I will use this thread to post updates to the bike as well as riding impressions and I get more time in the saddle. There are not many Poles in the US and I am a firm believer in their progressive bike design. Long reach, long wheel base, slack headtube, steep seat tube; the thought is with a larger cockpit the rider has more comfort and space to move and with the rider centered between the axles the added stability aids in grip, confidence, and speed going up and downhill.
At 6'8" 250lbs, 7'2" wingspan, and an aggressive riding style I am continually searching for bikes which fit me well and can handle my riding style. Last October I picked up a XXL Santa Cruz Hightower LT and rode it for 9 months. In terms of geometry and performance it was a huge step in the right direction from my previous bike but fell short in certain areas.
On the HTLT I struggled to get my Fox 36 PE and DPX2 dialed in with the VPP suspension. I was near maximum PSI both F/R to hit recommended sag numbers, I also can a "firm" VC49 tune in the 36 which made for a "very communicative" suspension setup, IE no suppleness. This didn't really bother me much at the time since I love riding hardtails and like the trail feedback but in retrospect after spending some time on the Pole, the suspensions are night and day different. My other main complaint with the HTLT was the slack seatube as it put me way behind the bottom bracket when climbing, it was nice to feel that added reach with the seat up and back but on steeper climbs I really felt like I was in a fetal position with my chest down and pedaling the cranks in front of me, big load on the quads.
I was also blowing through drivetrain components, I went through 2 E13 TRSr cassettes, quickly wore out 1 SRAM GX cassette, destroyed 3 Novatec freehubs, and broke a few chains. I can put some power down but I am curious to see how my drivetrain holds up on my Poke, since I have a hunch that with my static weight and the pedal kickback of the VPP that the combo may have really added premature wear on the drivetrain, the Pole has a slight amount of pedaling platform ealy in the suspension stroke but then fades so the suspension will stay active. I am hoping my drivetrain lasts much longer without the constant forces/feedback from suspension activity.
Overall the XXL HTLT is a nice bike for big guys but still a little undersized me. I am planning on getting a Pole Taival (steel hardtail) later this summer but they are still in production. In the meantime I found a nice deal on a lightly used XL Evolink 150. Pole is known for long and slack bikes and aside from the Nicolai Geometron or a fully custom frame they are the longest bikes available. The reach on the Evolink is about +40mm longer than the XXL hightower, the headtube is 63.5" which is the same as the Santa Cruz V10, seattube is a steep 77.5 to keep you centered while climbing.
One thing to note is this Evolink 150 is their last generation frame which was built around 27.5" wheels but can accommodate 29". Modern Evolinks (131, 140, 158) are built for 29" wheels but the suspension design and frame design is essentially the same with one exception, the modern Evolinks have a lower BB and much greater stack. My 150 has about 50mm less stack than the modern frames and I definitely notice it since I have to jack my seat up to get proper leg extension with the high BB which put my handlebars low and disrupts what should be a very comfortable and neutral pedaling position. I will make some bar/stem/seat/CSU adjustments to remedy this but that 50mm of stack will be a welcomed addition, especially for larger riders.
The bike arrived with a decent build kit but I had a pike of parts intended for my hardtail which I borrowed some items from to help make the Evolink better suited for me and my style, durability and capability are top priorities.
Here are the build specs.
Lyrik RCT3 + Luftkappe air cap
Monarch Plus
Industry 9-E13 TRS+ wheels
Eagle GX
Magura MT5 brakes, HC levers
9point8 200mm Dropper
Ergon SR3-L
ANVL 50mm stem, Deity Holeshot 825mm bars
WolfTooth Fat Paw Grips
Crank Brothers Stamp 3 Large pedals
Maxxis Minion DHF, Aggressor 2.5
Cushcores
Here is how the bike arrived with different wheels, tires, brakes, bars, stem, seat, and seatpost.
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At 6'8" 250lbs, 7'2" wingspan, and an aggressive riding style I am continually searching for bikes which fit me well and can handle my riding style. Last October I picked up a XXL Santa Cruz Hightower LT and rode it for 9 months. In terms of geometry and performance it was a huge step in the right direction from my previous bike but fell short in certain areas.
On the HTLT I struggled to get my Fox 36 PE and DPX2 dialed in with the VPP suspension. I was near maximum PSI both F/R to hit recommended sag numbers, I also can a "firm" VC49 tune in the 36 which made for a "very communicative" suspension setup, IE no suppleness. This didn't really bother me much at the time since I love riding hardtails and like the trail feedback but in retrospect after spending some time on the Pole, the suspensions are night and day different. My other main complaint with the HTLT was the slack seatube as it put me way behind the bottom bracket when climbing, it was nice to feel that added reach with the seat up and back but on steeper climbs I really felt like I was in a fetal position with my chest down and pedaling the cranks in front of me, big load on the quads.
I was also blowing through drivetrain components, I went through 2 E13 TRSr cassettes, quickly wore out 1 SRAM GX cassette, destroyed 3 Novatec freehubs, and broke a few chains. I can put some power down but I am curious to see how my drivetrain holds up on my Poke, since I have a hunch that with my static weight and the pedal kickback of the VPP that the combo may have really added premature wear on the drivetrain, the Pole has a slight amount of pedaling platform ealy in the suspension stroke but then fades so the suspension will stay active. I am hoping my drivetrain lasts much longer without the constant forces/feedback from suspension activity.
Overall the XXL HTLT is a nice bike for big guys but still a little undersized me. I am planning on getting a Pole Taival (steel hardtail) later this summer but they are still in production. In the meantime I found a nice deal on a lightly used XL Evolink 150. Pole is known for long and slack bikes and aside from the Nicolai Geometron or a fully custom frame they are the longest bikes available. The reach on the Evolink is about +40mm longer than the XXL hightower, the headtube is 63.5" which is the same as the Santa Cruz V10, seattube is a steep 77.5 to keep you centered while climbing.
One thing to note is this Evolink 150 is their last generation frame which was built around 27.5" wheels but can accommodate 29". Modern Evolinks (131, 140, 158) are built for 29" wheels but the suspension design and frame design is essentially the same with one exception, the modern Evolinks have a lower BB and much greater stack. My 150 has about 50mm less stack than the modern frames and I definitely notice it since I have to jack my seat up to get proper leg extension with the high BB which put my handlebars low and disrupts what should be a very comfortable and neutral pedaling position. I will make some bar/stem/seat/CSU adjustments to remedy this but that 50mm of stack will be a welcomed addition, especially for larger riders.
The bike arrived with a decent build kit but I had a pike of parts intended for my hardtail which I borrowed some items from to help make the Evolink better suited for me and my style, durability and capability are top priorities.
Here are the build specs.
Lyrik RCT3 + Luftkappe air cap
Monarch Plus
Industry 9-E13 TRS+ wheels
Eagle GX
Magura MT5 brakes, HC levers
9point8 200mm Dropper
Ergon SR3-L
ANVL 50mm stem, Deity Holeshot 825mm bars
WolfTooth Fat Paw Grips
Crank Brothers Stamp 3 Large pedals
Maxxis Minion DHF, Aggressor 2.5
Cushcores
Here is how the bike arrived with different wheels, tires, brakes, bars, stem, seat, and seatpost.
