a nice thread bump, but recently been getting out on my MTB a bit more, now it's a 2009 Giant Anthem x3, I "upgraded" the drive train to x1 over the winter, but I had a go on a mates 29er the other day and blimey it did roll so much better!
From googling seems to be lots of articles saying "modern" geometry is leaps ahead of 2009 and the tech/larger wheels would make a big difference. I'm doing nothing "radical", doing 1-3 hours on local single track, small drops and very occasional trips to Dalby Forest.
Sticking with the Anthem the 29er still seems to get good reviews, obviously a new bike is always a good solution to any question, but do folk more experienced than I agree that things have moved on hugely since 2009 in performance, geometry??
cheers,
Greg
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Hi Greg,
I'm simple terms yes.
1 x drive trains, dropper seat-posts, 29" wheels, tubeless tires. Geometry wise also, but that'll only come into play when ascending or descending.
Sticking with the Anthem the 29er still seems to get good reviews, obviously a new bike is always a good solution to any question, but do folk more experienced than I agree that things have moved on hugely since 2009 in performance, geometry??
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
kitenski wrote:
a nice thread bump, but recently been getting out on my MTB a bit more, now it's a 2009 Giant Anthem x3, I "upgraded" the drive train to x1 over the winter, but I had a go on a mates 29er the other day and blimey it did roll so much better!
From googling seems to be lots of articles saying "modern" geometry is leaps ahead of 2009 and the tech/larger wheels would make a big difference. I'm doing nothing "radical", doing 1-3 hours on local single track, small drops and very occasional trips to Dalby Forest.
Sticking with the Anthem the 29er still seems to get good reviews, obviously a new bike is always a good solution to any question, but do folk more experienced than I agree that things have moved on hugely since 2009 in performance, geometry??
cheers,
Greg
Geometry has improved massively just since 2018/2020 or so, though seems like it's stabilised again now/the right point has been found.
Personally I've moved on from the 29er to a mullet now - waaaay better leaning in the corners (at least at my height 175cm). But there's no question the 29er rolls more efficiently, especially on flatter descents.
Plus everything is on massive sale in the bike world atm so a perfect time to buy a new bike!
After all it is free
After all it is free
clarky999 wrote:
Plus everything is on massive sale in the bike world atm so a perfect time to buy a new bike!
Some incredible deals around like this one for the 900Wh Spectral:On.
I’ve been riding the base version for a couple of years and loving it. Say goodbye to range anxiety!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@BobinCH, cheers but not looking for electric!! Quite like the Giant Anthem 29 from my good experiences with the 26 but not much on sale for that from a quick google.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I've got a Trek Roscoe h/tail and much prefer it to the 27.5 Calibre Bossnut I had. TBF it's a much different spec but the way the 29 rolls is so much better for my style. Can't say I massively notice the difference in terms of handling other than that, the Trek also seems to be really mellow when it's in the air (not that I'm in the air often or by much)
Of course the hardtail isn't for everyone, I like it because it means I ride within myself a bit more, although I'm wayyyy overbiked for my ability anyway.
Edit: also, went on a ride with some people from work the other week and one was on a full suspension 26 that was about 12 years old. It was a nice bike, obviously well specced at the time, but without the dropper, a 1x and the fact he had cleats, it was just hard work for him. The dropper is the main one for me, being able to get the saddle out the way and move around the bike more was just a game changer on how comfortable I felt on steeper stuff
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Wed 4-09-24 11:03; edited 1 time in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@kitenski,
These bikes are probably more suitable for your type of riding.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@DB, yup thats what the Anthem was/is so think that suits what I ride.....will do some googling I think!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@kitenski,
The Anthem is included in that XC bike test I linked to.
MTB's have moved a long way since 2009, but so have the prices.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@DB, yes thanks! Looks like that year bike sold out so a “new” model now available!! Same price
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Quick google, not (m)any sales on the Anthem or the Specialised Epics! Anyone know if there'd be end of year sales in the planning?? Giant seem to have launched their 25 Anthem already from what I can work out...
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Mosha Marc, my main injuries so far (admittedly generally more mellow trails and cross country/single track) are pretty much exclusively to my shins from smacking my pedals into them :lol
Edit: just realised I ended up responding to an old comment...still applies mind
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
So comparing Epics vs Anthem.... anyone got a view on the important bits?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
kitenski wrote:
@BobinCH, interesting cheers decent spec that!
I’ve been mainly riding my ebike this Summer but interesting to see our 5k Canyons outperforming 10-15k S-Werks and the like
After all it is free
After all it is free
@BobinCH, how do you mean? Where were they outperforming the others??
