JohnnyRides

Hi all,

I've been away from the forum for a while and worked through this past summer with a lower back problem that has kept me from hiking.

Biking hasn't been a problem and about 6 weeks ago I got into true mountain biking at a few locations here in NJ. I completely love it!! I've had my share of crashes and falls but it's tons of fun......so much so that I felt the need to get a good FS bike that I can grow into and make the experience better. My Giant Revel 0 29er has been great but it's not in the same class as the Trance and I wanted a second mtb so one of my sons can come with me.

Trance 27.5 2 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States

Can't wait to get it and continue the quest to improve my conditioning and enjoy this sport. I'm 48 so I feel best to get the bike now so I can enjoy it while I can.

Sheldoncooper

Nice bike

TallTravel

Congratulations! I hope it arrives even sooner!

JohnnyRides

Wow, you must know somebody high up......I just got a call from my lbs and the bike arrived today, they put it together, and it's ready to GO!! Going to pick it up in about 30 minutes. Can't wait!

roccobike

Johnny Rides, Congrats on the new ride. PLEASE Keep us posted. I'm especially interested as I plan to demo the exact same bike as soon as my LBS gets the demonstrator in. It's taken a lot to get me out of my 26er, but I'm thinking the 27.5 might be the right move. i like your double FOX shocks, that's what I have on the 26er.

TallTravel

I'm happy for you! Where did you ride so far?

JohnnyRides

Unfortunately nowhere yet. Just got it last night and just rode it around the front of my house in the dark. Plan to give it a good run this weekend and take a few pics. I'm chomping at the bit. May actually get some snow this weekend.

JohnnyRides

Thanks. So far the bike looks and feels great. Will give more in depth assessment after I run it this weekend.

happyscientist

Congratulations! I love new bike day. I have the 2014 version of that bike. Now if I could only ride well enough to merit the bike.

JayKay3000

Looks like they kept the formula and parts pretty much the same to the 2014 model. Nothing wrong with that though the 2014 x2 is pretty good. 3 of us in the local town have them.

Just having a 6 month overhaul on my 2014 model at the moment. Shock service, front wheel truing, tightening / un-bending the rear derailuer, new chain, replacing the rear tire and adjusting the rear calliper mounts. Now to put de-greaser and cleaner all over the fiddly bits while I wait for my second hans dampf and take it back out where it belongs.

Hope you don't crash too much though. I spent a year off the bike after I broke my neck. But you could do that falling down stairs.

But it's all in the mind right. Think positive, ride positive be positive and you'll be fine. Everything is possible with momentum.

Still looks better in black.

TallTravel

Have a great time on your new bike tomorrow!

JohnnyRides

Picked her up this week and will be breaking her in tomorrow morning at NJ's 6 mile reservoir tomorrow morning. GoPro is mounted. Can't wait!!

Ray Dockrey

I bought a used 2014 Trance 3 a couple of weeks ago. Got it for $1250 after tax from my lbs. Needed some tlc but boy is it super nice. They already had it setup tubeless. I love tinkering with bikes and do all my own work so I didn't mind the work. I did replace the chain and cassette so I knew where I stand with them. My back says thank you every time I take it out. Congrats on yours.

JohnnyRides

Amen to that. I found climbing considerably easier too.

The Trance 3 is great and really nothing changed for 2015. Nice deal.

Enjoy it!

TallTravel

So? How'd your first real ride go?

JohnnyRides

The ride this past Sunday was an interesting one. My first ride when it was mostly wet, muddy, and leafy. Had to be careful and well balanced in some spots but overall the bike was GREAT....as expected! The Maxxis Ardent tires unfortunately held onto the mud way too much and it was difficult to extract. The bike handled very well and was clearly much easier on the old bones. The biggest difference I can tell here at the early onset is how much easier it was to climb in some areas that were much tougher to handle before. This spot was one with a few short drops and climbs though so there was no real test of longer ascents and downhill. Trying to get to a place more attuned to that stuff this coming weekend but the weather has gotten much colder right after a big rain so there's got to be lots of ice and very hard ground out there. Gotta do it though so I get to learn and experience all different conditions. Not all can be a nice 60 degree sunny day in September.

i ordered new Conti Trail King Protection 2.4 tires for better grip and mud extraction but won't have them in time for this coming weekend.