All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Just picked up a Cannondale Catalyst yesterday. Looking to put some miles on this upcoming 3 day weekend.

 

I know a guy with this same bike. It’s fun as hell. Nice progressive frame design

 

“Finished” up this little side project I still want it closer to the truck so I’m gonna move the fork mount in about 3 to 4 Inches it’s not too far out it just wiggles a little too much for my liking so bringing it in would be a lot better for the that. Can see the photo how much room I could move it in.

 

It has aged well geometry wise I just wish it was a tick slacker up front

 

Angle kits fix that

 

Awesome shot! Is that in Mass?

 

Wouldnt a longer fork do it too?

 

Weeknight rides without lights are back on the menu, boys!

Seriously, though, it's so much easier to get through a week of work bullshit when you can hit the trails for multiple hours during the week without the need for lights and hiding from park rangers... lol

The new tailgate pad works like a charm. Love it!

 

Thats a dope bike man! What size coopers are you running? (on the truck lol)

 

Thank you! The bike has definitely given me a million smiles, and counting.

The Coopers are 255/85R16's. I decided to try out a 33" skinny setup and have zero complaints.

 

Nice! I am debating between 285/70/17 and 285/75/17 right now. Wondering if the 34 would even be worth it.

 

Those sizes definitely have a tougher looking stance, but my intent is/was to avoid the CMC and mpg/power hit of the 34+" larger tires, while still gaining the improved clearance and look of 33's. It was also nice that they fit the stock TRD OR without rubbing both before and after I changed the wheels and suspension.

Good luck with your choice!

 

I see what you mean, that’s awesome that they fit stock! The 285/70/17 is a 33 and the 285/75/17 is a 34. They’re just a little wider, which is why they rub the cab mount. Cutting and welding is a non issue for me. My problem is that I keep buying bike parts hahaha.

The biggest issue for me is if I go with the 34 I’ll need to regear. If I go 33 I don’t have to re gear, which means I could get a fox factory fork instead

 

Not the same way. Three ways you can change geo:
1. Taller forks. 10mm of added for length gets you approx. 0.5* more slack, but it also raises your bottom bracket height, slackens your seat tube, and it will also shorten reach. Together those four differences can make the handling change quite a bit.
2. An angle kit. It only changes head tube angle (and slightly longer wheelbase), often adjustable or available to adjust between 0.5* - 2*.
3. Offset shock bolts (full squish only). Will slack out heatube and seat tube by 0.5*, and also drop your BB approx. 10mm. You can use two, and get 1* and 20mm drop.

You can also combine any of these together. For example, I added a taller fork, but also an offset shock bolt. That gave me 1* more slack, and my BB right back where it was meant to be. Unfortunately, my reach became shorter by 10mm, and my seat tube was slacker by 1* as well.

Changing geo is kind of a give-and-take situation.
Hope that made sense. I spent some time researching this when I wanted my Troy to become more slack with a longer fork but wanted to preserve other aspects.

 

I've been doing a good bit of research myself that whole keep improving this bike and frame or drop the coin and get a newer bike that matches what I want geo wise for my riding style.

 

Thing is, newer bikes improve more than just the geo. The suspension kinematics in the last 5 years has become better by leaps and bounds (on most bikes). So many newer bikes can now give you more squish while not need climbing switches, feel supple and bottomless, provide more traction, suck up the little chatter, yet still have a crazy good pedaling platform.
We get closer and closer to that ever popular saying, "climbs like trail bike, descends like DH bike."

 

Won’t it also pitch the nose of the seat up into your taint?

 

You do realize seat angles can be re-adjusted, right?

 

I did not. I thought they only move front to back. I’m still a new guy.

Hence the post in the form of a question. But thanks for input!

 

Yep, changing seat angle is easy. Just adjust the bolts that hold it onto the rails. That's why there's a little rocker plate on the post. I prefer to slide forward and nose down a bit so my ass bones are sitting more on the rear, puts less pressure on my tender taint, and puts me in a better climbing position on those steep sections.