Barry

I demoed an HD3 for 2 days while visiting Rochester last summer. Indeed this is the bike that got me on my short cs kick. The ease with which you can pop up the front end is just fun. But the bike is steeper and higher than a bike I want to put 3k offroad miles per year on. And the cs and bbh on the HD4 = nope. The Troy is also very close with nearly identical geometry to the HD3. But it appears to weigh more than a pound more than its contemporaries.

Funny, my shoe separated at Thumper during last year's EB as well. Good chance I also cracked my Spitfire there.

The spreadsheet is about the fact that there are a shit-ton of 27.5 trail bikes out there. I'm trying to get close. Or at least narrow down the field. The 2017 Scout in carbon is still available as a new bike. Unfortunately that was before the most recent geometry update. I came really close to buying one a few months ago when I last broke the Spitfire. https://www.evo.com/outlet/mountain/transition-scout-carbon-gx-evo-complete-bike?image=135238/571278/transition-scout-carbon-gx-evo-complete-mountain-bike-2017-gravel-grey.jpg&pt_source=googleads&pt_medium=cpc&pt_campaign=GSC_Bike_Complete&pt_adgroup=PLA_Bike_Completes&gclid=CjwKCAiAu_LgBRBdEiwAkovNsMGowlHBhxEoGAMbwZ9c-vYd99aFwabvKFva9AJWh3Q715ZQznBUcRoCOJcQAvD_BwE

Don't think I haven't considered offset bushings and anglesets and 27.5 tires on 29ers & plus bikes...

I agree that much of it seems like minutia, but in my opinion a 0.5" chainstay difference is huge, and you can (or I can) feel it when poping the front end up 200 times in a ride. Try poping up the front end of a bike with a 16.5 v/s a 17.5 chainstay without a pedal kick to see what I mean. Then do it for 4000 miles. I know you brought up chainstay as a for instance and your point applies to all geometry particulars, but all of my preferences are based on a lot of bikes I've ridden over the years. Irrespective, your point about demoing bikes is well taken, and indeed I plan to do so. But my spreadsheet will keep me from wasting my time on things that are not even close to my preferences, like a Norco Sight, or a Yeti SB5, for example. And my spreadsheet has "disqualified" (for example) the Intense Recluse, but at least it is close, so if I get a decent chance, I'll demo one. We're different there. For one, whisky, and two, I like to know everything possible about it. If I don't like one, I need to understand why. Same way with bikes. @Jessica demoed the Hightower and the Pivot 429 Trail, and very much preferred the Hightower. She didn't try the Tallboy because she wanted the option to run 27.5x3.0 tires, but she is running 29x2.35 on it now and may not ever go back. For her preferences, it's an amazing bike.

13.5 isn't crazy-town, especially for a 140mm travel bike. But my Spitfire is 140mm with a 13.1 bb, and I really don't want to go much higher. My perfect bike is listed on the spreadsheet, including tolerances. For bbh I've called it 13" +0.3 / -0.2.

The Recluse was really close, but rejected for bbh. It seems slightly too high for my preferences. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

On the old site, one of you mojoans said something to the effect of, "wanting a new bike is like getting hungry on a ride. Once you notice, it's too late to do anything about it." So now it's all about deciding what I want. As close as possible to the Spitfire's geometry. Long, slack and low, except for... A much shorter chainstay than the Spitfire's 17.2. 16.5 is perfect, and I'm not considering anything over 16.8. Carbon fiber: I've broken 11 aluminum frames and even a steel frame. So it is time to try something different. Lifetime warranty...or at least 4+ years. This 2 year business doesn't cut it. And a decent crash replacement program would be nice too. Full suspension trail bike. So 120-150mm. My joints, back and more than 4k miles of rocky trails demand it of me. I love hard tails and even rigid bikes, but I'm not going to put thousands of miles per year on one. 27.5. I don't hate 29ers like I used to--they've come a long way. But my primary trail bike is going to be 27.5. ...with room for mid-fat tires up to 2.8. Typically I'll run 2.35-2.5, but the mid-fat option is nice for some locations. So here is my big damn list of bike geometry numbers and notes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f86kDOByxic1CTz76IQXJNSw_lrQ3E-c2BbVfJqGeCM/edit?usp=sharing On the list, the magenta color is a disqualifying geometry number, so any bike with magenta has likely fallen off my list of possibilities. The only 3 carbon fiber bikes that didn't have disqualifying numbers are the new SC 5010, the Rocky Mtn Thunderbolt, and the fairly obscure Cube Stereo. I'm pretty sure I can build the 5010 to just over 27lbs. So what am I missing? What obvious bike have I left off my list? What geometry number or detail am I obsessing over that just wrong for your preference. Let me know!

Already got the socks!

Great. I'll bring them with me to work tomorrow. I'll PM contact details.

I'm sure I have a few I don't need. You're welcome to them, we'd just have to figure out how to get them to you. I live and work off Metric, btw.

One thing I've been curious about, @DesertNomad... I count quite a lot of creek xings on your preride. Assuming the possible combo of mid 30s temps and several feet of water, how is that going to work?

Just this week. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

@RidingAgain yet you fail to acknowledge you concern was addressed.

You suggestion was addressed both in the post and on the trail. I reckon my poor assumption was your reading comprehension.

That was me. But for 2 days. Franklin Mountains State Park is the best riding in Texas.

@RidingAgain regarding alternate lines...perhaps you could actually read the OP?

That sucks. I really liked that tree.

Roller straight down the bowl to the right (looking up)? I've been eyeing that line for a while.

I have a PNW 27.2 Pine external route post on my gravel tour thingy bike. I have about 300 miles on it and it has been great--and it is by far the easiest dropper I've set up. And @Jessica has nearly 2k miles on a Brand X. We haven't so much as touched the barrel adjuster. It has been perfect.

Yeah, the gneiss is crazy grippy. I love that there are several spots with water running down or across steep inclines, and even with some green slimy bits, and the traction never fails.

To anyone interested, that's a Funn G-Wide Gravel Handlebar. 500mm at the hoods and a glorious 610mm in the drops. https://g.co/kgs/RyXpfF

I had to look twice to confirm my wife didn't write this. Same bike, same starting tires and same ultimate conclusion.

Sorry to hear you plans didn't pan out. But good to hear Bandera is coming along. I'll try them out at some point. Regarding HCNA's trails washing away...that's no surprise. Many of their trails are just unsustainable fall-line and loose cobble. So that makes sense.