why no 29er on DH rigs

[Chubba]

Well this is the bike I am drooling over at the moment.If I have the courage to ride it to its full potential.

I cannot quite see a 29er beach cruiser out performing this

By the way, stumpjumper comes in a 29er as well!

29er Stumpy

 

[Pappa Bear]

intense had a sick looking 29er DH rig, albeit a proto.......... Would have loved to take that baby for a spin.

[Tommohawk]

Check out the video Jeff Steber posted of his Intense 2951 prototype and you will pick up that tyres are the only thing really holding back the development of the big wheels in DH. Having said that, the 26" wheel will always be better in tight switchbacks even though the 29" rolls better in a staright line.

 

intense had a sick looking 29er DH rig, albeit a proto.......... Would have loved to take that baby for a spin.

[Doggone]

I don't know how big the downhill bike market is but it seems very niche to me. Stands to reason that development of 29ers would start in the biggest market first. That does not mean that they will be better than 26 ers but I sm sure that over time course designers might be induced to built courses that are more appropriate to 29 ers.

 

Isn't it great that this wonderful sport of our can grow and develop. Pity some of us are too rigid to move eith the times. Change is inevitable. Get used to it

 

Leaves room to fetch flame retardant and alcohol refill go deal calmly with Luddites ..........

[dirtrider]

Ok so change just for the sake of changing ?

[Doggone]

Not change. Just adding options to cycling.

 

You do realize that golf started with just one club and now has been limited to a set of 14 clubs. Without expanding the options we would only ever have had something like putt putt. Nothing wrong with pitt putt but somehow there has to be more. ........

 

Now I am not saying there is anything wrong with any bike, just that there are more ways to kill a cat.....,,,,,,,,...

 

 

Btw experimenting can be fun

Edited June 14, 2011 by Doggone

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

As far as I understand it, it also came down to the limits on the amount of travel the rear could have had on a 9er. However, looking at the pic on the previous page, that doesn't seem to be an issue.

 

I just think it'll come down to whether the guys accept them or not. I mean, can you imagine a 9er shod Demo 8, or a 9er M9 FRO? I sure as hell can't.

[grb285]

Sentences that begin with "I don't know" followed by a statement usually end up like this. Just so you know, the market is massive. It might not be so huge here due to the amount of roadies buying up the last lycra stocks, but in the US & EU AM/DH/FR are massive industries. Just take a look at how fast the technology is advancing, how huge the World Cup has become, how many bike parks are around etc.

 

I don't know how big the downhill bike market is but it seems very niche to me. Stands to reason that development of 29ers would start in the biggest market first. That does not mean that they will be better than 26 ers but I sm sure that over time course designers might be induced to built courses that are more appropriate to 29 ers.

 

Isn't it great that this wonderful sport of our can grow and develop. Pity some of us are too rigid to move eith the times. Change is inevitable. Get used to it

 

Leaves room to fetch flame retardant and alcohol refill go deal calmly with Luddites ..........

I don't think so. If 29ers are the next best thing, surely they can make the courses more technical what with all of the 'advantages' of having slightly bigger wheels.

 

So you go from knowing nothing, to saying "Pity some of us are too rigid to move eith the times. Change is inevitable. Get used to it". Strange posting to say the least.

 

Personally I think we will see the 29er DH bike at some point. I've got a buddy who is 6 foot 3, rides an XL frame DH rig and I've always thought he'd be better on a 29er. I'm shorter, and for me 26 inch wheels are perfect. I've ridden 29ers a bunch before and while I like the feel for XC I don't like it when pointed down a hill.

Edited June 15, 2011 by grb285

[MintSauce]

Build courses that are more suited to 29ers? What a load of crap. Perhaps the large proportion of riders in this country(be it 26er, 29er, 96er whatever) should stop throwing money at their problems(ie not winning the middle distance at the local funride ) and just ride their bloody bikes

[dirtrider]

Been a few years since I have won one of those races .

