I LOVE how my Murmur looks. I'm starting to question if it's the right geometry for riding here. I'm kind of a noob. Prior to this I have an Epic Evo. The Evo was a better all-arounder for trails around here - Starling is worse for me on flats/rollers? I'm long legged so the steep seat tube makes it weird to sit and pedal. Honest opinion..am I silly for considering selling the frame to get something like the Evil Following or the V1 Offering? will the 1* headttube and seat tube diff make a difference?
I LOVE how my Murmur looks. I'm starting to question if it's the right geometry for riding here. I'm kind of a noob. Prior to this I have an Epic Evo. The Evo was a better all-arounder for trails around here - Starling is worse for me on flats/rollers? I'm long legged so the steep seat tube makes it weird to sit and pedal. Honest opinion..am I silly for considering selling the frame to get something like the Evil Following or the V1 Offering? will the 1* headttube and seat tube diff make a difference?
Funny, I was just in your relative area with my Murmur a couple of weeks ago riding Maple Hill and Fort Custer. Really meaning to get to Merrell Trail sometime.
I think there may be a bit of an adjustment period if the bike is still sort of new to you. I had to get used to the geo a bit myself but I don't find it that sluggish on the flats compared to my old Ragley BigWig hardtail. Would a more "XC" bike suit you better for your local stuff? Maybe a little, but would it be as fun to take elsewhere for a big day on the bike? Comes down to your riding preferences and plans, I think. Living in Indiana I have to do a little driving to get any meaningful elevation to really push my bike on downhills, but I bumped the fork to 150 and it still pedals the local stuff pretty well. There are also some headset angle adjustments you could do to change things up.
I LOVE how my Murmur looks. I'm starting to question if it's the right geometry for riding here. I'm kind of a noob. Prior to this I have an Epic Evo. The Evo was a better all-arounder for trails around here - Starling is worse for me on flats/rollers? I'm long legged so the steep seat tube makes it weird to sit and pedal. Honest opinion..am I silly for considering selling the frame to get something like the Evil Following or the V1 Offering? will the 1* headttube and seat tube diff make a difference?
Funny, I was just in your relative area with my Murmur a couple of weeks ago riding Maple Hill and Fort Custer. Really meaning to get to Merrell Trail sometime.
I think there may be a bit of an adjustment period if the bike is still sort of new to you. I had to get used to the geo a bit myself but I don't find it that sluggish on the flats compared to my old Ragley BigWig hardtail. Would a more "XC" bike suit you better for your local stuff? Maybe a little, but would it be as fun to take elsewhere for a big day on the bike? Comes down to your riding preferences and plans, I think. Living in Indiana I have to do a little driving to get any meaningful elevation to really push my bike on downhills, but I bumped the fork to 150 and it still pedals the local stuff pretty well. There are also some headset angle adjustments you could do to change things up.
I think you are right - an XC would be better for local, but not as fun to take elsewhere. Friend suggested that I need to try to try some low compression adjustments and see if that 'solves' the problem. His other suggestion is perhaps an air fork to liven it up a bit and drop some weight? IDK. I might sell my Helm to try a Pike
Also slap some XC tyres on and shorten the travel (crank up air pressure in shock) and it's a different bike. I've swapped between air and coil (Pikes + Debonair / Coil Öhlins) on both ends and it does change the bike a lot.
I've had mine a little over 3 years now and are still figuring it out.
I'd agree with Sterling, it's got multiple personalities- I've run mine at 120/120, 140/140 and 160/140 and it's quite different in each setting. My local riding (Surrey UK) varies between flat to super steep tech - no massive elevation drops and we generally ride 20+ miles per ride.
Also slap some XC tyres on and shorten the travel (crank up air pressure in shock) and it's a different bike. I've swapped between air and coil (Pikes + Debonair / Coil Öhlins) on both ends and it does change the bike a lot.
I've had mine a little over 3 years now and are still figuring it out.
I'd agree with Sterling, it's got multiple personalities- I've run mine at 120/120, 140/140 and 160/140 and it's quite different in each setting. My local riding (Surrey UK) varies between flat to super steep tech - no massive elevation drops and we generally ride 20+ miles per ride.
I've got a coil helm set up at 140mm, I can reduce to 130mm, otherwise I was going to try to sell Helm to get a air Pike..
How do I shorten the rear? It's currently set up 140/140.. 500x2.35 rear coil
Also slap some XC tyres on and shorten the travel (crank up air pressure in shock) and it's a different bike. I've swapped between air and coil (Pikes + Debonair / Coil Öhlins) on both ends and it does change the bike a lot.
I've had mine a little over 3 years now and are still figuring it out.
I'd agree with Sterling, it's got multiple personalities- I've run mine at 120/120, 140/140 and 160/140 and it's quite different in each setting. My local riding (Surrey UK) varies between flat to super steep tech - no massive elevation drops and we generally ride 20+ miles per ride.
I've got a coil helm set up at 140mm, I can reduce to 130mm, otherwise I was going to try to sell Helm to get a air Pike..
How do I shorten the rear? It's currently set up 140/140.. 500x2.35 rear coil
Unless your shock can be shortened (IIRC Ohlins can be reduced in travel) you can't reduce a coil shock travel. I have an Ohlins coil and Debonair Air. With the air you just crank up the air pressure so you never use full travel. I guess you could put a bigger spring on coil to do something similar. But air is quite good wiht shorter travel as it's a bit more poppy than the coil which tends to stick to the ground (at least that's what i've found).
I assume you can't swap out the coil on the Helm to an air spring (you can do this with the Ohlins m2 - at least on the model I have - newer models aren't doing the coil spring). Otherwise you're going to need a new fork - If you can justify it keep the Helm (as I've heard it's a great fork) and get a Pike.
Also try some light(ish) XC(ish) tyres as that really transforms the bike.
Yeah so the number one issue I think I am trying to solve for is feeling cramped on flatter ground/rollers. I understand getting used to the steep STA takes time. maybe I try a slightly longer stem to get a bit more reach.. have a 50mm on there now
Shortening the travel on your fork will steepen your STA. Reverse Components Angle Spacer will lift your front end 10mm and slacken your STA (and HTA) a bit for pretty cheap without affecting travel. Do you have room to slide your saddle back? I see you have a medium, how tall are you?
Shortening the travel on your fork will steepen your STA. Reverse Components Angle Spacer will lift your front end 10mm and slacken your STA (and HTA) a bit for pretty cheap without affecting travel. Do you have room to slide your saddle back? I see you have a medium, how tall are you?