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Time to make the leap to a 29er - one test ride and I am sold on the idea. Requirements are steel with EBB or adjustable dropouts and a fairly traditional, elegant look. Good mud clearance would be a benefit too.
Short list as follows:
Pipedream Skookum
Pace RC129
Richey P29
Niner SIR9
Curtis XC9 (like Candodavid's bike of beauty)
Thoughts? Anything I've missed to add to the list?
Swift 😀
Damn ... yes, I have been drooling over a Swift too. This isn't getting easier 🙁
Love my Swift, saying that I'm changing it for the Ritchey
I can get you Curtis number to call him. Email in profile
Swift for the third time
Salsa El Mariachi 😀
Thanks Candodavid - already emailing Gary to find out options ... Sliders vs. EBB etc.
Salsa El Mariachi?
If you have the budget Curtis.
Having seen CD's bike a year(?) ago got me saving for my own 😳
I've just bough a Skookum and so far have been very happy with it.
Oodles of clearance, tidy, simple dropouts. I like it.
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I run an integral lower cup in my frame as a0 it allows the use of the Lefty and b) looks cleaner than the 1.5'' external Hope cup. Looks better as a 44mm set up a la my Solaris.
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If the Pace in 29er guise is anything like the 104 then the ride is sublime.
I regret selling my 104 but admit I should have bought the 129 in the first place 😆
I really do wish that Ritchey weren't doing their new frames in 650b.
I think the 29er looks a bit ... meh. But the 650b and the 26'' mmmmmmmm 😡
From your list [b]I would go for Pace RC129[/b].
1. Pipedream Skookum - Trying changing headset. Look at the fanny headset cups. Think they are different sizes no?
2. [b]Pace RC129[/b] - This is nice with sliding rear so you can go SS no problem (EBB can be a pain to adjust).
3. Richey P29 - Bent lower tube ugly ...
4. Niner SIR9 - The seatpost tube is in a weird position towards the BB.
5. Curtis XC9 - Nice but may be overpriced.
6. Singular Swift - EBB or conventional drop out ... both are fine but so long as you know what you want. Think it's the cheapest of them lot.
7. Salsa El Mariachi - looks fine but I don't like the look of their rear sliding drop out ...
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Charge Cooker might be worth a look. Great handling with retro looks.
Charge Cooker - hmmm ... EBB.
What about a Nimble 9 ?
Or a Krampus? 😯
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8581477915_3f406e6e5c_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/8581477915/ ]2013_0323quarterhorse0026[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
This thing is the awsum.
That Skookum does look nice, and very reasonable price too. Nice colour too on Letmetalktomark's frame.
The Pace was the bike I tested up at Dalby - really liked it and Adrian was a top bloke to chat to as well.
Trouble is they all look lovely to my eyes.
Ah, the agony of choice.
SSStu,
That's one dirty looking industrial frame. 😯
Farticus - MemberTrouble is they all look lovely to my eyes.
Ah, the agony of choice.
Not to me ... as most have some weird tiny bits that put people off.
Pace is pretty spot in my book but not perfect because I want to turn it into utility/touring/cross etc bike ... 😆
The Curtis is just about perfect ... or could be made so as you get to specify everything anyway, but all at a price.
Not sure about EBB vs. sliders. Not had any trouble with sliders but they don't look as elegant a solution as EBB.
Farticus - MemberThe Curtis is just about perfect ... or could be made so as you get to specify everything anyway, but all at a price.
Yes, it's either Curtis or Pace for me ...
Not sure about EBB vs. sliders. Not had any trouble with sliders but they don't look as elegant a solution as EBB.
No EBB for me as I think it's just something waiting to go wrong but that's just me. I prefer simple fix.
I have a large swift for sale in great nick. Would you like me to email the details?
SSStu,That's one dirty looking industrial frame.
Agreed.
It's also one very capable techy riding frame. 🙂
Had a swift before the Curtis, there is no comparison, as long as you know what you want go custom.
Ebb is better as the weight is central in the frame rather than on the back wheel, this helps keep chain stays a little shorter.
