29ers...here to stay or fade away?

[GoLefty!!]

650B is not a compromise. It still requires a bike to build around it.

 

What it does not require is special fork offsets to make it work.

It does require a different set of stanchions, unless youare running a Lefty.

 

^50 has other frame geometry benefits like a less compromised BB/Downtube/seatube/chainstay junction.

Less BB drop from the axle centre line.

a more trinagulated headtube

and a wheel of similar diameter to a road bikes wheels with a tyre fitted.

 

29er results in a too large a wheel for the frames to be built as strong as 26er frames.

659B has none of those drawbacks, hence the real engineers in the industry are throwing their weight behind the 650B. Fisher certainly sent us on theright direction again but I suspect he opted for 29 er because he could modify road rims for use on MTBs when 650B was not available at all.

 

650B is the true std while 29er is actually the compromise.

[Eldron]

650B is not a compromise. It still requires a bike to build around it.

 

What it does not require is special fork offsets to make it work.

It does require a different set of stanchions' date=' unless youare running a Lefty.

 

^50 has other frame geometry benefits like a less compromised BB/Downtube/seatube/chainstay junction.

Less BB drop from the axle centre line.

a more trinagulated headtube

and a wheel of similar diameter to a road bikes wheels with a tyre fitted.

 

29er results in a too large a wheel for the frames to be built as strong as 26er frames.

659B has none of those drawbacks, hence the real engineers in the industry are throwing their weight behind the 650B. Fisher certainly sent us on theright direction again but I suspect he opted for 29 er because he could modify road rims for use on MTBs when 650B was not available at all.

 

650B is the true std while 29er is actually the compromise.

[/quote']

 

I disagree.

 

Why bother with  650B at all if you're only going to gain 1.5" in diameter? That's only a 5.7% increase... Hardly seems worth the effort to do it.

 

There is little to no scientific proof or evidence regarding this issue eg: frame strength - what wheel size is too large to make a strong frame? What possible benefit can there be to having a built mtb wheel the same size as a built road wheel? How long is too long for spoke strength?

 

Pretty much all of this is heresay and the proof will be in the riding. Right now I prefer 29 to 26. If and when I ride a 650B I might change my mind...until then it's all speculation and suposition.

 

 

[Flowta]

 

650B is not a compromise. It still requires a bike to build around it.

 

What it does not require is special fork offsets to make it work.

It does require a different set of stanchions' date=' unless youare running a Lefty.

 

^50 has other frame geometry benefits like a less compromised BB/Downtube/seatube/chainstay junction.

Less BB drop from the axle centre line.

a more trinagulated headtube

and a wheel of similar diameter to a road bikes wheels with a tyre fitted.

 

29er results in a too large a wheel for the frames to be built as strong as 26er frames.

659B has none of those drawbacks, hence the real engineers in the industry are throwing their weight behind the 650B. Fisher certainly sent us on theright direction again but I suspect he opted for 29 er because he could modify road rims for use on MTBs when 650B was not available at all.

 

650B is the true std while 29er is actually the compromise.

[/quote']

 

If the 29er requires special fork offsets because it is bigger, surely 650B would also require fork offsets because it is bigger. (maybe just not so much)

 

650B also requires changes to design, so if a 29er cannot be built as strong as a 26er, then neither can the 650B.

 

In otherwords you are saying 26er is the perfect standard because;

 

 

26er has other frame geometry benefits like a less compromised BB/Downtube/seatube/chainstay junction.

Less BB drop from the axle centre line.

a more trinagulated headtube

and a wheel of similar diameter to a road bikes wheels with a tyre fitted.

Hell, using these arguments 24" should be the ideal standard.

 

If properly designed there should be no difference structural durability of a 26er, 650B or 29er/700c

 

I remember you posting on a different mailing list last year a review of a 29er comparing it to your Scalpel and asking Santa to provide you with 1 (actually 2 for that stage race you shall not utter)

 

[NotSoBigBen]

OK so I am known to think of these as circus bikes but just rode Boris' SiR Niner (think that's correct ....) and expected it to feel strange but hey it didn't feel any different to riding a 'normal' bike!

 

Ok so that was just round the parking lot but just maybe one day he'll let me take it or another 29r out for a trail spin you never know .....

[ngala24]

CHUMBA HX1 650B

 

[ngala24]

 

 

 

 

ngala242009-12-01 06:47:05

[GoLefty!!]

just like the superiority of 29er.

 

And I have ridden it and don;t see the benefit

[ngala24]

The build

 

Chumba HX1 frame - Large

 

 

 

Fork - 2009 FOX Float RLC @ 120 15mm thru axle

 

Wheels - Hope Pro II hubs - Velocity Blunt wheels

 

Tires - Pacenti Quasimoto 2.0

 

Brakes - Formula ORO K24

 

Cranks - Truvativ Stylo 2.2

 

Shifters - Sram X.9

 

Derailleurs - Sram X.9

 

Bars - Alpha X-roc carbon fiber

 

Stem - Race Face

 

Seatpost - Thomson Elite

 

Seat - WTB Shadow

 

Pedals - Wellgo magnesium flats on there now but will probably run my Shimano clipless

 

[manbearpig]

I hear TREK is bringing out a 30inch wheel, that HAS to be 3% faster than a 29er.....

[techguy]

The 29ers do not need a specially offset fork, its just Gary Fisher's vision to make a better handling bike, the Hi-Fi that I had was a 26er with the offset fork and it was a wonderful bike to ride! I also rode an old 29er with a standard fork (standard 29er fork) and didn't feel any difference in the handling...

[ngala24]

Hog has the only HX1 frame in the country for sale, see here is anybody is looking to build a 650B

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=67115

 

[AndreZA]

I hear TREK is bringing out a 30inch wheel' date=' that HAS?to be 3% faster than a 29er.....[/quote']

 

 

 

I'm gonna patent the 32" wheel. Nobody will think of that. Cr@p, should not have told you.

[techguy]

Thats cool I'll patent the 34" wheel! HAHA

[Tumbleweed]

been thinking about the contact patch thingie.

 

gary fisher says it's longer, but i found this on a blog:

Correction. 29" gives you a different shape contact patch, but not a larger one. Two theoretical tires supporting 180 lbs at 30 psi will have 3 square inches of contact patch for each tire.

[Kansas]

been thinking about the contact patch thingie.

 

gary fisher says it's longer' date=' but i found this on a blog:

Correction. 29" gives you a different shape contact patch, but not a larger one. Two theoretical tires supporting 180 lbs at 30 psi will have 3 square inches of contact patch for each tire.

[/quote']

 

Got no idea what you just said & it makes no sense...but with my next bonus will get a 29" just to see if it really is worht it.

[Ox_Wagon]

The 29ers do not need a specially offset fork' date=' its just Gary Fisher's vision to make a better handling bike, the Hi-Fi that I had was a 26er with the offset fork and it was a wonderful bike to ride! I also rode an old 29er with a standard fork (standard 29er fork) and didn't feel any difference in the handling...[/quote']

 

29er usually has 1 deg steeper head angle to compensate.  Two different was of achieving the same result (steaper head angle vs special fork offset).  <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />