[Closed] New wheels or new bike -Cotic / Stanton content

New wheels probably won't loose a lot of weight as your current spec is pretty light.

New wheels with say an i30 rim and bigger tyres could add comfort and confidence downhill, but can't compete with your current spec for climbing ability.

For confidence & stability going down, your looking at a new "progressive geometry" frame, but, new frame, forks AND wheels will be £££.

Take a look at the 2019 Orange Clockwork Evo, i think they offer a great balance of UK XC climbing / descending typical of your local area, likely available as a frame only too.

Thanks mate but maybe I’ve not been very clear in my post?

Basically is a Sherpa / Solaris going to meet my needs more (in noticeable real world gains)  than my Soul if I put wider rims/ tyres on it?

I'm not totally up on 29 / 27.5+ bikes, but i'd personally be inclined to add wider rims & tyres to your current bike.

What size is your current Soul?

Both the Sherpa & the Solaris are 17.5" / 17" frames, as a short legged 5'7"er, there's no way i'd be able to run a 120mm dropper on either of those, might be worth having a measure up to see if this applies to you.

Ping Cy @ Cotic an email - i'm sure he'd give you a helpful reply.

Saturday I was riding my SolarisMAX and Sherpa round the ‘puffer track.

sherpa is B+ with 100mm forks, SolarisMAX is LS 29er with130mm forks. Both L’s.

solarismax ‘won’ hands down for comfort, speed and fun. It’s made me enjoy the Sherpa more too.

i swapped from soul to Solaris about 6 or 7 years ago. I prefer the bigger wheels. They roll better and are less likely to lock up/stall on roots.

ymmv.

new wheels are cheaper...

I've got a Solaris, the one before the max, what ever gen that is. But i'd say the 29er would be good for what you want.

The new canyon neuron looks good for a 29er fs. You'd have to get a medium though.

New bike I’d say.. and if your Soul is a small frame size sell it to me.  Been on the hunt for one for 6 weeks now!

My Soul is a small.

Thanks chaps, blooming shame I can’t test a Solaris 29er as I could ride my Soul directly afterwards for a direct comparison (albeit with my narrow rims).

Like I say the Soul is ‘okay’ I just wonder if the Solaris would be better for my needs......

What length fork are you running on the Soul?

My other question would be whether you are definitely a small on the Soul/solaris? I'm 5.7(ish) and always felt slightly cramped in a Mk2 small. I currently ride a medium Flare, and I 'think' the newer geometries might put you in the medium as well.

I would have said the Solaris is better suited to your needs (Southern XC riding) than the Soul, but personally, I'm unsure whether this new style of geometry is suited to that type of riding on that terrain. I would want a long test ride to get used to it before I could judge whether it is right or not. Currently, my head says no.

If you decide to sell the Soul I’d be interested mate. Just send me a private message.

I'm 5ft 7in and the medium SolarisMax fits me perfectly, it has a very low seat tube.

Just saying, in case that changes things.

1981Miked I’ve sent you a message with my email address.

Thanks guys

I have 120 XFusion forks - Paul at Cotic said a definite small for my height at 5’7”

The Ginger One why is it you don’t feel the new Solaris would be good for where I ride?

What I am going to do is go to the Cotic demo day in a couple of weeks to see about sizes etc.

Im 5’9”  but with short 31.5” inseam, i always ride a medium frame (out of like 10 frames)

i would question whether a small frame is actually too, er, small for you.

Don't tell anyone, but I have a 29in inside leg.

What do I hope to achieve? More comfort, greater speed up hill / on the flat and more confidence / stability going down hill.

Soul MkV owner here too. You're not going to get more speed (especially if you mean "kick"/acceleration) from either option as you're just adding wheel weight, whether as fatter rubber or bigger wheels. Both options will hold speed better once wound up though.

I'm running Maxxis 2.3s on i25s in the Peak, (so a couple of mm wider than your Crests - guessing Mk3?). Its not "comfortable" per se, but then I'm choosing to ride a hardtail over some pretty rocky terrain, but I've done 70miles in a go without issue, and regularly do 5hr+ rides on it. Obvious questions are what tyre pressures are you running, are you tubeless and what travel fork? (mine's 140 and it's spot on)

I've never found the new Soul lacking in stability either. With appropriate rubber choice, I'm happy riding pretty much anything I'll take my full sus down that's wheels on the ground. Would happily ride Golfy etc on it.

Personally at 5'10", I didn't get on with the Solaris. Fast as f***, yes, but I was mostly a passenger on it. I'm a skinny git and found it pretty hard to haul around, and as I like playing with the bike, the Soul was a better choice for me. If you just want to "sit and pedal" then the 29er would probably be the way forward.

Fair point 😁😁

JonEdwards

thanks for your reply.

I think you could be right about tyre and rim choice and changing these could be my best best.

Im talking rolling speed rather than acceleration as I understand bigger tyres will not improve that, prehaps a set of DT SWISS EX 511 rims and 2.4 Remon on the back and Forecaster on the front will bring greater comfort without sacrificing a noticeable amount of rolling speed?

I already have tubeless and run a pressure of circa 30 psi.

If it's nothing too tech I'd go for XM481's to keep the weight down a little, if you want wider rims that is.

I ride close to you and I've had a less progressive 29er and a current issue 650+ Santa Cruz (SC), so both aluminium frames not steel but very different ride 'feels' for me.

They both work, both fun and both good but very different. The 29er was great if you want to race around and feel racey but the 650+ has more grip, much more grip and hence more 'fun' for the way I ride but for me that is the key here.

what do you want it to do or feel like? I am not sure anyone else can really help you with that one. I know I was really surprised at how different the bikes felt to me.

I could put racey 29er wheels on the SC and goodness how many racey types have told me I have "the wrong wheels" but I don't care - I like it and how it rides for me 🙂

Go try I think it is the only way.

James

Hi,

I ride a current BFe at QCEP and around the South and am very happy with it. I've not tried a modern 29er so can't comment on wheel diameter but do have a view on width-

I now use 30mm ID rims and 2.6 Minion DHF's ( with a Rock Razor rear in the summer) and am really impressed, they undoubtedly will feel dragger than Ardent Races on fire roads but will give vastly more comfort and confidence on QE's chalk and flint, I also think climbing performance will be better for technical and loose climbs so would recommend going wider whichever wheel size you chose.

Beware not all 2.6's are 2.6, mine measure up close (2.58"), but Specialised were smaller than 2.4 High Rollers, not impressed!

Hope this helps!

Thanks chaps.

Thinking about it I’m going to go to the Cotic day anyway and take a look at whatever size Solaris they have and talk over options with Sam.

However being realistic I have a feeling it will be new rims and tyres for the Soul as that should suit my needs - it got me through the SDW in a day ride pretty well so with new rims should be even better for my needs.

we will see.