slacker head angle

garethwd

Hi guys.

I have a decathlon rockrider 9.1 and find the headset angle steep (i think its 69 deg) and would like to try and slacken it, it currently has 120mm tora's on the front would sticking some 140mm sektors on it dobthe trick or would this mess up the geometry. Some advice please

nicklouse

I would like to ask this.

what is it doing that you do not like?

what you suggest would make t slacker but if it would do what you want in another question.

supersonic

They are 120mm max anyway with the warranty.

garethwd

im a bit of a newb with bike set up ect, id like to feel a bit more confidant on steep downhills always feels like im going to go over the bars....i dont feel so vunerable on my gt which is slacker

supersonic

Try a higher rise bar. it is not designed for downhill, is an XC bike.

garethwd

not doing fullbore downhill, mainly trailcenters and some rideing around local woods ect

supersonic

The Avalanche is slacker. You can try less sag at the front, more the back, but may upset suspension balance.

garethwd

Did i buy the wrong bike then? Would i better saving up for a giant trance or similar?

supersonic

Maybe the wrong one for you. Actually, it may be ok with more than 120mm at the front, I'd contact Decathlon. The hardtails are 120mm max.

garethwd

so other than the warranty what would be the potential down sides to changing to a longer fork?

supersonic

None, this is why you are doing it!

cooldad

Try getting your weight further back instead, very expensive 'upgrade'.

cooldad

Potential downside is the frame breaking in half, halfway down a hill. Unlikely but depending on your weight and style...

garethwd

riding style isnt to adventurous lol...im bout 12 stone so i recon it should cope

garethwd

Crc have the sektor air for£229 ebay my toras and it shouldn't be too expensive2

garethwd

would it make an appreciable difference?

cooldad

I would still try working on technique first. I ride a steep 100mm XC full sus with a distinct forward bias and it copes with anything short of a cliff.
Get your backside low over the back wheel on steep bits.

The Rookie

A pair of 20mm risers will move your body position back more than a pair of 20mm longer forks, you cans also reduce sag which not only means you sit taller static but proportionately even mores so when pitching downhill, a smidgen more compression/less rebound damping will also reduce the propensity for the forks to jack down under multiple impacts.
I'm still learning, but even on my 100mm XC hardtail I can take steep descents OK, but I do tweak the fork settings for Cannock as my XC bias forks are prone to diving too much downhill unless I set them up right, having the Manitou SPV setup is helpful for that.

Simon

1mancity2

What everone has said before, try to look at your technique and bike setup first, putting a 140mm fork on your bike will help but as a last resort.

What bars does the bike have, what length stem? a shorter stem will move you back.

look at these options before changing the forks

styxd

Straight forward answer - learn how to ride your bike properly.

People didnt used to struggle to ride downhills before fashionably slack head angles were invented.

garethwd

But people ride downhill more quickly now...slacker head angle isnt down to fashion, i think its called progress, mtbs are better now than they where ten years ago. And yes my technique could do with some work

cooldad

Being better now is down to a bit more than head angles.

The Rookie

As you say your riding style is not very adventourous, why would you want to compromise all the rest of your riding for a few downhill sections, learn to use your bike to its potential, not messing with it to give an illusion of improvement!

Simon

garethwd

I wouldnt disagree in the slightest. Did i suggest it was? (Cooldad) Whilst i agree that my technique is needs work i also dont see the issue with trying to make my bike more friendly in the hands of novice, who at the end of the day goes mtbing to simply have fun. Maybe im lazy.

If sticking longer forks on isnt the answer fair enough. It only really occurred to me becouse my gt has a slacker head angle and i find it more to my liking on the downhill bits, which are the bits that i find the most grin enducing. What i really wanted to know was would this mess up the bike or not.

nicklouse

but adding a longer fork does more like slackening the seat tube angle which will move you back on the bike with will make it feel crap on anything pointing above horizontal.

garethwd

What about the rockshox sector 120/140 with the adjustable travel. flick a switch and it goes from 120mm too 140mm??

1mancity2

Are you bottoming out your current forks atm? if your not you don't need more travel imo.

A U turn fork would give you more travel at the flick of a switch if needed.