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
On the geo thing, I bought my daughter a new (secondhand) bike a few weeks back. It's a cannondale, totally fine for whatever she'll get up to. She's right in the middle of the size chart for a M, so bought a M. Thing turned up and it's huge. And I'm saying that as someone that had just sold an XL Surly Krampus. Wheelbase is crazy long, it's on 29s so the BB sits high and rest of it's tall as a result. I had to measure the frame and compare it to the chart to make sure it wasn't miss-labeled. Called my MTB obsessed mate and he told me they're all like that now, super stable and you don't need to get your back bottom on the back wheel on downhills so much anymore. So, has Geo changed in the past 10 years? I'd say almost beyond recognition.
Sold the Krampus and a Ti roadbike that I bought before realizing I really hate road cycling. Now I have a bit of cash waiting for the right used Epic Evo to pop up. Was going to get a Tallboy but after reading a bit I think the Evo might be a better shout. Basically more like an HT. I'm actually dithering about whether to just get a HT. I don't get loads of time to ride now but everyone tells me it's just more comfortable and fun to ride a modern full sus, so will probably give it a go.
Also swoped the pads and discs on my commuter thing last week after months of terrible squeaking and loads of brake cleaner and various pads to try and solve it. Should have done it months ago, took 20 mins and now I can break in peace. Replacing the internally routed gear cable was a different story.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Tried to edit that twice as I couldn't understand what was going on till I realised the site auto changed 'a r s e' to back bottom. Nice.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
kitenski wrote:
@BobinCH, how do you mean? Where were they outperforming the others??
Better motor, bigger battery and 2 of the S-Werks frames broke
From a value perspective I don’t think you can beat a Canyon, even more so if you can find one in your size now with the 25% discount
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Is it possible to swap from a 2 ring chain set to a trendy single one on a fairly recent MTB ?
It's running Shimano already with the front labeled as an '8 speed hyper drive'. I have a suspicion that the costs will be such that buying a new bike will be the answer
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@AndAnotherThing.., yes I did it on my 2009 Giant Anthem!! Wasn't that expensive in the end, using previous years bits and pieces from various website
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
[quote="B."] Wheelbase is crazy long, it's on 29s so the BB sits high and rest of it's tall as a result. I had to measure the frame and compare it to the chart to make sure it wasn't miss-labeled.
29" bikes don't necessitate high bottom brackets, its easy for the frame designer to allow for the larger when choosing the BB height and if anything BB heights have dropped over the years. This is part of what makes modern bikes feel so stable. It could be that the new bike has more suspension than ones that you are used to, and therefore has a comparatively high BB when no-one is on the bike as it will be designed to be ridden at 20 - 30% sag. 25% sag on a 150mm travel bike would lower the BB by about 37.5mm
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
AndAnotherThing.. wrote:
Is it possible to swap from a 2 ring chain set to a trendy single one on a fairly recent MTB ?
It's running Shimano already with the front labeled as an '8 speed hyper drive'. I have a suspicion that the costs will be such that buying a new bike will be the answer
Most can be changed to preferred configuration, particularly going to less front chain ring.
Consideration of what you'll get before commiting is worth looking at though.
You'll have a range of teeth on rear cassette now (12 small to perhaps 32 large? ) that you'll use with high and low front rings to give total range. That becomes more important with only one on the front, this may give too much compromise at low or high gear demand.
Try using currently with only the large front ring to see if the overall ratio range available is suitable for all eventuality. If you can't get low enough then you'd be looking at larger rear maximum teeth and smaller front than existing setup.
Front you can go smaller fairly easily to give better climb, but at the expense of higher speeds and then spinning too fast.
Rear low ratio, you can go bigger by a reasonable amount but will ultimately need to change derailleur cage length if you need to change to a significant size up. This to mitigate chain length issues across a wider total rear cassette geometry.
If you've really potent legs then you'll need less adaption to deal with ratios if you like to spin it on uphill, then you'll need to pay more attention to ratios you fit.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
kitenski wrote:
@AndAnotherThing.., yes I did it on my 2009 Giant Anthem!! Wasn't that expensive in the end, using previous years bits and pieces from various website
OK - sounds promising.
ski3 I expect to have to swap the rear cassette as well to match. To be honest I'm not entirely sure what the benefits of the single chain wheel are (weight?) but the set I have is wearing so at some point I'll need to swap it out anyway.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
AndAnotherThing.. wrote:
kitenski wrote:
@AndAnotherThing.., yes I did it on my 2009 Giant Anthem!! Wasn't that expensive in the end, using previous years bits and pieces from various website
OK - sounds promising.
ski3 I expect to have to swap the rear cassette as well to match. To be honest I'm not entirely sure what the benefits of the single chain wheel are (weight?) but the set I have is wearing so at some point I'll need to swap it out anyway.
