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A highfalutin thread title but correct, I think. Having been for a ride this evening, I feel inspired to write-up some drivel about the bike I was riding: my TranceX. Someone might be bored enough to read it.
You see, all my bikes have evolved through the replacement of worn or unsatisfactory parts and a degree of experimentation. I bought my TranceX in 2008. This pic is more-or-less as she came:
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LH5.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM The key elements are the Maestro system and a 1.4kg Fox F120 QR fork with DT/WTB wheels. But what sold the bike to me was it's stunning anodised matt black-on-black finished hydroformed tubes. The bike flew when pedalled, but it wasn't long before I noticed how waggy the Fox fork was while the Meastro was tearing the trail up.
So I schemed, shifted the fork and wheels to a hardtail and replaced them with an RS Sektor 150mm Solo air MC RL fork (1.7kg), 20mm Maxle lite, and some SS Switch wheels. The difference in stiffness was immediately noticable but there was a problem - the bike was waay more slack and the BB higher. Sagging the fork and shock and inverting the stem sort-of compensated on pedallay flats, but the bike felt soggy; uphills it was sloggy.
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LH5.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM So a couple of weeks ago I decided to experiment with changing the fork length. Dan at B.A.B inserted some spacers to drop it to 130mm, increased the air in the shocks and I flipped the stem back. I went for a night-time spin through the woods just now. And guess what? It's like having my original bike back! It flys again, but now the fork isn't holding it back - just the rider 😉
So I suppose there is a lesson in all this: Bike designers do have some idea what they are doing when then specify bike geometry.
Yep your'e right,I was bored and yes it's drivel quite a nice bike though.Now I think I'll go and watch some paint dry. 😕
Will some start a thread called pics with no writing allowed so we can all post pictures of our bikes for no particular reason at all. 😀
Cheers.
To many.. the bike might appear a bit dull after seeing some of the bling that gets posted on here. You seem stoked on it and I think I can see why. I reckon that maestro system will put many suspension designs to shame 5,maybe 10 years from now. You obviously love riding it and came to a mountain bike forum to talk about it.
The right place to come!
Its just a pity you didn't realize that you might have got more positivity from a Hornby train collectors forum ;O)
Post pics next time yer out on it!
No problem mate. 😉
oh my poor grammer 😳 Done !
I've been going through the same process with my Trance-X.
Built up from frame only with 150mm revs, risers, short stem. Gradually ended up with flat bars, spacers in the forks to get down to 130mm travel and a 90mm stem. It feels so much better balanced like this.
Its just a pity you didn't realize that you might have got more positivity from a Hornby train collectors forum ;O)
Nah I know what this place is like 🙂
c'mon buzz I've started the thread 😯
I think Giants are like Hondas. They don't inspire oohs and ahhs, they just work great in an unassuming way.
My next evolution will be to move this shock and wheels onto my new HT frame: A white Evil Sovereign (ooh ahh!). An air shock will help prevent the Sov from becoming a porker.
I'm then thinking of putting an RS 130mm coil shock and nice wheels on the TranceX, going back to an all-black look. That wont happen for some months as I will take time over the Sov build.
Have a look at the thread and put your pics up 😉 btw I wasn't taking the p**s about the bike.