The Rat Trail Bikes

How's this going?
Hope things are going a bit better :)

Trying to get GP appointment!

Given the current issues with GP, might need to go to A&E to get it looked at, always have better success with A&E.

Ah that’s a real pain. With my recurring health problems I used Guy’s and St Thomas’ Urgent Care Centre as it was difficult getting help otherwise.
Hope things start working out soon.

Bump

It’s fucking bizarre.

I’ve started riding bike that are super stiff and aggressive like the track bike with drop again, zero issues whatsoever.

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I took a plunge and got a PDF, the Faran is shorter and taller than the ISEN, I can’t get the 58R as the seat tube is only 73 degrees whether the 56T is 73.5.

I got it at a good discount (industry), and swapped everything round, I’ll says this; Magura rotors a massively more powerful than the old SRAM/Shimano as well as being quieter.

Lo and behold, same issues, I have a hutch that the steel not only being stiffer but the steel fork cause some pain.

I’m happy with this because it allow me to rules out that the ISEN isn’t the problem, and able to go forward on what to do.

Still damn fustrasting.

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What did the GP say? I find it hard to believe that these problems occur just due to differences in geo.

wtf is wrong with you

Not geo, im 100% certain of this, all I can narrow it down to fork stiffness.

GP gave me this and come back in a couple months.

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Both bikes look great! Good luck with the back pain and sell me whichever you don’t end up keeping :)

Struggle getting into that box Ed?

Must be quick and easy to swap bikes around with no gear cables to be honest.

the geo was partially taken from the Boardman abet with lower trail and higher handlebar

Have you considered shortening the reach? Or increasing the drop? Easier to reach longer in a more aggressive fit

Struggle getting into that box Ed?

all I can narrow it down to fork stiffness.

And mechanical brakes, took a good 30 minutes to swap.

Not sure how that would work, a long reach was to enable a shorter (90mm) stem with handlebar bag not getting in the way.

The stack and reach isn’t the problem, nor the fit, I genuinely think after riding carbon fork/flexy steel fork for a long time that it inflamed my back more, it’s slightly less inflamed when it set higher, but only slightly so.

I have broken wrist in mid 2021 and only starting to ride properly in early 2022, on top of that, jobs end up being more involved with computer, admin, etc. than previously on shitty Park Tools stool did not help.

I’m keeping the frames, already invested too much time and money on it, and just gonna do what I can do to get fitter again.

Take up yoga, or at least some core strengthening exercises, as well as extra time on the bike.
Glad to hear your positive about it, it's a fine bike.

Worth trying a redshift (or similar) stem?

core strengthening

This^

whats going on ed? has home ownership broken you? have you bought the Nivex rear derailleur?

It was the fugging brake levers.

Like, what the fug.

I was that closed to selling it, and was putting the nicer SRAM Red/Paul Klamper on the Checkpoint (turn out it’s lighter too).

Much to my surprise; back inflamed massively exactly like the ISEN.

Time to rebuild ISEN, but have a Fairlight that actually pretty amazing, so on the fence of keeping ISEN or Fairlight.

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I’ve purchase this Fairlight Faran at a good price because it’s nearly identical to the ISEN but with a mid trail geometry, 2.2 tyres clearance and a lots of mounts, it ride really nice and make a good balance between bikepacking and touring.

Ridden with Force hydraulic; super comfty.

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Do you have the Gramm bag to go with the rack? I love their stuff.

And it must have been some nerve pinching then? Glad it's resolved, imo you should keep the Isen. Can always get a Faran again.

has home ownership broken you?

Not yet, last room of the flat to do; the hallway.

Least we got a (abet tiny) garden and cat now.

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