The 29er revolution (or is it uprising?)

[shanejvv]

I've been on 29'ers since late 2007, am not tall, though I am taller than the Mouse.

 

It would be imprudent to say that 29'er will cause 26" to become redundant, it just will not. There are way too many 26" bikes out there already and the cost for production of 29'ers is till too high compared to 26. This is in large part owing to demand.

 

Last year I raced the National XC circuit aboard a 29'er full suss rig, weight was 10.9kg and it could have been lighter, but things get too dainty then. In no way was the bigger/heavier rig a detriment, not in the twisties, not in the climbs, and the bike loves singletrack. A 29'er is my weapon of choice.

 

Any good frame designer would be able to "whip" together a good bike based on current ideas without having to ride the bike. The handling of a bike really boils down to mathematics/numbers for the front side. What the rear end does is another kettle of fish.

 

Currently I am on a local brand's dual suspension 26" and its good, very good.So good actually that it cured me of being a bike snob, for the record, I thought that I was actually discerning, but call a spade a shovel. This company will also be entering the 29'er fray and I have seen the finished hardtail but not ridden it yet. It is a very good looking piece of engineering. Moreover, they will be bringing a 29'er duallie to the market too and that's the one I really want to ride. In total I think that there will be 7 models between HT and DS.

 

With the laws on 29'ers competing in European races being changed now, the market will really start to open up. Most people won't buy what the pro's don't ride.

[Borriz]

poor newbies. Next set of questions will be "I need to buy a new bike and can't decide between 26" hardtail or softail or 29" hardtail or softail"

Ride what you like and whatever fits your pocket!

 

I've tried a 29er and didn't like it.

[NinjaManiak]

every argument that is valid for a 29er, will be valid for a 32er.

So go, get ahead of the curve...

[Wyatt Earp]

poor newbies. Next set of questions will be "I need to buy a new bike and can't decide between 26" hardtail or softail or 29" hardtail or softail"

Ride what you like and whatever fits your pocket!

 

I've tried a 29er and didn't like it.

What's a soft tail ?

[NinjaManiak]

double post.

 

See below...

[NinjaManiak]

What's a soft tail ?

 

http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/imagecache/file/width/800/images/models/Cannondale/2009/SCALPEL-FEMININE_09/9ScalpeZeroPivot.jpg

[Wyatt Earp]

double post.

 

See below...

I must applaud you, probably one of a handful that understands that there is a difference between a soft tail and a full suspension.

[gongmech]

Here's a thought...maybe the 29er feels slow and sluggish because it's covering the same distance over a shorter stroke. So if you pedalled the same cadence, you would be going too fast for your normal style if you did singletrack.

[Wyatt Earp]

This was one of the most enjoyable bikes I had.

 

http://www.bikeloves.com/uploadedimages/02316-1.jpg

[Wyatt Earp]

Here's a thought...maybe the 29er feels slow and sluggish because it's covering the same distance over a shorter stroke. So if you pedalled the same cadence, you would be going too fast for your normal style if you did singletrack.

My experience of this has been evident from the geometry.

 

But then again I haven't owned that many 29'ers.

[Wyatt Earp]

One drool worthy soft tail.

 

http://www.thaimtb.com/webboard/5/02907-1.jpg

 

Then there is always this beast.

 

http://www.dreambike.com/images/mooto-x/mooto-x-ybbmid.jpg

 

But the ultimate frame will have Reynolds 853 Tubing , it's a 29'er and it must have an EBB.

 

The Niner SIR (steel is real) 9.

 

http://www.mtbr.com/images/Tradeshow/16/399/prodimg3.jpg

[Wyatt Earp]

And then of course the one bike that has eluded me for many years :angry:

 

 

http://members.ziggo.nl/tdg/bike/airborne.jpg

[Zeps]

Clowns!

[Flea]

It is not a revolution, but evolution....

some species stay behind, others move on and improve

Totally non-biased opinion of course. I say "Ride it and See" - if you don't like it don't change.

In terms of racing, I was watching Burry vs Kevin the other day - came to a stream - Burry went straight through, Kevin got cought on a rock and had to stop.....

[evolve]

I 2008 I started riding a 29er and I was laughed at along the lines "oh look it a penny farthing" and now 2010 I have eight riding mates on 29er bikes.

Earlier there were many who said it wont work for varoius reasons ............. works fine for those who ride them and take the small effort to set up correctly, much like setting up any bike you ride.

Yes they are great a 29er dual is the most fun you can have on a bike. I have hard tails and duels and its problem deciding what to ride 'cause they all veeeerrrrryyyyy nice

[Jaco-fiets]

Guys dont stare yourself blind to the fact that burry; conrad; sauser; ect all of a sudden rides a 29 er. These guys are payed by their brand and their job is to create the market. Just because they ride one now does not mean they do it because they prefer it above the 26 er. If im not mistaken gary fisher brought out a 29 er yonks ago and it did not take off. This is take 2. Personally i have never ridden one and cant say that i want to. Maybe when im 50 or so and need a softer ride on the flat farm roads