itchyrichy wrote:Hello! As someone who is hoping to purchase an XS X-trail from Performance Bike (their prices are really good right now) I was wondering if someone who has an XS size bike could do me a favor. Do you happen to know the center-to-center width of the handlebars? I know that some manufacturers spec narrow bars on smaller frames but my fit is best with 42cm bars and not 40cm ones. I'm curious what the bike comes with stock and I can't find that measurement anywhere online. Thanks!
Performance often has promotions that up the Performance Points from 10% to 20% of the purchase price. That's worth an additional $280 against future purchases. I'd ask them about it. Both myself and a friend were able to take advantage of this last October and in early December. If not, watch for future bonus points and take advantage of their price guarantee and ask them to match it.
Enoch wrote:I looked the Ridley over and they got so much right on it. Unfortunately they overlooked giving ample clearance for 40 tires.
I agree w/that assessment. That said, I'm keeping mine - it's a very nice bike.
Originally, I had plans to run the WTB Nano 40c TCS front and back. Since they are a bit large in back, I thought I would probably run the Nano in front and something in a 38c or so in back. That could be the G-One @ 38c if it fits or perhaps the new Clement MSO tubeless @ 36c. I did mount a set of S-Ones @ 30c a few weeks ago and they are impressive - a great tire. So i think the G-One in 35c would be very capable and the 38c even more so. The only issue is they don't have a lot of side knobs for technical terrain and/or soft dirt & sand. But w/a Nano up front it wouldn't be as big of an issue.
For me, the issue is now moot as I have a Niner RLT Steel coming soon and it will fit (they say) 44s. So now I don't think I'll need to go larger than 35c on the Ridley and will likely keep the S-Ones on for most uses. That and a wheelset for pure road use. And the Niner for the big stuff.
Thankfully, there seems to be a lot of options for tubeless tires coming soon.
Thanks for the replies to everyone! Any opinions on the stock 38c tires? I was hoping to install a set of 40c MSO's on the bike but if they don't fit I am sure the stock 38's will work.
I also have a set of 45NRTH Gravdal studded 38c tires that fit fine on my old Cannondale CAADX so I'm hoping those will go on fine.
This will be my first purchase from Performance Bike and as there are no dealers up here in New England it looks like I'll have some fun assembling the bike when it arrives!
I thought the stock tires were fine - just not tubeless which I prefer, especially around here.
Not sure if the MSO 40c will fit or not but the Nano 40c will not work on the rear of the X-Trail. It will fit on the bike but there is only about 1 or 2 mm of clearance on each side at the chain stay. I didn't measure mine but think they must run big as the OEM 38s fit fine. There is a new MSO coming out in 36c tubeless which might be a nice option in the rear.
When I ordered mine, my dealer said the bikes come fully assembled except for the fork. So likely just install the stem and maybe the front brake. Probably about 45 min or less and ready to ride.
Note that there are issues with the sizing charts used by both Ridley and Peformance. At least, there used to be though haven't checked lately to see if they've been corrected. I'm 5/8" and the XS is a very good fit for me.
Just want to say that I'm 5'7 ish, and have about 29-29.5 inseam and Small fits perfectly. Even did a bike fit and fitter mentioned that if I would race cx then x-small would fit better, but for anything else, like long days in the saddle small is better fit. I even feel that 100mm stem is a little short. But I also have Ridley Helium SL in small that fits like a glove.
Just replaced stock bars (they were marked as 42cm) with wider 42s Salsa Cowbells, that seems to be a bit wider in the tops. Weather looks super crammy for the next couple days, so wouldn't know how it feels until the weekend.
Thanks everyone - I pulled the trigger on an XS this morning. I too am 5'7ish with a 29 inseam but I figured I'd rather err on the smaller side than not.
Can people confirm that the cassette is an 11/32? The perfbike website claims it is an 11/30 which I have never heard of in the Shimano lineup so I am hoping it is an 11/32 to match the Ridley side.
The bike will arrive on Monday and I will order some 42cm bars to throw on instead of the stock 40's. I like Zipp SL-80 bars but perfbike doesn't sell them so I may have to go to Amazon for those and burn up the Team Performance points on pedals and cages instead.
From your comments i see that this bike is great on the road. And what about the bike on the gravel / off-road? Is it good on the gravel / off-road to the same level like the cyclo-cross?
Also I would like to ask about the geometry of the bike. Is the geometry of the X trail more close to the road bike or to the cyclo-cross?
