tales from the "it's life Jim, but not..." dept.

I just wanted to give some props to On-One for the ScandAL I got from them. Now that I am biking XC again, the ScandAL is a very good and not too pricey bike to do it on. Also the 16” size is an almost perfect fit for me at 5’8” / 32” inside leg. In fact, I’d not even mind it being an inch or even a half inch smaller, which would make it perfect tbh, though my taste does run to smaller bikes a bit heh.

TdC frame rating: 9/10 points
TdC build rating: 9/10 points

Current ScandAL

• On One Scandal 16” (for 26” wheels)
  
• On One Superlicht Carbon fork
  
• On One Reet’ard / Shimano XT Disk wheels
  
• Maxxis ADvantage XC 2.1 front, Ritchey ZRace 1.8 rear
  
• Shimano XT disks, shifters, derailers, cranks, cassette etc.
  
• Easton Monkeylite SL CNT carbon riser
  
• On One 80mm stem
  
• ODI yeti lock-on grips
  
• Xlite uber-bling bar ends ooooo :-)
  
• On One “Twelfty” seatpost
  
• On One “Oy Bignose!” saddle (comfy!)
  

There, now I’ve blown my own trumpet enough. It rides really really well, except imo for the Zrace rear tyre, but that will be replaced at some point I guess. I love biking on it, and it makes me feel really good, which is the important thing. The ScandAL climbs like a mountain goat would if I was riding said goat, and the carbon fork, esp in combination with the carbon steerer, really smoothes out trail buzz. Tbh I was a bit worried what riding a rigid bike would be like, but it’s great and I’m a convert.

In all honesty I must say that I did smack my wrists up exactly once: hitting a largish root on the very first time out, riding as I used to on my previous mtb. Lessons learned, I can float over choppy stuff, and the general lightness of the bike and fork combined with the efficiency of being rigid outweighs the hassle. Besides if you ride a little smarter and pick your lines better the lack of a soft front end is not particularly felt. There were times that I was somewhat worried that the fork wouldn’t take much bashing, but after some use I know for a fact that if I manage to break it I will have had to do something spectacular.