• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Mountain Bike 2018 Cannondale Trigger 3 and Pivot Mach 5.5

Erik Timmerman

So much better than a pro
Instructor
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
6,304
@Tricia and spent the morning on the on the Pivot Mach 5.5 and Cannondale Trigger 3 and we both had a great time. We headed down to Carson City to the Clear Creek trail with a friend that lives near by. The Clear Creek trail is a gradual climb for a couple of miles and part of this experiment is to see if we do want e-bikes and will a modern "all mountain" one-by will be enough to get us out riding. Both bikes are mediums which seemed to work for both of us, Tricia is on the smaller end of the medium range and I am on the larger end. For a comparision, Tricia took the Trigger small out a couple of days prior and it jsut felt too small and I had tried the Monterra (similar geometry) in a large and it just felt cumbersome, another point of reference is the Specialized I have had in the past were 18" or Med so the size feels right.

Tricia started the day on the Pivot and I was on the Cannondale. About 3 miles in we switched without discussing our experiences after another couple of miles we stopped and compared notes. It really wasn't an apples to apples comparision in that the Cannondale has a list price arounf $4K and the Pivot and list of over $7K. In realilty the Pivot is not an option for us based strickly on price and if the Mach did blow either of us away, we would look at a lower price version of the Mach like the Mach 6. There is no question that Pivot makes a great bike and the Mach is no exception but price aside it was the feel of the Pivot that didn't resonate with either Tricia or myself the same way one brand or model of ski doesn't float someone's boat. The Pivot felt heavy and I wouldn't say cumbersome but a bit more disconnected than the Cannondale. The ride position was also a little different in that the seating position was a but more upright with the pedals feeling a little more under my feet and I felt it took a bit more to efficiantly actually comfortably pedal.

The Cannondale Trigger felt perfectly comfortable from the first pedal stroke. I had tried the Jeckyl and that had just too much slack in fork then I tried the Habit 6, but a lower priced one at $2K and it just felt like a bike. The Trigger was fun and responsive more like a 90mm ski verses a 100mm ski. The shorter rear stays on the Trigger made the bike extreme responsive and both Tricia and I had the same opinion of the Trigger and agreed IF we had buy something today, both Tricia and I would be happy with a Trigger.

Where does this leave us and e-bikes? Well they absolutely still on the table as are other options. Aditionally, we have been talking to bike manufacturers to get on more bikes so we can review them. We are starting with manufacturers that are both ski and bike brands that we can help create awareness. In Setpember we will be going to Interbike to preview the following year's bikes and have reports from the floor like we do at SIA. So, you expect more bike reviews and talk here and we are looking to host bike discussion that mirrors what we have going on with skiing.

If you're gonna be testing bikes, you'd better get a shock pump. You and Trish switched bikes at the mid-point of the ride, I'm guessing there's pretty sizable weight difference between the two of you. You are both getting shortchanged on performance if you didn't change suspension settings when you switched. I carry a nice little Lezyne pump with a gauge that I can barely read, if I were testing, I'd bring my digital Fox pump. Really, if you plan to do a lot of testing, you should get a Shockwiz to help guide you through setup. Until you have a lot of experience, you are going to need it or your test will be blind leading the blind. I mean there's a difference between demoing a few bikes and testing bikes.
 

Monique

bounceswoosh
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
10,561
Location
Colorado
If you're gonna be testing bikes, you'd better get a shock pump. You and Trish switched bikes at the mid-point of the ride, I'm guessing there's pretty sizable weight difference between the two of you. You are both getting shortchanged on performance if you didn't change suspension settings when you switched. I carry a nice little Lezyne pump with a gauge that I can barely read, if I were testing, I'd bring my digital Fox pump. Really, if you plan to do a lot of testing, you should get a Shockwiz to help guide you through setup. Until you have a lot of experience, you are going to need it or your test will be blind leading the blind. I mean there's a difference between demoing a few bikes and testing bikes.

OMG. Shockwiz sounded amazing till I looked at the price. /faint
 

Erik Timmerman

So much better than a pro
Instructor
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
6,304
OMG. Shockwiz sounded amazing till I looked at the price. /faint

I know what you mean. That's why I don't have one. Yet. If you really think about it, if it unleashes the potential of you r bike, it's probably a bargain. If you are testing bikes, maybe invaluable. I feel like I can get my bike dialed without, but I'd like to see if it thinks I could do better. I'd really like to put it on my daughter's bike since she has so much less experience that she can't really provide feedback on her suspensions performance. All i have to go on is the position of her o-rings and just how she looks on the bike. No idea how close we are to a good tune.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno
If you're gonna be testing bikes, you'd better get a shock pump. You and Trish switched bikes at the mid-point of the ride, I'm guessing there's pretty sizable weight difference between the two of you. You are both getting shortchanged on performance if you didn't change suspension settings when you switched. I carry a nice little Lezyne pump with a gauge that I can barely read, if I were testing, I'd bring my digital Fox pump. Really, if you plan to do a lot of testing, you should get a Shockwiz to help guide you through setup. Until you have a lot of experience, you are going to need it or your test will be blind leading the blind. I mean there's a difference between demoing a few bikes and testing bikes.
We've actually talked about this, which is why we didn't switch bikes today.
We're still on the hunt for our next bikes. The good news is, we can demo out of the bike shop relatively easy as long as we want to try Pivot or Cannondale.

We do have a shock pump that I brought out here from my stash of tools I accumulated.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno
I rode the Cannondale Bad Habit 4 today.
27.5 +
I'll be writing some notes on it, while I'm sorting out what I want to do about getting a bike. Fortunately, I can demo frequently and easily.
 

Ken_R

Living the Dream
Skier
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Posts
5,775
Location
Denver, CO
that really doesn't surprise me based on those 2 different Geo's and setups (esp. the 5.5 not feeling as quick). if its flowy non-tech trails with decent conditions, that DHF is overkill and can become very draggy. I love the Rekons though. I run them in 120 tpi, 2.6's F/R at 18/20R. Again, something as simple as different tires on any bike can make a huge difference in feel and performance

Totally.

My SC HT LT came with Minion DHR II's in the front and rear (2.4 WT's). I absolutely love their grip and they can take a beating but light they are not. Looking at my times the extra grip has helped in a lot of areas but obviously not climbing. But if I ride a trail thats smooth enough that I can ride it using my cross bike then the tires start to be too much. I frequent the trails at Deer Creek park (closest to where I live) and Mt Falcon and Apex and they would eat lesser tires for breakfast, lunch and dinner if ridden frequently.

Years ago I went through a weight weenie phase (when I was in Puerto Rico) and I think the tires on my cross bike now have more grip than the tires I used then on my 2007 Trek Top Fuel (90/100mm IIRC). No wonder most downhills felt hairy AF (the bikes did not help either).

Given the wide range of trails I frequent and the looseness (+ rocky AF) of those trails I rather err on the side of more traction when selecting tires. On a lighter bike with less travel I maybe would go down one notch in tires to the Ardent or even a Rekon in 29x2.25.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ron

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,298
Location
Reno

Sponsor

Staff online

Top