After just finding my “XC” bike slightly too much work on climbs (Front end lifting, generally weighed a bit more than I would like) I embarked on a few changes:
1- I switched the 50mm stem for an 80mm one,
2- changed the front wheel for a lighter one.
3- replaced the 2.3” front tyre with a lighter faster rolling 2.0”
3- swapped the old heavy 110mm Coil sprung forks for an old lighter, shorter set of 85mm MXCs I had…
I went and did all of this at once so can’t really say which changes had the biggest impact on the ride… I think I really changed too many things in one go to be honest.
The bike now climbs much better but descending (which it was very good for previously) has taken a bit of a tumble now, on longer descents I’m getting some arm pump (Which tweaking the brake lever positions may help with I think) and finding my weight pitched a little too far forwards, I really want the bike to climb well and still be a comfortable descender.
I can’t help thinking I went a step too far with the (Admitedly old and basic) forks, but I don’t want to compromise the way the bike now climbs to get reasonable DH performance back out of it…
As I see it My choices at the minute are:
1- Higher rise bars (Currently low rise 680mm Eastons) – Might help shift weight back for DH, but that may not help with Climbing
2- Try and find a ~4” or suitable 80-120mm-ish U-turn type fork – Cost, time and faff, and I’d like to keep the weight down if possible, but would help cinch 0.5 deg off the HA and bring the bars up a little…
3- Tweak the controls and tyre/fork pressures and just live with the kit as it stands for a bit…
Any other ideas or options?
