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There seems to be a few of these knocking around cheap at the moment and as I'm still in the market for a winter hardtail I'm quite interested to hear any real world experiences.
I can't seem to find many reviews / experiences online though. I'm interested in the Tange cro-moly frames, especially the singlespeed variety.
I don't but I believe that the owner (Kevin?) of Northern Ride in Malton North Yorkshire owns a SS one that he cruises around Dalby Forest on (when I say cruise, I think he does it in under 2 hours!)
I know he's obviously a salesman but it may be worth ringing them up/popping in if you're at all close? I [i]think[/i] that they have one as a demo bike.
I'm kind of in the same position as you, quite keen to know more about them. They get good online reviews. The only thing that I have read against them is that they can be slightly harder to lift the front end on.... (though is that a 29er thing?)
Phil.
love mine for local trail centre type stuff, not the lightest but handles well as it's rigid specific and the ebb is as good as I've used, no creaks or slipping.
The only downside on mine is I don't use it enough other than out with the kids, I'd be tempted to sell it but I know the next time I got a free hour or two on the right trails I'd miss it
Had mine since January, not a singlespeed but nice bike to ride. Taken plenty of abuse. Only issue I have had with it was the SRAM GXP Bottom Bracket which I have now swapped for a Hope one.
Ride mine ss and with an Alfine. Love it for all my xc come rain or shine. Comfortable for long days too. 🙂
I had the fully-rigid version for 18 months, bought for and used over two winters. Fantastic bike for woodland singletrack, only sold it as I've moved onto a fat bike. I ran it 1x10 with big volume tyres, and eventually 29+ up front which was an absolute hoot!
Do a search on the forum, there are loads of discussions where Charge Cookers have been recommended over the last year.
Just bought the SS version week or so ago, never used singlespeed before. It handles really well and ss is a laugh. I have only one niggle the grips are thin and hard so got rid of them for odi. Get one trust me you wont be disappointed and at the price's 2014 models are its worth a punt.
Hi
I bought Paceman's fully rigid and I'm loving it, it was my first 29er and now I'm a complete convert. Quite a high front end with the rigid forks, but ok if you flip the stem. Not experimented with 29+ yet, but it's always an option.
I got a 2012 charge cooker hi, and changed the fork to the rigid one from ebay (proper charge one though), and have put XT brakes on it and it's pretty awesome now, maybe new wheels might lighten it otherwise pretty chuffed.
I live in Leeds, and have a medium frame, so you can have a try if you like? It's not a SS and the frame built for a sus fork, so my fork is a 100mm suspension adjusted fork (the SS frame's fork seems a lot shorter, 100mm). Bad blurry pic here but you can see what I mean:
Apparently it has a high bottom bracket (never had any issues with this). The frames seem like they are sized on the large side (or at least mine does!). I personally would be very tempted by the SS, but I know I don't have the legs for it.
Ah just noticed, you're the same guy that was looking out for a Whyte 905 for the same purpose! If you felt the medium 905 was cramped I think a medium cooker may be perfect! I expect could get away with a small I'm 5'10.
*I meant to say: "the SS frame's fork seems a lot shorter, maybe suspension adjusted 80mm-ish - if it does indeed take a suspension fork".
Had mine since January, not a singlespeed but nice bike to ride. Taken plenty of abuse. Only issue I have had with it was the SRAM GXP Bottom Bracket which I have now swapped for a Hope one.
Did you have any issues fitting this and did you use the SRAM/Truvative converter kit and if so how easy was it to fit? I'm assuming you fit the 68/73 size Hope BB.
I have the same issue - I'm on my second GXP BB in 18months and bored of having to replace it. I want something that will last.
[quote=jaymoid ]Apparently it has a high bottom bracket (never had any issues with this). Indeed, and I owned one for a very short period in order to check that out. As a result, I subsequently had a custom frame made with a similar height BB (and I'm going down the same route again).
Since I got my Cooker Hi (2013 model) I have changed a lot of things on the bike - not necessarily to upgrade, but to really understand the bike and how it handles the terrain where live (Oxfordshire, UK). This bike can do basically everything bar serious downhill runs.
Stick on some light, skinny wheels, a long stem and a narrow flat bar and you have a great xc bike.
Stick on fast rolling tyres, a wide bar and short stem, drop the saddle and you have a dirt jump bike.
Stick on some wider rims and big tubeless tyres to that and you basically have a bike that will go anywhere.
Here's mine in it's current setup:
[url= https://goo.gl/photos/PyjrNntBfLPSV54K9 ]Cooker Hi - front[/url]
[url= https://goo.gl/photos/VRbJSQbivAep2zkW8 ]Cooker Hi - back[/url]
[url= https://goo.gl/photos/VQCmtTeUcA9PXLFU6 ]Cooker Hi - mid[/url]
I've got a 2013 SS. It's a lot of fun to ride and has been pretty reliable through two winters of riding in the kind of grim conditions that suit a rigid singlespeed. Probably the comfiest rigid SS I've owned, albeit the first 29er so that probably has a lot to do with it.