I'm looking for advice on which bike would be the best compromise for my type of riding - an Epic, my current bike (Ibis Mojo), or a Stumpjumper. I've started to race in week night series in sport class and have been steadily improving. Most of the courses have a few roots, minimal rocks, and small to no drops. These courses are great for Epics. My lungs / body are what is limiting me on the course, not the bike. My mojo isn't a light build, but weights 27 lbs. I, however, am carrying some extra weight!
However, my regular fun/morning ride from my house has numerous roots, rocks up to 5", occasional drops of 2-3', some fun jumps, and lots of very short + steep hills (beyond what can be scaled in granny gear in the saddle). The terrain is extremely varied (dips and ruts/ log pile crossings) and I ride after hours so it's been a lot safer running 140mm/69 degree head tube on my mojo than 80mm / 71+ degree head tube on my last bike, a SC superlight. Finally, I occasionally commute 13 miles to work so it's nice to be in a more upright position since I'm often carrying a laptop (position also good for family rides). I test rode a 2010 stumpjumper and loved everything about it except how it climbed the steep hills at 140mm. It was majic at 120mm, but the terrain changes too fast for me to feel like changing it. However, it was a demo bike so i didn't adjust the stem angle or handlebars. I thought it was slow in the twisties at 140, but that was probably just me not being used to a longer travel bike yet.
So...will the epic handle the drops/log piles/ ditches/etc and not feel too twitch on fast steep / rough decents...or...how well can the stumpy be raced? I just loved the way the brain worked, the lateral stiffness (alloy Stumpy), it's speed, the ability to do manuals / wheelies, and the water bottle cage location. I also like the steeper seat tube angle over my Mojo (I have the seat all the way forward). Or, should I just stay with the mojo, which seems to be in the middle. The camber would be great, but I don't think Spec offers a brain model...and I'll be sleeping in the garage if I get another bike....
However, my regular fun/morning ride from my house has numerous roots, rocks up to 5", occasional drops of 2-3', some fun jumps, and lots of very short + steep hills (beyond what can be scaled in granny gear in the saddle). The terrain is extremely varied (dips and ruts/ log pile crossings) and I ride after hours so it's been a lot safer running 140mm/69 degree head tube on my mojo than 80mm / 71+ degree head tube on my last bike, a SC superlight. Finally, I occasionally commute 13 miles to work so it's nice to be in a more upright position since I'm often carrying a laptop (position also good for family rides). I test rode a 2010 stumpjumper and loved everything about it except how it climbed the steep hills at 140mm. It was majic at 120mm, but the terrain changes too fast for me to feel like changing it. However, it was a demo bike so i didn't adjust the stem angle or handlebars. I thought it was slow in the twisties at 140, but that was probably just me not being used to a longer travel bike yet.
So...will the epic handle the drops/log piles/ ditches/etc and not feel too twitch on fast steep / rough decents...or...how well can the stumpy be raced? I just loved the way the brain worked, the lateral stiffness (alloy Stumpy), it's speed, the ability to do manuals / wheelies, and the water bottle cage location. I also like the steeper seat tube angle over my Mojo (I have the seat all the way forward). Or, should I just stay with the mojo, which seems to be in the middle. The camber would be great, but I don't think Spec offers a brain model...and I'll be sleeping in the garage if I get another bike....