[foggnm]

Finished my build. I have a ttx2 air shock on the way I'll eventually swap. I told myself never again to carbon wheels...but got a good deal on these.
Running 150mm up front for now.

 

[Didzy2009]

Looks great!
The carbon wheels work well on this frame, gives the alloy frame a nice compliment, and make it feel a little zippier for climbing/accelerating

let us know what you think, also interested hear if you’ve got any rattles I’m hearing a bit just recently but don’t remember any when it was newly built

 

[foggnm]

Well a rattle on this frame would likely be the cables. I just did the dropper and derailleur cables with foam inside the down tube... didn't notice any sounds while riding a bit down the street. I have on other frames done additional foam on the dropper cable on the seatpost side, but will get some ride time before any more foaming 😉
Zero wheel failures with alloy in 27 years, one with carbon in 6 months. So anything breaks this time....never again...lifetime warranty isn't as important as having your wheel work!

 

[foggnm]

And personally I don't think there are any performance benefits in carbon wheels. They are just a little bling... and hey that's part of the enjoyment of building up a new bike!

Just did a little 11 mile test ride. Everything felt good. Like the Patrol(29/27.5) I briefly owned it does felt compact but not as much as the Patrol (which has a little shorter top tube but a little longer reach). I set mine up with a 150 fork knowing I wanted to make it a little longer by dropping the front. I even debated getting an XL but thought I'd regret it. And my other bike is a meta TR which has that nice long reach and will likely be what I use for the occasional bike park trip. Definitely was faster, smoother, livelier than the patrol. But that's my inner 29-love influencing my perception.😁

 

[foggnm]

Made some bar adjustments and did another little ride with some small whoops and jumps. What I've noticed on this (and the Patrol) is that when standing and descending it does have more an 'on the bike' feel than in the bike which is perhaps why they describe their "engineered to party." I tend to ride more fast and direct so think I'll need to learn how to adjust my style to get the most out of it.

 

[foggnm]

When I was riding yesterday I was thinking "man my bars feel wide." So I realized the Deity bar uncut was 810...
Oh that's why 😂
Now cut to 780mm.

 

[gaper80]

Nice build! I just purchased a raw alloy frame. Going to build it as burly as possible. I've got a Revel Rascal as my daily driver, so the sentinel will be my out of town rig. I'm thinking 170/150 should be enough for Moab, PNW, BC type destinations, along with shuttle/bike park days. The Rascal could not hang when things got fast and chunky.

 

[foggnm]

@gaper80 Interesting. Right on. My buddy lives in western NM and has a Rascal and likes it for Sedona, Grand Junction, Moab, and here of course...but he's also pretty gifted rider so seems to like less rather than more travel. I've always thought most Moab riding as mid-travel bike ideal as it has a lot of tech. You do know the silver is paint and not raw? I think they have a raw Patrol but not Sentinel. The good thing is when silver paint chips you have silver underneath 😉
I did 36 miles total on the Sentinel this first weekend. What I noticed is it does have a pretty firm mid-stroke which is what was making me feel a more "on" the bike. I added a few psi to the fork and that really helped. Likely I'll drop a few psi out of the shock to soften that mid-stroke a bit and increase sag. When I get the ttx2 I think I'll be able to better tune it to the terrain here. Too firm a shock in the tech can give that sensation of being pitched forward a bit. I know some tuning will take care of it. Very pleased with how the bike handles, pedals, and pops.
The Nukeproof Reactor is what I judge about all bikes on now and I can't say the Sentinel gives me the same grin but time will tell.

 

[foggnm]

Ok, I had a pretty big smile when I rode Monday night😁. The most interesting thing is this bike rides like a fun trail bike despite what the numbers are. It really has that feel of being able to move around with ease. I'd say Transition nailed it in that respect. Almost all my frames in the past few years have been carbon and like the Patrol I briefly owned, it doesn't feel like riding alloy. I can only image how easy it is to flick the carbon version.

 

[johnsogr]

So have a few rides on the Cascade link and initially really loved it. Then I noticed on big G-outs and drops that led to bottoming, I had a very weird feeling through the pedals. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, but now I’m thinking it’s pedal kickback! Anyone else have this experience? I seriously don’t like it, will most likely sell the link, but wondering other people’s experience is.


