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Picked up a new hardtail frame - on a bit of a punt type purchase.
I wanted something as a half way house between my Dialled Bike Prince Albert and my friends Evil Sovereign.
Decided I'd try a Genesis Alpitude - which Benji has recently been riding and posting about.
First impressions are that its much closer to the Sovereigns character - a real small, flickable quick steering bike. Handles well giving confidence to really crank it over.
I think I will keep the PA for longer Xc based rides/winter bike.
But for dry fast trials the Alpitude is pretty much able to be ridden flat out due to its quick steering and small size giving you the chance to really bully it around.
I've ridden a Rangley Mmmbop and the cockpit set up of my 16.5" Alpitude feels similar, its short giving a great position for climbing, but then feels a little too short when you just pedal along normal flat singletrack. Once going downhill its short wheel base gives it the fun feeling that you can throw it about. So probably a compromise worth living with - know doubt added to by my preference for a 50mm stem!
This bike sits alongside a Turner 5spot (DW link) a Spez SX trial play-bike and this is now possibly my fav. to take out.
Thoughts aside, does anyone know what size seat clamp this frame takes. I'd assume its s 31.8mm, as has 30.0mm seat tube diameter and is steel frame. However a 31.8mmm seat clamp feels really tight (to tight) on the frame, where as the 34mm feels far too loose. Benji do you know what size seat clamp yours has? my frame came with a Qr clamp from Genesis but its a shonky bit of kit that I would prefer to replace with a HOPE or similar.
Thanks.
seatclamp is 31.8 for these frames. if you'd been a few days earlier i had a black hope one for sale, unfortunately i've just posted it off to someone else this morning.