![]() The huge contact patch of the tyres, which can be run at very low pressures when setup tubeless (the Stache ships with rim tape installed as well as tubeless valves) gives insane cornering grip as well as small bump sensitivity to compensate somewhat for the rigid rear end. What advantages do the 29+ wheels provide? The Stranglehold Dropout’s elevated chainstay features a protective layer to protect the chainstay from the chain slap. Tensioners for singlespeed setup as well as chainstay length adjustment allows for multiple wheel sizes and gearing options. Yes! The Stache’s ‘Stranglehold’ dropouts allow for the bike to be configured in 29+, 27.5+, regular 29”, and even as a singlespeed!ĭespite the Stache being more open to change that Donald Trump’s policies, we would definitely recommend giving the Stache a good crack in its original 29+ guise, as the benefits of the 29+ tyres are really what make this bike shine. Is there an option to swap wheel sizes if I don’t like the 29+ wheels? The Bontrager Chupacabra tyres are named after the legendary Latin American goat-slayer, and hold the key to slaying trails aboard the Stache. ![]() Is this even possible? Could Trek be onto something here? Stay tuned for the review where we’ll discuss this further. These attributes mean that the riding style required to get the most out of the Stache is different to how you would ride a standard dual-suspension trail bike. The Stache’s strengths include insane levels of traction and a geometry aimed at being able to throw those big hoops around at will. At the end of the day I was a bit more worked than I would be on my 29” wheeled full suspension bike but that may be more a function of getting used to a new bike and having put more muscle into some of the technical climbs in an effort to clean them fast, something that one may just let go as these bikes aren’t just about fast, but more about fun.This is a question we’ll answer more in-depth in the review, however, what we’ve learned in our time on the Stache so far is that asking if the bike replicates the abilities of a dual suspension trail bike is not the right question to be asking. That allowed the tire to form itself around the sharp rocks and edgy ledges and I was able to romp on it with no fear of bottoming out the tire on the rim bead, enabling even more lean angle in the loose rocks at trails edge. ![]() At one point climbing a steep rocky section I felt like I was bouncing on an undamped suspension so I stopped and knocked about 3 psi out of the rear tire. The real test came on some of the chunder sections of sweet 16 and pump house and the Stache handled it with silky smooth grace. The bike’s super tight wheelbase made bunny hopping ledges and rocks effortless, the bike snappy and light with the wheels off the ground. ![]() Launching down Elephant’s Butt the tires sucked up the uneven rock face like it was smooth concrete. Heading upstream on the long straight flats there was no challenge getting the wheels up to speed, and once at full velocity it was easy to maintain momentum. There are several new “features” on the Toys descent and I launched off the first one, finding the bike to be perfectly balanced in the air and landing as soft as a 5” travel bike. As an older mountain biker it would be impossible to keep riding hard on this technical terrain without the forgiveness of full suspension, so the big meat on the 29 plus had to at least come close to my soft tail to make it a fun experience.ĭropping in the Toys ‘r Us descent I got my first taste of how well the 29 plus tires handled as I was able to lean over well past my comfort level on a standard 2.3” width tire, a function of the tires remarkably low air pressure (I started out at 17 psi, pressure range on tire is 12-30 psi) that just molded itself to the terrain and gripped the sides of the chute like putty. The Barton Creek trails have a perfect mix of fast, flowy smoothness and some really harsh, chunky sections that are the epitome of mountain biking for me–the perfect terrain to demo the purported attributes of these new fatties and figure out if, after riding full suspension almost exclusively for the past 15 years, I could still have fun on a hardtail mountain bike. ![]() So it was with a mixture of excitement and moderate expectations that I set up a Stache for its maiden ride on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, my home trail since my very first ride off-road and one that I know better than the back of my hand. The Stache easily cleans Elephant’s Butt on the Greenbelt. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |