Hans Damph front, Ardent rear here. Good for most stuff all year round.

Just got some 2014 140mm Revs for my Solo frame which I’m still waiting on. Here’s hoping they perform as well as they look. Liking the all black ‘stealth’ look

I’m selling a x-fusion Trace 120mm, only 6 months old. PM me if interested

Lol, cheers guys

Formula RX on mine, 180,160 mm. Prefer the feel of my Shimano SLX on the FS though

Can I not persuade you to come out for a wee ride Tom? I could come up to your neck of the woods if you want.

Hi Tom, yep it’s me. Still taking my bike down. Will do a bit more research and follow my nose. Just need to keep the legs spinning for the Strathpuffer in jan.

I have a Solaris and a Trance 29er. Love both, you wouldn’t go far wrong with either of them. The Solaris gets much more use during the winter months. Surprising how capable the Cotic is on the technical stuff, even with a 100mm fork.

No volunteers to show me a night ride round Kendal area?.

Thanks for the replies guys. Any volunteers to show me round one night next week at a social pace. I will have a hire car so will have transport.

Alright Swayndo. I met you a couple years back at Laggan I think. I was riding with Pete Devlin (Devs). Aren’t you from Evanton? Fyrish will be your back yard. I don’t really know too much of the trails in there. Ridden a couple of times with some of the Ben Wyvis club and have just followed my nose the other times. Some great stuff in there though, apart from some of the longer climbs which are pretty sticky just now.
I’m running the Smorgasbord with 20psi just now, seems to be the middle ground for it just now.
If you fancy a local ride sometime drop me a PM, always up for a night ride as well 🙂

My current winter set up are as follows:
Solaris – Smorgasbord Enduro front, Ardent 2.25 rear.
Trance X 29 – Hans Dampf front, Ardent 2.25 rear.

I’ve got a pair of Beavers as well which will replace the Ardents on the rears shortly. No trouble with the front ends running as they are.
Riding Highlands, Contin, Fyrish and a bit of Laggan and Golspie.

Nuke, your correct, they’re 127mm travel on the rear. A 120mm fork is apparently the sweet spot travel for the front, but some folk are running upto 140mm with no probs. unsure of the frame weight, but my whole bike feels lighter than the Orange 5 it replaced, haven’t had it on the scales yet.

I had a pair of Rev RCT 3 on my Orange 5, and while they were a good fork and I thought they were reasonably stiff, the 34mm Trace feels a bit more direct and less bounced off line in the rough stuff, and that’s with a 29″ wheel over a 26″. I was wondering if 120mm travel would be enough, and after riding Laggan black yesterday on it, I can say it is plenty and shouldn’t require more than that. It turns really sweetly at 120mm. I think if you fit a Rev you won’t be disappointed, and as you say, you can drop it internally if you feel the need.

If you got the frame only, it comes with 1 1/8 and 1 1/2 standard taper. So your correct and good to fit a normal fork

Hi Goldigger.
I’ve a large frame, I’m 6ft. I’ve got X-fusion Trace fork at 120mm. Stans ZTR Arch Ex rims on Hope Evo 2 hubs. Reverb, 70mm Nukeproof warhead stem with Renthal Fatbar. XT cranks with double set up. XT rear shadow plus mech, Hans Dampf front and Ardent rear both set up tubeless.

CB

Is it not stamped on bottom bracket shell? Will have a check of mine when I get home

Yep routed brake hose internally. Little diddly but worth it for the cleaner look. Reverb hose internal as well. Leave you forks off for cable routing. It’s handy cos you can get ya finger in the steerer tube for helping fish them out.

shimano BB91 with the 2.5mm spacer fitted. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-bb91-mtb-press-fit-bottom-bracket/rp-prod44225

This is what I have fitted to my Trance 29er. Only had it a couple of months. Bought as a frame and built it up. It’s replaced my Orange 5 and I haven’t regretted it yet.

PM me if you have any other questions.

A pic of mine

Love mine. Had a couple of months now. Bought frame only from JE James for £729. X-fusion Trace fork fitted and hope hoops, everything else came of my Orange Five which it replaced. Climbs much better than the Orange, and feels just as fast on the descents. Gained a couple of Starva KOMs on some descents I couldn’t gain on the orange. Been running Ardents on it, but fitted a Hans Dampf to the front tonight after soMe sketchy moments in the mud last night.

Highly recommended, who’s gives a hoot if Giant aren’t doing 29ers anymore

I’ve got a Reba 100mm on my Cotic Solaris with standard 9mm QR axle, and a X fusion Trace 120mm with 15mm axle on my Trance. The Reba’s feel real flexy now in comparison, therefore I’m on the look out for another Trace or Slide for the Solaris. The X Fusion is a different league.

Got a pair on my Solaris. About to put one on the front of my Trance to replace the Ardent. Pretty happy with them, roll a bit slower than the Ardents on the hard pack stuff. But plenty grip on loamy soft stuff.

Currently running 2.25 Ardents front and back on my Trance. May put a On one Smorgasbord on the front soon as the mud was affecting the Ardent last ride.

Just got myself some Hope hoops with Arch EX rims for my Trance 29 from Moonglu cycles, they were the only ones I could find with Arch Ex rims in stock. Only had a few rides on them, but initial impressions are good, very little flex in them compared to the wheel set I had before them. Considering another pair for the Solaris now 🙂

Clink – Yes it comes with a headset fitted for a normal taper (1.5″- 1″1/8) fork. Also has adapator crown race in bag for fitting straight 1″1/8 steerers. So dont worry about it being Overdrive specific forks only.

cheers

CB

Just got myself a TranceX 29 frame from JE James for £729′ fitted a 120mm X-fusion Trace £560 and a pair of Hope hoops with Arch EX rims. Loving it. Orange 5 now hanging up unused!

Great stuff lads

Ahh, okay thanks slowboydickie

Thanks for your input guys. I’ve ordered it now.

Strathpuffer, 17hrs of night riding in the cold and wet! Great fun and atmosphere. Entries out in November

Cotic Solaris

Otterbox

Endurogangster, that’s the set up I’m going for. Will try it out tonight. Cheers guys

Anyone?

Just ordered a pair of the Enduro ones for my Solaris. Currently using Beavers, but wanted something with a bit more volume, we’ll see how they fair, cannot go wrong for the price.

Have you got it all built now twoniner? How’s it ride?

RCT3 150mm dual air, reduced to 140mm on my bike, cannot fault them

Had an annoying freak on my Five last summer, greased and lubed everything and it still came back. Had the rear wheel rebuilt (hub and spokes replaced). Creak was still evident. Eventually found it to be the rear mech hanger. Removed the 2 little bolts that hold it on and put a dab of grease on the mating surface between hanger and
Frame and applied a touch of locate to bolts. Been quiet for a year now!

27.5 Heckler

Might have to do the Torridon Inn for post bike grub then 🙂