Should I bother ens...
 

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[Closed] Should I bother enslackerising an old 26" hardtail?

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 IHN
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I've got a Genesis Altitude, 2010 (I think), and I've just started riding again after years of not very much. I will, at some point, buy something new but, well, I'll have to wait until anyone has anything to sell.

Things have clearly moved on geometry-wise from when the bike was new, but I'll admit that the numbers and stuff are a bit lost on me. Digging around, it seems that it has a head angle of 68.5deg with a 120mm fork, although I do have a 130mm fork on it. Is it worth, for £50, getting a +2deg headset wotsit to slacken it off a bit and bring it ever so slightly more up to date? Or would that be polishing a turd, and I should spend the £50 on cake and beer and just wait until there are new bikes to buy and then get something actually modern?

This is for general bimbling around the Peak, mainly. I ain't not gnaarpoon hucker.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:07 pm
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You know the answer already.

Coke and hookers

50 quid will get you one or the other, but not both, so I suggest you double your budget


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:12 pm
 IHN
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50 quid will get you one or the other, but not both, so I suggest you double your budget

Yeah, but it'll get me twenty vanilla slices, each the size of a house brick, from the local bakers.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:14 pm
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Has it got a 34mm id headtube for straight steerer forks? I think most hardtail did then? Can you really get a 2 deg headset for it? I thought you could only get 1 degree change with those headtubes? I put one in an old Marin around 2012.
If you can get 2 degrees you will notice it. Wether it’s enough of a change to really make a difference is doubtful. It will still be short and have small wheels compared to everyone else. It will still be just as much fun to ride as it was in 2010. Just not as stable as a more modern bike over more techs steep stuff.
Not sure I’d bother tbh.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:20 pm
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You can slack it out, but it will still be short. Tried this. Didn't work. Move on.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:22 pm
 IHN
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Has it got a 34mmid headtube for straight steerer forks? I think most hardtail did then? Can you really get a 2 deg headset for it? I thought you could only get 1 degree change with those headtubes?

Ah, TBH I don't know, I'd have to check.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:23 pm
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You need lots of spare steerer to fit a 34mm ID slackset as well, they have a very large stack height.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 4:53 pm
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I wouldn't bother. If you like riding it then there's no point changing it, if you don't then a degree or two probably ain't going to fix it.

I doubt I'd notice tbh, and I ride a hardtail of that vintage (though already a bit slacker).


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 5:07 pm
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Do it. I put a 2 degree slackeriser in a straight headtube, wound the forks up to 115mm, fitted a shorter stem and wider bars and as a result am riding it again.

It looks ridiculous but it's a hoot to ride and totally worth the effort.

Currently upgrading the crankset to 1x. Tip: an 11-46 cassette is too much, but 9 speed is cheap to experiment with.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 5:24 pm
 poah
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save up and buy a more modern frame. It isn't just the HA that has changed in the last 11 years


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 5:42 pm
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For not that much more you'll get a reasonable used frame. You can put all your 26" parts onto a more modern 27.5 frame as long you get most of the same standards (rear axle, BB, seat post). You might get a few quid for your old frame too to make it almost even


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 6:45 pm
 IHN
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For not that much more you’ll get a reasonable used frame

Ha, are you sure about that?

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/i-know-this-is-stating-the-obvious-but-second-hand-prices-are-mental/


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 6:54 pm
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Ha, are you sure about that?

Yeah, prices are a bit crazy but there are some bargains still. Probably not an eBay, but on local Facebook groups. You do need to be quick though. And that goes both ways. You can get stronger money for the existing frame to cover it.


 
Posted : 06/05/2021 6:57 pm

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