![]() Check out the scraping above the Bontrager logo- that’s some sturdy sidewall protection! We know this because with a 3” tyre you’ll be scraping the sidewalls of the tyre against lots of stuff on the trail, but despite this, the Chupacabra remained intact throughout the review. The result of the project was the Bontrager Chupacabra, a 3” tyre that weighs just 860 grams! Despite the light weight, the Chupacabra is tubeless ready, and the sidewall protection was high. We were lucky to chat with Trek’s Travis Brown where we discussed the Stache, and he summed up the decision to go with 29+ wheels by saying ‘if you’re the type of rider willing to take a small weight penalty for a lot of extra control and traction, and the ability to run low pressures, we came out with the 29+ to be superior.’Ģ9+ wheels with 3” tyres must be heavy right?Īt first glance, you would presume that the Bontrager Chupacabra tyres would weigh significantly more than regular tyres, however, one of the key aims of the Stache project (which was entitled ‘project weird’) was to create a lightweight 29×3.00 tyre. While the Stache is never going to feel like a dual suspension bike in choppy terrain, setting up the monstrous Chupacabra tyres tubeless and with the pressures low the bike has excellent small bump compliance. The second advantage of 29+ tyres is the small bump sensitivity that can be achieved by running the voluminous tyres at lower pressures. Firstly, with a bigger contact patch you’ve got more grip on the ground in virtually any condition than a goanna scaling a tree. With the elevated chain stay design and a boost spacing hub, Trek can tuck the chainstays to a length adjustable between 405-420mm (the bike ships with the length at 420mm) in the world of 29ers that is incredibly short!Īn increased contact patch is beneficial in two main ways. There have only ever been one other 29+ bike make its way to the masses, we reviewed the Surly Krampus a few years ago, while we loved its endless traction it was hard work to manoeuvre through any form of a tight corner and was a boat to try and rip through singletrack. 29+ wheels are huge, too big to fit into a normal shaped frame, hence the wildly asymmetrical rear end of the bike and its elevated chainstay arrangement. Not sure what we are talking about? Here, have a read of this if you’d like to know what a plus-size bike is all about.Įssentially, Trek developed the Stache around 29+ wheels due to the increased contact patch of the tyre when compared to 27.5+, but it wasn’t going to be so simple. When Trek decided to create a bike in the ‘plus hardtail’ category, they developed the Stache from the ground up using 29″ diameter wheels, instead of jumping on the existing 27.5+ wheel (27.5″ diameter with 2.8-3″ tyres) size bandwagon. The Trek Stache, with its big, balloon-like wheels. Other Stache owners have similar issue? What was your preferred solution?Īnd yes I know the obvious solution to a broken spoke is just to buy a new bike but I am trying to think outside the box for a change.Expensive for a hardtail with mid-range spec. I don't care about weight just the ability to handle the abuse that I will put it through. Replace all the spokes with a thicker gauge 14gauge(2mm) or 13gauge(2.3mm).Just replace the one broken spoke with assumption that breakage will be relatively infrequent.And yet another revelation is that the factory duroc 50 rim that comes with the stache is 28H whereas the after market rim is 32H. Of course I looked it up on the forums and low and behold braking spokes on the stache rear wheel is theme. Then when I took off my tire I found evidence that seems to indicate that at least 2 spokes had broken previously(square patches of tape over the spoke nipple where the original rim tape was cut to take out the broken spoke). First the spoke gauge is 15g(1.8mm) which I thought was odd to be on a bike as burly as this. ![]() As the title indicates I broke a spoke which is not surprising considering the terrain but now I am down a rabbit hole regarding what I should do about my rear wheel.Īt first I thought I would just replace the broken spoke then carry on, however when I started looking up specs I found some interesting things. Was out riding last Sat on some single track that included some rock gardens and some short rocky descents. I tend to do a little of everything and I prefer challenging terrain in general. I mostly ride technical single track in western PA with lot's of roots and rocks. Tires are setup tubeless (Maxxis Minion DHR II F/R) and pressures I run are 14/16. Bike was in really good shape and everything is working well. So I have 2019 stache 7 that I bought used about 3 months ago to get back into MTB after an 8 year hiatus (last MTB was Cannondale Jekyll). ![]()
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