another friend has a 2009 trek fuel ex 5.5. He has nick named it "Clydesdale" as he finds it big and heavy. Was cycling it in ballyhoura and the weekend and could see why. Its a large size bike but just feels big and awkward. It has all the standard parts fitted which include a rockshox tora front shock.
is there any thing he could do to improve the bike as he is getting more into biking
I've been down this road - if the bike is too big for him, it's too big, end of story! Shortening stems, moving saddles etc really doesn't solve the problem - he needs to change the bike! If, on the other hand, the bike is the right size but he finds it too heavy then he can start replacing parts with lighter ones - the biggest savings can usually be made in the wheelset/tyres where you can lose 1-1.5kgs quite easily (but at a cost). The Trek EX wouldn't be known as being a particularly heavy bike!
the bike is the right size alright id say as he is 6 foot and about 14.5 stone. He sat on the medium version and found it small he thought. I think by big i meant bulky. I might see it i can change his wheels and tyres and maybe fork. What would people recomend? Could i use my others friends Sid shock;D or would 100mm be too small on a large frame?
The Sid would be no good, not because of the size of the bike but because the bike is designed to have a 120mm travel fork. Putting on a 100mm fork would change the geometry and handling of the bike. If he wants to change the fork put on a 120mm travel one again. Saying that some Sid's can be run 100mm or 120mm by removing internal spacers, if that's the case with your mates Sid's they way work. But as Fat Fecker pointed out they are really a race fork and wouldn't be ideally suited to the bike or the rider!
the bike is the right size alright id say as he is 6 foot and about 14.5 stone. He sat on the medium version and found it small he thought. I think by big i meant bulky. I might see it i can change his wheels and tyres and maybe fork. What would people recomend? Could i use my others friends Sid shock;D or would 100mm be too small on a large frame?
thanks
Well I'm just over 5'11" and not far off 14 stone (I know, I know .... fat ****er!) and ride a medium frame! I bought a Large frame when I started and it just never felt right! Between 5'10" and 6ft you're often in an awkward zone where a medium can seem a bit small but a large feels like a tank! The people here who know these things would tell you that you are better riding a bike that is slightly too small than one that is too big!!
The Sid would be no good, not because of the size of the bike but because the bike is designed to have a 120mm travel fork. Putting on a 100mm fork would change the geometry and handling of the bike. If he wants to change the fork put on a 120mm travel one again. Saying that some Sid's can be run 100mm or 120mm by removing internal spacers, if that's the case with your mates Sid's they way work. But as Fat Fecker pointed out they are really a race fork and wouldn't be ideally suited to the bike or the rider!
I'm no mountain biking god, but I am a 6ft 14 stoner who had a trek - albeit a hardtail.
I found it a long frame and the stock handlebar stem was 120mm.
I'd tell your mate to try a 70mm stem before spending a fortune on other bits.
As for bike weight, speaking from experience at 14 stone all bikes are heavy going up hill. I'm not being rude, it's just a fact of life I've come to accept. You can spend a lot of money upgrading parts but it's really not going to make the kind of difference you're hoping for. Better wheels will help a little but a bit more fitness will help a lot more.
Get you mate to borrow / hire a good demo bike and see what he thinks.
will try the stem alright. i did notice that he has the seat back a bit.
i tried cycling it at the weekend myself and found the bike dead even on the fast sections. Read reviews were people thought that the Tora fork killed the bike so if anyone is selling a suitable fork just let me know.
If the bike feels like a barge.. but fits the rider okay in terms of size etc.. then the first thing I'd do is loose weight off the wheels.. it will make the biggest and most noticeable difference to the bike and how it rides over anything else.. change the tyres and tubes first.. then concentrate on the rims / wheels..
Next thing I'd check is the length of the stem... anything over 100mm is a bit XC'ish for an All Mountain bike.. I'd go for a 70mm - 90mm.. with a 0 to 5 degree rise..
Check the saddle is not too far forward or back... makes a big difference..
As for the forks.. Tora's are a heavy beast alright... but changing them won't make as much of a noticeable difference as changing your wheel / tyres for lighter ones.. changing them for an air fork will loose a considerable amount of weight though..
Also, make sure your suspension is set up correctly for your weight and style of riding... badly set up suspension can make the bike ride like a boat if its too soft or has too much rebound.. best get someone who knows suspension to do this as manufacturers recommended settings are usually way off the mark...