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Ergonomics, bike size, bigger Canadian


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Hello,

Just got my trials bike, a cheap '08 Norco Evolve. Does one size fit all in Trials riding? I'd like to install a stem with a way higher rise as I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs, and it just feels like I'm bent way over the front on the thing. But, maybe I don't have to?

Also, the rear Shimano hub, a 485 or something, doesn't engage quick enough to use pedal force to balance with. Is this something I can wait a while on, or should I fix that too? Does anyone ride a Shimano hub?

thanks,

post-35075-0-29962200-1362680761_thumb.j

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I would Definitly put a longer stem with rise on that bad boy. Looks like a clean bike. As for the rear Hub. Well. That would be a good idea to upgrade as well. If you are sticking with the gears a new cassette hub. If Only using it for trials, then maybe even a screw on freewheel

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hope pro2 singlespeed/trials edition if you want to keep the gears. otherwise a fixed hub with a trials freewheel is the way to go (Y) bikes aren't for comfort in trials, i ride a short 20" and i'm 6ft tall... it's a performance affair on these machines.

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For the time being until you get some decent upgrade parts, run the rear mech derailleur between 16t-18t and shorten the chain like Ryan Leech's bike below. Run a higher rise and longer like Trialtech high riser or equivlent http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/26_inch_stems/trialtech_sport_forged_high_rise/c41p11316.html

DSC_0018.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Got a 135mm 35* new stem on there now, I notice a difference, even not being able to do anything. New drivetrain is on the way: I like the derailleur as I can ride to my practice spot a lot quicker with the gear selection. Working on my practice sequence and flow, what skills I work on in what order and how. And have the Ryan Leech "Mastering Basic Trials Skills DVD".

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For the time being until you get some decent upgrade parts, run the rear mech derailleur between 16t-18t and shorten the chain like Ryan Leech's bike below. Run a higher rise and longer like Trialtech high riser or equivlent http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/26_inch_stems/trialtech_sport_forged_high_rise/c41p11316.html

DSC_0018.jpg

16-18t is definitely not for everyone, on 26" wheels with 22-16 you're gonna get nowhere from a standstill. I've always used 22-19, the same as Ryan Leech.

He has a mech & a cassette full of gears so it's pointless locking out certain gears unless he's ditching the mech/shifter/cassette.

Edited by LEON
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Thank you everyone. The brakes on the bike work great-one finger. The longer, higher angle stem has improved my bike fit, the new drive-train is fine.

BUT, as per my original post on this one, I think the rear hub, and the crank-rotation required to engage, is a problem. It just takes too long to engage so I can work against it with my pedaling. I back pedal a lot to get back to the threshold point.

The new rear hub will probably be the most expensive upgrade to the bike, with wheel-building putting the total to more than the whole bike. I think I have to improve the hub. Do people agree?

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Yeah, to me the brakes and rear hub are 2 of the most important parts.

A shimano hub has 16 engagement points, a Hope pro2 has 48, even an old Hope xc has 21 or 24, and a Bulb has 36.

But yeah 16 is not enough, it'll transform the bike. Just find a used fully built wheel with the hub you want.

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Thank you everyone. The brakes on the bike work great-one finger. The longer, higher angle stem has improved my bike fit, the new drive-train is fine.

BUT, as per my original post on this one, I think the rear hub, and the crank-rotation required to engage, is a problem. It just takes too long to engage so I can work against it with my pedaling. I back pedal a lot to get back to the threshold point.

The new rear hub will probably be the most expensive upgrade to the bike, with wheel-building putting the total to more than the whole bike. I think I have to improve the hub. Do people agree?

Please don't pay anyone to build the wheel, it's really easy to do

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  • 8 months later...

Sold the bike in September, picked up a well-used Monty 20" with Magura rear brakes, think this is going to work way better. The hub is in the bottom bracket, totally cool.

Oh, you mean the freewheel is on the cranks? One of the novelties of trials when you get your first bike ;)

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Yeah, the freewheel is in the cranks. Bash guard, rear Magura, front Grimeca hydraulic disc, Echo rear hub, Maxxis tire, lots of new parts, lots of Monty parts. Pretty stoked, even during the test ride I think this has a lot more potential for my beginner lack-of-skill-set. Pretty stoked.

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Yeah, the freewheel is in the cranks. Bash guard, rear Magura, front Grimeca hydraulic disc, Echo rear hub, Maxxis tire, lots of new parts, lots of Monty parts. Pretty stoked, even during the test ride I think this has a lot more potential for my beginner lack-of-skill-set. Pretty stoked.

Seems pretty sound :) How good are the rear pads? I'd say one of the most important things about a trials bike is proper functioning brakes. Any offs due to brake slippage put you right off. Might be worth popping a grind on the rear too if you haven't already. Have fun :)

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Awesome, thanks for the reply onzatpro09 the rear disc is well ground, new pads on the Magura HS33, now just need the rain to stop. Thanks for the advice about the brakes, good to have my suspicions confirmed. The bike has been well used, well set up, and is ready to go. Complete reversal to the last bike.

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