jmaccelari Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Dude' date=' where've you been? The top guys are all going 29". Check the results overseas, Todd Wells won the Sea Otter XC on a Spesh 29er, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski took the US Nationals on a Fisher carbon 29er, etc.[/quote']Hmmm - all American races. I have heard (rumour alert) that the US is very keen on the 29ers becausetheir courses are more flowing and less technical. This is the opposite in Europe where tighter courses favour the 26"ers. Maybe it's horses for courses?
f40pilot Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Correct, no World Cup races were won on 29ers nor marathon World Cup. All the results I've quoted are very recent (November)and American.Europeans are always the absolute last to adopt new tech (suspension, disc brakes, tubeless tyres) so it will be a while till we see them in WC. The current Swiss sub-vet Marathon champ rides square-taper cranks with twin-rings, 1.95" semi-slicks and 80mm hardtail and early 9spd XTR, catch my drift? I stopped racing in europe waaaaay back in '97, an accident ruined the whole lot but I have a good pedigree (definately not a fighter pilot, sorry), 7 national road champs, 1 national marathon mtb champ and 1 national cyclocross title. A quick clue: I'm not South African...As for another clue: you might know some of my friends, whom I raced with from a very young age: Suzy Sauser, Axel Moos, Frishi? I also wrench for some folks you'd find are quite influential.Have you raced Elite XC? Those who have don't find my comment flippant at all!
f40pilot Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 PS. Almost forgot, Katie Compton took the US Nationals on a niner too.
Hog_ Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 If you spend some time in a bike shop Before you put your foot in your mouth, please allow me to point out that f40pilot is one of the best bike mechanics I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with, so I think he's spent enough time in a bike shop. As for the actual debate - the 26 vs 29 debate can only be settled by riding both and deciding what YOU like more. No one has the same riding style as you have, so no one can say what you should ride. Hog_2010-01-02 08:36:19
f40pilot Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Good point, generally the NORBA series courses are more flowing singletrack and less "tight" but the same can be said for some of the euro tracks, Spain is wide-open throttle and one averages 26km/h usually. Both the US and WC courses are a wide selection, sometimes the downhill guys would look at the course, look at the riders, look at the bikes and declare the whole lot friggin' insane! So yes, certain bikes would suit certain courses better but I still believe if you're a privateer and want the "one" bike, the niner's cover most of the bases.
turtlek Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 If you spend some time in a bike shop Before you put your foot in your mouth' date=' please allow me to point out that f40pilot is one of the best bike mechanics I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with, so I think he's spent enough time in a bike shop. As for the actual debate - the 26 vs 29 debate can only be settled by riding both and deciding what YOU like more. No one has the same riding style as you have, so no one can say what you should ride. [/quote'] Jayz Judging by what f40pilot has to say and his knowledge of certain aspects of the techincal side of a bike i think it would be a great idea for you to stop being so stubborn and maybe use a little bit of his knowledge to your advantage... turtlek2010-01-02 08:48:53
jmaccelari Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Why don't you just say "**** all that comparison BS" and go for a 69er (not that kind!): http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/trek/69er-single-speed-2009 Now THAT'S weird...
jmaccelari Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Correct' date=' no World Cup races were won on 29ers nor marathon World Cup. All the results I've quoted are very recent (November)and American.Europeans are always the absolute last to adopt new tech (suspension, disc brakes, tubeless tyres) so it will be a while till we see them in WC. The current Swiss sub-vet Marathon champ rides square-taper cranks with twin-rings, 1.95" semi-slicks and 80mm hardtail and early 9spd XTR, catch my drift?...[/quote']That's what happens when you live in 900 year old buildings! Yep - "Europeans are conservative" is the most succinct way of putting it.
jmaccelari Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Do you know how much it costs to run a sub-10 short-susser 26er for a season? The beauty of the hardtail niners is that you get 80mm small-bump absorption without having to rebuild your linkages after every marathon event. Comfort? Who cares? I never had the time to think about comfort when I was racing...So you reckon a 29er would give you about the same advantage asa full susser 26"? The maintenance argument (hardtail vs full susser) is a very compellingone.
Wyatt Earp Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 jayz How about a challenge, I will challenge you over Breedtsnek and back on my 29 'er......................singlespeed
jmaccelari Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 jayz How about a challenge' date=' I will challenge you over Breedtsnek and back on my 29 'er......................singlespeed [/quote']****. Don't take him up on it...
Nancy Drew Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 jayz How about a challenge' date=' I will challenge you over Breedtsnek and back on my 29 'er......................singlespeed [/quote'] showoff
Danger Dassie Posted January 2, 2010 Posted January 2, 2010 Just make Summit isn't riding the big blade.... it's power is 'ayoba'
jayz Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Tell you what. You would probably give me a big carrot not because of the bike but because you are a good rider.(type of bike will have nothing to do with it) Unfortunately I am not the race snake you are but I will challenge you to beat my freind (G) who raced in the uk and Europe and trained with BARLOWworld. Lucky for you he only rides a Merida 96 5000d so you should wipe the floor with him on your single speed 29er.
evolve Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 All this fighting talk of i am better here or this is better there is really not the way to settle this matter, thats going rear its head for a looonnnnggg time to to come still.The ONLY way is to ride the 29er ............. then all will become clear
jayz Posted January 3, 2010 Posted January 3, 2010 Done that got the Tshirt. Just because you like IT! big does not mean all like IT! big. Does the saying go those who like big things have..........
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