Three pics from a while back

[Bryan]

Taken on Nov. 11th
comments welcome

up
http://thedirtstreet.com/Gallery/albums/nov11/IMG_6702.sized.jpg

turn
http://thedirtstreet.com/Gallery/albums/nov11/IMG_6707.sized.jpg


abubaca (soon to be tap to rear)
http://thedirtstreet.com/Gallery/albums/nov11/IMG_6717.sized.jpg

word to marino (www.marinobike.com)
and jess richard (www.thedirtstreet.com)

[toyota200x]

So are you still liking that frame?

Great pics...thanks for posting.

[Bryan]

I've ordered another from marino with a better geometry, as I was trying new things and went a little crazy with a 74 degree head angle. The experience with the steep angle is good to have, but not to continue :)

[KeepRollin]

nice pics

I wish I had more good night riding.....

[marinobike]

hello

nice pictures!!!! soon send your new frame.


marino alegre del aguila
www.marinobike.com (http://www.marinobike.com)
marino@marinobike.com

[J_Dada]

I've ordered another from marino with a better geometry, as I was trying new things and went a little crazy with a 74 degree head angle. The experience with the steep angle is good to have, but not to continue :)

Would you mind elaborating on that? I'd be interested to hear out of personal curiosity. Still trying to wrap my head around head angles. Pun not intended.

[Bryan]

Would you mind elaborating on that? I'd be interested to hear out of personal curiosity. Still trying to wrap my head around head angles. Pun not intended.
Sure. I'm sure BrettM could give more useful information as he rides the mother of all steep head angles, but here's what it felt like to me:

Pros:
Pedal ups/taps if you get them right are stupid easy (longer reach with shorter wb)
Turning on the front wheel is very easy.
It's a touch easier to balance on skinny things

Cons:
It's harder to balance in hooks
Rolling down stuff = pain
Rolling up stuff - the margin for error in rolltaps approaches zero. If you hit any knob protruding from a rock on the way up, you're not headed up for much longer.
Sidehop/up/gap to front - it's hard to keep the front from planting mega wrist-death-break-hardcore. I like sidehopping to both rather than to front personally. The sweet spot is really hard to find.

Basically, I was looking to get a bike with a long reach that rode like a short bike. I found out that reach matters a lot more than wheelbase when it comes to that maneuverable feeling of shorter bikes.
I'm sure I could get used to it given enough practice, but I feel that 72 degrees just suits me better overall. 71 feels too slack imho.