So. I've just ridden a Trek Stache….

Don’t like the yellow front brake hose in that first pic

I’m going to shorten that 🙂

Looks good bud, completely in proportion.

I’ve discovered a flaw in the bike though…..when doing twisty stuff at speed, if you ride straight into a broken, jagged fence post, about 10″ off the floor, you stop dead and bash your nuts on the stem!
I also put a little split in the tyre that required frequent pumping on the way home……the stans couldn’t quite seal it. I’ll be putting a boot inside today, hopefully, and giving it a bit more jollop!

I’m still loving it though, and have put about 200 off road miles on it :0)

He he

Yeah after last night’s spin round I’ll be fitting a Chronicle for the winter, and although you quickly adjust to the slightly out of control sliding and squirming, it’s when you find yourself heading for the barbed wire fences an the like it’s not so funny 🙂

The bike doesn’t feel ‘plus’ ‘semi-fat’ or anything in particular now, it just rides well

I fitted a Chronicle to the front of my Stache 9 yesterday after a few moments earlier this week,

Definately looks better in terms of the profile for the winter, I’ll see how it goes today if I can get out.
Regards

Denis

I must admit, I haven’t had any major moments yet…a couple of slight rear end step outs, but I’m impressed with the chupacubras. My issue with the fence post, was that I didn’t see it in the dark! I need more lights than the ay-ups!

I’ve put a boot over the little split, but found out why it wasn’t holding air…..the post went through the tyre and hit the rim on the inside, putting a split in the tape, causing it to leak out of one of the big holes in the rim…..told you I stopped!

Boot on the inside of tyre, extra bit of joes no flats jollop in and a good shake and its held air perfectly for about 5 hours now 😆

I ordered one Tuesday not many left 6 UK some in Europe.They never brought many in.Bit like the 2015 Farley fat bikes.

You’ll love it…even some of my non-bike buddies want a go!

How much would the Bb drop with 29 x 2.4 tires?

2.3 2.4 shouldn’t make much difference.

14mm with the same fork.
So on a stache 7 or 9 then 314mm as above.
On the rigid fork then it would be about 301mm

That is great, thanks for the info.

Where was that handy table? I didn’t find it

https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZitvFHffahNQMlwkywRHrShkvvX_1G_1Y1hCl-gr6O-JtDLk7TvTJO7_1pm5cL-s8OSRsK3QiSrL4u9S4AjEQlC_1RyeDAfH5Aqa2mXnZ7MBUlV3eEoYRHgtBwYiZFUtfi5tWzpnWcj3KljDpbL6eF6ws8A82Zm8Cx-eVu2PBm04hm_1GPlcprfaCR5jtMwJMZLxGN2vSWuUPJjXwTg9mflII7yZ1F-8Pcd59o2BffcnLSX2s1Zh3XCPLlU6MuigGkHR8dY7rdhT3vj-GP3MRqMldosCKffVBR4yPhehZ0Mc5SStGihR933EsRSRFKeL6XppQ3EREAlOVrtVs31RaEeN6FKF0DZaerYXpW4oWezjfDdlS4Y7_1PdBiMRxk5E17dbRwYzsw0gJnAxnG7yq5pL_1U8n6N8nD11o64LCRG0_10n1y89bRvvlaR1OPPFsGODY_1Jilnyml5nJH0ti2irXZehg2Fyxir_1fCXTiqBcprttk4fzV_1_18XmVCy9RIkLPqeAbf2b58Tl2CG38UX40_1PDrTVzb2MPw2oaafMLNGUz-wzE6YTINzH4V9aBldJz67M5WFIinQBnE-Muq-4QCC5hS_1hhW9WKQZw7UmAvJ8xPsKeycprNeYmTswB2ND3S3LrJ384QnjcogPYdIQlWbHf0Q69QAIeEss_1HgsRxKIUIG7QJaGLalxPVeEJHSUul2lT-h1PKMVkzEjdCagrgLIqzHam2xx21cQc0B4gOQJzbydImJj1uQlsvZ76E7CReyBp0zufhQC3LHlDtraVExf393dpFE-JTsmLjfjqZC-s6eX6LFZDBHP9-wDodqj-QaCcOe89r_1hcFd-uqXvftYBLPDNuCj-MYFkC5PzEL8cch5F5wVwCRMxro0sfiY-_1zJ0uVKRcB0Ust6Zqtdb8lf66SlxuUNL86uB5LVmu-gH3KZSTMTm8cqD-xyi4rmQCZr6HZvdxGinbuZZmFYYX47BZ3ZiAw86Ynb_1EZyVbAhAeLlsKJ887sD5TXJvfbAe4PHK6Bu-iSU_1AkPr0D9p0kUh98D4VxcuA5rbpt0amRfd9it5MGENrRzzESL8MLFtqSO_1r5gy2kvyRRmzwOiKpBNint7R99Zn6kmHTOZJ3_1wQEWrzfLwEfHR2efLcJFIiQTCOx2MPk9ja8D1r0nlXnOuqkE9vaDNFLrGtgaj5SvJXhA_1ARsOKbcgFYgOlqqu_1pELXYL_1zgyNzgPG_1spd-_1C8edwvKzVxJZbSI83nwEuRIASFN8iwmF-wDk3G0BuJQUSTz2F1EvjcUHWbyVzuvKTh8dhyCubvyTOF96OZCxlOothhIwEgdkrgkViK5q6WcSdU6ZVEKAXBBzB3-Z8WAyEf2Lq6y–b_1KjWNgYR6GQy7IaRSz1kfRsV4C8egyJY4hp1q-vnmyS0QPqHQT8hdcGxclBE4_1IsGQPwOJauUbvoiwR5ploTUMZ-0t55827pOhn1rPeRdX36kHC8k98KrD8HfLsxE9D512T5UxVPNJVN36nvdLfozDXFia0ws

