Love the lightness but hate the long wheelbase.

With rigid forks I've got an 18lb-er that just loves climbing and makes me feel 20 years younger BUT I've got to say I'm still not satisfied.

I rode an old Merlin Ti today with a much shorter wheelbase, which whilst more solid and heavy, felt much more chuckable and now want the best of both worlds.

So what alternatives have I got?

Looking at the WW tables, not much comes close in terms of weight to the Scale but I'm finding it hard to eke out geometry tables for some of the lighter offerings mentioned in the tables.

Am currently considering an Azonic AZ-7 but can't find any info on who makes them and what sort of geometry they have...

What's a long wheelbase to you? I've got a '12 29er Scale Pro and it's got a very short wheelbase.

btw to the forum.

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Norwood & Adelaide Uni CC

Agree on that, although im also looking for scale alternatives.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

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Happy Trails !!!
MTB / Giant Xtc '05 / 8.7Kg
ROAD / La Perla Negra - FM015 / 7.0Kg

What size? A large gives 44". I'd hardly say that's short never mind "very short".

I've got a Santa Cruz Highball 29er Carbon at 43.3" and I'd hardly call that short. But then again it's a 29er.

My point is that my Scale 26er feels long and I'm sure there's shorter out there.

As I said, the Merlin was much more pert and upright for a hardtail and I must admit I'm questioning the "default" setting of us WW types that opt for the Scale (mainly) because of it's weight. Personally, I'd just like something as light but a bit less flat, if you see what a mean.

You talkin bout a 26 or 29?

Yeah actually would be good to clarify what wheel size your talking about. My 29er Scott is size XL (21") and for flat out XCO it's perfect - 29ers by nature will always have a longer wheelbase, just alter your riding style. I ride my 29er very differently to my same (frame) sized 26er.

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Norwood & Adelaide Uni CC

The Kona Kula Watt carbon frame looks quite sexy... i think these roll in at somewhere around the 1,000g bracket

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=75366

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viewtopic.php?f=10&t=109022
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=109000
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new Kula Watt weighs in at a feathery 1090 grams for an 18-inch frame

is that weight confirmed? i don't think so.

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Happy Trails !!!
MTB / Giant Xtc '05 / 8.7Kg
ROAD / La Perla Negra - FM015 / 7.0Kg

dont know what size bike u ride but, short wheel chain stay's are a red haring..
there is no better place to sit then BETWEEN the wheels oppose to above your rear wheel...
after years of all kind of mountainbike i com to the conclusion that my superfly is the best climbing bike i ever had/rode !!

Merida Big nine team

I love my Orbea Alma

Don't dismiss it because of the name on it.
Raleigh M-trax 5.0 carbon. 1080g for the frame.
I'm not sure who makes it but it's the same as a few other frames (including my own Pronghorn PR6HT, of which I have 2 in ISP flavour)
I too didn't like the 'long' feel of Scotts (Spark, not tried a Scale) but this frame is spot on for me.

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Blog http://andrewhowett.blogspot.com/p/1.html

BMC Teamelite TE01 29er? Medium frame w/ hardware is 980g.

Me too, got a 2011 Team G with Sram XX. Love it!