I have been thinking of changing my race bike for a while, not because I don’t like it, just that the frame is now 5 years old and I can get a whole bike for not much more than a new frame and bits. Carbon frames are now the norm but I would like to stay with Aluminium (had too many gates close on the bike on MTBOs in the past) So what to buy…….
A fellow GB team member, now Corratec Product Manager for the UK distributor Raleigh, indicated a deal could be done on a Corratec Bow, but to make sure I like the bike I have just picked up a demo model to try for the weekend.
The demo model is a 2009 Equipe which is of a similar spec to the 2010 XT World Cup model I have as an option.
The Bow is unique in its design, having a top tube that divides and then runs all the way to the rear becoming the seat stays. This is suppose to produce a very rigid design giving it very good climbing characteristics. An initial look over the bike seems promising with a full XT groupset and Avid Juicy 7 brakes, but the own brand wheels are a tad heavy. The bike is a little ‘shorter’ than i’m used to but friends who have ridden my XTC have always commented on how ‘long’ it feels so perhaps it is no bad thing.
A quick lunchtime blast without touching the setup has shown the bike to be less twitchy than the XTC and the wide handle bars require more input to get it to turn, however this may be due to the aggressive tyres on the test machine.
This is not a bad thing and perhaps may suit my riding style more, I certainly was not hanging about on it.
Next job is a quick service, to sort out the front shock pressures, and play with the stem and seat position before heading out on Friday to give it a proper test on Follow the Dog with the Berkswich Primary School Dads ride.
Ill then put my race wheels and map board on it to give it a final test on Sunday but I think I may have found my new steed !
http://www.corratec.com/en/bikes2010/mtb/superbow/superbow_wc_xt.php