rgro
New Member
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Post by rgro on Feb 12, 2016 19:10:23 GMT
Hi Guys, I'm Rob, 27 from East Yorkshire, In October last year I bought a 2014 (I believe) Giant Trance from Cliff Pratt and I've ridden it literally a handful of times due to work commitments and general life but I do plan to start riding more frequently as I'm eager to get back on form. The last time I rode seriously was back in the days of the Steve Pete era which was around 8 years ago now and was riding a Santa Cruz v10 with World Cups which was an awesome machine. Anyway... Heres my current bike:  What are your thoughts? In all honesty I'm not keen on the oversized 29" wheels and I'm looking to change to 26, to me they look out of proportion with the rest of the bike and I've not really noticed any difference from riding with 26" wheels even though it was a long time ago, its more for looks. The only modifications I've done are bigger rotors which are 203mm at the front and 180 I think at the rear. I'm looking into minor upgrades and other subtle mods for the time being such as small mudguards from RRP and MRP's (if they are still around) but then realised I have 3 chain rings up front rather then my old Santa cruz which had 1! Would you change this setup? I'm not looking to go straight into a full blown out dirt circuit as my cardio fitness is below par with me having been driving around for 8 years. Let me know your thoughts and what you would change/not change to the current setup, be brutal - I'm used to it and after all, honesty is the best policy  Cheers! Rob! |
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Post by hodgy on Feb 12, 2016 19:27:13 GMT
Hello Rob ...welcome to the forum ..
First thing that I picked up on there was that you were looking to change back to 26" wheels ..not on your current frame I hope ..well not if you want to keep breathing anyway..
It's very much going to be a retrospective move doing that though ..the industry is distancing itself as quickly as it can from 26" wheeled bikes ..
Good luck with your fitness ..hope you get to where you want to be ...
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Post by roundie1981 on Feb 12, 2016 19:39:46 GMT
Welcome to the forum mate, personally I wouldn't do anything to your bike, just get out and enjoy yourself
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Post by kirky72 on Feb 12, 2016 19:41:26 GMT
The trance x is a good capable bike, giant used to have a nasty habit of making the frame a bit short and then sticking a mega long stem on to compensate, which then makes it feel twitchy. If it's not to cramped already I would try a shorter stem. IVe had plenty of 29ers the first one was the whyte t129 which was one of the first trail 29ers to get rave reviews for handling less like a barge, I then had the enduro which again is known as being one of the best 29ers.
However over time I realised that there's something about the size of wheels and the manoeuvrability mainly at slow speed which isn't quite right as well as generally not looking as good as the 27.5 version of the same bike. So I've got rid and just have 27.5 now and it feels much better suited to the mix of riding I do. However if I was riding purely xc I would still opt for 120/130mm travel 29er.
I'm 5ft 10 and the wheel size felt odd in the end, I think they seem better balanced in large frames and above for taller riders, much less so if you drop too a small.
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Post by andy4d on Feb 12, 2016 20:06:26 GMT
Welcome. Nice bike. Just ride and see how you go. I am only getting round to ditching my 3 ring set up for a 2x10 just as everyone else is going to 1x11.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 20:06:25 GMT
All hail the 27.5!
Oooh - and welcome.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 20:08:35 GMT
Dinosaur  |
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Post by kalli on Feb 12, 2016 20:41:20 GMT
Hi welcome to the forum. My old man got a stumpy 29er and I laughed at him. He beats me up the banks on it though so guess he gets the last laugh. Don't let the up grade bug get you, it can get verrry expensive.
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rgro
New Member
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Post by rgro on Feb 12, 2016 20:50:58 GMT
Cheers guys, some good info there!
hodgy - Why not 26" wheels on this frame? and thanks!
roundie - Thanks mate, I will be when time permits and the weather perks up a wee bit!
kirky - Some valuable info there, cheers! I'll have a ride out tomorrow and properly assess what I feel is wrong with the bike and try and work out what could be changed, wether it be the stem or something similar. I totally agree about the size of the frame though, after looking at the bike from a side view, it definitely looks short from back to front and then Giant decide to add a decent sized stem up front to compensate. I know FUNN used to do a nice short stem which ill look into after afew rides out. It just looks so odd with the 29er's on and its annoying lol.
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Post by hodgy on Feb 12, 2016 20:57:21 GMT
Because the frame is built to take 29" wheels specifically ..
Putting 26" wheels would just affect the whole geometry of the bike ..but hey I'm no engineer ...
