FurryOnTheInside
In Memoriam
I have to agree with butterbean in his posts #6 and #7 lol. I wouldn't do it, I like around a 15% drop, never less than that if the bicycle carries unsuspended weight (like cargo or an engine) but it's your bike.
Thanks for giving us some figures on failure rates for the tube, tyre and pressure combinations you've been using. It makes interesting reading even if I never intend to go down that route.
To me it sounds like you really need to get a full suspension frame! I don't think a GT LTS replica in steel is the only way to go, though. I think you could probably take the rear (quadrangle?) off a Specialized FSR (various models, lots that are widely available used, and pretty cheap) and get just a front triangle custom made which would position the shock behind the seat tube and allow a large enough space inside the frame to accomodate an engine. I have an old 8" travel Specialized Big Hit frame so I have been thinking about this as a future project. I've done a few sketches and I think the travel could be reduced this way as well as making the frame able to accomodate an engine and jackshaft. I will try some cardboard and water pipe mock ups but I'm thinking way into the future so I'm not going to spend too much time thinking about it right now lol.
You can run a 24" wheelset too, of course. This would effectively give you greater tyre clearance.
Agreed on the uselessness of a grooved tyre tread on a hard surfaced road.. I'm sure they only do it for marketing reasons (cagers expect it's nessesary, or something).
Now I'm going to try to figure out how much you weigh, lol.
Thanks for giving us some figures on failure rates for the tube, tyre and pressure combinations you've been using. It makes interesting reading even if I never intend to go down that route.
To me it sounds like you really need to get a full suspension frame! I don't think a GT LTS replica in steel is the only way to go, though. I think you could probably take the rear (quadrangle?) off a Specialized FSR (various models, lots that are widely available used, and pretty cheap) and get just a front triangle custom made which would position the shock behind the seat tube and allow a large enough space inside the frame to accomodate an engine. I have an old 8" travel Specialized Big Hit frame so I have been thinking about this as a future project. I've done a few sketches and I think the travel could be reduced this way as well as making the frame able to accomodate an engine and jackshaft. I will try some cardboard and water pipe mock ups but I'm thinking way into the future so I'm not going to spend too much time thinking about it right now lol.
You can run a 24" wheelset too, of course. This would effectively give you greater tyre clearance.
Agreed on the uselessness of a grooved tyre tread on a hard surfaced road.. I'm sure they only do it for marketing reasons (cagers expect it's nessesary, or something).
Now I'm going to try to figure out how much you weigh, lol.