Comments on: OS Bikes Blackbuck Gen II: Ride Impressions

By: droptop

droptop — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:58:05 +0000

I used to ride the origin8 scout 29er. I LOVED its short chain stays as a single speed bike- but adding gears ruined the bike IMHO. gearing down causes the already light front end to loft up over just about anything. You have to ride over the front too much. Keep the gears off- its a better bike that way! I want to get another short chain stay single speed again, currently riding my raleigh xxix pro single speeded. will switch back to 1×9 for race season.

By: slate

slate — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:41:46 +0000

The position of your ass over your crank spindle center is the key starting point. In my experience this positioning of saddle relative to cranks can only vary by about a quarter of an inch before it is just obviously wrong. Stem length and height is more of a choice, at least for me, but still the critical three points of contact (hands, feet, butt) cannot vary much without your fit on the bike being not right.

A bike does not necessarily need a top tube it just needs a way to get the saddle positioned properly for the rider. Post offset is one means to get it right. If the saddle is too far aft or forward relative to the line of the seat tube angle it LOOKS wrong. The seat tube angle needs to be properly positioned for saddle adjustment fore/aft as the saddle rail length and the post head offset only allow a certain range.

Whether the “length TT = fail” depends on the rider position needed. The only advice I can give is to get it right. Only an individual rider can figure that out. I offer three sizes of frame for the Blackbuck with effective top tube lengths of about 23.5”, 24.25” and 25”. If you fit within that range and want a Blackbuck, great. If not, buy a different frame. I wish you well.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:40:50 +0000

Using post offset to compensate for the wrong length TT = fail. Lousy advice.

By: jeffj

jeffj — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:47:50 +0000

I hope you never decide to put gears on the dark deer. You could just check out for good.

By: yogi

yogi — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:29:35 +0000

Mark thanks for your input. I think Rob nailed it when he said that company(bike designer) input on this forum is part of what makes it so great!
Supper nice bike, however since Gen 1 (to small for may 6’2/35 inseam self) I went custom. Otherwise….