A genuine thank-you to the person who stole my bike.

It wasn't THAT good a bike.
It was a Merida Matts Striker Pro, that cost about $1000.
And I'd put $500 worth of Rock Shox Pilot XC's on the front, and spd pedals,
A tool kit, bar-ends, pump, you know all the odds and ends.
A total of around $1900 in my estimate.

It had to be the neighbours, we live at the end of a long shared driveway
between two other houses, that is used only by us and them. Only they could
have known that the power to the garage wasn't hardwired but supplied by an
extension lead, and that the sensor light out there was only a plug in, not
hard-wired, they must have known this information because they disconnected
it to steal the bike, after cutting through the cable lock (which they took
with them for some strange reason). The neighbour was an ex-bike mechanic
(known to the LBS, and not trusted further than could be kicked apparently)
so would have known the bike's worth, it was the only bike taken, despite
the wife and kids having bikes, and the wifes bike being a brand-new, ridden
once, $700 ladies mountain bike, which was no peice of junk, but they knew
what they were after and only took mine.

But I have to say, a really heart felt and genuine thank you to them.
For the first time, with all the stuff they've stolen previously, this time
they've finally done me A HUGE FAVOUR!!!!

The house and contents insurance has covered the theft, and - and here's
why it's good to have a good relationship with the LBS - the LBS has done me
up a certificate of valuation for around $2200, so there'll be a nice new
Giant XTC 1 or 2 taking the place of the old heapa very soon.

(Oh, and the sparkies are coming out this week to fit PROPER electricity to
the garage, a remote electric garage door (so it can't be left open), and a
steel cage is being built in the back of the garage to secure the new bike
when she arrives.

Odd thing is, that whilst both bikes - the one I lost - and the replacement,
will have cost about the same $$$'s - both around $2000. The new bike, is
vastly superior to the original. Example mine only had disc brakes front,
this new one has them rear. The old only had one set of Deore's, this one
will have Deore's F & R, and not even base model Deore's.
How come it's so much cheaper to buy the parts already on the bike, than to
add them later? Well, this time it's worked in my favour.

Sheesh, I just might even take up riding again now with a nice new bike
coming.

Now for the question you no doubt have heard a million times. I intend to
ride basically cross country, Some of the Giant bikes I've looked at that
have Rear Suspension, claim that their system cancels out the loss of
pedalling efficiency that rear sus is supposed to cause.
Is this true, does it work, do you lose efficiency to a rear sus system?
Should I consider the Hardtail XTC range or something more like the VT range
(even if I have to throw a few of my own dollars in to get it)
I love fast descents on firetrails, but I'm one of those who feel you didn't
earn the right to the descent if you didn't RIDE UP there to do it, so I
don't want something that will really stink on uphill rides, and the rest of
the riding, will be cross country, up down and level firetrails, etc.

What do people think of the VT range?

Thanks in advance
Trentus
aka Super-T
aka Ezookiel
(Why Ezookiel? It's the name on my Suzuki 4WD. Why? cause Suzuki's are also
often known as a zuke or zook, and Ezekiel in the Bible had a vision of
living beings who as they flew, had 4 wheels that followed them on the
ground. Cross zook, and Ezekiel, and you get "Ezookiel" and it's 4 wheels
certainly follow me across all sorts of ground, no matter where I go)

Should I consider the Hardtail XTC range or something more like the VT
range

The XTC is super-light, super-flexy. If you're racing, this is what you
want.

(even if I have to throw a few of my own dollars in to get it)
I love fast descents on firetrails, but I'm one of those who feel you
didn't
earn the right to the descent if you didn't RIDE UP there to do it, so I
don't want something that will really stink on uphill rides, and the rest
of
the riding, will be cross country, up down and level firetrails, etc.

What do people think of the VT range?

Plush. The rear air shock is kind of a pain in the ass to set up. Seems
the VT1 at our shop didn't work with the vast majority of shock pumps out
there... it let out air as you unscrewed it. Make sure you check this if
you go with the VT series.

The NRS is like the XTC but dual-suspension. Not sure how well the claimed
damping works in practice... we don't keep them in stock.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training