2019 stache 712/24/2023 ![]() ![]() It really wasn't any more of an issue than on the Stache. Climbing I expected to fight the slack HTA. The long BB drop gets you in the bike and that makes for smiles. It is 100% easier to initiate a turn and lean over compared to my 27.5 FS. The bike has 170mm cranks so maybe that makes up for the difference. I did the same 18 mile loop as I've done on other bikes in the thread. Compared to the Stache it has threaded BB, a Pike RCT3 vs the OEM RL model on the 9.7, steeper seat tube angle which is one thing I liked on the Intense, and is way slacker for bombing downhill, and its made it the USA! I've always wanted to try a 29er steel hardtail. I got this Pedalhead for a good enough price that if I don't like it I can always flip it for what I paid. It can lock out the suspension so much better on the uphill. Other side note is the Fox Float 34 Grip dampener adjustment puts the Pike RC on my Intense to shame. All I know is that I'm a fan of Trek and big tires. Now I need to decide if I want a fun machine or something all business that is faster. Just not as fun as the Stache which feels like a giant flickable BMX bike that I can pump on and put the tires where ever I want. The downhill was decent with a couple PR's, but I was having a difficult time adjusting to how long the bike is in the tight stuff. There certainly was a tail wind pushing me uphill opposed to the head wind with the Stache. I beat my best time on the Stache uphill by 2:37 and got a #8 all time with flat pedals on the Peterson Ridge trail system. I could mash on the pedals and it actually went forwards almost as well as the hardtail. I left the rear shock in trail mode for the whole trip and it is 100% better than the JS tuned platform on the Intense. It is better than my Intense Spider 275C in every single way except for maneuverability in tight corners. I just took my wife's Fuel EX 8 18.5 29er with 140mm fork for the same 18 mile ride for the first time. Time to throw another wrench at the situation. I probably could put a better rear shock on the Spider with a 3-selection compression dampener, but I still don't think it will pedal as well as the hardtail. I wish the local Trek dealers demoed the Stache so I could have tried one from the start. Moral to the story is that I should have done more demoing. I tracked some Strava times on the Stache and ended up ~10 seconds slower on the climbs (I'm blaming the factory heavy wheelset and a good headwind on those days) and faster on the downhill than the Spider by over a minute. ![]() I like the simplicity of the hardtail with less maintenance and the potential to run a frame bag for some bikepacking. I love being able to stand and mash which makes the bike shoot forward unlike the numb (in comparison) feeling of the full squish. HOLY CRAP is that thing fun!!! The plus tires take out the small trail chatter and with the massive 29+ rubber it monster trucks over technical rock sections. Over those 30 days I hopped on the Stache and fitted a 70mm stem to get the reach close to my liking. Her skill level on the Fuel is progressing super quick. Soon she decided the hardtail wasn't for her since she is more of a sit and spin rider and with Trek's 30 day return, we went with a Fuel EX 8 29er that she loves. She thought she wanted a hardtail so we got her a Trek Stache 7. Last month we decided to pick up a bike for the wife. Afterwards I was loving the setup even more. The factory wheelset was lacking, so I build up some DT Swiss hubs with good alloy i29 rims so I could run a Recon 2.6 front and Icon 2.35 rear. It pedaled better than any full suspension I had been on. This winter/spring I did a bunch of research and decided that for my riding style in Bend, OR an Intense Spider 275C would fit the bill nicely and when the Art's Cyclery sale came up, I couldn't say no. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |