As a confirmed Rocky fanboy, I'm privileged to have reviewed or ridden every version of the Altitude from the first elevated chainstay hardtail to the racing steel hardtail to the 26, 29 and now 27.5/650b version. I had a hard time keeping a poker face while rockuphill asked me questions but now the article can go live.
Wow. I thought for sure the next bike I wanted would be a Norco Sight. Now I'm not so sure. Plus the fact that I can get a RM online or maybe even locally might just seal the deal.
I see that if you go to the ride9.bikes.com site now, there is mention of another bike called the "Instinct". I assume that is the 29er with less travel version of the same concept?
Where did you find another bike option? I only see the CHOOSE BIKE: ALTITUDE. I had assumed it would be the Element that was getting the Ride 9. It would be great to see the return of an Instinct.
This bike looks phenomenal! I am not one to care much about wheel sizes and I currently ride a 2011 Stumpy Evo 26 which I love. However, this bike has really caught my attention. I am super excited for it to come out.
Lee- I thought the write up was great and the overall thoughts are consistent with all of the other write ups (nsmb, pinkbike, bikerader, bike rumor..). If everyone is saying that many good things, it must be top notch. I only wish they had the black and blue frame with the fox 34 and shimano build.. plus the bushings thing has me a little concerned, but I do think this may have to be my next ride.
Where did you find another bike option? I only see the CHOOSE BIKE: ALTITUDE. I had assumed it would be the Element that was getting the Ride 9. It would be great to see the return of an Instinct.
I see "Choose Bike: Altitude | Instinct", and the picture of a white bike with the numbers "29" visible on the tires...
Wow. I thought for sure the next bike I wanted would be a Norco Sight. Now I'm not so sure. Plus the fact that I can get a RM online or maybe even locally might just seal the deal.
I am in the exact same boat. Both of these bikes are tempting, and so far are the most "trailbike" oriented of the new 650b's. And both are quality. Thank you canucks! Well done!
Now for a northeastern USA resident to find dealers....availability might choose for me.
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Old enough to know better. And old enough not to care. Best age to be.
The Ride9 minisite displays completely differently in IE8, it has the Altitude/Instinct choice but the interactive dial is missing. "rotate the dial to optimize your ride" is missing a dial. Must be an HTML 5 thing.
Read your review, could you please elaborate on the difference between the new Element 29 which you reviewed a month ago and this new new Altitude? Which one would you choose if it was an alternative to your Tallboy?
Read your review, could you please elaborate on the difference between the new Element 29 which you reviewed a month ago and this new new Altitude? Which one would you choose if it was an alternative to your Tallboy?
The Element is more uphill oriented than the Altitude. The Element is by no means a bad downhill bike but I'd be reluctant to ride a shorter-travel bike aggressively all the time; one would tend to wear things out. I suspect that one could get very aggressive on this Altitude.
I'd choose the Element29er to replace the Tallboy - that's an easy question to answer
To expand, the Element is a quiver bike to be complemented with another more downhill'ish bike. It could be a one bike to do everything if you're an extraordinarily aggressive, technically competent rider who lives in a place where technical trails are the exception and not the norm. Where I ride that isn't the case. IMO the Altitude is more of the one-bike-to-rule-it-all
yeah its a bit of a kick in the nuts to current Altitude owners. Didn't mean it to sound so much like that but couldn't really hide that fact
To be honest I didn't get that impression from your review. I mean you obviously really liked this bike in your review. But in your comparison you said that they both climb well and the new one descends better, but its not as though the previous one was a terrible descender. In your own words from the 2005 review:
"...the [2009] Altitude is an extremely capable bike on downhills. Its geometry (exceptional standover, relatively slack head angle) is suited for technical downhills of the more moderate xc, all-mountain variety."
Or maybe more likely, I'm trying to justify in my head not being able to have the new one because I have yet to build/try my 2011 Altitude 70 frame.
To be honest I didn't get that impression from your review. I mean you obviously really liked this bike in your review. But in your comparison you said that they both climb well and the new one descends better, but its not as though the previous one was a terrible descender. In your own words from the 2005 review:
"...the [2009] Altitude is an extremely capable bike on downhills. Its geometry (exceptional standover, relatively slack head angle) is suited for technical downhills of the more moderate xc, all-mountain variety."
Or maybe more likely, I'm trying to justify in my head not being able to have the new one because I have yet to build/try my 2011 Altitude 70 frame.
Apologies as it was a rather milquetoast comment. The observation about it being for more "moderate xc" contradicted RMB's boast that the Altitude 29er was designed for local trails and/or on North Vancouver There is almost no moderate xc locally!
If you live someplace where the trails are not as aggressively in your face as North Van then the Altitude 70 will probably be fine. Where are you located?
Can a carbon Instinct RSL be far behind? The first Rocky FS bike I owned was a 2000 Instinct. That new Instinct looks like it would be even more BC Edition friendly than the 970 BC edition if it were in carbon.
Can a carbon Instinct RSL be far behind? The first Rocky FS bike I owned was a 2000 Instinct. That new Instinct looks like it would be even more BC Edition friendly than the 970 BC edition if it were in carbon.
I can beat the snot out of the BC edition and ride it on anything short of 5th Horseman. The 26" MSL is already so gnar I can't wait to see how far I can chuck the Element 29er and the Altitude for that matter.
Apologies as it was a rather milquetoast comment. The observation about it being for more "moderate xc" contradicted RMB's boast that the Altitude 29er was designed for local trails and/or on North Vancouver There is almost no moderate xc locally!
If you live someplace where the trails are not as aggressively in your face as North Van then the Altitude 70 will probably be fine. Where are you located?
Ya, the 70 will be more than enough for most of our trails... I'm out in Manitoba - where most of our trails don't look anything like my local trail below. But when I finally get the nerve to do the steep on that picture - then I'll reward myself with the new Altitude - hah!
I've never ridden in MB. Closest were some races in SK around Blackstrap but that looks nice and burly but with a nice smooth runout. In Pemberton (for example) that'd be a intermediate trail but they breed them different out there.
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Originally Posted by LeeL
Still love my bike. One day I'll make the switch. When I have a job and out of school haha.