Main benefit of going to a 1x system is less parts to look after/adjust/faff with and the spot where the shifter was can now be used for a shifter for a dropper post. As I always forget I have a dropper the last is less useful to me!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@Doofenschmirtz, so not so much a performance thing then ?
Wheelbase is crazy long, it's on 29s so the BB sits high and rest of it's tall as a result. I had to measure the frame and compare it to the chart to make sure it wasn't miss-labeled.
29" bikes don't necessitate high bottom brackets, its easy for the frame designer to allow for the larger when choosing the BB height and if anything BB heights have dropped over the years. This is part of what makes modern bikes feel so stable. It could be that the new bike has more suspension than ones that you are used to, and therefore has a comparatively high BB when no-one is on the bike as it will be designed to be ridden at 20 - 30% sag. 25% sag on a 150mm travel bike would lower the BB by about 37.5mm
You're probably right, it's just a big bike all round. Got my other daughter a small sized 29er and it also seems huge, but then I started of on 26 wheels, so my reference is way off these days.
I rode a Krampus for a few years, which is a 29er with 3" tyres. It was more like wrestling than riding on the downhills but a load of fun. Now really want to try a lighter weight modern MTB. if anyone has an XL epic evo going cheap drop me a message...
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@AndAnotherThing.., for mtbing 1x set ups definitely have a performance benefitd, the biggest of which is the ability to use a narrow-wide chainring which are very effective at preventing the chain from coming off. Next is that you getting into the correct gear on terrain where you would have been alternating between the big and granny ring is much quicker than on a double or triple set up, and finally a smaller chainring than you would have with a triple ring (facilitated by a 10 or 11 tooth gear at the cassette) gives more ground clearance. Lots of people are sceptical before they try but almost everyone who does try is fully won over. I would never go back to a double or triple ring set up for off road riding
@AndAnotherThing.., for mtbing 1x set ups definitely have a performance benefitd, the biggest of which is the ability to use a narrow-wide chainring which are very effective at preventing the chain from coming off. Next is that you getting into the correct gear on terrain where you would have been alternating between the big and granny ring is much quicker than on a double or triple set up, and finally a smaller chainring than you would have with a triple ring (facilitated by a 10 or 11 tooth gear at the cassette) gives more ground clearance. Lots of people are sceptical before they try but almost everyone who does try is fully won over. I would never go back to a double or triple ring set up for off road riding
Thanks for the explanation - I hadn't thought about the clearance advantage and was thinking more in terms of weight.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Given I've recently dived into the whole pit of eMTB (and hope that it will reboot my enthusiasm for MTB more generally) I was wondering will "acoustic" MTBing become a quaint little fringe genre in the next decade for racers and yoghurt weavers? Weights are coming down and there's clearly more money to be made in the industry on higher pricepoint products (and range simplification given stock overhangs this year).
Or will the wheels come off the eMTB thing? Just from my recent monitoring of eBay there are a hell of a lot of Covid regret bikes out there being sold with sub 500 miles on the clock. And some of them ambitiously priced above what dealers are clearing stock out at.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Dave of the Marmottes,
Probably both, or neither
I ride my non-ebike (acoustic? wtf, its a bike not a musical instrument! ) uphill to keep fit and I quite like the challenge of technical climbs. If I need to go further/higher/faster I have to get fitter/better. Sometimes, when feeling totally knackered I wish I had an ebike - well, quite often actually!
On the other hand, a colleague of mine who is an accomplished long-term north shore rider recently got an ebike and has hardly used his non ebike since!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
stuarth wrote:
On the other hand, a colleague of mine who is an accomplished long-term north shore rider recently got an ebike and has hardly used his non ebike since!
From watching the yootubez it seems like self shuttling to session multiple laps is quite the thing, as well as doing uphill side hits in boost mode.
Can see why they work for the highly skilled as well as schlubs like me who are looking forward to doing the sort of length rides I used to.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Converting tubeless for an eMTB - just buy a kit with the right length of valves and sealant or do I need to do anything else? Need to assess first whether my wheels come with sealed rimtape or not of course.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
) uphill to keep fit and I quite like the challenge of technical climbs. If I need to go further/higher/faster I have to get fitter/better. Sometimes, when feeling totally knackered I wish I had an ebike - well, quite often actually! 