Finally to get a Giant frame for my wife.

[autoduel]

So I see the 10% off coupon for wheelworld on the home page.......... and my wife has been bugging me for a MY christmas wish list. Maybe she won't notice that the Giant frame I put on it is a 14.5" which is her size and not mine. Hey I get the joy of putting it together and having her ride it. So it's still a christmas present for me
My dilema is whether to get an anthem or trance.

3.5 vs 4.2" travel
5.7 lb vs 7.2 lb

Her proflex now probably tips the scales at 25.5lbs. I don't want her to gain 3 lbs for a heavier frame and disc brakes. Then again, the idea was to get her a plusher frame for more confidence in the rough stuff without having to get off and walk.
The difference in weight is unrefutable, but what about the quality of travel between the 2 frames? Is it worth the extra 1.5lb for .7" more travel?

[.8down]

my vote is Trance, but thats because Im building one at home..

[Hanzo]

Hopefully some of the dirty girls chime in. I dont mind pedaling around a little more lbs for more plushness, so i vote trance. Nam just went the other direction tho and is sporting a lighter bike and a f'd up finger.

[tkblazer]

geometry will be better with the trance unless you run a 100mm fork on the anthem... i believe the anthems were spec'd stock with a 80mm fork and was super twitchy as a xc bike normally is.

[Pho'dUp]

If confidence down the rough stuff is the worry, get the Trance Steve. The Anthem has a very steep head angle. The Trance will be plusher too.

Wait, if she buys the frame b/c it's on your wish list.. doesn't that mean she's buying her own xmas gift?

[Waldo]

+1 for the Trance, esp if she's looking for confidence and stability in the rough

[allison]

Where is it you are wanting her to ride? That's a lot of weight.. She shouldn't be on a 29lbs 4" travel bike. But, more suspension is always going to be more confidence inspiring, going downhill at least.

Originally Posted by Hanzo

Hopefully some of the dirty girls chime in. I dont mind pedaling around a little more lbs for more plushness, so i vote trance. Nam just went the other direction tho and is sporting a lighter bike and a f'd up finger.

I agree with that also, but as a newb I wouldn't have.

[.8down]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Wait, if she buys the frame b/c it's on your wish list.. doesn't that mean she's buying her own xmas gift?

he should be a spy or something...

[Hanzo]

PM letyrides, she has a trance and could give you her take on it.

[Sprockethead]

I'd go with the Trance, I believe the Anthem is Giant's race bike and having race geometry isn't too comforting going downhill if you're not used to it.

[autoduel]

She is going to run a 100mm fork on it. Up until a few months ago, she was running an 80mm fork on an 71 head angle on her 856. With her current components and BB7's and disc hubs, a trance will probably end up just under 28lbs.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by autoduel

She is going to run a 100mm fork on it. Up until a few months ago, she was running an 80mm fork on an 71 head angle on her 856. With her current components and BB7's and disc hubs, a trance will probably end up just under 28lbs.

Are you trying to get the weight down so she can pull the trailer?

[.8down]

here is some good info on the Trance and Giant line..

06 Archives

Giant Blog

MTBR Giant forum

you will notice that alot of people are running 130mm or even more in some cases, Im on a 130mm fork now, no I dea how it rides, since its been on the stand for a long time now...

[0gravity]

My vote is Trance. I ride a Trance and love it. I think your wife will be better suited to that. The Anthem is too much of a cross country bike. That's great if you're racing and want to keep the weight down but not as practical for a do-all bike.

If anything, the Trance could even be more "all-mountain". I took care of that by swapping out the 4" REBA for a 6" Manitou Nixon with adjustable travel.

[katonk]

As a YATR (Yet Another Trance Rider), I also vote for the Trance. As stated above, the head angle on the Anthem is too step to really enjoy the down hills. The weight difference is nearing catastrophic, but the difference in travel "feels" like a lot more than .7". It's just a more capable and fun frame. As a disclaimer, the last Anthem I rode was an '05, and my Trance is an '05.

[Pho'dUp]

Build the Trance! And for Valentines buy/build her some kick azz lightwt. wheels. That'll get the bike to the 26-27lb. range.

[jeffj]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Build the Trance! And for Valentines buy/build her some kick azz lightwt. wheels. That'll get the bike to the 26-27lb. range.

My thoughts exactly. I would also consider a fork like the Manitou Minute 1:00 (4lbs) with adjustable travel from 100 to 130 or maybe a U-Turn Pike. The Maestros ride 'light'.

If you shop hard, you should be able to build up a set of 965 XTR hub wheels at about 1650g for around $300 if you can lace them yourself.