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At the moment I ride what you would probably call a hardcore hardtail, with 650 wheels, a 140mm fork, a 67° static / 69° sagged head angle. It's great for messing about on and good to ride down steep stuff. It sometimes feels a bit slow and upright riding uphill and on the level.
I'm thinking about building up something a bit lighter and quicker and probably a 29er, for longer faster rides, but I would also still want it to ride well on steep and technical stuff. I've seen a frame I quite like but it's got a 70.5° static head angle and is designed for a 100mm fork. I'm quite happy with a shorter fork (last bike was 80mm fork and very old school geometry, although I don't know what the angles were), but I don't know if the 70.5° head angle will feel too steep compared to the bike I'm used to now? Perhaps it doesn't matter with the bigger wheels? My wife has a 29er with a 69° head angle - this bike is too small for me to ride seated comfortably, but overlooking that the angles feel good when standing up and arsing about on it.
Head angle on the old one was 71.
my 29er HT has a 65 static head angle. its a great bike (Ragley Big Wig) other option would be a Stanton Sherpa which has a 67 static head angle i think with 120mm forks
Yeah I like the Sherpa too. They had their frames at Fort William last weekend and they're very nice.
Pick up a Solaris mk1 and run it with a 100mm fork?
Could do yes
I've no idea what you are actually asking.
140 + 67 is too slow and upright
100 + 70.5 might be too steep
80 + 71 you're quite happy with
120 + 67 is very nice
too small + 69 is un-comfy but fun
If you want a medium travel 29er there have been loads of threads recently
🙂 a bit vague isn't it!
I suppose what I'm wondering is where the happy medium between fast/racy/steeper and the more confidence inspiring/slacker geometry is, if there is one.
The reference to my old bike is perhaps a red herring. While I was happy enough on that I wasn't riding stuff as steep or difficult as I do now, and I don't want to end up feeling uncomfortable on the hard stuff having got used to the slacker bike. Of course the answer to that is be a better rider, but let's be realistic... 🙂
The happy medium depends totally on you.
There is a whole load more to the feel of a bike than its head angle.
Of course, but it's still a factor, hence the musing.