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I've got a Planet X XLS. Nice bike which does the business it was designed for well, which is being a quick handling cx racer. I only need to think about turning the bars and I'm around the corner.
It also handles road duties admirably too but the geometry does mean I get a little beaten up on longer rides (50 miles plus). So I was wondering if I kicked the head angle out by 1-1.5° then would it give me a little more stable and comfortable all-day on/off-road machine?
An angle headset would set me back about £70 but before spend the money i was wondering what the STW wisdom was?
Ta muchly.
Longer stem? The head angle numbers don't look too racy and an angleset will shorten the already short top tube.
Changing headset angle won't make much difference to comfort, only handling. Bigger tyres, gel bar tape and padded mitts for comfort. Ridden numerous 100 mile off-roaders on the CX bike, a lot is simply down to conditioning yourself to taking the 'beating'.
Righto. Rule 5!
Cheers.
I just did The Way Of The Roses on a Crosslight and I'm very definitely investigating gel pads under better tape and maybe a carbon bar before I take on anything longer than a day on it again... 🙂
"It also handles road duties admirably too but the geometry does mean I get a little beaten up on longer rides (50 miles plus)"
similar on my pro6 especially as ride quite a bit on corrugated gravel roads - did the following
gel pads, ti railed saddle (needed a new one anyway), 2nd hand specialized zertz seatpost - reckoned to be snake oil but i'm sold - think this is newer version but possibly again limited to only 27.2mm seatpost (maybe)
[url] http://www.ebay.com/itm/Specialized-S-works-CG-R-carbon-Seatpost-cobble-gobbler-/302085675929 [/url] (random google - to find pic/name)
edit or mtfu and spend the money on recovery beer 😀
What you need is a ShockStop suspension stem <cough>Flexstem!</cough> 🙂
[url= http://newatlas.com/shockstop-suspension-stem-review/45618/ ]ShockStop[/url]
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Thudbuster seatpost
mtfu and spend the money on recovery beer 😀
+1