Originally Posted by
noglider
What do you mean by ponderous? It is definitely slower at steering. It's not a good idea to do high-speed maneuvers in tight spaces on this bike.
The front brake headset cable hanger overhangs the wrench flats a little so adjustment, especially as it gets tighter, became more difficult. This, plus a slightly pitted lower race contributed to poor adjustment and it eventually coming loose. Those contributed to the slower, poor handling I believed was inherent in the fork and longer trail of the bike. I was wrong on this and the bike does take a faster ride nicely as I learned yesterday.
Originally Posted by
Bandera
I raced mine in Crits and road races when new and rode my !st 'Cross on race it with never a thought that it was "ponderous" handling, but then again mine has been on a flat table, in the fork jig straight out of the shipping carton and had it's headset properly adjusted from Day 1. That being said it was superseded by a succession of dedicated road racing and 'Cross bikes but oddly enough those are long gone and the Internat'l is not. Go figure......
-Bandera
I am still adjusting fit but see above. It does turn slower than racing geometry bikes but with the proper headset adjustment it feels quite a lot better. I would say my latest ride was very positive and if I was on the fence with this bike it is back in the longterm keeper pile.