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rgro
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by rgro on Feb 12, 2016 20:58:37 GMT
Hi welcome to the forum. My old man got a stumpy 29er and I laughed at him. He beats me up the banks on it though so guess he gets the last laugh. Don't let the up grade bug get you, it can get verrry expensive. Cheers! That's it, its going up for sale, any takers? haha.. I guess it has its ups and downs but for me it just looks so bizarre which is enough to put me off full stop but maybe I'm being too picky? The upgrade part is what I love most about it ha, I don't mind putting the money in if I see its beneficial . iIt was either this or another 2003 Santa cruz v10 which was up for sale on pinkbike for a while but I felt he was asking too much for it, that was running 24's! |
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Post by kirky72 on Feb 12, 2016 21:03:21 GMT
Some frames you can change wheel size on but normally between 27.5 to 26 not generally case for 29 I'm afraid. The bottom bracket and ego would be out. I have seen some guys on certain bikes such as the enduro 29 putting a 27.5 wheel on the back which slackens it and drops the bb just a little. However you would t switch from 29 to 26. 27.5 is the halfway house. It's probably not buying a different size wheelset to test other configurations.
Like others have said ride it several times and then assess it. If it feels stretched and twitchy try a shorter stem but don't go straight from 80mm to 40mm try something in the middle first in case the bike gets to cramped, which I would guess would be the case unless it's too big for you in the first place. If it's feels right rock on, if you just don't get on with it maybe sell it on before losing money on upgrading it. When upon sell bikes the extras you spend don't add the value you would expect or cost you and used factory fit bits like bars, stem, saddle etc generally don't sell.
Give it a chance first as the 26 and 27.5 are good all round bikes, I know a few people who have had them, I've met a couple of guys with the 29er and they raved about it. A lad I used to ride with got the Anthem 29er which is a little less travel and more xc again and he hammers the thing he's rapid everywhere and rides it anywhere. Too fast for me I stopped riding with him.lol.being 20 years younger and a fireman didn't help either.
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Post by Marmite on Feb 12, 2016 21:06:12 GMT
Hail 29er long live 29er  Welcome to the site pal fair few people off here up your neck of the woods |
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Post by kalli on Feb 12, 2016 21:06:11 GMT
Just ride the bike and change it if the opportunity arises. It is a nice bike but if you feel an upgrade coming on get a dropper post, they're ace.
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Post by Rlo80 on Feb 13, 2016 1:23:48 GMT
I used to ride 29ers and liked them...however I tried a 27.5 recently (more and more the new standard) and I have to say it is a great size...for me the best size actually!
Yes, you can't just swap the wheels unfortunately, and more and more bikes these days are coming with 1x11...very soon probably a 1x12 will show up!
By the way, Peaty is still around!
As said above, a dropper is a great upgrade...and after that...wheels...but still 29! Lol
I'm also quite new here, but welcome! Nice friendly people here and cool banter!
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 17, 2016 21:10:44 GMT
I've got all the wheel sizes.. And enjoy riding them all... Don't get stuck on what wheel size you've got... Just enjoy the riding!... Welcome!
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 17, 2016 21:11:55 GMT
I used to ride 29ers and liked them...however I tried a 27.5 recently (more and more the new standard) and I have to say it is a great size...for me the best size actually! Yes, you can't just swap the wheels unfortunately, and more and more bikes these days are coming with 1x11...very soon probably a 1x12 will show up! By the way, Peaty is still around! As said above, a dropper is a great upgrade...and after that...wheels...but still 29! Lol I'm also quite new here, but welcome! Nice friendly people here and cool banter! Sales are suggesting it's the 27.5+ sizes that are the most sort after currently... |
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Post by Rlo80 on Feb 18, 2016 8:01:01 GMT
I'm not convinced by the +sizes...
29er for HT, 27.5 for FS...fatty for cool bonkers mad! Lol
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 18, 2016 17:03:36 GMT
I'm not convinced by the +sizes... 29er for HT, 27.5 for FS...fatty for cool bonkers mad! Lol If I were to have or bike... for all seasons just for the UK it would deffo have 27.5+ no brainer for me.. |
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 23, 2016 16:48:18 GMT
You don't ride in mud then? quite often... hence my 2 fatbikes |
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 28, 2016 19:50:43 GMT
Not at all... Plenty of grip at 12psi gone up mud banks my regular bikes, could only dream of!..
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Post by Rlo80 on Feb 28, 2016 20:10:13 GMT
Not at all... Plenty of grip at 12psi gone up mud banks my regular bikes, could only dream of!.. 12 psi??? talk about low pressures?! isn't that too low and draggy? |
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Post by notsarkyadam on Feb 28, 2016 20:47:17 GMT
One should consider the volume of the tyre... Max tyre psi is only 30.. and they feel like car tyres at that...
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Post by notsarkyadam on Mar 1, 2016 17:33:31 GMT
Weird, because at the demo people were moaning about sliding all over the mud. Guess the pressure was wrong. I've not experienced it personally.. pressure wrong, or wrong tyre perhaps ?? |
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