OK, so it's my big 40 this year and I feel a spending spree coming on. I fancy a new bike. Love my FSR but hey ho I'm fickle and fancy transferring my affections :-)

I test rode the Womens design Comp at the weekend and really liked it although found the cranks a bit spinny (170mm) and the handlebars were very narrow, but could get used to that/change them.

I would say the medium I tried is a good fit for me overall (being 5'7 ish) but the spec I want is the Expert - in for a penny in for a pound and all that.

The Talas forks I have ridden before and love but the new brainfade shock is new to me and I'm not sure if I will like it...

So I would really love to hear from anyone who has one of these bikes and how they find the rear end (if you know what I mean !!) I have a bad back and don't want to end up riding an ironing board.

Also in the catalogue the colour is quoted as bronze but it looks a bit dog pooh - is it in real life too or will it be love at first sight :-) Any info would be really appreciated because my local dealer is trawling the UK at the mo to find me one apparently the Expert has sold out UK-wide so there must be quite a few being used out there, not seen one on the trails myself tho ... cheers girls

I've got one of the older models, pre Brain, I love it, though I find it harder work than my hard tail on climbs.

Treehugger has the new version, sure she will be along in a bit. I think she likes the "brain". Also I think the colour is cool, but I like brown. Prefer it to mine (which is silver and turquoise)

Hi Claire, thanks for that. Is the colour sparkly in the flesh? Of course the performance of the shock is also hugely important lol ! would love to hear from Treehugger about it...

I think it's a bit sparkly, but I'd more call it "brown" than "bronze"
Definitely not Poo Brown though, haha!

does yours have the Talas forks ? OOI have you had to make any changes to the bike ?

Yes, mine has the Talas forks, they are ace - adjustable travel is brilliant (except when you forget to wind it down before a climb!) The new one has white Talas forks, which I thought looked a bit weird at first but it looks very different - really stands out. I also think the new ones may go up to 140mm travel, mine are only 130mm (plenty for me!)

Not made any changes, apart from putting a longer stem on as the one it came with was too short. Oh and got a new quick release as the one it came with was crap.

Treehugger upgraded her wheels as well I think. They may not be the lightest, but i can't be bothered to spend any more money. Treehugger is v light though so it may make more difference to her. I am a bit more beefy, lol!

Yes they are 140 - plenty enough for my attempts - the wheels this year are DT Swiss, I have always had Mavics and don't know this manuf. which are yours ? Can I ask how tall you are & what frame size you have if you had to lengthen your stem...

Oooh dunno which my wheels are, would have to check! I am 5'2 1/2 and have a small frame. The stem it came with was really small though - 70mm, so the one I have now is only 90mm so not massive.

Hi there - I have got the 06 expert stumpy - the silver/blue one. It is fab and I love it! But they have upgraded loads on the 07 version so you probably need to speak to someone who has a 07 expert stumpy. I know Treehugger has one and loves it - maybe have a chat with her. The colour is really nice by the way - not too girly but quite cool.

Yes the colour is quite nice, didn't think I'd like it from the pictures but treehuggers bike is lovely.

haha, treehugger is going to log on to find a long thread discussing her bike without her!
yoohoo, treehugger, where are you?

Hi CJ

Personally, I don't rate the Specialized Comp. It was far too short and upright for my liking. It climbs badly and doesn't decend that much better (runs for cover) either. The colour looks better in the flesh but at the end of the day, it's still brown and will clash with your nice green Scott top!!

Agree with you on the short and upright thing - I demoed the Specialized at the same time as a Giant Trance (XS mens) though and found that the Trance was massively more short and upright. For this reason I though the Specialized was great and ended up getting one.

However, when I got it I found that it was also quite a bit more upright and short feeling than my hardtail, but now I've moved the handle bars and stem down and put a longer stem on it it feels much better, and I have got used to it. I guess the short reach thing is the WSD "women have long legs and short torsos" kind of geometry, though it is weird that the Trance felt even shorter to me, as it was a men's bike.


Disagree on the descending thing though!

I thought I was going to be thrown over the bars at the slightest bump. I was almost sitting on the back wheel to get my weight over the back end.

Horses for courses I guess.

Can't tell you anything about the ride, but I did think Treehugger's bike looked good.

Hi Bikescooby - read your article again last night (you little superstar!) and was going to ask what size you rode. It reads as though it was a small frame because they mentioned ' a medium would have probably been too big for most of you (!!!!!)'

I would say you are about my height and a medium is the size for me. I did find the bike very upright and shorter on the top tube but for me that is one of the reasons I am looking to change to take some pressure off my back, but I don't want to end up with something that doesn't ride well.. I am now a bit confused argh !!!!!

Treehugger - I need you ... would love to know what you think of your 07 bike, the fit, the feel, the brainfade shock etc ...

I have the FSR 07 Comp but not with the fancy brain thingy. I'm 5ft5" and have the medium (same frame as the expert but PINK !!). I think medium is the right size for my hieght, don't know how tall Bikescooby is. It is a short bike compared to others but that is personal preference.

CJ you could try mailing treehugger through the site, she seems to be online quite often so I'm sure she will answer you if you point her to this thread.

Or just go accost her in the Peaks thread...

thanks for the advice, will e-mail treehugger. Took an Epic out tonight to test ride the brain shock and wow was I amazed. It was really really good. Think I am sold on the stumpy expert with this shock in a medium. Have found one (apparently they are all sold out cos are so good !) so watch this space. Still would like to know what tree hugger has to say from 1st hand experience. Thanks girls for all your advice, see you on the trails soon...