And what is your view about the following - if i am planning riding 50% on the road and 50% on the gravel / off-road, should i choose the X-Trail or the cyclo-cross?
itchyrichy wrote:Thanks everyone - I pulled the trigger on an XS this morning. I too am 5'7ish with a 29 inseam but I figured I'd rather err on the smaller side than not.
Can people confirm that the cassette is an 11/32? The perfbike website claims it is an 11/30 which I have never heard of in the Shimano lineup so I am hoping it is an 11/32 to match the Ridley side.
The bike will arrive on Monday and I will order some 42cm bars to throw on instead of the stock 40's. I like Zipp SL-80 bars but perfbike doesn't sell them so I may have to go to Amazon for those and burn up the Team Performance points on pedals and cages instead.
Thanks!
Cassette is an 11-32, 105/CS-5800 Performance upgraded mine to Ultegra/CS-6800 as per their published spec.
I run 42cm bars too but rather like the OEM bars. The bar tape too is very good. I've been waiting to get the parts for other upgrades and then will change out the bars too.
From your comments i see that this bike is great on the road. And what about the bike on the gravel / off-road? Is it good on the gravel / off-road to the same level like the cyclo-cross?
Also I would like to ask about the geometry of the bike. Is the geometry of the X trail more close to the road bike or to the cyclo-cross?
And what is your view about the following - if i am planning riding 50% on the road and 50% on the gravel / off-road, should i choose the X-Trail or the cyclo-cross?
Many thanks!
In my opinion, it leans to the road side of the spectrum. Probably not quite as much as the Specialized Diverge but more so than the Salsa Warbird. But, I like that. That said, the bike is great off-road & on dirt. There aren't many gravel roads around here though I've ridden those too. I've got a few hundred miles on dirt w/no issues. I've run the OEM Challenge 38s and recently added a wheelset w/Schwalbe S-Ones @ 30c. Also a set w/Open Paves in 27c for the road and light trail. I used the Challenge tires on road and they did surprisingly well. And the Schwalbes have been great both on road and off-road. They don't have much for knobs so they can be a little slippery on side hills and or fast cornering.
The only thing I noticed re geometry is that the steering seemed a little vague at first. It seemed to move around a little, especially in the wind. I'm guessing it has low trail even with the slightly slack head tube angle. Regardless, it corners extremely well even at high speeds. And now I'm used to it and it's a non issue.
This would be a great bike for your 50/50 purposes. I'd probably recommend the gravel geometry over cyclocross. Most that I've read is that the lower bottom bracket and more relaxed frame angles enhance stability and long distance comfort.
Can you also please let me know are there in the X Trail necessary holes and space for fitting (i) fenders, and / or (ii) rear rack, and / or child's seat?
According the manual, Ridley is going to make fenders that fit this model. But, according to my dealer, they are not yet available. There are a couple of small bolts on the inside of the fork blades and on the underside of the fork crown for a front fender. The rear has a small bolt on the back side of the seat tube for this purpose. Then there will be an attachment for the seat stays which do not have a traditional brake bridge.
On the front there are no bolt holes for a rack on the dropouts. On the rear there is one bolt hole on each dropout that would, I presume, be used to fit a rack. There is nothing however higher up so you would have to use a P clamp or a seat post clamp for the upper attachment.
This is a great question! When I ordered/picked up my X trail, was under the impression that it would accommodate fenders. But there's no mounting hole in the fork crown, and no brake bridge normal fenders would not fit. For the front was thinking of bending the mount, but for the back zip ties where the brake bridge would be.
For regular fenders I was thinking on taking regular crown mount, bolting it to a fender and then bending it horizontally, for the front. And back needed the bridge or maybe zipties. So far neither the removable bridge or the propriety fenders are nowhere to be seen.
Performance got me the rear seat stay fender bridge. I still haven't installed it though. Currently using sks longboard fenders with rear seat stay clamps for mounting and drilled hole through the front fender for mounting under front fork. Working great.
alembical wrote:Performance got me the rear seat stay fender bridge. I still haven't installed it though. Currently using sks longboard fenders with rear seat stay clamps for mounting and drilled hole through the front fender for mounting under front fork. Working great.
Did they special ordered it for you? How much did it cost?
They did not charge me. It is much simpler and less impressive than I thought it would be, but I plan to install it the next time I install the fenders... after I remove them again first
alembical wrote:They did not charge me. It is much simpler and less impressive than I thought it would be, but I plan to install it the next time I install the fenders... after I remove them again first
A LBS quoted me $20 something for the part.
Thanks! Could take a picture of this bridge? Going to try and call performance and see if they can get it for me too.
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