_C50_

Darn, only 2 weeks? Let's see, my warranty claim is still not sorted out, 13 months down the line... How awesome is that?? Whatever you do, just don't by a TREK!

I think it's been established that the whole 26" vs 29" debate is pretty pointless... If you can't/couldn't ride over certain obstacles, or had difficulty riding specific trails on a 26" wheel bike, getting a 29er isn't going to make you magically do it. Burry Stander technical skill and ability doesn't come packaged with a 29er. If you suck technically, you suck. Riding more, learning, confidence on the bike, etc, etc ... those things will help more regardless of what the wheels size of your bike is.

Funny how in all my years of playing various sports i never knew or heard of anyone suffering from asthma. Until i started cycling...

Damn, hoekom het ek gedink medium? Ja, ek's maar stadig. Elk geval... dink nie dit is vir almal nie.

Oom Popeye, Jy ry 'n medium, nie 'n small nie. Raam grootte bly dieselfde, al verskil die wiel grootte.

What i don't get is this constant "us vs them" thing, roadies vs mtb'ers... what the hell? My first bicycle was a girls bicycle when i was about 5yrs old, it was the best bike ever! I rode it around the block a thousand times every day. I got sunburnt to a crisp, blisters on my hands and neck. I just kept going with my mates. Then a bmx, holy crap, awesomeness. Road bike followed years later. Then the mountain bike. And ever since then i've always had both. I ride bicycles. I don't care if it's a road or mountain bike. I don't care if you're a so called "roadie" or think you're some tough guy mountain biker. As long as you ride a bicycle. To me we're all cyclists.

That wouldn't have helped one little bit. I'm still waiting for a warranty claim, it's been almost a year. Still nothing, nada. I eventually contacted Trek Customer Service in the States and their reply was that they would contact the relevant agents in South Africa. When i told the guy that i've been waiting for months with no joy from the local agents, and that was the reason i ended up contacting them, i didn't get another reply. After 4 months i got a replacement frame but they sent the wrong size. Almost a year later and i'm still waiting. Ended up buying myself another frame just to ride a mtb again. Awesome service!

I agree with you 110%. Still think that technical ability has a big part to play.

After not riding any form of bicycle for the last 9 months and picking up 12kg's in the process i was convinced by Dick to "get back into it" with the Attakwas. The perfect way to kick-start your training... How difficult could it be? I have a 29er after all, been riding one for ages. Oh my hat, i almost died. How could it be? I was on big wheels, they make everything easier apparently. I'm not sure if they rolled better over obstacles while i pushed my bike up every big climb. Next time i'll ask a fellow bike pusher with a 26" bike if they want to swop bikes. We can then compare notes at the top of the climb. I was to broken to even think about that, opportunity missed! Do they go better down hill? Not once was i passed by anyone on a downhill, and i certainly passed loads of people. They were on 26" dualies/hard tails, 29" dualies/hard tails. Personally i think that the majority of those just don't know how to ride down a technical (or non-technical for that matter) decent. I was supposed to be fresher at finish, less broken, less everything... and faster. I demand a refund of the money i spent on my bike! It's all about the bike, not.

Because they break when they go off road.

OMW! And here i thought i was the only one. LOL

Just stay away from anything that says Trek/Gary Fisher unless you don't mind waiting 4 months for a warranty claim. And like vanniry said ... it's likely to brake at some point or another.

I couldn't figure out of the problem was on the supplier/distributor side, or international. I think that just answered my question.

How i wish i had this little bit of info 18months ago when i made my purchase! Circus is an understatement.

When it comes to a warranty claim or broken part for a frame, as Mr G mentioned, the bike shop you go to shouldn't affect the outcome. Waiting weeks for something like that is not cool. I just waited 3 months for a warranty claim which is totally friggin ridiculous in my humble opinion. I would just like to point out that it was not with Dragon Sports though, in case there is any confusion. For that very reason i will not ever own/buy anything that has the Trek/Gary Fisher name on it. Mr G, if you really want a Giant 29er and there is stock issues, my suggestion to you would be to go buy it from a LBS that would be able to sort you out with something in case of a warranty claim in future.

Stop listening to the crap the commentators have to say and watch the racing. Just like they said Contador was "on the ropes" when Andy attacked? Please... So he was scared was he? You must be a pshychic.

I'm not a Contador fan but i certainly don't hate the man because i want someone else to win. Or because he's killing my favourite rider in the Tour... Even before yesterdays "incident" i saw people calling Alberto all kinds of names. Now please tell me for what reason? So far in his career Contador has managed to do what even Lance couldn't, from a grand tour winning perspective. Give credit where credit is due. I'm sure Andys' time will come.

Cry me a river... Apparently Contador was "in trouble" from Andy's attack, give me a break. Contador was badly positioned when Andy attacked and was closing the gap fast when he had his "mechanical". And obviously it was only Contador which drove home the advantage, not. Even if Andy took 20-30 seconds out of Contador (which was highly unlikely) by the top of the climb, he would never have stayed away 'till the end. Seems everybody dislikes Contador because he managed to kill pool old Lance last year with half a team. He's going to wipe the floor with Schleck in the TT.

I would think that if they didn't go over the mats at Smits their results will not show? I was in the VA group and while going up Suikerbossie yesterday i passed a guy with a C seeding. I was like .. WTF, how did he get there before us??

The bottom line is, the bike suits me better, it fits me better. And i enjoy riding it. Whether it had 23", 26", or 29" wheels is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with anybodies marketing department. I loved the Rush, i like the 29er more. It works for me. Like i said, ride what you feel comfortable with and what works for you. I really don't care if people think the bike looks funny/odd with the big hoops. In fact, i actually kinda like the way it looks.

I don't really want to get involved in a "which is better" debate. From my own experience... I come off a Cannondale Rush Carbon which is a great bike in anybodies books. It was under 11kg's and i didn't have the lightest wheels on the bike. Now i ride a hard tail 29er. The bike is probably 2kg's heavier than the Rush i had. I'm 6'4" and always felt like i was sitting "on top" of my 'Dale. The 29er just fits me better, i feel more comfortable on it. I'm a pretty average mountainbiker, will never be any good at it, i'm to big and heavy. ... but what i have found is that i climb better with the 29er. Where i used to struggle to keep my front wheel on the ground on very steep, technical climbs on the 'Dale, now i don't have that problem anymore. I won't call myself technically good on a mtb either, but i'm not useless. On the 29er i decent faster because obstacles that used to slow me down does not anymore. I ride more XC/Marathon type events and for that my bike is perfect, for me anyways. Yes i would like it if it was maybe a little lighter but i'm never going to win any races. Not going to break the bank because of it. What i use it for and the level of riding i do, i will never go back to 26" wheels. Whether you race XC, do Trials, or All Mountain\DH is your thing, go with what will work best for you. Give Burry, or any other top MTB'er a high end 29er, and they will still kill most people on the bike. At the end of the day there is no substitute for talent and class. He will beat most on a hypermarket special for that matter. Whether it has 26" or 29" inch wheels, it doesn't matter.

I can see the benefit with the big wheels and obstacles, riding a 29er myself. Just wondering how the bike would handle big jumps, etc.... because my bike doesn't really like to go air born. It was much easier for me to get the bike off the ground on 26" wheels. That's probably because my wheels weigh a ton, i'm not 100% sure.

. _C50_2009-10-09 02:15:08

Barry White .... classic! I'm not black like Barry White is, no, i'm white like Frank Black is ...