Fun topic.
As much as I enjoyed my previous bike, a Foxy Mondraker, I began to REALLY notice the lack of front wheel traction and the additional work it took to keep the front end hooked up. And I decided, right or wrong, that it must have been caused by the long 490mm Reach (finally a bike that fits!) combined with the short 435mm chainstays. Hen I shopped for a replacement bike specifically to change that aspect and found success, and consistently faster rides, going to an S5 SJ Evo with 448mm chainstays.
It's still a confusing topic for me and there is no such thing as the perfect chainstay length (consider the wildly different body weight distribution between a female and a male for example; or the different weight distribution based on STA & seat height alone) but longer than typical for a size large bike is much closer imo.
BTW I did try the even longer chainstay length adjustment on my Evo but just couldn't quite get on with it. My shock seemed harsh when sag was set correctly & rear traction suffered.
Why does an adjustment in chainstay length through adjustable dropouts negatively effect leverage ratio? Can't you just increase spring pressure and end up at the same place?
Aug. 5, 2021, 7:44 a.m. - Sun Hester
Fun topic. As much as I enjoyed my previous bike, a Foxy Mondraker, I began to REALLY notice the lack of front wheel traction and the additional work it took to keep the front end hooked up. And I decided, right or wrong, that it must have been caused by the long 490mm Reach (finally a bike that fits!) combined with the short 435mm chainstays. Hen I shopped for a replacement bike specifically to change that aspect and found success, and consistently faster rides, going to an S5 SJ Evo with 448mm chainstays. It's still a confusing topic for me and there is no such thing as the perfect chainstay length (consider the wildly different body weight distribution between a female and a male for example; or the different weight distribution based on STA & seat height alone) but longer than typical for a size large bike is much closer imo. BTW I did try the even longer chainstay length adjustment on my Evo but just couldn't quite get on with it. My shock seemed harsh when sag was set correctly & rear traction suffered. Why does an adjustment in chainstay length through adjustable dropouts negatively effect leverage ratio? Can't you just increase spring pressure and end up at the same place?