WHAT BIKE IS Tom Van Steenbergen ON?

He’s on a Trek (remedy or slash I presume)

Only thing that would concern me now is room for longer dropper posts in the shorter seat tubes. I’d like a longer dropper but to run one internally there isn’t enough room as the bottom of the post (or connector bit) catches the seat tube pivot so I can’t quite get the post low enough in the seat tube for me.

An external dropper would work just fine however, and i’ve not tested all internal droppers on the market either.

Maybe I could sell my current RocketMax frame to help fund this? (stealth ad)

Just seen the email from Cotic announcing this :)

Edit: my bank balance doesn’t want me to see this

I’ve ridden the Stage 5 and quite liked it. There was more feedback when climbing than i’m used to, maybe that’s an orange or single pivot thing though. Wasn’t that heavy really so it did climb ok without feeling like you’re pedalling a big lump up a hill.

Took me a while to get used to it’s size going down, the chainstays are quite long so the tight twisty trails I tried to ride were tricky, though you’d adapt i’m sure. Once i’d had a few rides I started to get used to that, last ride I had in the Lakes it felt pretty darned good, stable at speed and all that.

Think I only had the lower end model on test but the spec was all decent and I didn’t feel the need to change anything on it.

Didn’t end up buying one as I got a better deal on a RocketMax.

Cheers all, not sure which side adaptor would work best as no idea how i’ll want to set these levers up yet. Sent surfingobo and richen987 messages, happy to pay postage or whatever if you have adaptors going spare :)

I’m guessing it fits something like the image below, looks like it should work fine

Why would you discount the Solaris max at your height? I’m only 5’8″ and ride a 29er and plenty of other folk i’m sure ride 29ers at all sorts of heights, you’d need to test ride a few to see if they are for you though, not everyone enjoys the larger wheels.

Get in touch with Cotic you can demo a new Soul easily enough with their touring demo fleet. The new Soul is just a bit longer, slacker etc so should feel a little more stable at speed.

On the sizing issue, I am under 5ft 8in and the medium felt too small for me. So I reckon large for you at 5ft 10in.

That’s because you have weird ape arms. 5’8″ here and medium felt fine.

Aggressor will clog up as chief says, tread is quite tightly packed, it runs really well on dryer rockier trails like we have up here in the Lakes.

I run DHR2 most of the time and just deal with the extra drag, but it’s probably no better than a highroller drag wise. Maybe try a specialized purgatory, i’ve had some luck with them in the past, bit grippier than an ardent and quite cheap too (make sure to buy GRID version).

Was currently considering going just hardtail but after a few rides over christmas on mine I built the full suss back up, a hardtail is simply too uncomfortable (for me) for the riding I do up here in the Lakes.

Would really like to have option of both, if money and space allowed, as I do enjoy riding the hardtail from time to time.

This happened to mine, I just careful removed them with a wet cloth and some fork lubricant spray (compress forks and wipe, like Andy R says). Never had any issues. Next time I cut down a steerer i’ll cut it with the fork inverted so any shavings fall away from the fork.

Mate of mine has one, seems to like it so far, no long term assessment of frame quality or the like so we’ll have to wait and see.

I had a set of older Yari forks and they seemed much plusher, guess I’ll just faff with settings a bit more try find a happy balance.

I’ve got a set of Deathgrips on a Renthal bar and just tap them on with a soft mallet and there is no extra bar width or overhang. The plastic core inside the grip is tapered to resist spinning on bars once on. They’re quite the bugger to remove once on mind.

I’ve got the Hope one on my Shan GT and all seems fine, being able to just replace bearings seems like a good idea and i’ve had no issues so far, not even creaking, nearly a year old too.

Self Amalgamating Tape, plenty shops sell it, got mine from the local scewfix
Screwfix Tape

Have you got all the spare parts you want to hang off it?

If not Sonder do a Transmitter alloy with 650b+ wheels for £449.

Thanks davidtaylforth that’s the spacers I was wondering about. Problem hopefully solved. Cheers.

Do I possibly need a hope bb to gxp converter cup?

XT cranks are boost yeah and there’s about 5mm clearance on chainstay bridge when using a 32t oval ring.

Do the GX eagle cranks do boost and non boost or is it just the chainring offset that changes chainline?

32T chainring (3mm offset) so same size as my old XT mounted one. It does look like I need some spacers in there but which ones? XT cranks didn’t need any spacers they fit ok but guess sram are different.

I have two 2.5mm spacers that are supposed to fit on 68mm BB shells but thought they wouldn’t be needed on a pressfit BB.

It’s the Shan GT 29er. I had a set of XT cranks on previously which were fine so I might just have to stick them back on. Watched a few videos on GX crank installs and they all show a washer that goes on drive side which I don’t have, not that I can see it making much difference.

Maybe this will help explain better

Bump for morning crowd. Tried now with two different chainrings (3mm & 6mm offset) still get contact on chainstay bridge. I’m using the gxp version with a hope press fit bb.

Oops. Chainstay bridge is what I meant

Stanton Switchback comes in a regular and long version, you’ve not mentioned your height but some stats are:

18″ Regular Switchback – 425mm reach / 578mm Actual top tube
18″ Long Switchback – 444mm reach / 600mm Actual top tube

Frames do cost £699 though

EDIT: If website info is to be believed the Switchback is a little heavier than the Shan

Darn it! Can a kind mod please remove (or move) this for me please. Thanks.

Your 2 sound like the “same” bike

They are quite similar one is just a little more weighty (and comfortable)

You’re like me, but to the max!

Great minds… and all that

BigDummy That chromag is very nice

You need more space. Move house?

This won’t happen but I like it :)

wobbliscott RocketMax is a medium.

chakaping No i’m not thinking it’s too small and it does ride very nice, but so does the hardtail.

shermer75 I ride in the Lakes mostly, it’s rocky and summer rides usually involve a hike.

That is one nice looking bike, hope it rides as good as it looks (they seem to if internet talk is to be believed).

The Shan GT is a large, but they do size up small as I had thought a medium would fit me until I rode them.

Shan GT will run 160 up front and is boost

That is nice Speeder really like the blue colour. Wish I could afford to entertain the idea of a Swoop or Murmur as they look lovely.

I do like the mercury colour too, and no jekkyl there is no black.

I think the new Solaris is next if Sam (demo man) is to be believed.

I usually park at Genridding and go up Keppel Cove (bridleway) and then follow main track to the top (via Lower Man).

You then have a choice of going back on yourself for a short while, up to Raise then down Sticks Pass to Glenridding.

OR

From the top head over to Dollywagon, descend to Grisedale Tarn then continue down the Grisedale Beck to Patterdale.

Those loops are only about 9-10 miles long. You could extend it by crossing over from Patterdale and do Boredale Hause too. There’s quite a few cheeky options if you look on maps and i’m sure people will recommend some of them but if there’s a big group i’d avoid footpaths as it’s a busy area.

Cotic FlareMax or RocketMax both good bikes which you may enjoy, I thought they’d feel short after looking at geometry but the medium feels just fine for me at 5″8″. I used to own the original smuggler and that was mint still one of my favourite bikes.

I just got off my 20″ BMX.
Thanks for the lols. Especially you Bungel.

I reckon if I actually went and rode a BMX i’d realise the error in my statement. All I meant was the Sherpa is a playful fun bike. irrespective of wheel size.

I like my Shan GT, as 29ers go it’s good fun. I’ve also had a few rides on my mates Stanton Sherpa and that feels like a big wheeled BMX.