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Now I love my c456 as it is but can anyone who has tried a 'normal' headset and a 2º slacker one tell me if it's going to better or worse for my needs.
Where I live has really steep fire road climbs which are a bit wandery but evil tight/steep switchbacks on the downs which take some dedication, especially with the already long wheelbase of the bike (I'm running 160mm forks).
Otherwise it's rocky, steep and technical riding. It's Spain.
I'm appreciating the slackness at present compared with my previous bike's 69º (Giant Reign).
I suppose I'm most worried about the tight switchbacks as I know it'll go up hills better with the slackset - lower BB and more weight up front.
Regards.
I've had both in my 16" frame, but with 140mm forks. Only difficulty I had on changing over was slow speed wallow, which took a few rides to get used to. Went out last weekend for the first time in months and had to focus on technique to stop front wheel lift, but was fine after a while. I think you might struggle a bit with 160mm forks, but should still work ok.
Not sure about switchbacks tbh, never had any problems on my Summer Season which is about the same geo as the 456C + 2 degree slackset.
It really doesnt need a slackset. Its a hardtail. With 160 its slack enough!!
This is coming from someone who used offset bushes etc etc in full sus frames. The c456 is spot on.
Tight switchbacks? Try shorter forks/short stem??? Thats a guess. Would it make it more responsive on tight work. Slackening with long forks will lengthen the wheelbase making it harder to turn on tight singletrack??
Shorten the forks makes it nimble? Get back behind the saddle too on steep??
I always thought slacker head angles made a bike worse on climbs - like pushing a wheel barrow up a slope?
I think the theory with climbing is lower BB and longer wheel base = better, although slow speed steering would be adversely affected I reckon.
Thanks for the replies - I'll stick with what I have, I really do love this bike.
I preferred the c456 with a slackest but as I've just broke the bike apart to sell the frame on, I'm probably not best placed to comment. I've tried a good few things but just haven't gelled with it.
Try a shorter stem bar rotation too?
You could try a 1 degree slackset. Why two?
daveh - what was better about it? Sorry you didn't gel though meat/poison?
I'm probably not going to change as I'm of the 'if it ain't broke...' camp but I'm intrigued. If the Smothie gives up I'd be tempted for a laff just because the move from the Reign to the 456 was so good and the main difference was the HA. (apart from the lack of 6" of rear travel)
Youve already slackened the stock h/a by c2degree with your choice of forks remember so another 2degrees would be silly 64/65 territory?!
If the Smothie gives
You mean when! If anything like mine, it will start seizing much sooner than it should.
The smoothie appears to like living in Spain 😉
The Forks are Wotans so they climb at 120mm.
As I've kinda said, I may have my perfect combination already, just wanted to get some feedback from those that have done it. I'm stuck in London dreaming about being home and thinking about bike parts I can waste my ill-gotten gains on.
I've got a 20" C456 & I built it up with 1"&1/8 Revs, then put tapered Lyriks on but decided that it was to be a lightweight hardtail so bought some tapered RCT3 Revs - just been out on my third ride with the tapered Revs & its perfect, the difference the forks made to the head angle was very noticeable.
Lyriks made it more hooligan on the decents but I've got a Chameleon for that type of riding.
I think a slackset would ruin its climbing ability for me on steep stuff & climbs with switchbacks.
Jambon dropper or new rims?
My thoughts here: [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/c456-slackset ]Slackset[/url]
I loved my 06 Rocky Ridge but decided last year it would be nice to have a change and bought a c456. I don't even know what wasn't to my taste about it, having changed all the usual suspects, but with the ladies of the house away yesterday I decided to build the RR back up to see if it was just rose tinted glasses. Loved it again straight away which sealed the c456's fate.
I had an 18, with up-to-150mm Revs and eventually put a works headset in it, -2 degrees job. Liked the bike a lot more with it than without..
Everyone will tell you it'll climb less well. I found it climbed better- longer wheelbase and it shifts the weight around a little too. Can feel slightly wandery but then, it did when it was standard as well. (my Hemlock with its 2 degree headset climbs worse, though, so it's not as simple as internet experts reckon 😉 )
I'd say not as good on the flat, but I'm not generally that fussed about the flat. Going downhill I thought it was all gravy- took fractionally more effort to change direction, but it took about 3 corners to work that out, thereafter it was better all the time.
In the end, I replaced it with a Ragley Ti, which is the same only better... But the slackened 456 worked well.
PS, want to buy a Works "slackset" for a medium? 😉 It's still in the frame, which I've kept in the vain hope On One stand by their warranty.
Hey Northwind - only just got the post - I have a 20" frame so I'm assuming it won't work. Shame, would've worth a punt.