covie Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Swiss no the wider bars are once a gain an Trail/AM/DH standard, makes any bike more stable decending at speed, and they generally have shorter stem's as well.
covie Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Swiss no the wider bars are once a gain an Trail/AM/DH standard, makes any bike more stable decending at speed, and they generally have shorter stem's as well.
Eldron Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Swiss no the wider bars are once a gain an Trail/AM/DH standard, makes any bike more stable decending at speed, and they generally have shorter stem's as well. +1 I have moved from a 600mm flat bar to a 660mm low rise bar and loving it. Much more control - same movement of the bars means less move of the wheel - it seems to give better "sensitivity". Not so happy in tight forest sections though! The new(ish) tree section at Modders is interesting on the wider bars... @kranswurm - my post wasn't aimed at you specifically - I'm just a believer of ye olde adage "change one thing at a time to see the difference". When you're trying a different bike with different tyres, tyre pressure, stem length, bar width and seat it's very difficult to say how much of the difference is wheel size - too much intereference... DirtyFrank 1
BLACKvoodoo Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 I don't think "tight turns" should even come into the debate. How many Really tight switchbacks are the in any given race AND You'll be silly to think the 0.000.00.0003secs you lose in the four switchbacks can't be gained with interest in the straight and sweeping bits.
Eldron Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 I don't think "tight turns" should even come into the debate.How many Really tight switchbacks are the in any given race AND You'll be silly to think the 0.000.00.0003secs you lose in the four switchbacks can't be gained with interest in the straight and sweeping bits. Personally the issue is not losing the 0.00000003secs - it's not crashing when I throw my poor Niner into the corner like a looney! In my experience 26ers are more forgiving in tight turns - if you're on the wrong line you still have the option of changing lines (unless you're hectically overcommitted of course). 29ers seem unable to change lines - once you've picked one you're committed to that line.
Helpmytrap Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 I don't think "tight turns" should even come into the debate.How many Really tight switchbacks are the in any given race AND You'll be silly to think the 0.000.00.0003secs you lose in the four switchbacks can't be gained with interest in the straight and sweeping bits.I see it the same way. Besides, my skills run out before the bike does. Got some work to do then on my new 29er.
covie Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Personally the issue is not losing the 0.00000003secs - it's not crashing when I throw my poor Niner into the corner like a looney! In my experience 26ers are more forgiving in tight turns - if you're on the wrong line you still have the option of changing lines (unless you're hectically overcommitted of course). 29ers seem unable to change lines - once you've picked one you're committed to that line. Let me be a stick in the mud here, but i disagree i can change lines much easier with ol bigfoot, i find it way more direct and way more precise, but that might have a lot to do with the stiffness of the bike rather than the wheelsize. But i have quite often changed lines halfway through picking a route and found the bike responds instantly to my new direction. And so far no OTB excersizes
Skott5 Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 How many 26 inch riders have gone from a Medium to Long travel bike - 140mm to 160mm onto a 29er and preferred a 29er ?Just curious, not trying to stir the pot. I ride 26'ers and I've ridden a 29'er, and found the same pros and flaws that have become synomous with most of the comparisons that you read.Personally, I still prefer a 26er.The reaon I ask about a longer travel bike, is because I I have a short t travel XC bike and a medium travel trail bike. I have way more confidence on the the rougher stuff with 30mm of extra travel on the trail bike than I do with my XC bike.Personally I feel longer travel gives you similar advantages to bigger wheels, without sacrificing the fun factor ( Tail whips and Wheelies ). * Disclaimer * This is just my personal opinion and should in no way be construed as a dig at 29'ers. I'm sure there are plenty guys on 29ers who can tailwhip and wheelie them just like a 26er. I'm not good enough to, so I need to play on the baby bike
Eldron Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Let me be a stick in the mud here, but i disagree i can change lines much easier with ol bigfoot, i find it way more direct and way more precise, but that might have a lot to do with the stiffness of the bike rather than the wheelsize. But i have quite often changed lines halfway through picking a route and found the bike responds instantly to my new direction. And so far no OTB excersizes  If you can change lines you're not riding fast enough!!!!!! Mehehehehe. To expand on my point - I found the move from old Niner Air 9 to new Air 9 (with tapered head tube and 15mm through axle) had a much greater effect on "line changing" and pin point accuracy than 26 to 29er move. Again - too many people are over eager to give 29ers the credit for other factors...
scotty Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Riding my 29 in Rietvlei, iv'e hugged every tree in every tight corner, they might appear flimsy but refuse to budge when i shoulder charge them.
covie Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 If you can change lines you're not riding fast enough!!!!!! Mehehehehe. To expand on my point - I found the move from old Niner Air 9 to new Air 9 (with tapered head tube and 15mm through axle) had a much greater effect on "line changing" and pin point accuracy than 26 to 29er move. Again - too many people are over eager to give 29ers the credit for other factors... Yeah probably im attributing the acuracy to the stiffness of mah bikey, it was just desinged with trail type stiffness in mind and me luv it but shhhhht just now someone is going to tell us 20mm maxle is useless and overkill.
covie Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 How many 26 inch riders have gone from a Medium to Long travel bike - 140mm to 160mm onto a 29er and preferred a 29er ?Just curious, not trying to stir the pot. I ride 26'ers and I've ridden a 29'er, and found the same pros and flaws that have become synomous with most of the comparisons that you read.Personally, I still prefer a 26er.The reaon I ask about a longer travel bike, is because I I have a short t travel XC bike and a medium travel trail bike. I have way more confidence on the the rougher stuff with 30mm of extra travel on the trail bike than I do with my XC bike.Personally I feel longer travel gives you similar advantages to bigger wheels, without sacrificing the fun factor ( Tail whips and Wheelies ). * Disclaimer * This is just my personal opinion and should in no way be construed as a dig at 29'ers. I'm sure there are plenty guys on 29ers who can tailwhip and wheelie them just like a 26er. I'm not good enough to, so I need to play on the baby bike  Thats what longer travel bikes are supposed to do, however, they are heavy and suck up hills and over 120km or racing but yeah ill still get myself a proper play bike, So thats two bikes i still need to get, damnit.
Eldron Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Yeah probably im attributing the acuracy to the stiffness of mah bikey, it was just desinged with trail type stiffness in mind and me luv it but shhhhht just now someone is going to tell us 20mm maxle is useless and overkill. Thats the biggest thing people forget in the 26/29 debate - liking your bike is much more important than how big it's wheels are!
Delilah Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Interestingly I ride a XL Santa Cruze 26" FS but this is a large and fits like a gloveIs that normal for 29ers?Perhaps this isn't an issue of 26" vs 29" size, but rather the two different brands. Some, like Silverback, are known for more compact frames.
BLACKvoodoo Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 (edited) I do however have one problem with MY 29er in that I've chosen to ride wider bars and sometimes end up clipping some bark but this is something I'm prepared to live with and can change at any time. We will never truly know the pro and cons, they are based on here-say for some and those of us who have both worlds, can never be compared to any other rider. We are as different as night and day in our styles and ability. Some people like beer some like wine at the end of the day they both get you drunk. Edited June 25, 2012 by BLACKvoodoo
Skott5 Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Thats what longer travel bikes are supposed to do, however, they are heavy and suck up hills and over 120km or racing but yeah ill still get myself a proper play bike, So thats two bikes i still need to get, damnit. Aha, you see that's the thing. You can build them pretty light these days, and still have the travel. Rode Sani on my 5inch travel bike and enjoyed the comfort. Then again we weren't exactly racing either
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