29er help needed

[Eugee]

Both a friend and i have been looking to upgrade our bikes. Now we have gone through the research thing and read all the 29er vs 26er threads and are more confused than ever. The one thing however that stand out in most of the threads is these words

 

"go to your LBS and test drive both and decide"

 

That's where the problem comes in. Does anyone know of a bike shop in the cape town region that have bikes to test ride on anything but the parking lot, cause the parking lot really doesn't tell me all that much.

 

Advice on what to get and why would be great too.

We are both looking at spending about 20k and we both do longer cross country to marathon style riding.

She is 1.7m (5foot7) and i am 1.8(5foot9).

 

Thanks guys

[TwiggzSA]

I had the same problem with test driving bikes and not getting much advice. After much article reading and chatting to bike shop salesmen I was as confused or if not more than what you are now. There is no definitive answer.

 

I went 29er because if I really wanted to make my own opinion about it, the only way I was going to get a good enough test ride is if I bought one. I'm happy with the choice.

[Eugee]

That is the problem im sitting with. every single person i talk to has their own opinion and right at the end wile taking the last sip of his beer tels me just go test drive them. Bike shops look at me like im from mars when i request this and then the sales person starts with his own version of the debate. Evan had a wait for the 650B. Problem is i cant spend 20k to test ride a bike and then not like it.

[forkie]

Dont you have mates with bikes? Maybe you can ride theirs?

[TwiggzSA]

For me it was a case of being so frustrated with the different opinions and my own indecision that I eventually just said I'd buy a 29er hard tail alloy in my price range and bought the best deal I could find.

 

At the end of the day, the difference in cost between a similarly spec'd 26er vs 29er is minimal - about R1000. Look at the Merida TFS 900 and Big.Nine 900. Same spec, R1000 difference.

[Cav']

The fact that you want to do long events the Scott Spark 29 elite @ 19500

would be your best bet

 

edit: add photo

Edited April 17, 2012 by Cavendish

[Vinnydabutcher]

Try CWC.

 

If not - Contact the Merida agent - Henning - he is in Gordons Bay - and see what he can do test wise.

[Eugee]

facmp: i mates riding, none with 29er in my size.

 

Cavendish: thanks for the advice, have looked at the scott spark 29 elite and its a nice bike. Would have preferred to know what exactly the difference is and whether it would suit my riding style before i just go for the best bet. (Im not a betting man)

 

TwiggzSA: I might actually end up doing exactly that as at my length most reports i have read is positive. My friend however is not as tall and there the geometry plays a big role.

 

Is there really no way to test drive a bike in cape town? Thought if anyone would know it would be a hubber.

[andretraut]

These type op posts should be declining by now, because soon there will not be the option to choose anymore, unless you want to hang onto the past and pick your bike out of the archive catalogs.

[Eugee]

These type op posts should be declining by now, because soon there will not be the option to choose anymore, unless you want to hang onto the past and pick your bike out of the archive catalogs.

 

I am sure as long as there are people out there that has not been on a 29er and loves technical twisty single track and as long as there are reports saying shorter riders have problems fitting a 29er these posts will continue. After 4 years the opinion is still largely divided and no one has a clear answer.

[Skuimkop]

OK boys here is a totally different response from the usual. Rode a 26 inch for very long time and realy loved the bike, did the Epic on it and then the 29er scene started. Eventualy I went the 29er route and it took me about 3-4weeks before I fully got used to the bike. Then I absolutely loved it.

 

Now here is the kicker/difference, The 29er then went to the shop for repairs and I had to be back on the 26er for the past two weeks, rode various sort of terrain, including singletrack and really loose rocky climbs. The fact is that its human nature to find your new ride better, because you did a hell of a job selling it to yourself!!

 

My unbiased opinion is as follows: The 29er is a more stable bike and the taller you are, the more that is the case. 29er climbs easier and holds its line little better. 26er feels more nimble on realy tight technical downhill singletrack. Overall synopsis is that the 29er will NOT make you a better rider, the technicall skills you need to enjoy riding stays the same. The 29er in my opinion especially for tall bigger riders means a bike that climbs better, feels more stable, but need even more skill development on tight singletrack and technical descents.

 

With both versions you will get great value and you will enjoy riding, I still loved my 26er this morning on the tight singletrack coming down the Glen from Signal Hill.

 

Go with the 29er, but then you need to practice and practice even more those skills, THAT ultimately makes you truly enjoy these bikes!!!

[Eugee]

OK boys here is a totally different response from the usual. Rode a 26 inch for very long time and realy loved the bike, did the Epic on it and then the 29er scene started. Eventualy I went the 29er route and it took me about 3-4weeks before I fully got used to the bike. Then I absolutely loved it.

 

Now here is the kicker/difference, The 29er then went to the shop for repairs and I had to be back on the 26er for the past two weeks, rode various sort of terrain, including singletrack and really loose rocky climbs. The fact is that its human nature to find your new ride better, because you did a hell of a job selling it to yourself!!

 

My unbiased opinion is as follows: The 29er is a more stable bike and the taller you are, the more that is the case. 29er climbs easier and holds its line little better. 26er feels more nimble on realy tight technical downhill singletrack. Overall synopsis is that the 29er will NOT make you a better rider, the technicall skills you need to enjoy riding stays the same. The 29er in my opinion especially for tall bigger riders means a bike that climbs better, feels more stable, but need even more skill development on tight singletrack and technical descents.

 

With both versions you will get great value and you will enjoy riding, I still loved my 26er this morning on the tight singletrack coming down the Glen from Signal Hill.

 

Go with the 29er, but then you need to practice and practice even more those skills, THAT ultimately makes you truly enjoy these bikes!!!

 

Thank you, a decent unbiased report.

[Special-K]

Still the question remians....where can one take a 29er or a variety of them for a spin...its a rather expensive decision to make....

[Eugee]

Still the question remians....where can one take a 29er or a variety of them for a spin...its a rather expensive decision to make....

 

[manbearpig]

I'd give my opinion about 26/29er debate but my mouth is too full of humble pie to talk....

[TwiggzSA]

Try Bridge Cycles in Diepriver. I'm told that they have loads of stock on the floor and you can take it for a ride.

 

I'm not sure how much of a ride though - if it's just in the parking lot or off road.

 

Also I've seen a test track around the back of CWC so maybe they allow proper off road test rides.