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Hi all,
Big dilemma, I have got a 29" giant trance 2014, bought just the frame and build it, nice bike but I miss the handling of a 26. I was thinking to get a 27.5 with cycle2work scheme, boardman fs team full suss. I ride mostly Surrey hills, swinley forest and sometimes Aston hills. Do you think I will feel a big difference with 27.5 or is just the excuse to buy another bike.
You clearly need another bike... But the bikes will be a bit too samey? Good plan, just improve the execution & get a HT, fatty or something
Are you married or similar? This makes a big difference to the amount of creativity needed to help you.
Yes I am otherwise everything was much easier.
get a long travel HT, all you need for Swinley or Surrey Hills
justification flow chart
Do I want a new bike? <----
|
|--> NO --> Are you sure? ^
|
|--> YES --> buy a new bike!
Met an LBS owner at GT while out night riding, he just went from a 29er Trance to a 27.5 Trance. He was gutted beyond belief. YMMV, but he really missed the 29er.
its fine you just need the formula 'n+1' explained to you. Then its no longer a judgement call but a strict application of a mathematical theorem.
jesse pinkman "its science bitch!"
I was in the same boat as in having a 29er but missing aspects of 26" so expected to go 650b on my next bike. Since then I've demo'd a 650b and tbh found it very nice but more a 29er lite rather then the best of both worlds.
I've had to decommission the 29er over the winter and am back on 26" (HT instead of FS though) and must admit I'll be building the 29er back up as soon as funds allow as the memories of sweet 26" have been brought in to stark reality and I really miss the clown wheels. Instead of changing bikes I'll be hanging on to the 29er for a good while longer.
Ok,
No point to have 29 and 27.5, road bike for winter training, easy to justify 🙂
Get another bike, perhaps not a Boardman but each to their own. Surrey Hills/Swinley suits HT well as suggested by T1.
If it has to be a BM, get a HT and transplant the parts onto a nicer HT frame (preferably made of something that rhymes with 'real').
To be fair a mate of mine has a Boardman HT and it's a very nicely finished frame.
Is cycle2work scheme, halfords. Don't think I can use somewhere else
How much have you used the 29er? In my first few weeks of going from 26 -> 29 I was thinking "maybe a 27.5 would be better", Now I'm used to it and very happy. Though I might still get the missus a large frame 27.5 HT, just cos I like to spoil her...
If you're missing the handling of 26" why not build up a 26"? I really rate my 456 EVO II, rides very differently to my 29er.
amedias wins one internet.
Pondering same at present.
Option A - Take the bits from my Ghost AMR 29er (100/120mm travel) and rebuild with a stumpjumper/codeine/something bigger frame.
Option B - Keep the Ghost for Trail/Cross Country use & buy a big 160/160 650b bike for Uplift/DH/Wales days.
Options options.....
650 is very close to 26, so I think it's reasonable. No such thing as 27.5. I've ridden a 29 and 650 trance and the 650 was preferable IMHO. In fact it is a brilliant bike, as good as many "boutique" brands I've ridden (and I mainly buy "boutique" so no bias here) it really is a great bike.
thegreatape - Member
Are you married or similar? This makes a big difference to the amount of creativity needed to help you.POSTED 1 MONTH AGO #
rosario144 - Member
Yes I am otherwise everything was much easier.POSTED 1 MONTH AGO #
It gets easier if your beloved rides too. The same is true of snowboards.
That said currently chez igm it isshe not I that is after a new bike at the moment.
I do like that your justification for getting another non-26 inch bike is "I miss 26 inch bikes".
I love stuff like this.
I've gone from.Trance X2 -> Salsa El Mariach -> Boardman Pro 29er guess what! I prefer the Boardman out of them all. Bloody ace bikes that are built well and ride really well too.If it has to be a BM, get a HT and transplant the parts onto a nicer HT frame (preferably made of something that rhymes with 'real').
The problem with only having one bike, is that one is very close to none.
Two however...
You only live once.
If you can afford it, do it.
Life is about living and experiences.
I've had lots of stuff, don't regret any of it. Lost money doing this, but I don't fret over it.
Go with the Boardman FS 650b it's a fantastic bike, I got mine as a winter hack bike and was'nt expecting too much BUT cant keep off the thing, you won't regret it. Took it to Afan last month and it coped with everything I threw at it, only slight down side is it's quite heavy and there is no lockout on the rear shock.
Do it you know you want to.
jaymoid - MemberThe problem with only having one bike, is that one is very close to none.
Two however...
What happens if your only bike breaks or gets stolen? You have no bike at all, then. So you need two.
If she says "Well, what happens if you get another bike, and they both get stolen?" You say "You're right! I better buy two more bikes!" 😈 
Sell the Trance and buy a proper 29"!
No. Bikes required = N + 1 where n is the number of bikes currently owned