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Giant Trance part 2

Posted: Feb 28 2011 in We Ride

If you missed the build of the Trance, read here. I've been out on the bike a handful of times and have finally started to figure it out. 

The short version of this post is that you must learn a bikes nuances before you can learn to love it. Once you figure it out, the bike will come alive under you, allowing you to have the fun you ought to be having. 

To see the Trance in action, check out this video. For some commentary on the ride quality, scroll down below the video. 

My first ride on the Trance was not great. I couldn't figure it out, I was having trouble climbing up things that I had previously navigated with relative ease. I could not decide whether it was the cockpit, the geometry, or even the tires. I tried a narrower bar, but that didn't help - nor the longer stem. It was a bit troublesome, not knowing where I went wrong with the bike, and wondering if I had made a mistake replacing my Altitude with the Trance.

After giving it some thought, and doing a mental comparison to other bikes, I realized that I was trying to ride the Trance as if it were an Alitude. I was constantly comparing it to the Altitude. How does it climb, descend, sprint and corner? Why doesn't it react exactly the same? 

Once I started riding the bike like it was wanted to be ridden, rather than how I wanted to ride it, it started to come alive. I started to notice the advantage of the carbon frame. I started to notice the excellent acceleration and traction. I realized that if I got out of the saddle and put power into the bike I could get up everything I had struggled with before. I started to realize that the differences in capabilities between my bikes was more to do with the way I was riding them, than the geo, cockpit feel or suspension design.

The ride quality of the Trance is great. Once you adapt to the bike, it is incredibly capable, both up and down. If you trust it, and yourself, there is very little that will get in your way on most of the local mountains. 

Due to the snow line this year I have been unable to get up to the more technical riding on Fromme, but I have taken a couple laps on Seymour and Burnaby. I'm very impressed with the ability of the bike to navigate the more rugged trails on seymour, but still remain nimble and light on Burnaby. I can't think of a single move on Burnaby that this bike could not handle (admittedly there is probably something tucked away somewhere that I would not want to ride - I just don't know where that something may be). I did shy away from one drop on Pingu (Seymour), but I have never found it pleasant, even on my 10-inch travel DH bike. 

The Trance handles 2-3 foot drops with ease, steep and techie lines are also manageable, and smooth rolling single track is a dream. When pedalling you feel the power go straight to the wheels. There is no delay. 

In comparing the Altitude and the Trance I am going to discuss the different ways I would ride the bikes, and their general tendencies. 

Climbing:

On the Altitude I would find myself most comfortable seated with a higher cadence spinning my way up anything and everything. The bike just went up. On the Trance my technique needs to be a bit more aggressive. Standing up while climbing allows me to climb as much as the Altitude, and inspires a bit more power and momentum in the process. I would say the Altitude leads to  more relaxed climbing experience, but the trance will get you to the top faster.

Descending:

Having similar forks (150 Float RL and 150 Talas RLC), the same bar, and the same stem allowed me to get a good feeling of both these bikes. Riding with weight biased to the front wheel of both the bikes yields great results. Once the trails turned a bit steeper, I found myself wanting to slow down and choose more subtle lines on the Altitude, where the Trance would let me go down most anything I wanted. I am more confident on the trance, rarely questioning whether the bike will be up for the challenge, where the Altitude would occasionally leave me wondering whether I was actually going to make it. 

Flats:

Both bikes are a treat to ride along the flats. The Trance certainly inspires me to get up out of the saddle and go, where the Altitude is more of a sit and enjoy the ride type of a bike. I'm not sure what makes them feel so different, but you really do feel like you need to stand and be aggressive on the Trance, where as the Altitude inspires a more subdued and relaxed riding style.

Which is better?

That's quite a loaded question, and one I am not going to answer directly. Both of the bikes are fantastic, inspiring different styles of riding. A potential buyer would be better to look within and decide what type of rider they are, or want to be, and make a purchase based on that. Longer days in the saddle, at a more relaxed pace - the Altitude will be your friend. Want to sprint past your buddies when they are least expecting it, or be the first up the hill - the Trance may very well be the bike you choose. 

I do find it strange that two bikes which are essentially designed for the same type of riding can inspire such a different feeling. It's amazing what a few small tweaks in geometry and suspension designs can do.

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