figbat
Slippery scientist
- Location
- South Oxfordshire, UK
I've been mulling the idea of replacing my venerable hardtail for a while now. It's a great bike, has done me well as my go anywhere, do anything, year-round MTB hack but it is getting a bit long in the tooth (relatively) and N+1. It's a 2012 Cube Reaction GTC Pro 29 - carbon hardtail 29er with 100mm fork - the geometry is quite old-fashioned with a relatively upright head angle, long-ish stem, narrow-ish 'bars and a short wheelbase, plus it has QR non-boost hubs which is starting to limit wheel replacement options.
An email arrived today from PlanetX - you may have received it yourself: "ex-demonstrator bikes for sale". Idly thumbing through the email I spot a bike that ticks a lot of boxes: hardtail 29er, 100mm fork, medium size..... titanium! I've had a titanium itch for a while so a quick negotiation with the wife and the order is placed. Price looks good compared to the new version, and from the pictures it appears to have one or two upgrades fitted too. A scrape on the crank arm I can live with.
Assuming it arrives as promised then that will complete the frame material set for me - carbon, steel, aluminium and titanium (putting aside various grades of each). Update to follow...
An email arrived today from PlanetX - you may have received it yourself: "ex-demonstrator bikes for sale". Idly thumbing through the email I spot a bike that ticks a lot of boxes: hardtail 29er, 100mm fork, medium size..... titanium! I've had a titanium itch for a while so a quick negotiation with the wife and the order is placed. Price looks good compared to the new version, and from the pictures it appears to have one or two upgrades fitted too. A scrape on the crank arm I can live with.
Assuming it arrives as promised then that will complete the frame material set for me - carbon, steel, aluminium and titanium (putting aside various grades of each). Update to follow...