Now I want to try that!
Does that mean the Scalpel with the 68° HTA rides like an even steeper bike?
Plainly, yes.
Nice! Kudos to you for going this deep, smart to look at trail versus just a singular geometry point too of course. No denying that this is a big departure from the last Element. I would venture a guess that they are focusing their sponsorship $ towards enduro instead of XCO and that’s why we’re seeing a bike like this. XCO geometry probably has some boundaries and this bike does perhaps push that.
Yeah interesting stuff either way! I would love to throw a leg over the new altitude.
Interesting!
I just went to Cannondale to check the Scalpel SE and that has the 44mm SID fork. I was half pie expecting it to be the larger offset. That in essence makes their XC and DC bikes further apart in how they ride.
RS don’t make the SID in anything other than 44mm offset any more, do they? And IIRC Fox is doing the same with the new 34. Could be mistaken though.
New Top Fuel drops v. soon too (tomorrow?), keen to see that.
Ooh, that’s an interesting nugget. Where have you seen that teased? I really liked the look of the Top Fuel, it just didn’t quite add up in value when I was looking.
New 34 step cast is offered in 51 too.
I heard that the new Element was made to tackle the BC Bike Race.
That’s what Henry Quinny said on the PB podcast and it makes a heck of a lot of sense for what they came up with. Fire road up, rip shit down.
Maybe how the BCBR used to be. Looks like it has been dumbed down somewhat for the next couple of years.
Yes! You’re right! I was wrong stating it like that.
But I don’t think what you’re saying here is correct either. When the front wheel hits an obstacle, the force vector exists regardless of rigid fork, suspensions fork, head angle and so forth. Yes, the slacker your HA, the more of that impact force is absorbed by the suspension. But that should not be a bad thing, because the alternative is that the force is transmitted undamped into the system that is the rider & the frame.
Just like if you try slow rolling seated into a curb with your HT, first with a suspension fork fitted, then with a rigid fork. Geometry is the same in both instances, the rider experience is not.
Does anyone have any updates on what Giant has planned for XC? Their current platform is a bit dated, they have yet to release any 2022 colors or builds, the 2021 colors and builds have been out of stock for almost a year now.
Anyone have any details on whether to expect a new platform and when that could possible be coming?
I’ve been really interested in what Giant do too. The Anthem is such a great platform.
Hopefully they have an Anthem X with 120/110mm travel, and ~67°HTA.
I don’t have any information at all but have seen things pop up a few times.
Tomorrow (Friday), I was told a little while ago. Fingers crossed it’s what I’m after!
Looks good!
Too bad it can only fit 1 water bottle.
Hmm, interesting. I have to give the PB write up a read. It doesn’t look like they changed heaps. Moving all the way to 66°HTA is surprising given they have the Fuel EX and the next step up is the SuperCal which is a lot steeper.
Plus frame storage.
ETA: I’ve had a better look. Looks like a great bike, but I don’t like that the brand’s have just started selling trail bikes from three years ago and calling them DownCountry. IMO DC is the super capable XC race bike.
It sounds a bit crazy but that is far and away the #1 thing I am looking for for an everyday mountain bike like the Top Fuel is aiming to be. So this bike does nothing for me compared to Spark, Epic Evo, Scalpel SE that can fit two.