I'm going to be doing the Badger Divide from Glasgow to Inverness in 2 1/2 days on my 2014 Giant Anthem 29er. On a recent loop of Arran I found my Anthem a bit tiring and was wasting energy with both shocks a bit low pressure... So I'm thinking:
1. Lock the front fork
2. Pump rear shock to >200PSI
3. Swap the current tyres out, they are current Rocket Ron 2.25. Can you recommend an smooth 2inch tyre for the gravel roads and paths ?
4. Lift the saddle position a bit and increase the tryre pressure.
Or option B:
Get a Sonder transmitter (Carbon) - I have been wanting one for a while. Would the Transmitter be much more efficient ?
I would imagine that being more aero will help more.
So, some tri bars clamped on somehow if you can stomach it.
Or a cross bike.
(I'm not you, but...)
If I had the choice of a carbon hardtail or an Anthem 29er to ride (pretty much continuously??) for 2 1/2 days, it'd be the Anthem every time
Rocket Rons (I've never ridden one) sound fast to me
On the loop of Arran my two friends were on hardtails (Orange clockwork) and were definitely much more efficent.
Getting the shocks pressure sorted will help. But overall that sounds like quite an efficient off road bike
Buy the Sonder.
(I assume that is the answer you're looking for. 😉 )
(could be ;-0 )
I have a 2014 anthem 29er, and an Alu transmitter. I'd choose the anthem for a ride like that 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. Any ride, in fact, that wasn't just arsing about. Night and day better bike on anything that isn't technical downhill (and I like my transmitter).
I wouldn't be trying to de-suspensify the bike, either - that just sounds like a recipe for a harsh ride which is tiring overall. Do stiffen the suspension to the firmer end of things, within the range of settings it normally operates in, but don't go miles past this - e.g. 200 psi is OK for me as I'm large, but would be way excessive for most people.
The saddle position on an anthem is either right or wrong for you, it shouldn't be changed for a gravel-type ride, and it defo shouldn't be experimented with on a multi-day distance ride - need to be dialled. If you're not sure about this speak to someone who knows about bike fit and can give advice.
I assume your bits that rotate are doing their job properly?
Yep, don't pump the suspension up too much maybe take sag to 20% but any more pressure /less sag than this and you are raising the bike up, making it handle less well and uncomfortable. If you have some sort of low speed compression damping control, climb switch or some other pedal platform lever you could use that buy the anthem is a good pedaler anyway so I wouldn't want it fully locked out.
Fast rolling tyres at the correct pressure again not rock hard. Though it sounds like an excuse for a new "suitable" bike...
We have pairs of Saguaro's, some XR2's and some Rocket Ron's in the house.
Feels like a new pair of legs when you eventually get to fit them and head for a hill...
I have the same bike and used it to do the west highland way and great glen way in a oner. I have racing ralph tyres but also a dropper which makes all the difference when doing anything even slightly technical.
