Printable View
Ok, so quick update after a few hundred miles and about 100k of vert...the new altitude rocks. How much actually surprised me. But what rally surprised me was running it mullet today...it FUCKING rocked. Easier to wheelie, easier to turn in crazy tight switchbacks, and no ass-buzzing (which was happening all the time with the 29. I’ll write more impressions later, but that’s what I have for now.
Super-stoked on this bike.
Which geo position did you try for mulletage? I actually tried a mullet setup on one today too. Went with the middle setting (5, I think?) and that seemed about right.Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
That’s awesome!!! I’m uber jealous. I’ve started looking at some rockys lately. They greatly appeal to my eye.Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
Hab, i tried 5, which also seemed perfect. Going to try some steeper settings for some longer climbs (only tried it on a DH)
This one - and it's brother, the Coal - is slowly growing on me
Attachment 371103
Attachment 371507
My shorts were sufficiently tightened tonight. New bike day.
Sikgnar!
Beautiful bike. How did it ride?Quote:
Originally Posted by dfinn
Oh dear :)Quote:
Originally Posted by dfinn
36 or 38?
That’s a 38. I’ve got 1 ride on it earlier this week then it rained and snowed all week. Headed to Santa Cruz now for a week of riding so I’ll have better feedback in a week.
For that first ride I took it on a pretty rough natural trail. It’s really, really fast on the downs. It has that sensation that it’s accelerating and picking up speed even in chunky sections. It doesn’t feel like the back end gets hung up on square edges at all.
The rear suspension felt super supple but also plenty of mid stroke support. It came with the 60 rocker and I really need the 65 but even without the ideal rocker/shock setup it felt awesome. Much improvement over the Evil Offering with a custom built Avalanche rear shock that I’m coming from.
Climbing was a downgrade from the Evil. Some of this could be body position. The front end is really high right now and I’m probably going to tinker with that this week.
The 38 felt like a massive upgrade over the 36 grip2 that I’m coming off of.
Nice.
What size frame, and how tall are you?
DroolQuote:
Originally Posted by dfinn
I’m 5’11 and it’s a L.
Thought of this yesterday as I rode w/ couple younger enduro-bros who I normally have little/no problem keeping up with on the down on my FS 100mm or 130mm trail bike (and I destroy the young'ins going up). But did get a very clear reminder yesterday of bike geo improvements getting dropped on the downs while riding my 10 y/o SS Ti 29er on the same trails. Had been contemplating a more modern HT/SS which yesterdays experience solidified the desire for.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackstraw
Lots of good options, but not as many SS'able frames in the 68-65* HTA realm. Honzo and Chameleon are standouts, maybe the Spec Fuse 29. Pretty curious about some of the UK offerings, but don't think any have sliders.
Whenever I ride my older hardtail it feels really weird and bad riding downhill. Pedals real good though, not sure what I'm going to do when we start racing in a few weeks. I have some lighter parts and tires coming for the hei hei so we'll see if that makes it acceptable up the xc course. Might even do some back to back laps if I get a chance.
Still have my Pivot 429sl w PM if I decide I want to toe the line again, but may sell it if that desire passes, might even race my Stumpy ST w some low rolling resistance tires, not sure it’s that much slower than the pivot really.
I did a parking lot ride on a Specialized Fuse Expert 29 today. Felt like an overgrown dirt jumper, wheelied across lot and decided to put an order in for one. Plan is to run it SS for my local trails and maybe geared for winter snow duties (no need for real fat bike here).
Currently these are vapor ware like everything else, actually rode the shop owners who’s same size as me and well setup. My Ti Lynskey is going up for sale though for sure.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have any of you actually ridden a new generation Niner?
They look fairly well sorted, and the linkage design is interesting.
Just curious.
https://ninerbikes.com/products/wfo-9-rdo
Just for simply mentioning Niner in this otherwise glorious thread, you have received one demerit from Dwight Schrute.Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Attachment 372961
I haven't ridden any of the newer niners, but I am comfortable in saying that bike wins the ugliest bike of 2021 award.
FIFYQuote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
Reminder: design frame THEN smoke crack.
I owned a RIP9 10 years ago. It was the same CVA (maestro/dw-ish) suspension layout then.... it was more active under pedaling and descending than other minilink designs of the same era... but not as active as the horstlinks of the day... I had to manage the CTD on the shock more than I do these days...
I see they are kinda dipping their toes into modern geometry but haven’t dove in headfirst.... that’s probably the right call given their typical customer.
But boy that frame looks terrible
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
It's ugly AF, but I'm not sure it's uglier than Polygon.Quote:
Originally Posted by RootSkier
I dunno. I don't think it beats the Redalp. But it's a solid ugly podium contender.Quote:
Originally Posted by RootSkier
https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb8434224/p3pb8434224.jpg
Nice, looking forward to hearing more about the mullet set up. I'm mullet curious.. Seems like it would suit the altitude well.Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Ok, so after a few big descents in Perú, and a healthy 5 day adventure in Moab, here are my thoughts. The first thing I had to do was run the ride9 in the tallest position. Pedal strikes were a real issue. Changing to standard SPD’s from the Trail ones seemed to help. Otherwise, no real handling differences (and I mean that in a good way), but it was much easier to wheelie, especially in the short wheelbase position. It did everything well, and I only rubbed tire against ass once, whereas with 29 it happened way too frequently.
