I feel ya though, mystery body stuff is tricky. Good luck

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

Maybe it's lingering Covid effects too?

Am I die out there?

I don't recall if you mentioned anything about seeing a doctor. If not sounds worth a visit and a few tests. Better safe then sorry.

Yeah I had a check up a couple months back and mentioned how high my heart rate tends to go.  It comes back down to normal levels at a reasonable rate, my heart sounded fine on their stethoscope and my blood pressure is 120/80.  I'm having blood work done for all the regular stuff for my age.  I know my liver was a bit out of line in previous tests but I think that was a combination of being on meds for a toe fungus (cleared up now) and drinking (moderate drinker--I love my IPA's.)  They weren't too concerned about the hitting that high bpm but said that it wasn't going to help my overall fitness because at that point you're going beyond where the effective range is.  They said I should be able to carry on a conversation at work out levels.  I admitted that I like to get to that point where I feel a bit dizzy and numb from the adrenaline.  They said I should dial it back as it doesn't help.

I haven't done my blood work yet (keep forgetting about it and the fasting) but will do it soon.  For my build (always been skinnier ectomorph, runner type) and height 5 11, I've found in the past my fitness seems to be best when I'm in the 170-175 lbs range and now I'm in the 188-192 lb range (beer belly) so I guess I shouldn't be surprised my fitness is frustrating me.

Oh my doc also said maybe I just suck and to htfu too.

Posted by: GiveitsomeWelly

Looking good. I spy Wainuiomata. 

Yup that's the local for me. Great place for SS'ing and now with the squishy fork I can feel safer going faster on the likes of 491 and Pav...

Is Gary Abandon your drag name? For when wearing that funky skinsuit at the SSWC?

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Posted by: GiveitsomeWelly

Looking good. I spy Wainuiomata. 

Yup that's the local for me. Great place for SS'ing and now with the squishy fork I can feel safer going faster on the likes of 491 and Pav...

Is Gary Abandon your drag name? For when wearing that funky skinsuit at the SSWC?

Y'know what, f**k it. Yes. Yes it is. 

Gary Abandon looooves wearing tight outfits and gettin' loose while unfit.

Ace.