Sid Taberlay is our interviewed rider for the next issue. During our shoot the other day we grabbed a few seconds to gather up some pictures and find out a little more about his trusty steed.
SPECS
Frame- Yeti Big Top, Alloy front triangle, carbon rear end
Fork – RockShox Reba XX 100mm
Stem – Easton EA70 100mm -20 degree rise
Bars – Easton EC70 680mm wide
Head Set – Crankbrothers
Grips – ESI
Shifters – Sram XX Triggers
Front Deraileur- Sram XO direct mount
Rear Deraileur – Sram XX medium cage
Seatpost – Easton EC90 Offset
Saddle – Fizik Tundra
Brakes/Rotors – Sram XX, 160 front, 140 rear
Cranks/Bottom Bracket – Sram XX 42/28
Chain -Sram 1091R
Cassette – Sram XX 11/36
Pedals – Crankbrothers Eggbeater
Wheelset – Easton EA90
Tyres – Kenda’s Small Block 8
Tubes – Stans sealant
Special mods – None
How long have you had the Big Top?
Early/Mid 2011
What do you generally use the Big Top for? Is it a training only bike?
Yes and No. I did do a number of races in California on it but now I’m back in Australia it has become a training tool. I feel the ASR C is a little more suited to the races I’ve done/do in Australia. In saying that most of my Mountain bike training is on the 29′er as there are a lot of fireroad trails where I’m currently staying.
Not to get too deep in the great 29′er debate but how do you find the big wheels over the other 26″ bikes you own/ride?
As the saying goes: Horses for courses. It depend on the individuals riding style and the trails they ride, which often go hand in hand. As an example: I ride the 29′er a lot around the Royal National Park in Sydney, lots of fireroad. When I go back to Tassie I take the ASR 5C, it is all climbing and descending.
It is also a hardtail, how does this bike compare to other 26″ hardtails you have ridden?
The simplicity of a hardtail. The big wheels certainly have a different ride, I can be a lot more complacent when out riding the big wheels, bit like turning on auto pilot, where as a 26 you need to pay a little more attention. There was a running joke for a while that 29′er are for the technically challenged, I guess we all now see the benefits.
How does the carbon rear triangle affect ride characteristics?
Not really sure how to explain that in words….. Carbon has a certain comfort factor while not loosing any stiffness or stability.
What do you love most about the Big Top?
It has a slightly slacker head angle for a 29′er and with the 100mm forks makes for a much more stable ride with very consistant cornering.
