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I Wish I Was Longer :(


Mark W

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'lo all,

At the moment, I'm riding a T-Pro, with T-Pro forks and the T-Master stem with Pazzaz bars. I'm 6ft 2in too, so it's like a "10lbs of shit into a 5lb bag" situation.

It feels a little cramped, so I'm looking at ways of rectifying it.

Now before anyone shouts "Buy a Python" - I would, but I'm supposed to be starting to save for uni, so I don't wanna spend a squillion quid on a new frame. Was kinda tempted by a Python copy, but it's only gonna be 5mm~ longer than the T-Pro, so possibly not worth getting? If I was going to, I could sell my Pro frame and some other odds and ends, so I guess it might not be too expensive, but I'd rather explore other options first...

I'm running a fairly 'tall' front end. The T-Master stem is about 10mm higher than the Pazzaz stem I used to run with my bars, and it feels easier to backwheel (pedalling up), but would I be better off going back to the Pazzaz stem? Does a lower front end make it feel longer, relative to a higher bar set-up?

Furthermore, I need to replace my forks. The forks I'm using are from circa 2002/3, so they're pretty ancient by fork standards. Can any Pro users (or anyone?) tell me if I'll get much more wb by using the Echo Teams? Do they have a greater rake than the T-Pro forks?

Thanks for any help,

Mark.

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erm, dunno if this'll help but anyway...

both me and my mate have a t-pro, the specs are almost identicle too, same stem, same bars, same cranks etc....

But he has Team forks and i have x-alp fork and i could swear his bike it longer than mine.

When i ride his i feel like i'm leaning right over where as on mine i feel more upright.

Neither of us have spacers and we both have the same headset.

Basically, i think the Team forks are SHORT and so the bike sits lower on them which inturn lowers the bars and stretched out the standover height i guess.

So, yeh the team forks will deffinatly make your bike feel longer, but i think the its more the height than the 'rake'

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When i changed to echo teams, my wheelbase shrunk if anything, although it may not be the best measuring ever. They definitly feel a lot nicer, and do have more rake, but i think the t-pro forks (although straight) point forwards more, if you get me.

Yeah, as above, they are lower, so i guess could feel a bit longer, but then instead of getting new forks, you could just take a few spacers out?

Edited by Hobnobs
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Your forks aren't gonna have anything to do with how long the frame "feels".  If you're too cramped then forks won't change anything...  If you can't get a longer stem, it's new frame time :wub:

Yeah, I was thinking that. I was also thinking that another few mil's couldn't hurt :- Plus if it was lower, it might change the ride feel and so on. Plus I straight up need new forks anyway :)\

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yeh, get the teams then (or the koxx ones)

It deffinantly 'feels' longer which is whats important ain't it?

I wish onza had made a T-Pro Long, that would of been mint :wub: (hint-hint, nudge nudge)

Edited by RicH_87
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right,

if u have the stem lower, the center of the bar clamp will be further forwards towards the front dropout. now the lower you have it the closer the center of the bar clamp is goning to move past the dropout.

so, basically, the lower the stem the longer its going to be.

Zoo! stem?

python copy?

if your saving up, go for the python copy, then possibley buy the zoo! stem, vica versa.

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I'd say make the move up to stock Mark, but I guess the money situation kinda puts that plan in the toilet!

If you really wanna splah out, Monty Risers and Stem, the stems shorter, but quite a bit lower, so maybe pushing you a little bit more over the front making you feel perhaps a little less cramped, but you could reverse that and say that the shorter stem equals more cramped - sure wish I knew what I was going on about :)

Also, the Python copy might have more reach, wheelbase may not be a huge difference but the geometry's quite a bit different, try and find someone with one and have a play, get to the next indoor competition if you can and see how it feels :(

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I can't ride stock for shit (I can't even ride mod for shit :)). I just got fed up of taking a hit to the sack every time I backwheeled, plus I dig the flickability of mod. Also, I like the way I won't have to pay half a grand for a new bike :(

I'm gonna get the new forks. Might go for some Echo-cho-ho-o Teams, but we'll have to see how the money situation pans out...

Cheers y'all.

Mark.

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On a quick note, Zoo! stem mad my monty riser's feel more trialsy, it makes my bike seem better on the back wheel and generally more comfy to ride ride now.

£37 from Dan Ko or Tartybikes if they've got them back in.

I think that should help, But python copy might be an option too...

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gallery_91_37_73358.jpg

gallery_91_37_168146.jpg

These cheeky chaps seem to have sorted the problem. They've lengthened the wheelbase a little, and they've also raised the bar height (hence I've got half the world's stem stackers above the stem to keep it reasonable), so it feels ultra nice to ride. Only problem is is that gapping's a bit funny. Because of the extra bar height, I've gotta have my body in a different position on the back wheel, but it's all good other than that. Just gonna take some adjustment.

Mark.

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