While the Stache is never going to feel like a dual suspension bike in choppy terrain, setting up the monstrous Chupacabra tyres tubeless and with the pressures low the bike has excellent small bump compliance. The second advantage of 29+ tyres is the small bump sensitivity that can be achieved by running the voluminous tyres at lower pressures. Firstly, with a bigger contact patch you’ve got more grip on the ground in virtually any condition than a goanna scaling a tree. There have only ever been one other 29+ bike make its way to the masses, we reviewed the Surly Krampus a few years ago, while we loved its endless traction it was hard work to manoeuvre through any form of a tight corner and was a boat to try and rip through singletrack.Īn increased contact patch is beneficial in two main ways. 29+ wheels are huge, too big to fit into a normal shaped frame, hence the wildly asymmetrical rear end of the bike and its elevated chainstay arrangement. Not sure what we are talking about? Here, have a read of this if you’d like to know what a plus-size bike is all about.Įssentially, Trek developed the Stache around 29+ wheels due to the increased contact patch of the tyre when compared to 27.5+, but it wasn’t going to be so simple. When Trek decided to create a bike in the ‘plus hardtail’ category, they developed the Stache from the ground up using 29″ diameter wheels, instead of jumping on the existing 27.5+ wheel (27.5″ diameter with 2.8-3″ tyres) size bandwagon. The Trek Stache, with its big, balloon-like wheels. ![]() This cheap Recon has steel – rather than alloy – stanchions, though, so they’re not light and the rebound adjuster is a little plastic flag up inside the fork rather than a proper dial.Expensive for a hardtail with mid-range spec. It comes with Gary Fisher’s custom G2 geometry between the 15mm axle and the tapered steerer too. ![]() While most trail 29ers still stick with a 100mm (3.9in) travel fork to avoid jacking the front end too high, Trek have properly committed to increased control with a 120mm stroke fork. The metallic finish still got lots of love from onlookers though. The translucent paint is very thin in some areas, such as inside the dropouts and rear brake mount and more obviously on the front mech mount. Unlike many 29ers, it even comes in an extra small size with a 15.5in (39.4cm) seat tube and 76cm standover. Tapered chainstays are mid-sized rather than massive but a 142x12mm rear axle gives maximum stiffness and security and the brakes sit on easily adjustable post rather than IS brake mounts too. The press-fit bottom bracket also has ISCG mounts ready for a chain device upgrade but the clutch rear mech and big rubber chainstay protector keep the drivetrain pretty quiet anyway. The asymmetrically flared and offset, concave backed seat tube for wheel and direct-mount front mech clearance is a masterpiece of hydroforming.Ī shaped outlet port for the Stealth seatpost hose and external guides offset the fact that the water bottle bosses stop you sliding the seatpost down a decent distance. The signature tapered E2 head tube and steeply sloped top tube give good crotch clearance despite the big wheels. Trek stache 7: Steve Behr/Future Publishingįrame & equipment: Good value kit but heavy steel-legged fork The front comes up surprisingly easily for manualling over or off stuff too, encouraging much more dynamic riding than most big-wheelers and leaving a big grin on our faces after every ride. While it can feel nervous and fluttery at first, the long wheelbase means it’s still an impressively stable bike once you learn to trust it, and the low bottom bracket means you can really rip it through corners with wheels scrabbling as you search for the exit point. The overall result is that you’ll still be surprised what the Stache can batter through (and at what speed) compared to a smaller-wheeled suspension bike. The G2 geometry also gives a distinctively light feel to the steering, so you have little trouble turning the big front wheel in sharply, even with a 90mm stem. The rear wheel screens out more chatter compared to some smaller-wheeled bikes, too, although you definitely get more of a wallop off bigger stuff than with some. The fat carcass 29er tyres also roll over rough stuff really well for serious speed sustain once you’ve got them going. While it’s not light, the Recon fork is smooth enough and the extra 20mm of travel over most 29er hardtails makes a big difference in control and confidence on big drops, rocks and logs. It puts a lot of torque and traction down on climbs and marshy ground, too, clearing with ease several test moorland sections that have stumped us for a while. There’s more than enough stiffness through the frame to recruit every sinew from shoulders to soles of the feet to getting the wheels moving, and it responds significantly quicker if you go full gas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |