I am very fond of my Norco Range Carbon but every now and then on really steep stuff I think it could be a little slacker in the head tube department - something that Norco evidently agree with as the new ones now have a 64.5 degree head tube angle as opposed to 66 degrees in mine.
Am I right in thinking that if I changed to 170 or 180mm forks up front (currently 160mm) then my effective head tube angle would be that little bit slacker or am I being thick??
And since I’m on the subject of you were after 180mm forks would you rather Lyriks or Fox?
0.5 degrees for each 10mm increase is the rough rate iirc. But, you’ll also be lifting the bb too (and slackening the seat angle, but that’s easily fixed by sliding the saddle slightly forwards)
Alternatively you can look at offset bushes (slacker ha and sa, lower bb)or angleset (tiny bb adjustment downwards, slight reach shortening). The only time I’ve really played with them the offset bushes suited me better than the angleset, although I’ve never really worked out why
That is super helpful - thanks! A set of offset bushings pretty much sorts out the 1.5 degrees, and for much less money than a new set of forks!
If your head tube will take an angle set then that's usually a better way to slacken a bike out, as it slackens the head angle whilst slightly steepening the seat angle and lowering the BB. -2 deg is possible which is a nice change on a lot of bikes.
Offset bushings slacken out your seat angle too, which is less ideal.
I think I’d try an angle set before offset bushings as that mostly effects the headangle and very little else.
I think I’d try an angle set before offset bushings
Better to go the other way around. Bushes are cheap and very easily reversible if you don’t like them. hammering/pressing in/out headset cups not so much
Really, fitting a headset takes about 10 minites.
Whats a minite? And why would you need ten of them?
I’m going for offset bushings as simple to fit and I’m only after a subtle change. I’m not sure I can fit an angle set as I think the headset cups are integrated on the carbon Range. If I fancy a little more I’ll get 170mm forks. Thanks for the info though - I didn’t even know anglesets and offset bushings existed before!