If I can, I want to try the 27.5 version of the Altitude with a 29” fork and see if that helps the pedal strikes, but I doubt it will be a huge difference, TBH.
I have two wheels set up, and will likely change them depending on the ride du jour.
hope that helps!
Same my reversed offset bushing raised the bb a bit but its still lower ythan stock. 165 cranks helped a bit too. But then after a few months im used to the low bb and its awesome. On my emtb it was quite low in the low position compared to other bikes(more pedal strikes on emtb's too, pedalling up through teh chunderz). Now the emtb seems evrer so slightly high compared to my mulletized meta am 29. Theres only a few mm in bb height between them so i think im where i want to be. A bit of time is all it takes. Both bikes rail in the corners now with 29f,27r, shorter cranks, and bb's in the pocket. Reminded every corner
Sent from my SM-G950W using TGR Forums mobile app
This might be the year I try 165’s, if I can find a set.
I dont think youll regret it. Just put 160's on the eeb. Zero dead spot. You cant help but spin circles. Feels great aside from the additional clearance.
Finding some shimanos might be hard but maybe theyre rf. RF probably has some stock options, or if its shimano, hope or canfield are purty
Sent from my SM-G950W using TGR Forums mobile app
I've been thinking this modular shock mount could come in handy for a mullet set up. Or a different ride-9 chip... Anyone with a 3d printer want to do some experimenting?Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Been loving the Altitude in pos 2 with short chainstay. I've only had ass buzz once or twice but could definitely see the advantage to mulleting this bad boy with my short legs.
Was gonna suggest Canfield, the Nimble Nine I got last year is awesome. Ended up buying one for my girlfriend too and she loves it. Looks like they’re sold out like every other bike right now too though.Quote:
Originally Posted by VTskibum
Attachment 373220
Yep was on the short list as well, but none to be found. I was able to test ride a Fuse and put my order in for a L. Hopefully shows up this summer sometime.Quote:
Originally Posted by beaterdit
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Anyone interested in a 2020 XL Aluminum Troy frame after I (maybe) get this?
Attachment 373446
That Ferrum looks like it has a falling rate leverage curve, which would be a - let’s say, ‘interesting’ - design choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by jakezee
Maybe you could justify it with and air shock, and you could throw in a bunch of volume spacers to make the shock more progressive to counteract the regressive leverage ratio. But it also looks like they have a longer travel version, still with the regressive leverage ratio, but with a coil shock - can’t fix that with volume spacers...
Just here to say: that’s a great looking bike!Quote:
Originally Posted by beaterdit
Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums
Do you have a good resource to understand this concept? I've seen some charts but never really tried to understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Barron DeJong
I like the feel and capability of the 2020 Aluminum Troy I have but I would really like to get a steel frame for all the reasons everyone likes steel - but don't want to give up rear end performance...looking at a few other brands but Ferrum is made in US, has a good value and looks decent.
Sorry, I don’t have a resource for you, I’m going off design experience. For most of today’s suspension designs with multiple links, or even linkage driven single pivots the only way to get an accurate leverage ratio curve would be to use a software program to analyze the shock compression vs. wheel travel.Quote:
Originally Posted by jakezee
However, I can give a generalization: draw a straight line from where the shock mounts to the front triangle to where the shock mounts to the swing arm/rocker link, then draw another straight line from where the shock mounts to the swing arm/rocker link to the swing arm/rocker link pivot on the main triangle. If the angle between those two lines is less than 90 degrees, and the angle is increases as the suspension compresses, then you’d have a rising rate curve. If the angle between those two lines is greater than 90 degrees and the angle is increasing as the suspension compresses, then you’d have a falling rate curve. It would also be possible to have design where the angle is less than 90 degrees to start, moves to 90 at some point is the bikes travel, and continues on past 90 – that would have a rising rate early, then switching to falling rate.
This analysis is looking at the rocker link rotation to shock displacement though, not wheel travel to shock displacement. For most designs, rocker link rotation isn’t directly proportional to wheel displacement. However, on a single pivot suspension where the shock is driven directly from the swingarm – like the Ferrum – the above analysis is accurate.
If you want to see an example of a suspension design with a single pivot, but rising rate, take a look at the Orange Stage 6 or Stage Evo.
^^^ the orange stage 6 is essentially straight linear. Just from eyeballing it, I bet the Ferrum is pretty close to straight linear as well.
The previous Stage 6 was almost completely linear - Pinkbike’s analysis said 0.6% progressive. The newest version has a bit more progression, but you’re right that it’s not going to be much.Quote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
I’m quite confident that the Ferrum is falling rate, but it’s not a huge falling rate. Still seems like an odd design choice. Reading some owners talk about the Ferrum on Pinkbike, a number are saying they seem to be blowing through travel too easily, and at least one said Ferrum is shipping the bikes the the max number of volume reducers in the shock so they can’t get any additional help there.
It looks like the newer stage 6 is something like 3-4% progressive. Still effectively pretty much straight linear. But yeah, agreed that the ferrum is probably slightly falling rate. Maybe -1% or something like that. I'm not sure that'll make too much of a difference in the ride quality of the suspension compared to the Orange, but it does raise some questions about how much the guys at Ferrum really planned out their design.Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Barron DeJong
Either way - lots of volume reducers are probably the ticket on both the orange and the ferrum.
This basically sums up my feelings. There’s no good reason to make the suspension falling rate, even if only slightly. My concern is that if they aren’t getting that detail right, they’re probably missing some others as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by toast2266