Today we took the Fandango to Camp Murphy trails at Jonathon Dickenson State Park.
https://www.clubscrub.org/
https://www.clubscrub.org/images/jd_map_new_names_12-8-08.jpg
The weather was hot but there had been some rain yesterday that helped firm the trails a bit. This entire trail is sand, with a few sections of palmetto roots, some short sections of wooden slats to minimize erosion, and the typical trail learning stumps and roots common on almost any trail. Additionally, this place has logovers ranging from no problem to get off and walk. We rode what we could, walked others and scraped on some. Today there were also several fallen trees that required dismounts and carry the bike over.
We got there later than we wanted, hitting the trail around 10:45.
The trail is ridden counterclockwise, and today we rode all except the root section of Osprey, and Bunker Hill freeride section which we never ride. So we put in approx 8.2 miles.
We had ridden our previous 26" hardtail here a few weeks ago, so we had some idea of comparison.
As the ride began, it became immediately obvious that we had brought a gun to a gun fight. The softer terrain would have caused the 26" wheels to sink and riders to work more, where as the 29" handled the sand and flowing terrain easily. This bike easily climbed sections that gave the 26" bike fits. The downhills, unless improved with wooden slats require you to pedal down them. The Fandango tracked straight in sections that would have caused the 26" to waiver back and forth. The palmetto root sections, some which we had never ridden before without a "dab" on the 26", we conquered with no "dabs" on our first try.
The entire day was not perfect though. For some reason after a longer steep sandy climb, we got chainsuck on the downhill side. The pedals locked. I was able to pull the chain out, but not without some missing powdercoat and a bent front large chainring. Being a 2x9 this had us finish in the small front chainring. No big deal but made for some good comparisons of the gearing between large and small.
We continued on, riding all palmetto sections clean except one where I stuffed the front wheel in a bush. The remaining sandy climbs were not a problem in the smaller front ring. These root sections and climbs were always misery on the old hardtail, never ridden clean and heart rates headed towards 100% on the climbs. Not the case on this Fandango. We had more for the climbs, but the soft sand wouldn't hold the tire. The bike never sank in the soft terrain, and launched to the top with little effort.
As we were about finished with our lap in this sauna of a trail, some of the stokers comments were "are we at the end already", "this is an excellent bike for this trail", but most important, she commented that she was tired but easily had enough left to do another lap. This would have never happened on the 26" hardtail.
Also, when we ride, if she is able to talk, I know her asthma is not acting up. As we discussed trail features and how the bike was working for her, not once did I notice any shortness of breath for her.
This trail which flows more typically of others we have ridden on the east coast let the Fandango 29r far exceed our expectations and easily outperformed our 26" hardtail. Our 26" bike took a long time to dial in and get set up for us. It worked very well. The fits and ergos were carried over to the Fandango, letting us know this bike works that much better.
Jeanne and I have decided that this will be our race bike for the few events we enter. I am trying to talk her into this one. Last year on the 26" was definite no. With a couple rides on the Fandango, she said tell me more about this race.
https://www.singletracksamurai.com/p/cross-florida-inidvidual-time-trail.html#let-int
Next we need to make a road trip to know how much better this machine is on flowing trails like Santos, I'm suspecting Co-Mo performance with dirty tires.
https://omba.org/
https://www.omba.org/images/stories/Maps/spider2b.pdf
Things that were changed between last ride and this ride…
Replaced stoker bars, installed risers to raise them about 30mm (this proved big for her)
Tilted Captains saddle nose down slightly
Worked on the ATC fork, adding rigidity while making it have no notchy feeling as it compressed and extended.
Increased fork travel without adding length.
Things to work on…
Better front tire.
Getting the front drive chainring issue 100% reliable. Shouldn't be too bad. Surly SS chainring.
Front BashGuard
Glideplate for the frame.
Convert fork to air spring with external adjusters.
Get bike weight sub 40 pounds - ready to ride.
I'd love to see or hear more about what others are or have done with theirs, that's why I started this thread. I know it sounds like a commercial, but if I was on the fence deciding, and we were up until a test ride at AORTA, I would want some honest feedback to help decide. Had we not test ridden one back to back with our 26" hardtail, I doubt we would have followed through on a Fandango.
We are convinced this bike will see a lot of miles, it's that good.
Fast, predictable and smooth.
PK
)
