This year the training is going quite well, so I decided to buy a hard tail to play with, hoping that at the same time it would be more fun or rather different than my Rocky while just biking to work, which is half road half of road or small no real need full suspension rides.
So I went out and bought this 
http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/lapierre/x-country-mountain-bike/2009/PRO-RACE-300-1
I have already changed some of the components, adding a Race Face Deus stem, Race Face Next 630mm XC carbon handlebars, added Time Atac carbon pedals, front tire and back tyres are now Hutchinson Pythons as it dry weather here. I have changed the brakes and shifters to Shimano Dual Control XT
First ride this morning, same route as usual to work, wow does this bike fly, 9 mins less than my usual time … need to see if its just me with a new bike or what … the bike seems more “nippier”, the XT 2009 dual controls are really nice, but not as good or as smooth as the XTR version, but are still far better than the standard push pull shifters, also what I notice is that it pulls away quicker than when I’m riding the Rocky, this is a great bike, different from the full sus Rocky, it handles just nice 
I had to change the seat stem as the original one is only 350mm long and kept slipping down the frame even when bolted tight, went to a 400mm long and the problem went away
Sensations are different than the Rocky Element, when I hit a hole with this one I feel it (hope that my back holds out …), its seems more agile and of course it’s lighter, 11.3 kilos with pedals, size 46cm (18 inches), I am 5.8 metres tall and the size 46 is exactly the same size as my Rocky 18″ the geometry of both bikes is almost exactly the same
I love it, it’s fast and fun, it’s different to the Rocky Mountain, well under half the price, for the big outings I prefer the Rocky because the suspension helps, but sometime I now debate which bike to take out ……..
Frame : Alloy 7005 SL formed flex design
Forks : Fox 32 FRL 100mm
Front Derailleur : Shimano SLX, Rear : Shimano XT inversé
Bottom Bracket & Chainset : Shimano XT
Headset : Ahead set 1.1 / 8 semi-integrated cartridge
Stem : Race Face Deus 100mm XC, Handlebars : Race Face Next 630mm XC carbon
Seatpost : Woodman 400mm long, broken changed to a Raceface Deus XC 400mm
Front & Back Brake + shifters : Dual control XT
Wheels : Shimano XT Wheelset 2009
Tyres front & back : Hutchinson Python 2.0 Tubeless
Saddle : Italia SLR
Pedals : Time Atac carbon
Weight : 11.3 Kilos,
I’ve not really tried to get it lighter, preferring quality components over weight, but I might see what I can change (again) in the coming months
Fitted with XT wheels and Race Face stem and handle bars,, XT dual control shifter/brakes and XT inversé derailleur
Update July 2009
1000 kms later (2500 kmson both bikes since January 2009)
The Lapierre is good, fast, nippy, handles really well, I do like it, I am quicker on the Rocky in downhill,and on technical uphills, the suspension helps, or is it in my head, this is good bike I thoroughly recommend it
Have just ordered some Maxxis Crossmark 26×2.10 Tubless 
for the front and Maxxis Larsen TT 26×2.10 tubeless for the rear, the Larsen I like and have it already on my Rocky and the Crossmark seems rather good so I’ll give it a try and again if I like it will also go on the Rocky
Some don’t like the blue colour as it rather flashy but I do, this weekend a friend tried it out as he was moaning about his Zesty being not really what he needs for where we live, he was so pleased with it that two days later went out and bought one
Just changed the seat post as the Woodman’s stared to fall apart on me, have added my favourite seat post of all time, a Raceface Deus XC
