KnobbyMech

Damn, this is a tough one! Both very good bikes. I also recommend Merida One-Twenty and GT Sensor 2.

Great plan, but one problem. Your's have got a bit more horsepower than mine, no way well get them together.

There might be some good news coming up for guys on the Sani2c waiting list soon! Now, where is that emoticon with the mouth zipped up?

Oops, me bad, that is true.

I have not come across a helmet as comfy as the Giro Xen. My wife has the Xen and Hex and loves them too. Perhaps not the best ventilated around, but even if they are not as light as the roady lids, they are not exactly heavy either. I ride with mine in Winter and at the bike parks. Looks crappy without the sunvisor though, so would not use it on the road bike.

Thanks. It is the 2011 XTC29er. They only make one model hardtail and 1 model dual-suss. The wheels are the 2011 American Classic. The bike retails at around R15k and the wheels around R6k. There is nothing wrong with the wheels it comes with, just a bit on the heavy side (2080g vs 1600g of the AC).

My guess it started with one of the following treads: Disc brake vs v-brakes (and some fighting tooth and nail for v-brakes) Hardtail vs dual-suspension What is this carbon thing people are talking about? Tubeless mtb what?? Never! Will anyone ever beat JP Pearton?

One more.

Ok here goes. 1st pick by Knobby on the hub. Hope it comes out upright. Sorry about the missing couch (or hare on the lawn)!

Nice! I saw your tread on your new baby. Just got my American Classics as well. I have opted for KCNC stem, handlebar and seatpost as it is light, "cheap" and goes nicely with the black and silver 2011 frame and fork graphics. Will keep the SLX crank, but will upgrade the brakes at some point. Will post a pic here or on your tread as soon as I figure out how to download a pic from my phonecam (with your permission offcourse , I dont want you to get green and all )

What a blast! So jealous of everyone who will get an opportunity to do it in the dry. Thanks to the farmers My wife loved it too but her riding partner had to go on a Bar One diet to keep up

Only 42hrs to go!! Can't wait for 1st long ride of the year and to check out the lekke old Freestate on my new big wheel express.

Actually not true. My 29er is R14,5k (with some KCNC bits and another saddle added). I will get new wheels, but my rave came while riding the stock standard XTC29. My 26" Anthem is the 40k one with XTR all round and RS SID wc. Come to think of it..your are right, not a fair comparison

And for once Knobby and Dangle are in the same team. Kinda comfoting.

I just can't find a good avatar. I am ugly so a pic of me without my helmet won't do and too fast for a camera to get a picture with one on. Please let's see some suggestions (some opportunity for humor here, so I won't take it personally). I will give the best avatar suggestion my powerbalance bracelet (blue, size M, currently used to balance my books) and my ANC membership card.

We all make mistakes, are let down by other people from time to time and have misfortune. It is how we react to this that seperates us and reveals our true character. So Till is a Dickens then?

Rim size: True Outer diamenter of tyre: Not true, more like a 26" mtb diameter

Good and valid comment. For me it appears that the 29er thing is more than just about the size of the wheels. But for comparison: Both Giant, Anthem X and XTC29er Head and seat angles almost identical (71 vs 71.5 and 73 vs 72.5). The set up (reach, saddle height, handlebar reach, handlebar width, seat posistion re bb, etc) all the same. Tyre width and pressure the same, although not the same make, both front tyres with relative agressive thread pattern. The bb on the XTC is lower than the Anthem's and it is also lower than the hub height thus giving it some pendulum effect stability. As I said before, the 29er thing is more than just about the size of the wheels. I felt it and I love it.

Haha, perhaps so, but that is like saying safety belts and airbags are for guys who cannot drive properly.

Did you copy one of my tread replies from last year? Sounds just like me a year ago. I can promise you one thing...29er is not going to go away.

No rant from Knobby here, just rave. I am a late bloomer to the 29er world and only got my 1st 29er this month. Were not convinced I would enjoy the 29 hardtail more than my trusty AnthemX 26'' dual. Still felt the same way after my first couple of rides and decided the Anthem will remain my race weapon of choice... That was untill I took both bikes to Rietvlei Mtb park this weekend. Man that 29er is awesome! After taking on sharp corners (especially on downhill corners) with the 26" after I went there with the 29er I realize that I control the 29er much better through the corners and have much better balance resulting in a faster exit through despite the so called sluggish accelleration of the bigeer wheels. Pushing hard on flat twisty singletrack, the 26 was more responsive, but I felt I was about to loose the front wheel any second. I felt way more in control and relaxed with the biggy and could hold much tighter lines. I now strongly believe that a marathon will be more enjoyable, less exausting, more fun and faster on the biggy. Let the upgrades begin. Loan anyone? And rocks, what rocks? Shoot!

It's obvious the bike is stolen right? So do whatever you would want someone else to do if it was your bike that just got stolen. He shouldn't be able to outride you I hope. Easy.

Only diffs between RL and RLC is the compression damping and relative knob. Replaced my F100RLC 26" with the SID a year ago, so 'n know the diffs. Comparing weight between 29" and 26" forks is unfair I know, but still think the Rockshock will be far lighter.

I was shocked (no pun int) to discover the FOX 100RL 29er weighs 1750g. That is a wopping 350g more than the SID wc on my 26". The blêrrie damping knob keeps turning when you adjust the lockout and it is all but a proper lockout. It is still brand new. It is nice and stiff though with the 15QR. The pushlock on the SID is fantastic and the lockout is great, yet forgiving when you need it give a bit when you forget it on and hit a rock garden. Apparantly the wear resistance on the uppers is also better on the Rock Shocks.