Thinking of 29 Inch

[Brian Fantana]

I have a 29er,it's called a road bike.

Anyone who has just thrown a load of cash on a bike is going to tell you how great the bike is.The few that i have ridden(29er)i was not happy with.What i can't understand from the 29er comunity is that 2 very important aspects of mtbing get thrown out of the window when you build a 29er.namely weight and travel.You have to throw a load of cash to get a 29er even close to light.On the 29er FS bikes all of a sudden no one needs more than 80-90mm travel?I'll still keep my 9.6kg FS bike thank you.Over 11kg for a HT is heavy.26 inch racing HT are getting to between 7-8kg and FS bikes to 8-9kg.

I think the bicycle manufactures are so scared that they will loose out that they all follow like sheep and are all bringing out 29ers.

Before anyone starts giving me race results i just want to add that the world champion is a old man on a 26" HT and yes i think Burry would of done better at worlds if he rode his 26" epic.

 

15years ago they said the HT was dead and FS will take over but most guys are still racing HT at top level.

 

Circus wheels(29ers)are for flat roads not proper mtbing.

 

You have to remember that those lightweight 8-9kg 26" hardtails and FS bikes you are mentioning are expensive machines, while the heavy 11kg 29er hardtails are not that expensive. You have to compare bikes that are in the same price range. I built my 29er up for R17800, and it weighs 11.1kg at the moment, you will not find a stock 29er or 26" FS at that weight for ths same price.

 

To build a 29er cost about the same as a 26" except for the wheels, so I don't understand why you say that you have to throw a pile of cash away to get it to a decent weight.

 

I also want to mention that 29ers are not for everybody, you have to decide which bike will compliment your riding style.

[Aggies]

Price?

 

SRP is R29900. I've got mine for a couple of Rk less. PM me for details. Still one XL available. The XL is basically 20.5" and for riders with a height between 6'1" and 6'6".

[Cassie]

Phew!! 29er bikes....

though you were gay

 

Seriously - there is an excellent article in TREAD magazine...worth the read!!

[Oli G]

29" is virtually better in every single way other than weight and length.

The weight difference is so unbelievably overrated in fact you can get 29" wheelsets that weigh less than 26" American Classics....

[evolve]

Stop thinking and buy it.

Been on them for 2 years and cannot see why we need 26" anymore

[Pusher]

Stop thinking and buy it.

Been on them for 2 years and cannot see why we need 26" anymore

Do you ride HT or full sus? The reason I am asking is that in the various articles I read about 29er's, the ride on a HT is compatible to a 26 FS. Have you found this to be true?

[Epic Bike Shop]

Come take a look at the Bulls 29er carbon bike, and have a chat to Karl about it ;-)

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/86675-ride-with-karl-platt-tokai-forest/

[Eldron]

Do you ride HT or full sus? The reason I am asking is that in the various articles I read about 29er's, the ride on a HT is compatible to a 26 FS. Have you found this to be true?

 

Not quite - the common saying is that a HT 29er is similar to 1" of travel on a 26er.

 

I feel that is about right.

 

A 26er with a few inches of travel will soak up the bumps better than a HT 29er...

 

I went from a 26er Spesh Duallie to a 29er Niner HT and prefer it.

[Mr. G]

I rather bought the GT Zaskar 9er, 2-3k more than the Giant but about 1.3kg lighter than the Giant(also a good looking bike), spend an extra 2-3k more and easily get it to upper 10kg's!I love the ride, find I needed to train a bit more on steep technical hills or use a lighter gear than my F/S Volcan, but it out performs the 26er in all other departments.

[Eldron]

I rather bought the GT Zaskar 9er, 2-3k more than the Giant but about 1.3kg lighter than the Giant(also a good looking bike), spend an extra 2-3k more and easily get it to upper 10kg's!I love the ride, find I needed to train a bit more on steep technical hills or use a lighter gear than my F/S Volcan, but it out performs the 26er in all other departments.

 

I found exactly the same learning curve when going 26 to 29. Somehow you always seem to be in one gear too big. It took me about a month to learn to shift correctly.

 

I think this is one of the reasons people who take 29ers out for a quick spin are put off.

 

Perhaps it has to do with the 29er making gears longer - I have no idea - I still find myself in too big a gear now and then on the Niner and I've been riding bikes for 20 years!

[Wyatt Earp]

I found exactly the same learning curve when going 26 to 29. Somehow you always seem to be in one gear too big. It took me about a month to learn to shift correctly.

 

I think this is one of the reasons people who take 29ers out for a quick spin are put off.

 

Perhaps it has to do with the 29er making gears longer - I have no idea - I still find myself in too big a gear now and then on the Niner and I've been riding bikes for 20 years!

I have never had that problem with my 29'er hardtail.

[Eldron]

I have never had that problem with my 29'er hardtail.

 

Bwaaaahahahahahaha. Wise guy

[Hairy]

Has anybody moved from a 26" SS to a 29" SS ... curious to know how this faired?

[Eldron]

Has anybody moved from a 26" SS to a 29" SS ... curious to know how this faired?

 

Cue Dangle....

[Thumper]

Cue Dangle....

[Zeps]

I'm thinking a 29'r with bar ends on risers, elliptical chainrings, 2 powerbendz, 2*10 and perhaps some colored alloy nipples .....