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[socalrider77]

So have a few rides on the Cascade link and initially really loved it. Then I noticed on big G-outs and drops that led to bottoming, I had a very weird feeling through the pedals. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, but now I’m thinking it’s pedal kickback! Anyone else have this experience? I seriously don’t like it, will most likely sell the link, but wondering other people’s experience is.


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Haven’t run it so can’t comment, but I’m looking for one so if you sell it, you might have a buyer [emoji16]


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[cottinge]

So have a few rides on the Cascade link and initially really loved it. Then I noticed on big G-outs and drops that led to bottoming, I had a very weird feeling through the pedals. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, but now I’m thinking it’s pedal kickback! Anyone else have this experience? I seriously don’t like it, will most likely sell the link, but wondering other people’s experience is.


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I have a v2, stock link, and run the i9 Enduro 305v3 wheels with the high engagement hydra hubs. I've noticed that my feet have been taking quite a beating on high speed chatter. I'm thinking it may have something to do with chain growth, coupled with the high engagement hub, ie pedal kickback. Never experienced on a slower hub on previous bikes and hell, I run a coil on the Sentinel.

I suppose this would be the time to ask if anyone knows what the axel path or chain growth metrics are on the v2 on either the stock or cascade link? I couldn't find much online.

Out of curiosity, what rear hub are you running? I did purchase and mount a set of DT Swiss EX1700 wheels over the weekend (350 hub has 36t stock, so 10 degree engagement angle vs 0.52 on the hydras) to test the theory out in real life.

DT does a better job explaining than I ever could...

Engagement angle technology | DT Swiss

www.dtswiss.com

 

[johnsogr]

I have Hydras, so that could be part of the problem. Additionally, the extra 15 mm of travel from the Cascade link come solely at bottom out, where chaing growth may be at its greatest. I don't have this feeling through the pedals on the stock link.

 

[cottinge]

Interesting. Once I get a ride in on the lower engagement hubs, I'll share any perceivable differences.

 

[CascadeComponents]

I have Hydras, so that could be part of the problem. Additionally, the extra 15 mm of travel from the Cascade link come solely at bottom out, where chaing growth may be at its greatest. I don't have this feeling through the pedals on the stock link.

The chain growth on the Sentinel is concentrated towards the top of travel. At bottom of travel it's approximately half what it was initially. An easy way to visualize that this is in fact the case is by looking at axle path. Since it's more forward at the bottom of travel the chain growth won't be as large. The Sentinel's axle moves back 2mm between top of travel and 30% sag and then forward about 16mm between 30% sag and bottom of travel. The chain growth for both the stock link and our link happen to be pretty much the same at bottom out. If you compare total change in chain length between top and bottom of travel between the two links, our link has a hair less than 2mm more chain growth. Stock link is around 23mm of total chain growth and our link is around 25mm of total chain growth. Not much difference. I would suggest you put the stock link back on and ride it the same for an equal amount of time. Chances are you will find it's a trait of the bike that you have come to notice after a prolonged period on it.

What can lead to it feeling stiffer at the bottom of travel is the fact that it's stiffer due to leverage curve and shock set up. Yes, the final leverage ratio is higher, but it's force as felt at the wheel that you feel. When you factor in a higher spring rate it does feel stiffer at end of travel. But you do have to compare like to like. An impact that gets within, for the sake of example, 0.1mm of bottoming on our link will bottom out the stock link assuming similar sag and damping set ups. Bottoming out is always harsher than not bottoming out.

 

[johnsogr]

The chain growth on the Sentinel is concentrated towards the top of travel. At bottom of travel it's approximately half what it was initially. An easy way to visualize that this is in fact the case is by looking at axle path. Since it's more forward at the bottom of travel the chain growth won't be as large. The Sentinel's axle moves back 2mm between top of travel and 30% sag and then forward about 16mm between 30% sag and bottom of travel. The chain growth for both the stock link and our link happen to be pretty much the same at bottom out. If you compare total change in chain length between top and bottom of travel between the two links, our link has a hair less than 2mm more chain growth. Stock link is around 23mm of total chain growth and our link is around 25mm of total chain growth. Not much difference. I would suggest you put the stock link back on and ride it the same for an equal amount of time. Chances are you will find it's a trait of the bike that you have come to notice after a prolonged period on it.

