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So I had a demo on an Anthem 29er and a Trance 29er, both medium, and much to my surprise I much preferred the handling of the slacker Trance, whereas the Anthem felt unwieldy.
What makes me wary of the Trance is how the seat tube angle seems to be dependent on your saddle height, and how that impacts pedalling, reach, and thus handling.
At 5'7" I'm right on Giant's sizing limit for a medium, but I have a long torso and short legs (about 29" inseam), so I'm currently happy on a Specialized XC geometry medium with a 4mm longer top tube and a 120mm stem and 580mm wide flat bars which are spaced about 20mm high and above my saddle height.
I didn't feel it myself but all the reviews talk about the front being light on steep climbs, but I'm thinking going for a medium with my lower seat effectively being less rear biased would make this easier to avoid or manage than a small.
Finally, what's the effect of your knees and hips being forward or behind the bottom bracket? I'd imagine the lower seat than average that I use might impact pedalling efficiency on such a seat tube.
Cheers for any thoughts.
I'd agree with your 4th para. IMO you get used to where your saddle is fore/aft in respect of pedalling and it has no effect on knees/hips (as long as seat height is corrected to compensate any movement) but your back/hips may need to adjust to any changes - it's the only joint that would change.
In essence...you rode it, you like it, your saddle height isn't about to change.
Yes, I'd agree. If you liked how the medium felt then it fits you. In practice (and I haven't worked this out properly) I suspect that the difference in fore/aft position for any sensible seat height is not that great and could be compensated for by just moving the seat forward or backwards on the rails (of using an offset seatpost if needs be). Most of us adapt quite happily to a change of a cm or so in seat position. Just ride lots and you'll be fine 🙂
Cheers, good to know others can see the logic. Most people talk about going down a size on this bike, and all the reviews talk about pushing the saddle forward and swapping to a shorter stem from the 100mm supplied.
I had forgotten about the adjustment available in the saddle rails, especially as I'm not sure I need a dropper post when my saddle is already low, so I'd have layback and inline options with a fixed post.
If anyone's interested I had been approaching this as a 29er 100mm full suss carbon framed XC raceable complementary option to my old Stumpjumper FSR 100mm 26er. I rode the demos over an XC race course and nearby trails after completing the race on my existing bike.
The Trance 29er ride was an afterthought after being underwhelmed by the Anthem 29er carbon where I just couldn't get over the remote handling and perched on top feel compared to my bike, which felt really awesome by comparison. The Trance 29er handling instantly felt normal to me but with the big wheel advantages to the fore, the additional weight unnoticeable, and the extra travel available and distinctly plusher with seemingly no pedalling penalty even though the rear shock was running soft.
I was lucky enough to be riding the 00 version with SRAM XO and RS shocks, which is my next question, which version between the 00 and the 0 with XT and Fox shocks?
My thoughts now are to go with the Trance 29er as a trail and marathon bike, especially as I'm getting older and slower, and just keep riding my old 26er for racing unless the Trance performance can overcome its weight disadvantage. I suspect it's time to increase the technical challenge in my riding if I can't get my heart rate up like I used to.
especially as I'm not sure I need a dropper post when my saddle is already low
on the assumption your default seat height is right for pedalling, then you could still benefit from a dropper, surely? (or are you saying there isn't space?)
if there isn't space, I'd try more frames!
Thanks for the comments. Very interesting.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to the reviewer's assertion that you need a shorter stem. That just seems to be something that reviewers feel they have to say. Maybe it's some kind of badge of honour. I'm such a sick rider that I need a shorter stem than the average punter this bike was designed for. In this case it doesn't make any sense. If your concern is that the front wheel lifts too easily then making the stem shorter is going to make that worse (unless you change other things as well).
I don't think the 00 model is available in the UK. Personally I'd be tempted to buy the frame anyway as I prefer the colour and it looks as though it comes with a normal headset rather than Giant's proprietary Overdrive 2 system, which limits your fork and stem options in future.
mattjg, the dropper post fits, just, but the saddle is already below the bars with appropriate leg extension. I doubt I'd use a dropper very often, the only times I remember dropping my saddle has been when I took my current bike downhilling in the Alps and jumping on some dual tracks. I guess that could change though with more travel and beefier rims. We've got some black diamond tracks and drop features I've been eyeing off that I don't want to risk crushing my XC wheels on.
Have you used a dropper before?
Now I have one I find I use it a lot, because it's easy and available - even on shallow gradient pedally trails, it transforms the bike, and the fun level, for me.
A dropper's not just for gnarr downhill, oh no.
On the flip side I find I usually only use 30-50mm of the available 100mm drop, which would mean in theory there's 50mm in hand (ie you could install it and run it not at full extension but still get benefit).
Anyway, if I was buying a Trance style bike I'd absolutely want the dropper to be usable.
Ah the OO's pretty isn't it? I looked at Trances a few weeks ago and didn't know it existed so I agree it seems to be not available in the UK.
That's what I thought roverpig, cheers.
Yup, 00 is Australia only I think. I've seen some suggest SRAM is supposedly popular here. Still, it's a hard choice when they're both on sale for $600 off, and the XO extends to Avid brakes instead of XT brakes.