I hope trip leader Bas approves because it’s too late if he doesn’t and who knows where in the world (on his bike) he is! My weapon of choice for the worlds steepest downhill* and a few uphills on the way there.
* Trip Notes days 19-21: From the summit of the Lalung La (5050 metres) to the Friendship bridge at 1500 metres involves a descent of 3500 metres - one of the steepest descents in the world.
The 2015 Giant Men's Talon 27.5 1 Mountain Bike has a super-responsive ALUXX aluminium frame which features classic hardtail design updated with 27.5" (650B) wheel technology. Designed to make the most of this lightweight yet stable wheel size, and engineered to work with a 100-millimetre Rock Shox suspension fork, it’s a great choice for sport and recreational riders that want the perfect blend of quickness, light weight and control on the trail.
Product Specs (and changes for the trip)
- Frame: ALUXX grade aluminium
- Fork: Rock Shox 30 Gold w/turnkey lockout, 100mm travel
- Handlebar: Giant Connect XC rise, 31.8mm
- Stem: Giant Connect, 8 degree
- Seat post: Giant Connect, 30.9mm
- Saddle: Giant Connect Upright
- Shifters: Shimano Deore, 30sp
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore, 34.9mm
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Shadow (and spare hanger)
- Brakes: Shimano
M355hydraulic, 160mm (converted to cable disc brakes for the trip on recommendation from Adventure South)- Brake Levers: Shimano
M355- Cassette: Shimano HG-50, 11-36T, 10sp
- Chain: KMC X10
- Crankset: Shimano M552, 24-32-42T + Kiwi Keywin pedals which I’ve used for years.
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano sealed
- Rims: Giant S-XC2, double wall
- Hubs: Giant Tracker Sport Disc, 32h
- Spokes: Stainless steel, 14g (and some spares)
- Tyres: Schwalbe Rapid Rob, 27.5x2.25 which means I’ll take some spare tyres in case they aren’t found in Tibet/Nepal. I didn’t get the seemingly fashionable 29’er wheels as felt they were too cumbersome for my small frame (which needs a small frame!).
- Colour: Blue (the only they have!)
