Got myself an A50 Element. And after this summer I think its a great secondary bike. If you already have bikes for DH or enduro riding, then this bike is wonderful when you want to do a more pedally day, or have a group ride with friends a little more fit than yourself.
Great choice Jubal. Especially as a secondary pedal bike. Great components on the A50. If I didn’t have my slightly built up Tallboy, the A50 would be my bike I think. Thx for stopping by!
Couldn't agree more Jason! Timing laps up and down AND having at least 1 other rider to do the same really helps you to figure out how good bikes compare. But, or AND, timing rides is helpful but it's missing the most important part of riding...the feel of it. How do you feel when you're climbing on X bike. How do you feel when your shredding gnar or super flowy dh trails on Y bike? The timing part is the un-biased view. But aren't bikes, and how they feel, more important? Except maybe if you're a racer?!? And yes, the 140 36 Fox Factory does make a big difference. But even without it, the Tallboy still descends better than the Element and all/most? of the downcountry (oops, I said it!) bikes. Thanks for popping by and sharing your thoughts!
Great real world take. Comfort of the Tallboy and confidence descending is far more important to me than weight and slightly better pedal efficiency. I don't try to crush the Strava times on the way up but live for the downs.
Thanks for commenting GF! And more importantly, thanks for agreeing with me! Ha ha. I switched from my Yeti SB150 which I do really miss as it pedaled really well and absolutely plowed the dh, but was just “too much” bike for most of the Vegas riding I do now. Watch for my next video…a somewhat controversial take on my Tallboy! Dropping 2-nite!
Cheers! Just picked up a C50.
Got myself an A50 Element. And after this summer I think its a great secondary bike. If you already have bikes for DH or enduro riding, then this bike is wonderful when you want to do a more pedally day, or have a group ride with friends a little more fit than yourself.
Great choice Jubal. Especially as a secondary pedal bike. Great components on the A50. If I didn’t have my slightly built up Tallboy, the A50 would be my bike I think. Thx for stopping by!
What do you think of the new RM Element? Still a XC bike? Or has it moved into the divisively-named "down-country" category?
The best way to compare head to head…is to time your laps up and down. That said, throwing a 140 fork changes everything.
Couldn't agree more Jason! Timing laps up and down AND having at least 1 other rider to do the same really helps you to figure out how good bikes compare. But, or AND, timing rides is helpful but it's missing the most important part of riding...the feel of it. How do you feel when you're climbing on X bike. How do you feel when your shredding gnar or super flowy dh trails on Y bike? The timing part is the un-biased view. But aren't bikes, and how they feel, more important? Except maybe if you're a racer?!? And yes, the 140 36 Fox Factory does make a big difference. But even without it, the Tallboy still descends better than the Element and all/most? of the downcountry (oops, I said it!) bikes. Thanks for popping by and sharing your thoughts!
Great real world take. Comfort of the Tallboy and confidence descending is far more important to me than weight and slightly better pedal efficiency. I don't try to crush the Strava times on the way up but live for the downs.
Thanks for commenting GF! And more importantly, thanks for agreeing with me! Ha ha. I switched from my Yeti SB150 which I do really miss as it pedaled really well and absolutely plowed the dh, but was just “too much” bike for most of the Vegas riding I do now. Watch for my next video…a somewhat controversial take on my Tallboy! Dropping 2-nite!