What can lead to it feeling stiffer at the bottom of travel is the fact that it's stiffer due to leverage curve and shock set up. Yes, the final leverage ratio is higher, but it's force as felt at the wheel that you feel. When you factor in a higher spring rate it does feel stiffer at end of travel. But you do have to compare like to like. An impact that gets within, for the sake of example, 0.1mm of bottoming on our link will bottom out the stock link assuming similar sag and damping set ups. Bottoming out is always harsher than not bottoming out.

Thanks so much for replying, Cascade, love it.

I suppose I should have been clearer when describing what I felt. I never actually had a hard bottom out on your link, which I really like d about it - it’s supple yet bottomless. I did put the stock link back on, and you’re right, I did still have that feeling through the pedals, just a bit less pronounced. I do think I’m sensitive to stuff like this and it distracts from my ride.

I feel like the clutch on the derailleur is really engaging during deep compressions as well, just an odd feeling (FYI I’m coming off Forbidden Druid).

Anyhow, I appreciate you all responding, love getting the science/explanation behind how you all do what you do.

Can’t wait to get my North Fork Caliper in the mail!


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[martinzanazzi]

Hey guys, quick sizing question. I'm 6' 1" with 34" inseam and 6' 2" wingspan, coming off a SC tallboy which feels a little small. The tallboy has 468mm reach and a 50mm stem. I was thinking of getting a XL sentinel and putting on a 32mm stem. You guys that are my height, would you recommend that or should I get a large? Thanks yall

 

[foggnm]

Hey guys, quick sizing question. I'm 6' 1" with 34" inseam and 6' 2" wingspan, coming off a SC tallboy which feels a little small. The tallboy has 468mm reach and a 50mm stem. I was thinking of getting a XL sentinel and putting on a 32mm stem. You guys that are my height, would you recommend that or should I get a large? Thanks yall

100% get an XL. A large will feel quite small.
I'm 5"11 on a Large and running a 50mm. stem then went to a 40mm stem but likely will go back to a 50 stem. Remember this bike doesn't have monstrous reach and the top tube is pretty short. You're going to be cramped on a large unless your second bike is a bmx. Additionally, the bike doesn't ride like the numbers suggest. It rides quite lively. By comparison I have a Meta TR which has the same wheelbase and it feels like riding an enduro bike. The Sentinel is very deceiving : you see the head angle and wheelbase and think it is going to ride like an enduro bike but it really rides like a fun all-mountain bike. And you will get used to the longer wheelbase. I remember when I got my first longish bike, an SB150, it felt so different but I quickly adapted and didn't find any difference in tight terrain. I mean, the Sentinel is not going to be a Tallboy...but it is not going to feel like an enduro monster...I promise. And I have an alloy...can't imagine how lively the carbon is!

 

[cottinge]

100% get an XL. A large will feel quite small.
I'm 5"11 on a Large and running a 50mm. stem then went to a 40mm stem but likely will go back to a 50 stem. Remember this bike doesn't have monstrous reach and the top tube is pretty short. You're going to be cramped on a large unless your second bike is a bmx. Additionally, the bike doesn't ride like the numbers suggest. It rides quite lively. By comparison I have a Meta TR which has the same wheelbase and it feels like riding an enduro bike. The Sentinel is very deceiving : you see the head angle and wheelbase and think it is going to ride like an enduro bike but it really rides like a fun all-mountain bike. And you will get used to the longer wheelbase. I remember when I got my first longish bike, an SB150, it felt so different but I quickly adapted and didn't find any difference in tight terrain. I mean, the Sentinel is not going to be a Tallboy...but it is not going to feel like an enduro monster...I promise. And I have an alloy...can't imagine how lively the carbon is!

I agree with the XL. I'm 5'11 as well with a 31in inseam, the large fits me just right with a 40mm stem. If I were any taller, would have gone XL.

 

[applnt]

I’m 6ft 1” on a large with a 35mm stem and really happy with it! I guess it depends a bit on personal preference and whether you can get a ride on one to try it out.