I have a Giant AC 2 from 2003 with singletrack wheels, hayes brakes, marzocchi 66 up front etc... It is a great bike and handled anything and everything I threw at it when i still lived up north. Now, i live in southern florida and the trails are pretty nice but involve a lot of pedaling and climbing (yep, you have to climb in florida). I want to lower the weight of the bike and was thinking of changing my 2.5 in the back to a 2.3 for lower rolling resistance. However, that affects the weight very little. I'd like to drop it to a high 20s low 30s bike. Should I buy a new frame and replace the heavy AC or just sell mine and buy a new bike? I thought about going back to a hardtail but don't know for sure yet. What do you guys think? I'm stepping away from the whole Freeride thing and am looking at more of a trail/xc bike now. Give me your thoughts, opinions and knowledge. Please, no jerk comments.
Ride Hard. Live Well everyone.
2007-03-06 13:52:34 · 4 answers · asked by vail2073 5 in Sports ➔ Cycling
If you are looking at more XC, then change the bike. Go for something like the XTC.
However, XC bikes have a different frame geometry. Also, 40lb is quite heavy, but it could be that they have a heavy frame to allow for impacts from stunts, etc.
If you want to lose weight, look at a high grade alluminium - 6061 or 7005. Next, lose more off of the tyres. You can get thinner XC tyres and skinnier as well. (I ride with 1.8s, but others go for thinner walls.)
Thinner accessories or carbon fiber may also work. (Monkey lite bars, carbon seat posts, light weight wheel sets, XTR or SRAM X-0 components, hollowtech cranks, would all take the weight off.
This will all cost you a load. You might be better off shopping for another bike to compensate for the change in riding style. Also, race light components may not be as strong when applied to freeride.
Luck
2007-03-06 23:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by Alice S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have the money, you may just want to buy a new bike... check out other Giant models, KHS, Trek, and Specialized...
otherwise, you may have to spend a lot trying to lighten the weight of your current bike (stem & handlebars, seatpost & saddle, wheelset, fork, etc.)
2007-03-07 06:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i live in florida too. sounds like you frame is heay. i just got rid of my giant, great bike just to freakin heavy
2007-03-08 22:32:33 · answer #3 · answered by shane i 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u are wanting drastic changes like that then yes, go get a hardtail and tweak it out.
2007-03-07 10:21:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