Well, during an 8 week training period for a race on Sunday 30th, I had the epiphany that I just don’t enjoy MTB enough, because I focus so hard on Training I’ve taken the enjoyment out of it. So, I sold my hardtail “backup” bike, and my gravel bike and bought this:
Its an Occam LT with some slightly left field characteristics of a steep seat tube and suspension kimatics which means it rides - at 150mm - like a long travel trail bike. Its taught but very comfortable uphill, but opens up in compressions and downhill. It id 14.5kg but for me this is Sunday morning ride to the top of the trails for views tea or pub bike - it is not for race training. So far I’ve enjoyed several slow socially paced rides on it - much fun! And Jeff Kendall-Weed loves it so it must be good
I think its the perfect foil to my race bike, it has no race pretensions at all and there’s no way I’m going to buy lighter components for it… honest…
Have taken the plunge and got a Scalpel SE 2, always loved MTBing but the dangers and my roadie level skills put me off committing. Some encouragement from friends and a focus on more XC style riding than downhill gave me the confidence to give it a proper go. Love it, and looking forward to my ride skillz glow-up!
Joining you in the Occam club shortly, my H30 just arrived boxed at our house. Never had a full suspension bike before and I’m coming from a 12 year old Boardman hardtail with 3 x 9 gears It’ll be my only mountain bike and really forward to getting it set up and running. Seems to review really well, although the LT version like yours has been getting more press coverage. Hoping alongside the 2020 Orbea Terra gravel bike and 2022 Winspace T1500 road bike I’ve got all bases covered as if I suggest buying another bike my wife will kill me.
Interestingly, my wife just got a Siskiu T8 27.5 and that is a seriously nice piece of kit. To be honest, if there had been one in stock in large 29er I’d have considered buying one of those. GoOutdoors totally stuffed up the order so she ended up getting it at a 20% discount which made it an absolute steal at £1,520. I’ll stick a photo of both up once the Occam is built.
RRP ProGuard, goes on with zip ties, you should be able to get it for around £25. Just be aware for the front one the Marzocchi fork that came with my bike is one of the only forks that won’t accept the bolt on one which is a shame, so it’s zip ties for that too.
Depending on how muddy a winter it ends up I’ll consider one of the Mudhugger rear guards, they’re ugly as sin but coming home clarted and cold with a soaked chamois after every ride isn’t too appealing…
Here is my most favorite ride 2019 BMC TMR01 56cm, Sram eTap AXS 12spd, Zipp 454, Quarc PM, Shim Dura Ace pedals. 35,437mi as of 12/3/22. Love the ride of this bike.
So far, so good! I am currently on recovery week so I am not doing long rides so the real assessment will come in the next block when I do 2+ hours z2 rides. Will report back!
It was the stock saddle that came with my Emonda: Bontrager Aeolus Comp. So nothing fancy. I bought the fi’zik primarily for comfort, not neccesarily the weight reduction but it was fun to hold both saddles when I was changing them out and feel the considerable difference.
Ridley Noah Fast, with 12 sp Ultegra. Here just after I hosed it down from a wet ride.
The bike came with a compact crank, the 50 is fine for me, but 34 is not much use in the flatlands where I live. So swapped the small chainring for a dura ace 40t one.
It’ll be my only mountain bike and really forward to getting it set up and running. Seems to review really well, although the LT version like yours has been getting more press coverage. Hoping alongside the 2020 Orbea Terra gravel bike and 2022 Winspace T1500 road bike I’ve got all bases covered as if I suggest buying another bike my wife will kill me.
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