[Doggone]

Sentences that begin with "I don't know" followed by a statement usually end up like this. Just so you know, the market is massive. It might not be so huge here due to the amount of roadies buying up the last lycra stocks, but in the US & EU AM/DH/FR are massive industries. Just take a look at how fast the technology is advancing, how huge the World Cup has become, how many bike parks are around etc.

 

 

I don't think so. If 29ers are the next best thing, surely they can make the courses more technical what with all of the 'advantages' of having slightly bigger wheels.

 

So you go from knowing nothing, to saying "Pity some of us are too rigid to move eith the times. Change is inevitable. Get used to it". Strange posting to say the least.

 

Personally I think we will see the 29er DH bike at some point. I've got a buddy who is 6 foot 3, rides an XL frame DH rig and I've always thought he'd be better on a 29er. I'm shorter, and for me 26 inch wheels are perfect. I've ridden 29ers a bunch before and while I like the feel for XC I don't like it when pointed down a hill.

 

 

Maybe you should read a posting with a more open mind. The point being made is that the largest market generally attracts attention first for manufacturers as they can make most profit there.

 

In your educated opinion not knowing exactly how large the market is makes me "know nothing" . Your extrapolation of logic seems to come from the school of Malema politics. I am not a cycling specialist but I have a good understanding of business and marketing and this is the angle from which I make this statement. The general intent of the post is that people should not judge these developments in cycling as something of a once off change, as they will not be the last. As new technologies are developed, the sport will develop. Before long travel suspension I doubt too many people were taking the jumps and drop offs that are now commonplace.

 

What does wheel size matter as long as you are happy with what you ride. No bike is perfect. The sport is great and each one of us should enjoy it as we want to .

 

[grb285]

Build courses that are more suited to 29ers? What a load of crap. Perhaps the large proportion of riders in this country(be it 26er, 29er, 96er whatever) should stop throwing money at their problems(ie not winning the middle distance at the local funride ) and just ride their bloody bikes

POST OF THE WEEK!

[Tumbleweed]

Build courses that are more suited to 29ers? What a load of crap. Perhaps the large proportion of riders in this country(be it 26er, 29er, 96er whatever) should stop throwing money at their problems(ie not winning the middle distance at the local funride ) and just ride their bloody bikes

 

 

On the topic, maybe a 29er DH or AM rig would do well at a Mega Avalanche?

[NotSoBigBen]

But but but they roll better over rocks (big in down hill .....) and they instantly make you a better technical as well as faster rider so I am sure it is only a a matter of time ....

[grb285]

Maybe you should read a posting with a more open mind. The point being made is that the largest market generally attracts attention first for manufacturers as they can make most profit there.

 

In your educated opinion not knowing exactly how large the market is makes me "know nothing" . Your extrapolation of logic seems to come from the school of Malema politics. I am not a cycling specialist but I have a good understanding of business and marketing and this is the angle from which I make this statement. The general intent of the post is that people should not judge these developments in cycling as something of a once off change, as they will not be the last. As new technologies are developed, the sport will develop. Before long travel suspension I doubt too many people were taking the jumps and drop offs that are now commonplace.

 

What does wheel size matter as long as you are happy with what you ride. No bike is perfect. The sport is great and each one of us should enjoy it as we want to .

 

 

Thanks for insulting my intelligence.

 

No, you're not a cycling specialist, that's why you can shamelessly say that one day we might even adapt our courses for the 29er! That's going to be a big laugh at the trailbuilding sessions. Ya, let's make wider switchbacks with bigger rock gardens (cos y'all know how amazing them 29ers roll over anything). The downhill market is massive dude. If you understand business so well then why make a baseless statement that lacks any knowledge or research?

 

In your ace knowledge of business and marketing, maybe you can confirm the reason they're bringing out all these updated 2012 26" forks these days is because the warehouses are full of old stock?

[Big H*]

My dear(s) thou protest too much.