You're right about having less of a compromise running the 38 at 180mm. There are a few bicycle surgeons who specialize in the steeps, (such as [Steve Vanderhoek](instagram.com/svanderhoek)) who employ this to sit higher in the travel with more midstroke support. I don't notice a downside with the 180mm travel, nor do I feel like it's imbalanced with 165mm in the back.
I can't comment on taller riders steering clear of XL/XXL sizing. Yeah, there are proportional differences to be observed here that tall folks could disagree with. Again, you can't judge a bike merely by its numbers, you have to take that MF'er out for a ride. Which, unfortunately, is difficult to do without buying. Another dual-link bike, the WAO arrival, has a low stack height which doesn't seem to impede lanky folks like our very own Cam McRae.
Nov. 4, 2023, 11:39 a.m. - Graham Driedger
You're right about having less of a compromise running the 38 at 180mm. There are a few bicycle surgeons who specialize in the steeps, (such as [Steve Vanderhoek](instagram.com/svanderhoek)) who employ this to sit higher in the travel with more midstroke support. I don't notice a downside with the 180mm travel, nor do I feel like it's imbalanced with 165mm in the back. I can't comment on taller riders steering clear of XL/XXL sizing. Yeah, there are proportional differences to be observed here that tall folks could disagree with. Again, you can't judge a bike merely by its numbers, you have to take that MF'er out for a ride. Which, unfortunately, is difficult to do without buying. Another dual-link bike, the WAO arrival, has a low stack height which doesn't seem to impede lanky folks like our very own Cam McRae.