^ Award messiest post ever?

I wonder how many are actually over here? Anyway, when mine was delivered, it had a minute scratch on the fork, more of a depression in the paint, about a centimetre in length….they gave me the option of sending it back and waiting for a replacement, or a £100 helmet……I asked if I could have a chupacubra instead, and they sent me two!
So I popped over to Chelmsford today to collect them…..spot on, £180 saved! :0)

As mentioned in a few posts back, I fitted a Maxxis Chronicle to the front of my Stache 9, and put the front tyre on the rear for a little more winter grip.

Just come back from a very wet and windy ride around the Blade and Wall at Afan.

The Chronicle did feel much better, the squarer profile of the tyre did give more grip , it also felt a little more supple. Ran the front tyre at my usual 10psi.

Chronicle is a heavier tyre though, but I didn’t notice any difference in drag etc.

About to go and pick up an xl frame, Im a bit excited to be truthful 🙂
And there was me saying I would never bother with another HT, not going fat until I can afford some nice new wheels though

As mentioned in a few posts back, I fitted a Maxxis Chronicle to the front of my Stache 9, and put the front tyre on the rear for a little more winter grip.

Just come back from a very wet and windy ride around the Blade and Wall at Afan.

The Chronicle did feel much better, the squarer profile of the tyre did give more grip , it also felt a little more supple. Ran the front tyre at my usual 10psi.

Chronicle is a heavier tyre though, but I didn’t notice any difference in drag etc.

felt better, but did it feel good? I had originally started looking at plus bikes as I was thinking a fully rigid plus bike would be a great winter bike, but I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve got it all wrong.

I’ll let you know how I get on once I’ve got a proper winter tyre on mine as I’ll be going back to rigid now the Mendips are a slopfest…

I do think though that it will work really well as a winter bike assuming that there are + tyres out there that’ll work (which there must be)

I dno’t know. I’m sure lots of b+ tyres will appear, but will 29+ get the same traction (sorry…).

Leon

Dirt Wizard!!!!

Out of interest… Do you guys with the stache have any issues with hitting your legs on the wide seat stays?

Like this guy mentions in the review…

Test Ride Review: Trek Stache 9 29+

Everything’s crammed in down there

21.5 good fit on orangutan here 🙂

Out of interest… Do you guys with the stache have any issues with hitting your legs on the wide seat stays

I got big chunky legs. I have, maybe 5 -10 times touched a calf on the stay. Our shop manager rode our test Stache and rubbed his heels a bit on them. Neither of us find it a problem and we’ve both gone ahead and bought one! He has the 5 which I put together yesterday. It’s a very pretty bike indeed in that blue.

I’m a big bloke, and the only time my calf comes into contact with the stay is when standing on the pedals, and that’s only happened a couple of times, certainly not an issue for me.
I have had mine about a month now, and have put around 250 off road miles on it…..I still find it amazing! It is incredibly comfortable, flickable, and makes you ride better than your abilities! The chupacabras are very good in most situations (pressure dependant), but I discovered a weakness yesterday…….the wonder that is clay!
Even though they don’t pick it up nearly as much as my normal 2.2 x-Kings (which is all I ride on my other bikes), and they shed it, for the most part, very well, when switching from clay to normal peaty gloop, they wash out on bends very quickly! I was hooning down a track I use a lot yesterday and got to a corner that I usually cut with a little bit of a yip off the top….when I landed, the bike went from under me with no warning, and I went down faster than gravity!
Looking at the tyres, even though the blocks were clean, in between was rammed with clay…..anyway…it slowed me right down and ended my ride…….
A lesson learnt, but not the bikes fault…..I hate clay!

Anyone ridden both a Stache and a Farley?

Tried the latter at CYB early this year and whilst it was a hoot overall, there were a couple of negative characteristics: the first was some kind of odd steering effect which I can only think was some form of brake steer. The other was that coming into a corner waaay too hot, got really bad tyre roll which was deeply unpleasant.

Was wondering – hoping – that the former might be dialled out with improved goemetry; and the latter was maybe a tyre pressure issue (found out later it was 9psi and I’m a hefty bloke) rather than a general constraint of fat tyres?

