The Cycles
From a Budgie, to a Tomahawk, a Chopper or two, then a Grifter and a MeanMachine (with front & rear suspension in the early 80's!) I recall a few bikes as a child. "Big peoples" bikes started with a couple of Peugeot road bikes which I predicably broke, then a budget raleigh rigid MTB that I used to commute to work on. This one lasted a good 10 years and is the reason I'm not always convinced by that "my bike isn't up to it" argument since I used this basic bike on xc trails, trail centre stuff, the road, etc.
One day a mate said "lets go to Hamsterly Forest, they have great MTB trails". So I did, and I got hooked on the more technical stuff, whilst I could manage on my old Raleigh (it was way lighter than a full sus bike back then) I wanted a new toy. I was convinced to go for a full suspension bike, I'd past 30 year old by then and my back was already causing problems.
One e-bay purchase laterand I had an Orange Sub 5. I loved this bike, truely brilliant. I got it off a guy who had bought it new about 8-month earIier brand new, he then slipped a disc and decided at 50 year old he was going to stick to golf! I had this about 4 years and basically wore it out. I didn't spend much on it, just tyres, pads and chains, my son has it now... so it'll be well knackerd.
Bigger trails beckoned and sub 5 was taking a beating on the rock garden, I was getting a bit more adventurous thanks to some body armour and Ibroprofen. I was in the market for another bike, more down hill specific. I didn't want to spend much cash, simply because I wasn't 100% sure it was what I wanted to get heavily into, in addition to that more kids were coming along....I had other stuff to buy.
A Club Roost DH5 was brought to my attention. Basically a race mechanic who rode at Hamsterly DH course was selling it. £500 and it was mine. What a heavy monster that was, but it covered a multitude of sins in my poor technique..basically I just pushed it of the start ramp and hung on for the duration of the ride. It was shit on the flat, heavy as hell. I only stuck it for two years, dropping it in the end as I was getting stiffer and stiffer, my back was giving in. I'd changed jobs and instead of being active all day and riding at the weekend I was sitting at a desk all day, or lecturing, then riding every weekend. I was just finding the full on DH thing a drag with too much pain every Monday morning. Well, thant and the fact that I was over 35 with 20 year old guys whipping my ass... time to move on.. I'd enjoyed it, but it had to be the most expensive way to ride a bike on a none competition level.
Although it looks a bit goofy in this picture, I picked up a Specialized P3 around the same time (I had 5 bikes at one point). I used it to commute to work for a while, loved it, really responsive street bike that you could nail through the twisty off road sections, but gave it to my son and some git stole it one night. I only had it for about 8 months, but I just got on with teh hard tail thing straight away. As much as I can see the virtues of full suss, I'll always be a hard tail fan.
I had two more little kids by now bikes so time wasn't freely available to throw at biking. I was mainly riding to work or just local short runs on the road for fitness, no more drives to the hills. I'd struck upon the idea of doing the Coast to Coast and I was also getting a tad bored with a sweaty back from my rucksack taking stuff to work and back. That sort of sealed it really, I was going to do a tour, I fancied something different and I wanted a rack......I knew I was getting old as I was about to buy a tourer.....
A Revolution Country from Edinburgh Cycle co-op. I tried the drop bars, but they aggrevated my duff back, so after swapping to flat bars I used it for two years and about 5000miles. It was really comfortable, but if your stripped all the stuff off it then it made an ok training bike in the winter. One day the frame snapped at the seat post, so I took it back and it was exchanged under the lifetime warranty. Although I generally get good service from Edinburgh Cycle coop this time they let me down badly. The new frame was scratched and chipped, they lost my pedals and broke my trip computer, after complaining I got a full new bike in replacement. I still have that bike replacement today and its my regular commuting / long haul hack.
I fancied a road bike. I wanted to ride more, the kids were out of the nappy stage so life was getting a little easier. My employer was running the ride to work scheme so I could get a decent bike for little money. After asking around on various forums I chose a Trek as an an entry level road bike, the Trek 1.5 double, its actually red, just the photo looks pink.
Unfortunately I did a few hundred miles on it then slipped a disc in my back.....bye bye Trek.... It took a year to get through the back problem with a shed load of physio. Although I did like the bike I realised that a "propper" skinny road bike just wasn't for me. I like riding, I like the travelling, I like pedaling, I like the view, I like the speed on tracks becasuse of the danger and excitement....but speed on the road just meant pain and boredom...without the view. I'd stick to my heavy tourer.
After the back calmed down I was able to look at getting back to MTB's again. For the first time I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a light, 4" travel, xc trail bike. I wanted to go up hill as well as down. I didn't want any air or drops, but I did want rear suspension. The Specialized FRS XC Pro seemed to tick all the boxes at £1300, but when I went to see them I spotted the Commencal Super 4.3 at a bargain price.
We started at £1590 list price, then the sale price was £1100....the bike was ex display so I knocked £70 off that, then throught cycle to work scheme I paTheres been a few more, but this is all I payed £1000...costing me £600. £630 for a new Commencal Super 4.3...can't lose.
