The overall sensation when climbing is closer to what you'd expect from a full suspension trail bike – the crisp, snappy acceleration that hardtails are known for is replaced by a more muted feeling. Once the stock 80mm Bontrager stem was swapped out for something nearly half the length and the tires were aired up to 13psi it was time to hit the trails.įrom the start, it was apparent that it takes a little extra 'oomph' to get the Stache up to speed, but once it gains momentum it'll cruise right along, with nowhere near the amount of rolling resistance I'd anticipated despite the massive footprint of each tire. The wheels may be massive, but the actual fit didn't feel that out of the ordinary – a 13” bottom bracket height and 798mm standover are only a few millimeters different than the 'regular' 29” Stache's measurements. When it comes to technical climbing, the extra rollover ability that 29ers possess is one of their most often touted strengths, and the Stache 9's supersized dimensions take this trait to the next level.įrom a distance, the casual observer might not immediately notice the Stache's gargantuan wheels – the frame looks proportional, and it's only when you get closer or compare it to a standard 27.5" or 29" wheeled bike does it becomes clear just how much bigger 29+ is than anything else out there. As it is, the Stache 9 has a 68.4° head angle with the 110mm Manitou Magnum up front, but riders who choose to go the frame only route and use a wheel size different than 29+ can maintain the same geometry by running a longer travel fork. To that end, the bike's sliding dropouts open up a number of configuration options, allowing it to fit a regular 29” or even 27.5+ wheel, and the chainstays can be run as short as 405mm depending on the tire and rim dimensions. The Stache is intended to be run with 29+ wheels, but Trek also realized that certain riders, especially the type who this bike will appeal to, may have other ideas. To provide even more tire clearance, the rear portion of the bottom bracket shell is squared off, creating a few extra millimeters of space. To help maintain the frame's stiffness, the PressFit 92 bottom bracket shell and a section of the non-driveside chainstay are forged from one single piece of aluminum. The elevated stay on the Stache combined with the heavily manipulated seat tube are what allow for such a short rear end, due to the fact that potential issues with chainring and/or tire clearance are eliminated. The most noticeable feature of the Stache's aluminum frame is the elevated driveside chainstay, a design element that experienced a brief era of popularity in the 1990s before being superseded by the now-ubiquitous double diamond configuration.
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