Phil Wood Ebb is faultless too
Depends on the EBB type, there's good ones and bad ones, like sliders. I've seen sliders destroy themselves on a long ride. A Bushnell in a well-machined BB shell is faultless and easy to adjust. Personally I'd rather keep moving parts away from the impact, disc brake and drive forces all happening at the axle but there's a number of solutions that cope just fine.No EBB for me as I think it's just something waiting to go wrong
SSStu, you enjoying the 'horse then?
Techy rails are really good fun, especially with the big fork, just a balanced, capable frame.
Techy rails are really good fun, especially with the big fork
I recon the setup i have now could be improved with a Fox 34 up front.
The one on my TB LTC pisses all over the Rev on the QH.
Shame the 34 is so stupidly expensive. 😐
Test rode a TB LTC last weekend, that had the fox fork on, was a great fork, can't afford to spend that much and have reliability issues
Mattbibbings - yes please. Email addy in profile.
I'm on my third frame with an EBB (admittedly none for long, but 2 were second hand), they've worked faultlessly. Don't reject a frame because of EBB.
No problems with either sliding dropouts or ebb so it's down to the frame.
Ebb is better as the weight is central in the
frame rather than on the back wheel, this
helps keep chain stays a little shorter.
Eh? I'm trying to think that through. Ok the weight point may be right but it's negligible IMO. If anything though, an ebb shell is bigger so results in a longer effective chainstay length.
Swift btw
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The el mar's rear drop out is a thing of genius.
No faffing to get your wheel out. I really likes them (hence why I bought one).
Plus it handles amazingly. All this 29ers are cumbersome etc is something I never noticed.
(ebb) .. this helps keep chain stays a little shorter.
It's all dictated by your gearing in ~12mm increments if SS and stay design if not, rather than EBB or slider choice. No bike I've seen (or would want to own) is so short at the rear that an EBB shell's diameter could eat into stay length )If anything though, an ebb shell is bigger so results in a longer effective chainstay length.
I spoke to Shand a few weeks ago and he was mentioning a semi production 29er frame being available soon. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
I've looked at Shand frames too ... Very nice and time to look again I think, This will all mean selling my 19" Explosif which will be a painful experience though.
SIR9 has a 142x12mm rear, which may or may not bother you, but might make getting an SS hub a bit tricky.
Swift!
fits all your requirements and there's one listed for sale at the mo
Saw that one .. Tempting, but prefer designs without chain stay brace behind the BB (the one on my Explosif gathers mud like no one's business). That's why the Pipedream and Pace are quite high up on the list.
Solaris
I rode my new O-O ss Inbred 29er for first time today. I have had ti, lots of steel and have to say it was fab. And very cheap!
Love my el mar
Drop outs work a treat and was easy to swap for a proper speed hub specific one
Never had any issues with my bushnell ebb though on my single speed
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Damn, damn, damn. That is still the nicest bike I've seen, ever.
Will mail you a few questions, Candodavid ... I'm so close to getting one ordered, I just need the final push (and sod the price over the others).
Cripes. That Curtis is beeoootiful!
Disregard the previous posts. Have a look at these:
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The last one is collapsible. Has ingenious axle options and is just amazing!
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the on-one inbred. I would kit the inbred out with King, Hadley bits etc. Then go from there.
Did you notice the internally routed brake cables on the English Cycles 29er. Pure class.
Seriously though. Save your money and get the inbred. Kit it out to the max with your favorite bits and you'll be grinning harder than you ever thought possible.
Ragley Bigwig???????
Clink - Member
I rode my new O-O ss Inbred 29er for first time today. I have had ti, lots of steel and have to say it was fab. And very cheap!
Surely the chainstays were *far too long*?
Clink - Member
I rode my new O-O ss Inbred 29er for first time today. I have had ti, lots of steel and have to say it was fab. And very cheap!
Surely the chainstays were *far too long*?
*s****s*
Surely the chainstays were *far too long*?
Hangs head in shame....
Honestly though it was fab. Rode Mendip today and it did everything well - singletrack, rocky climbs, even following mates down the dh tracks. It makes me wonder why you would need to spend more.
Brant - well done sir!
Yes Clink ....less thinking about geometry and more riding the f-ing think
Very spicy.