kane10255 – Member
Andyl how have you found riding it as a comparison to the 26 hardtail
Took it out today for a shakedown ride (and exercise the dog at the same time) and compared to the 26″ hard tail it’s different.
I’m running it 3×9 with an 11-34 cassette but I found myself staying in a higher gear (despite the bigger wheels) and cranking up the hill holding onto the bar ends – first time I have used them too.
Was much better going up the rough road past the pub that normally shakes you to bits coming back down and definitely rolled better over any steps and logs etc. I didn’t go as fast down the bumpy bridleway – partly as it was only just bolted together and was having a shakedown and partly because I just seemed to settle into a nice speed and didn’t feel the need to ride as fast as I could.
Coming back I did some cheeky singletrack trails which have lots of up-down peaky bits and it just rolled over everything and off the drops with no fuss.
It’s very different to my carbon 456 (obviously). But different in a good way. I think I will still enjoy riding the 26er as it’s carbon and had long forks so I will ride it harder than an aluminium XC frame with rigid forks but the scandal just seemed to do everything without me having to attack. It’s definitely more ‘wheels on the ground’ than the 456 but for someone taller that may not be the case.
I was planning on getting some Reba forks and just fitted some steel forks off a ridgeback or something as I had them lying round (ebay mistake!). I have a badly sprained wrist at the moment but they did a very good job and were not harsh and they have plenty of rake so they keep it nice and responsive so I think I will stick with rigid for the foreseeable. Definitely try rigid before you buy some expensive forks. One thing I really like about riding rigid is the lack of fork dive and nice constant geometry. They also make riding slower more involving so you don’t feel the need to take everything flat out. Only other rigid bike I had was an aluminium 26″ which had some aluminium forks (Kinesis) and semi slick road tyres so was too different to compare but compared to my 456 with the lock out still on the big wheels do make it a huge difference.
Ps I use the same 16″ as tk46hal and can confirm 29″ wheels do work for people under 6ft. I am actually thinking I might get away with the 18″ frame but might go with a layback Thomson like he has as I need a longer post (just) and could probably get away with the saddle further back.