DogVet profile

A close friend and top 35 EWS rider was talking about this from a different angle. I had just bought a new 150/140 FS trail bike, and he said take all settings off, set sag and then dial in the manufacturer’s compression and rebound settings appropriate for your weight. 

Then ride in the centre of the bike upright as much as you can, it will generate grip at both ends, if it feels “ mushy “ at the back, then you are not riding in the centre of the bike!

Many folk, instead dial in more compression damping and more rebound damping to compensate for poor body position, thereby reducing rear end grip particularly over low speed chatter, or claim the shock is no good and swap it out!!

Rider error not the suspension/ shock..... the old saying “ poor workman blames his tools” springs to mind.

His final comment was try to ride the bike off the pedals through the bottom bracket like a polo pony rider!

Absolutely!!

In the era of super sophisticated FS bikes, with leverage curves, anti Rise and anti squat being argued on every bike site, Andrew posts a writeup of his Waltworks V2 fully rigid funky single speed, and gets as many replies on NSMB as I have seen in a long time!!

The hardtail is dead, long live the hardtail !!

Great write up of a unique bike!!

Must say having built up a Cotic Solaris Max on the basis of some of your previous musings Andrew, 29 er hardtails are most excellent.

Lovely bike, ridden one briefly in the UK.

Just one thing I am curious about, presumably the very rearward axel path is great for the rear wheel to get out of the way when it impacts something, but it does have to return and then may be returning at the point of impact of another item, surely this leads to a “choppy “ rear ride in short sharp chunder, or am I missing something?!!

Great advice

Probably why Many in the Uk ride Orange single pivots!!

In the time it took me to read your article I can probably remove all the links and check the bearings on my Santa Cruz!! Not necessarily the best designed bike out there ( lower link and frame can grind away at each other) but it’s linkage/ bearing check, removal and replacement is pretty good!

So the rear wheel moves backwards up to 25mm when it hits an object, presumable it could be in the return phase when it hits another object, two opposite and opposing forces...... smooth! Or am I missing something?

I think the bike looks great.

63 yo, all the sports I enjoy (MTB, windsurfing, snowboarding) were not invented when I was 30, however all have been made more enjoyable with the improved tech. Biking is so much improved with these big travel trail bikes, as they don't rattle arthritic joints as much, but are still light enough to pedal back up the hill.

The UK's Cotic Solaris Max,(www.cotic.co.uk) albeit not quite as versatile is right on the money re geometry, very balanced ride with longer chainstays, in steel but not massively heavy.