This bike was optimized for tight, very low speed technical terrain and I was concerned the geometry would lead to twitchiness or instability at higher speeds in more open terrain.
Those concerns were completely unfounded. This thing blew my doors off today. The trail I rode was not particularly technical, but had lots of ups and downs, some tight singletrack, some fast sweeping corners, and a few rock gardens. The big problem on these trails is lack of traction due to loose decomposed granite over hardpack. It allows you to have some fun drifting, or you can find yourself drifting right into a bush.
I thought the front end would push with the 16.4" chainstays, it didn't push at all. This was a total non-issue. Steering is perfect. Pumping rollers, bunny hopping, slamming around corners was just super fun. In preparing for this build, I had some other builders tell me a bike with sub 16.5" stays wouldn't corner well. I can only think they had never ridden a bike with them this short because I can't find any downside so far. Perhaps if I ran gears rather and SS and sat to climb the front would be too light, but I don't know.
Climbing steep, loose switchbacks with strategically placed water bars was a non-issue. I could do it on other bikes, but it was just so easy with this thing. I can literally stall in the middle of a climb, track stand for a few moments to catch my breath and think about it, and accelerate out of the track stand. If I stall really bad I can sort of trials hop up the obstacle pretty easily.
As far as sizing, Steve totally nailed it. We had done some measurements and I put my saddle in the center of the rails pre-build and have had no need or desire to move it anywhere. I am completely comfortable and at home in the cockpit.
The Gravity dropper got a work out today. This is my first try with their 5" design and it works as invisibly as any of their other posts.
Here is the pic of tire clearance with FR3 on a pretty wide rim, and chainstay at 16.4" The Simon Bar can not accommodate this tire at 17"!
Pic with saddle up.
Anyway, I went from merely pleased with the bike to totally exhilarated.
S
No comments:
Post a Comment