Nice to see they’ve brought the rigid Stache 5 for this year; debated whether to acquire a ’15 MY on a stateside trip but want some saddle time first. Been keeping an eye out for suitable 27+ (only interested in rigid)

Final question: what are they like on metalled roads? My daily loop includes road stretches to & from no-at-all technical woodland loop; wondering if might suit as daily driver…

There’ll be a Stache review on the site soon as soon as I’ve had time to write it up. I reckon it’s going to mostly be a thumbs-up though. Sorry to add to your shopping list… 🙂

seansverige – Member
Anyone ridden both a Stache and a Farley?

Tried the latter at CYB early this year and whilst it was a hoot overall, there were a couple of negative characteristics: the first was some kind of odd steering effect which I can only think was some form of brake steer. The other was that coming into a corner waaay too hot, got really bad tyre roll which was deeply unpleasant.

I had a fey days on a rented Farley at CYB = blues and reds only as I was with my 7 year old, but I though it was a really ponderous, heavy thing compared to the Specialized Fatboy. Still fun in a “rolling over everything” way, but the Specialized is so much lighter, more nimble and more fun.

Which doesn’t really answer your question, other than I wouldn’t use the Farley as a yardstick for anything, as I don’t think it’s a great bike.

Which doesn’t really answer your question, other than I wouldn’t use the Farley as a yardstick for anything, as I don’t think it’s a great bike.

Actually, it sort of does – thanks. Wonder if CYB adding to the fat rental fleet anytime soon…

Well I demo a stache couple of weeks back and thought it was a great bike used it in the Forest of Dean on the same trails as a Farley the stache is much more capable bike but then again its got 110mm suspension forks where my Farley is rigid. The Farley is just a totally different ride in my opinion.The Farley is amazing over tree roots.

lets just say i was interested in the 5 and n+1 …. for those of you who have the 5 can i ask how tall you are and inseam and what size you went for? The 5 has 20mm longer reach in all sizes Vs the 7 & 9 models due to the rigid fork.

I am bang between sizes and unsure whether to size up or down (18.5 vs 19.5). Seems to be only 15mm in the reach & TT measurement between the two sizes (plus extra 15mm wheelbase). Everything else is the same (apart from seat tube length which is 47mm vs 44 mm). Standover is actually slightly less on the larger frame.

the stock stem is 80mm. I could either size down (to 18.5)with seat back on the rails / layback post but would need to keep the 80 mm stem or go a bit longer on stem length. OR other option is to size up (19.5) with a 60mm stem (20mm drop in stem length compensating for the 15mm increase in length).

small frame longer stem / seat back Vs longer frame shorter stem? hmmmmm

The 5 ‘comes up small’ is what I will say

So, size up

Yeah that’s what I am thinking and then running a shorter stem. Thing is the reach is huge compared to my existing bikes at 430mm (at least 30mm greater than my largest bike). But I do run that bike with a 100 mm stem.

I went ‘XL’ which I was super worried by. Swapped out the stock stem for a 60 (will try 50) and now have fitted a lay-back seat post

Well n+1 has taken its toll on my Christmas fund. Oh well.

Bonesetter yeah you are right about the fit. The reach is really long 450mm on the large but it feels quite short to me at 5ft 10. I do like larger longer frames though.

Definitely would not want any smaller…. I swapped the 80mm for a 60 mm stem and slid seat back on rails. It’s still about 40mm less in reach than my xc bike. Fits well…. And sticks to the ground like glue.

First ride out this morning… With a hangover…. And still got within 4 seconds of most my prs on my skinny 29er xc bike. Little slower on the ups but bouncy fast fun on the downs. I can unfortunately see my other bikes being put at the back of the shed (well apart from my croix… Need that for commuting!)

It’s a really really fun bike. Oh and have you felt the weight of the darn tubes! They weight a ton! Tubeless really helps. Still playing round with the pressure… Around 15 psi at the moment but may drop front to 10.

I put a 60mm stem on mine, pushed the saddle back at little .

I’ve settled on 10psi front, and 12psi in the rear, no rim dinks, no punctures in nearly 1,000 Kim’s off road.

Just about to go out now on the 9, great fun bike.

Just changed the front tyre for winter to a Maxxis Chronicle for better sidewall grip though.

Yeah that’s what I am thinking and then running a shorter stem. Thing is the reach is huge compared to my existing bikes at 430mm

Really? Blimey, it feels really short to me. I tend to like a longer TT on my bikes though, sort of long with a high front end where the Stache seems short and low.

PP yeah what I meant was on paper reach looks long… Danger with just going off geo charts! Remember the 5 has about 23mm more reach than the 7 and 9 due to the rigid fork. The seat angle is adjusted a bit to compensate. But it certainly does not feel long at all.

I size up generally on all my bikes and shorten the stem. Longer wheelbase gives slightly more stability and positions you further back for the downs. Climbing is only slightly compromised but I didn’t feel the front wheel lift at all today on very familiar climbs. If anything the 19.5 feels a tad small and I may go back to the 80mm stem or get a lay back post. Will ride for a bit more before I make any major changes.

Dennis yes I think I will drop the front to 10 psi and try that.

Danger with just going off geo charts!

Indeed. I generally ignore everything except TT length. I’ve always said that people discount bikes based on a a few numbers far too often, in fact I think I mentioned that earlier in this thread. 🙂