Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Ben Cathro (6'7") was saying in one of his YouTube vids that Greg Minaar (6'3") rode a larger frame than he did (both on Santa Cruz).

And as has been mentioned upthread, the faster you want to go the larger the frame you choose does seem to be a thing.

Unless you are actually racing it’s surely all about feeling fast than going fast?

Yeah, Cathro said that as well - his frame choice was based on JRA.

I spoke to Pace about which of their frames they'd designed for someone of my height (187cm) and went with what they said, be interesting to see what it's like as it's a lot longer and lower than my Scalpel.

Yeah Minaar and Peaty had special V10s made with an extra 20mm length. They were still probably shorter than the current bikes!

Peaty also had DT Swiss wheels with the grease replaced with oil, to really cut down on friction, as if they weren't fast enough any way.

Minar uses an offset headset to provide extra length to already the biggest bike.

Peaty also had DT Swiss wheels with the grease replaced with oil, to really cut down on friction, as if they weren't fast enough any way.

They seem to do this in RC and inline Skating as well. Seems like one of the more marginal of gains. But I guess if you aren't paying for the bearings, go nuts.

Also ran three rotor bolts instead of six on his WC winning run

That'll do it. I don't for one second imagine he was the best athlete at the time, but his win was probably due to mechanical advantage, and being unrestrained & reckless.

/hungover

They seem to do this in RC

Here we go! DT Wheels pick up speed under gravity quicker than normal pawled hubs.

I'm thinking of putting a slackerizer headset on my mountain bike. I've got one of these https://www.jamisbikes.com/16_pdf/16_dragonslayer.pdf in a 19inch.

It's great, but all the cool hardtails are rocking 66/65 degree headangles (Solaris Max / Pace 529 / Stanton Switchback).

I'm thinking of putting a Superstar Slackerizer in there, which would lay things back to 66, but I'm trying to work out what this will do to other elements on the bike.

The BB will drop a little - but is there a way to work out how much? Is there a good calculator to stick my measurements in and see what will happen?

Also, the seat tube angle will steepen, will I need to move the saddle back? I'm now using an online dropper, so can't go that far back....

Just really unsure how big an impact 2 degrees is going to have on the rest of the bike.

What do people think - or should I just look out for a frame deal and not bother trying to bodge my existing frame up to date.

Also - Maybe it would be better to go less than 2 degrees. Superstar only sell 2 degree kits, but have different kits for different headtube lengths. Am I right in thinking that a longer headtube needs less offset to deliver an overall 2 degree change? So If I bought the cups for a longer headset, I'd get slightly less than 2 degress of slack?

ooo what bike!!

Get it, if you don't like it take it out, and refit the old headset. I don't think it's going to make much difference to the rest of your bike, probably a degree at most to the seat tube and 1/2mm to the BB. It's not going to be dramatic, it's not like you're going from a 00's XC bike to a Geometron G1.

Good enough for me - I'm going to give it a go.

ooo what bike!!

This @lowbrows

I'm currently considering delving back into the wonderful world of MTBing, it was my first love before getting a fixed wheel and a road bike.

If I had £1500 to spend on a full suspension trail bike, what should I be looking at?
(I'm 198cm so bigger is better, not fussed about wheel size)

Geometron

Done some googling, I think the un-dropped saddle height as max insertion is 10-20mm too high for the two bikes I've measured so far...

Full diagram inc overall length here: https://intl.9point8.ca/image/catalog/Products/Seatposts/Fall_Line/fall_line/Fall%20Line%20Sizing%20Diagram%20v1.pdf

https://intl.9point8.ca/index.php?route=product/product&path=42&product_id=217
https://intl.9point8.ca/index.php?route=product/product&path=42&product_id=218

You'll probably want a steeper seat angle to counteract the wavery steering that a slacker headangle will give anyway. I say do it.

Urgh my forks make an unpleasant squelchy noise if I pre load before a drop or manual. I knew there was a reason I used to ride rigid!
Who’s the go to place for fork servicing these days? I do wonder if I a service might cost more than the forks but might be worth it

Nothing yet.
Decided the sizing risk was too great for that specific brand- being exactly on the turning point of the sizing, just meant I'd possibly never be happy with the bike?
Its been approximately 15 years since I last rode MTB 'properly'. Hoping for some fun in London/ Devon in the not to distant future.

Send them to TFTuned.

Where abouts do you live?

Sending them off for a service is the right answer. The squelching means its the damper that needs a going over.

What forks are they though? I've just managed to revive a set of Fox 34 FIT-4s. Just an oil change rather than any seals. I only needed to buy a flat 26mm spanner to get the damper out, then followed this video to switch the oil out. Warning video contains 10 minutes of a man massaging a bladder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paQtjVv7jnU

I'm not sure how long this will last, as the seals are probably past their best. Full service at TF Tuned is circa £100 dependent on model, plus postage faff.

It's not too much of a faff to post, they can arrange couriers both ways and if you book in it can get the forks back two days after sending them, at least you could pre Corona. If it was just a standard service I'd say take it to an lbs who are ok with fork stuff or have a bash yourself if you want, it's pretty easy .If it's something weird send it off, they really know their shit and have any spares they might need to hand so you won't end up forkless for ages while you figure out you need some part, then find and order it and wait for it, all the while the poor thing hangs their dripping like a slaughtered lamb.

It’s a very cheap rockshox which has never had any tlc or air in it so £100 is almost what I paid for it!