Started out with a Specialized Rockhopper, in a large size, but quickly found it was too cramped, and swapped out the 70mm standard stem to a 90mm stem. with just a 430mm reach(according to the geometry chart), it makes for a quite upright ride. I found the steering a little slow with a 90mm stem, so I ended up cutting the bars down to 700mm. I still found that the front wheel would want to slide on flat gravel corners, unless I was careful.
Could just fit the do-little seat on for riding with my little girl (2yo) and the gearing was great for riding up the hills seated, with my extra person on board.
Now have traded up to a 2017 Giant Fathom, with a 457mm reach, in XL. I purchased the bike from
Cycle Obsession in Tauranga after much agonising over size, as it will fit my little girl on the front on her do-little seat, with room for me to move on the bike, I am right in between sizes, ideally a 450-455mm reach would have suit me best, but the L is 440m reach, which feels a fit short with a zero offset dropper seat post, even with a 70mm stem.
The XL has the same stack height as my large size Rockhopper, but a longer wheelbase, and slacker head angle. The XL is about mid pack as far as XL sizing goes, with the Kona hardtails being on the extreme reach in sizing, and the Giant XTC being on the small side. Its a well engineered frame, very light, and good looking in the XL, although the Kawasaki green and black takes a bit of getting used to.
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Suntour has come a long way with their forks, and the XCR and up all have replacement parts available when its time for a service. The Raidon is a good air fork, not too porky, with basic compression and rebound adjustment. |
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2x9 Gearing, most appropriate for mixed onroad commuting and offroad singletrack, while carrying a toddler!
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The Giant Fathom comes ready for a internal dropper post, with cable ports to suit. I planned to fit a 350mm length 100mm dropper post. The Fathom frame is unchanged for the
2018 Fathom, but they come fitted standard with dropper posts, although the 2018 Fathom 2 only comes in a garish 'neon red' satin dark pink colour.
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Installed 350mm length 100mm drop seat post |
This Giant contact SL dropper post came up on sale at
Torpedo7.co.nz, and it took only 30 mins to fit, as the routing is only semi-internal on the Fathom frame. The dropper is a two bolt version which is easier to adjust than the stock seatpost.
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The dropper post cable curves around the bottom bracket externally, then goes through another cable port in front of the rear wheel, up the seat tube. Easy ! |
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The dropper remote lever sits nicely between the grip and the front derailleur lever. 90 mm stem swapped for perfect length 60mm 8 degree rise connect SL stem, and the standard 670mm 35mm rise handlebars swapped for 750mm 20mm rise Giant Connect SL handlebars |
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I measured my existing seatpost external available length at 135mm approx, and I have the 100mm dropper installed here. |
In theory, I could have fitted the 125mm dropper but the Giant dropper has a max insertion mark below the collar of around 15mm. The minimum exposed seatpost from the maximum insertion mark to the seat rail clamp is 160mm with the 100mm dropper.
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My bike setup for me @187cm(6'1) tall, with 34.5 inch inseam. |
I've got used to the super wide 750mm xc handlebars, which have the added bonus of making trackstands and slow speed balance much better.
I progressively tried shorter and shorter stems (80mm-70mm), until I found the best steering speed/directness, with a 60mm stem. I feel a 29er bike definitely needs a short stem, to make it as flickable as the older 26 inch wheeled bikes, especially with a 69 degree head angle, and a trail of 98mm and 42mm offset crown on this bike, making it very stable but slower to turn.
The modern geometry of this bike with a steeper seat tube of 74 degrees vs my older design Rockhopper with 72 degree angle means your weight is shifted forward slightly, weighting the front wheel. I've got the handlebars at max height here, but have plenty of spacers on the steerer tube to slam it/adjust my front wheel weighting.
On my local trails with this setup, I have found I can keep the front wheel on the ground while seated on even the steepest climbs in the lowest gear, and still be able to lift the front wheel up over roots and logs etc with out much effort.
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First of many family rides |
Heaps of room on the top tube for my 'Do-little' rider
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