N-8 reshuffle

genuine question as I dont understand off-road (bikes); what makes stanton the one compared to the trek, cotic and the blue stanton you had?

The blue stanton was an older slackline, 26" wheel. It was a good bike, but more used by my son than me. My mate wanted to buy it so I moved it on at mates rates.

The Trek Superfly was a superb race 29er, very light and very fast, but due to a realisation that I don't really want to race anymore and that I prefer steel bikes in general, my need for a race specific bike wasn't there anymore. I wanted to keep a 29er though but for more general trail duties and also things like the South Downs Way double I want to tackle next year. Whilst the Trek was the right tool for going fast, I just didn't "love" it in the same way I know I will the Sherpa.

The Cotic was/is great, really good. It was a 650b trail bike and very capable of tackling more aggressive riding too. But I'm trying to reduce down the number of bikes I have and the overlap, so in order to justify the Sherpa arrival it had to go (for balancing the books as well as reducing the number of bikes). By getting 2 sets of wheels (a 29er set with XC tyres and a 27.5+ with 3.0 tyres) I'll effectively get 2 bikes in one anyway, one better suited to the XC and endurance rides I have planned and the smaller plumper tyres for a little more looning about in the woods.

That's the plan anyway. Won't know if I've achieved my goals until I've put some miles in on it in both guises.

TL;DR it’s kinda those three bikes in one, if not quite as rowdy as the original Stanton.

@yetidamo if you hover over the next gen sherpa on the home page, it says 27.5+ 2.8". If you click on the model and its description, it says 3” Plus tyres on super wide plus 27.5 rims. Will be interested to see the clearance when it's built up.

Thanks. Yeah exactly that. Stanton are telling me that my 3.0 tyres will fit but its a frame that previously has been stated as a max of 2.8. Won't be happy if it's got a cigarette paper clearance as that won't work in UK conditions.

Things aren't exactly going to plan. So the order that my reshuffled bikes will be completed in has had a reshuffle. Looking like the road bike (was Cinelli, now Genesis) will be first out the stand.

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Slow progress at the LBS. Not their fault. Suppliers letting them down.

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What a great thread, I never managed to accumulate 14 bikes to need to downsize but if I had done I reckon you've gotten the choice dialled!
There are a good few other frames I'd consider in the 29er stakes but the Sherpa is undoubtedly a great choice, what fork will you be building it up with?

Thanks bud. What would be on your list for the 29er then? If I could have waited my first choice was a BTR Chaser, but I couldn't be without a hardtail MTB for the duration of their waiting list. Will get one on day though I think. That said, reckon the Sherpa will be hard to knock off it's spot once I've got it.

Going with a Manitou Magnum Pro fork. Wanted a 100mm fork, but a man fork, not a flexy XC noodle fork as this is going to get some big hits. Not racing anymore so 34mm stanchions, Dorado damping, ability to take 27.5+ and 29 tyres and a whacking great discount from CRC made it the obvious choice ;0) Had one a while ago on my Stache and it's a bloody great fork.

That's going to be a lot of fun with that fork!!

I guess I'd find it hard not to consider a Chromag if I was going for a steel 29er? Maybe a Swarf or a PVD? To be honest though I'd really only be going for anything other than the Stanton for the sake of having something a bit more unusual!

You have great taste in forks.

Get those cable guides right off.

The barrel adjusters on the front? Yeah they won't be on there long 👍

Cut the whole lot off if youre running etap!

Clearly I'm not as skilled as you with a hacksaw/Stanley knife/blowtorch/anything mechanical

Mounted the 3.0 tyres to the 650b wheels this evening and offered the front up to the magnum. Oodles of clearance. Dis gun b gud etc.

Had my last ride with the Victoire at the weekend. Was amaze. The Spooky has big shoes to fill.

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MTB should be out the stand and ready to roll tomorrow. 👍

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Wot no dropper

Does look surperb though

Thanks. Had a dropper on the outgoing cotic (and twas good) but this is predominently a replacement for the superfly so decided to start with the regular post for mainly xc duties and see how much I miss the dropper. May end up getting one later on.

I have a black saddle for it and I'll desticker the fork too I think. Not seen it in the flesh yet but it looks like a bunch of fun from this sneak pic.

Inaugural ride for Stan. A* for the B+!

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Was a good day for it.

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Destickered the fork.

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Looking forward to trying out the 29er wheels when it dries out a bit, but first impressions with the B+ are favourable.

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