Strengths: Good descents, tough climbs, excellent scenery, knowledgeable guiding, comfy accommodation, quality food, endless cafes, properly equipped workshop, not too painful airport links and endless real hospitality. Oh and the weather. All really good.
Weaknesses: None. Having been on nine other riding holidays with five other firms I consider this the best overall package.
Overall: A great, great holiday that any real mountain biker looking for knarly descents, tough climbs, stunning scenary and plenty of excellent food, drink and company will love.
Strengths: The awesome riding - endless rocky desecents with all the drops, hairpins and roots you could rewally ever want. The guides knowledge and friendliness. The chalet, food and accommodation, great support overall from all the team.
Strengths: A very assured bike. The four bar suspension with pro pedal provides travel that feels like more than 4", it grips well on ascents and descents and overall it feels very efficient and understated.
Compared to my 2002 FSR it is much stiffer and feels much steadier and more planted even though it is slightly lighter. The handling is very good, going just where you expect it to. I would say the seat and head angles are spot on. The Fox rp3 shock and fox 100mm float fork work well and clearly contribute to the great ride.
It is quite light, just under 27 lbs with fairly bullet proof thomson, race face and sram gear with hope xc / 819 wheels.
Its good to look at if you like clean lines and fancy cnc machining.
Weaknesses: I may remove some spacers from below the stem to improve the steering when going up v steep stuff.
Clearly alot of factors make a great bike as well as the frame such as shock, fork and set up so a straight like for like comparison with a four year old bike may not be totally fair.
At just under £3k its an expensive bike when there are off the shelf machines for £2-2,250 that have the same weight and travel but as Tom Aitken says you can see where the money has gone.
Overall: I was worried it wouldn't be good enough to justify the outlay but six days of testing rides on rocks and roots, climbs and descents has laid all the fears to rest. if you've worked hard and want a light, comfy bike that handles well and looks good for day rides and marathons but that will still perform at short races or in the alps then this is it.
I can't comment yet on reliability but bushings should outlast bearings and it is quite solid despite the lowish weight.
