On Mar 18, 4:39 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

Do you have your bars below seat level? If so, how many inches
below... and do you think you could get them up to approximately
seat level or an inch below without doing anything radical?

I have 5 cm of spacers on the stock fork (uncut) and an 80 mm Salsa
stem with 40 degree rise. That would put a flat bar about 3 inches
below the saddle, I figure. I run a Mary bar so I get about half of
that back with the rise of the bar. Using a longer stem with a 2"
riser bar would easily get the bars up to seat level.

Here is a picture of my old setup. I was running a longer stem,
straight seatpost, gears, different wheels.... but it will give you
some idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/delorenzo/331290705/

What's your satisfaction level with the bike? Is 29" doing
anything for you that 26 wasn't?

This was only my second MTB and first 29er, so I don't have a lot to
compare it to, but I totally love this bike. The steel frame feels
great and the rigid fork soaks up a lot under my 250+ lbs. My
confidence and skill improved instantly with the big wheels. There are
plenty of arguments for both wheel sizes, but as a big rider I'm
totally sold on the big wheels.

I'm running Phil Wood hubs with 36-hole Rhyno Lite rims. I love the
Rhyno LItes, they're cheap, strong, wide and work great with a wide
(2.3) tire.

Regards,
Anthony