Most riders here are XC or road cyclists, there are not much of us adrenalin-seeking kind, but we are pretty close-knit.

A lot of them are also rich, and can switch bikes when they want. The cost of good parts here are quite expensive, and a lot of people cannot believe how expensive our bikes are. I want 2 bikes: a hardtail and a DH bike. Once the DH bike is done a new hardtail will be built.

You are also lucky for your country produced the likes of Gracia and Barel. I am just waiting for the time CG would come here to see the bike fest, his best friend Lopes and the legendary Hans Rey has come here several times already..

If Cedric comes it will be a HUGE party. I'm sure of it!

The cameras are not with me, so there is no close-up of it.

The downside here in the far side of the Pacific is that its always raining, and the soil in my hometown is a type of clay loam that just sticks and clogs to everything. It usually takes 3-4 days of non stop sunshine for it to dry out just enough so it doesn't stick too much.

I am sure that training on a hardtail will make you a better rider overall, and it looks like there is truth to it after all. But still, there is always a limit to what a hardtail can and cannot do, so I would like a DH bike. I have been riding a hardtail as an all-around bike for three years now, and seeing the people around me switch bikes every now and then while I am still stuck with a hardtail is quite frustrating, but its a bragging right at the same time.

One good thing about the Philippines is that you can ride for all of the year (no winter=no snow). The only time you stop is when a typhoon is present.

I am still using my hardtail, and until I save enough then I'll buy a frame and a dual crown fork. The Black is on my shortlist because its the cheapest, but there are so many people selling frames here (*cough*poseur*cough*) that I don't know where to start.

As for pwnage, here's a definition:

PWN: Pronunciation: (pôn) Originally a misspelling of the word own, as in to totally have a skillful advantage over someone or something pwn is to more than just own.

yesterday I blew past three guys on DH bikes on me pathetic little hardtail. A Banshee Scream with a 888, a Da Bomb Bouncing betty with a 2010 Boxxer, and a Mongoose with a Fox 40. They SHOULD leave me in the dust, but it turns out, I was faster, hence, pwnage.

there used to be a Lapierre dealer here, but its far away from Manila (around 1000km away) . Luckily a friend who lives there can be my contact when looking for a Black. Almost no one uses the Marzo shock, most go for DHXs and 5th Element shocks.

But still, with my Richie Rich friends (I am the only guy with a hardtail in their group)switching frames like underwear, it looks like I have to keep my eyes peeled and my options open.

So based from the numbers, the Black is low and slack, which is near-perfect for a DH race frame, yet I see some guys (some crazy ass Poles) doing some really huge hucks on it. Sure it is not as new as most frames out there, but the geometry numbers are almost like today's bikes.

I was wondering about the head angle of the Black, I was not entirely sure about the numbers because one of the sites showed the Black FRX with a 66° head angle, which is not quite as good for DH. Can I dare say that its numbers are quite ahead for its time?

your english is good. Thanks for the numbers!

hey man do you have the geometry numbers on the Black DH?