Advice: 29r frame w/ short chainstays?

[Au575]

I've been tooling around on my old GF ProCaliber, recently converted to a SS, and love it. (With the occassional dissenting opinion from my knees.) Now that I've been thinking about the momentum/flow aspect of SS, I would like to try a 29er, 'cause it sounds like a good match. Given the amount of out-of-the-seat hammering that is needed, I'd like to find a short chainstay frame - preferably with a curved seattube to tighten things up. Many years ago I had an elevated chainstay/curved seattube Montare that climbed like a billy goat - I'd love to recapture that feel (and those legs of my youth). Mud clearance is not an issue - typical dry SoCal dust for my riding.

Any suggestions? I can't think of any big manufacturer making such a combo.... Any (semi) custom frames out there combining big hoops, short stays and maybe sliding dropouts?

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by Au575

I've been tooling around on my old GF ProCaliber, recently converted to a SS, and love it. (With the occassional dissenting opinion from my knees.) Now that I've been thinking about the momentum/flow aspect of SS, I would like to try a 29er, 'cause it sounds like a good match. Given the amount of out-of-the-seat hammering that is needed, I'd like to find a short chainstay frame - preferably with a curved seattube to tighten things up. Many years ago I had an elevated chainstay/curved seattube Montare that climbed like a billy goat - I'd love to recapture that feel (and those legs of my youth). Mud clearance is not an issue - typical dry SoCal dust for my riding.

Any suggestions? I can't think of any big manufacturer making such a combo.... Any (semi) custom frames out there combining big hoops, short stays and maybe sliding dropouts?

Check out Surly for the curved seat tube. Lot's of other great options out there. Just depends on how much you want to spend

Happy shopping

[tbowren]

Did someone say "29er" and "short chainstay" ??

This has been my biggest 29er issue since I bought mine a few years ago. Ironically, its the LOOONG chainstays on my Leviathan that makes it such a great climber.

You have a cheep option, that is a Kona Unit 2-9. It has 17.3 chainstays when the wheel is slide all the way forward in the dropouts. The Path has had some great sales on these frames. Actually the Niner bikes like One9 has 17.5 so thats acceptable to me as well. I have this frame and I REALLY like it.

You have a more expensive option. Lenzsport "Milk Money" ( I think it's the name) It is a full suspension SS. Dunno the chainstay length but its short.

http://gallery.mtbr.com/showphoto.ph...28086/cat/1183


Good luck. Ignore any replies with the word "Placebo" in them. (except this post)

[Au575]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

Check out Surly for the curved seat tube. Lot's of other great options out there. Just depends on how much you want to spend

Happy shopping

D'Oh - Karate Monkey. I shoulda remembered that one... Thanks!

[Pho'dUp]

Origin8 Scout. But the tire clearance is tight so you have to run narrow tires.



Honestly, with the bigger tire patch of the 29" wheel I haven't noticed any issues with long chainstays and traction at the rear wheel. I have a Kona Unit 29.

[Au575]

Originally Posted by tbowren

Did someone say "29er" and "short chainstay" ??

...

You have a more expensive option. Lenzsport "Milk Money" ( I think it's the name) It is a full suspension SS. Dunno the chainstay length but its short.

http://gallery.mtbr.com/showphoto.ph...28086/cat/1183


Good luck. Ignore any replies with the word "Placebo" in them. (except this post)

First, yes, I recognize its a bit of an oxymoron, but 17" is pretty tight, and certainly comparable to the 15.5" chainstays on the old Montare, given the wheel diameter increase.

Second, that Lenzsport is real purty. But I'm stickin' with a hardtail here. (Still have, and will keep, the full squish gearie.)

[Marshall Willanholly]

I would suggest looking at Black Cat Bicycles. With my sliding dropouts all the way forward, the chainstay is sub-17".

http://www.blackcatbicycles.com

[Au575]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Origin8 Scout. But the tire clearance is tight so you have to run narrow tires.

That's an interesting option - and 16.75" stays - now we're talkin'. Cool.

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

http://www.blackcatbicycles.com

Frickin' gorgeous. Great dropouts. Sexy welds. But, I suspect very spendy...

[Burner]

Originally Posted by Au575

IMany years ago I had an elevated chainstay/curved seattube Montare that climbed like a billy goat - I'd love to recapture that feel (and those legs of my youth).

you mean one of these I'm about to go do some urban right now on it. (I know of a medium that a buddy isn't using if you wanted one)



(I actually always had problems keeping the front down with seated climbs on that bike)

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by Au575

Frickin' gorgeous. Great dropouts. Sexy welds. But, I suspect very spendy...

It's certainly more than a Kona or Surly, but pretty reasonable for a fully custom frame.

[Au575]

Originally Posted by Burner

(I actually always had problems keeping the front down with seated climbs on that bike)

That's it exactly! My first "real" MTB.

Agreed on the wheelie potential - but with as much standing climbing as I seem forced to do while SS, it seems like a good trait.

[BrewMaster]

I dig my Air 9. Nothing fancy, no curved seat tube, but it handles great IMO.

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

I would suggest looking at Black Cat Bicycles. With my sliding dropouts all the way forward, the chainstay is sub-17".

http://www.blackcatbicycles.com

STOP showing pics of that bike

I want I want I want

[scruffylooking]

Me Too Me Too Me Too

[donkey]

Originally Posted by mechmann

i am sure that someone like Strong or Erikson could make a sweet Ti ride with short stays for you!

some day i will own one of them...

I think my Ti Strong is the shortest Carl will ever build. After all the trouble he went through trying to get them to 17" he said something along the lines of "never again":-)

My steel Strong has really short stays as well. Right at 17" with the wheel slammed forward in the drops.

The Blackcat shown above has some of the shortest I've seen while still offering great tire clearance. Oh....and the rest of the bike is beautiful as well:-)

B

[MTBMaven]

Saw this one on MTBR a while ago. I love this frame.


See the full build process here:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=321081

See thread on MTBR about shortest chainstays for 29ers:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=353980

[Au575]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Origin8 Scout. But the tire clearance is tight so you have to run narrow tires.

With the price of this frame, I think I'll build one up just as a proof of concept...



Also, for those keeping track, the MTBR thread suggested these other options:

Sinister (Frank the Welder - but didn't see any 29ers on the website)
Igleheart Cycles (some good looking customs in 26”, 29” or 650 B wheels)
Badger Cycles (good looking, if trad, frames; they can do lugged construction if you like that sort of thing)

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by Au575

With the price of this frame, I think I'll build one up just as a proof of concept...



Also, for those keeping track, the MTBR thread suggested these other options:

Sinister (Frank the Welder - but didn't see any 29ers on the website)
Igleheart Cycles (some good looking customs in 26”, 29” or 650 B wheels)
Badger Cycles (good looking, if trad, frames; they can do lugged construction if you like that sort of thing)

Rob has a solid rep and builds killer bikes. Almost had Rob build one for me but the Niner SIR geo was so close to what I wanted........so picked up the SIR

[tbowren]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

Rob has a solid rep and builds killer bikes. Almost had Rob build one for me but the Niner SIR geo was so close to what I wanted........so picked up the SIR

Didn't you sell that SIR9 or do you still have it?