beeb
Dr. Beebenson, PhD HA, ST, Offset (hons)
@hifiandmtb - I retract this statement, I rode some more tight and techy trails at You Yangs yesterday (Boulder and Trav's Diamond), and I was clipping pedals quite a bit more than I normally would've. Didn't catch the chainring or BB area on anything, but defintely would've been better with the 29er in for a little more clearance over techy step-downs and that.Not at all, but this bike felt like it had a lot more clearance than the 5010 I came off anyway. So it still "feels" a touch better for clearance comparing bike-to-bike. Probably worth mentioning that I mostly climb on fire-roads though, so generally only pedal bash if I miss-time something on descents.
I have tweaked a bit on this bike over the last couple of weeks. Pulled the (only) volume reducer out of the fork to actually get full travel out if it, and pulled one (of two) volume reducers out of the shock to be able to push the pressure up a bit and firm up the midstroke but still keep full travel. Rides a lot nicer now, a lot less wallowly in the rear, and more supple but controlled in the front. The back end on this bike is magic - so efficient but takes the hits when you need it to, the front is definitely good too but overall the bike still feels too big for me. It's borderline okay with the 27.5" rear wheel in, but then it's a one-trick pony that's super-fun but such overkill for flowy blue trails, and too long and low for me on anything more technical. I'm sure a better or taller rider with the 29er rear in would get a lot more out of it - but it doesn't "feel like home" to me.
So I am pretty much ready to sell the "rolling bike" now (frame/shock/fork/wheels), even with how good a bike it is it just feels too big for me and I don't feel comfortable on it. A large would've been a better fit for me, but I want to get back on a 27.5" bike - so if anyone's interested - I'll most likely be putting up a "For-Sale" ad during the week. I have a plan on a "goldilocks" bike (not too big/not too little - just right) bike, but I just need to check if I can get still buy what I want as a replacement before I pull the pin.