My 29er rant

[Tieffels]

Guess there is no better time to get my rant of my chest..

 

First up I really REALLY feel sorry for the early adopters on the 29-er, back in the day when they were still cool and novel and stuffs, which was like 12 months ago.. There is nothing that killed the 29er novelty vibe like countless yuppies in X5’s with a carbon 29er S-works on the back..

 

Maybe it is a JHB thing, but at basically every MTB training ride I’ve been on lately, there’s been a guy with a brand spanking new 29er. With red hubs (do black hubs not work on 29ers?). And a medium frame. I was keen on trying one out, I really was since I thought at 6'2 it made sence in a way. But I must have heard 5 okes telling their buddy how at the last race all the cool peeps had 29ers, now he’s also planning on getting one. And Burry rides one these days, he will also tell his buddy with a liberal dose of “insider info” tone of voice. And that it is better all round will be thrown in with a bit of “gospel” tone of voice. When “contact patch” gets mentioned I normally fake a puncture by biting a hole in my back tyre..

 

It makes me want to convert to a 24”. But that is just me, the oke who balances out the world with early adopters on the one side, me on the other side (cynical about every new hype), and countless mindless sheep in the middle. The okes from Powerbalance took a page out of the 29er marketing book.

 

{Grabs flame proof jacket and eyes the clock}

[fandacious]

So what if a dude in an X5 rides a 29'er? It doesn't alter the technical aspect of the wheel size in any way

 

or are you one of those that doesnt want something because yuppies have it?

 

Who cares if some group that you dont like happens to have the same wheelsize as you?

[Bike Mob]

I was an early adopter - s-works- guilty... rode epic and the pro's asked me as we lined up in A bunch if it was sick...i was such a good salesman I convinced them all it was the bike to have...

 

Here I was, a PPA Q group, only done one sub three Argus riding in A bunch at the Epic...must be about the bike.

[Catatonic_Joe]

uh oh

[Eldron]

Sadly I gotta agree with you - I long for the days when people asked me about my "ususual" Niner rather than every lawyer, doctor and neurosurgeon ramming their carbon blinged out uber 29er down my throat.

 

Thats why I have just ordered a steel 29er SS - they hurt you far too much for posers to buy.

 

I guess in 10 years time I'll be riding an "unusual" 26er telling people how the light weight and thinner tyres are faster

[Bbox]

Hope you feel better now.

[kosmonooit]

How much longer before we see a road bike 29er? Lots of $ to be made there.

 

And what about hybrids: anyone tried 29 fr 26 back? Like you get on enduro motorcycles? Must be a good reason for that.

[Eldron]

How much longer before we see a road bike 29er? Lots of $ to be made there.

 

And what about hybrids: anyone tried 29 fr 26 back? Like you get on enduro motorcycles? Must be a good reason for that.

 

Ummmmm road bikes are 29er already - go and measure one.

 

Ummmmm squared the 69er is already on sale.

 

Dude - you gotta get out more...

[onetrackmind]

Guess there is no better time to get my rant of my chest..

 

First up I really REALLY feel sorry for the early adopters on the 29-er, back in the day when they were still cool and novel and stuffs, which was like 12 months ago.. There is nothing that killed the 29er novelty vibe like countless yuppies in X5’s with a carbon 29er S-works on the back..

 

Maybe it is a JHB thing, but at basically every MTB training ride I’ve been on lately, there’s been a guy with a brand spanking new 29er. With red hubs (do black hubs not work on 29ers?). And a medium frame. I was keen on trying one out, I really was since I thought at 6'2 it made sence in a way. But I must have heard 5 okes telling their buddy how at the last race all the cool peeps had 29ers, now he’s also planning on getting one. And Burry rides one these days, he will also tell his buddy with a liberal dose of “insider info” tone of voice. And that it is better all round will be thrown in with a bit of “gospel” tone of voice. When “contact patch” gets mentioned I normally fake a puncture by biting a hole in my back tyre..

 

It makes me want to convert to a 24”. But that is just me, the oke who balances out the world with early adopters on the one side, me on the other side (cynical about every new hype), and countless mindless sheep in the middle. The okes from Powerbalance took a page out of the 29er marketing book.

 

{Grabs flame proof jacket and eyes the clock}

So you haven't actually ridden one, then? For a period of time, not just off the back of your friend's X5 and around the car park?

 

Can you spell Luddite?

[Tankman]

there is already someone that spotted the powerbalance gap in the market, check the 27.5er in the latest bicycling magazine (KHS i think)

[shimano 105]

Nothing wrong with an X5 and a 29er.Especially the latest ones.Progress is a good thing to prevent stagnation.

[vanniri]

Apart from any BigH interrupted thread, the 29er threads are may current favourites!

[GF29er]

Guess there is no better time to get my rant of my chest..

 

First up I really REALLY feel sorry for the early adopters on the 29-er, back in the day when they were still cool and novel and stuffs, which was like 12 months ago.. There is nothing that killed the 29er novelty vibe like countless yuppies in X5’s with a carbon 29er S-works on the back..

 

Maybe it is a JHB thing, but at basically every MTB training ride I’ve been on lately, there’s been a guy with a brand spanking new 29er. With red hubs (do black hubs not work on 29ers?). And a medium frame. I was keen on trying one out, I really was since I thought at 6'2 it made sence in a way. But I must have heard 5 okes telling their buddy how at the last race all the cool peeps had 29ers, now he’s also planning on getting one. And Burry rides one these days, he will also tell his buddy with a liberal dose of “insider info” tone of voice. And that it is better all round will be thrown in with a bit of “gospel” tone of voice. When “contact patch” gets mentioned I normally fake a puncture by biting a hole in my back tyre..

 

It makes me want to convert to a 24”. But that is just me, the oke who balances out the world with early adopters on the one side, me on the other side (cynical about every new hype), and countless mindless sheep in the middle. The okes from Powerbalance took a page out of the 29er marketing book.

 

{Grabs flame proof jacket and eyes the clock}

 

No problem get a single speed, rigid, steel 26r' (Like I did) and then everyone will ask you about you bike, like they did when I got my Fisher 29r 2 years ago. In the end everyone has been riding 26r bikes since the 80's (or earlier) so having a choice is already nice... wether the x5 drivers decide to show themselves up on a carbon 29r' should we be bothered? At least they are riding!!! there is hope yet

[Velouria]

Mountain biking is the new road biking, where bling counts and attitude rules. In fact, road biking is becoming more like the old mountain biking - where people get out and race for the sake of riding bicycles with mates, not to show of their bikes, or their cars, or their kit.

 

That said, I ride a 29er and love it and the reason for that is because now my mountain bike rides more like a road bike. It's fast, it's nimble and it fits me much better than my 26er which I now ride purely for fun (like the old mountain biking kinda fun).

 

Instead of the 24" option, how about trying the KHS sixfifty606 27.5"

 

http://www.khsbicycles.com/Images/Bike_Images/Mid11/six-fifty-606-11.jpg

[MintSauce]

First up I really REALLY feel sorry for the early adopters on the 29-er, back in the day when they were still cool and novel and stuffs, which was like 12 months ago..

 

 

More like 6-7 years ago. And it's ok, those early adopters didn't do it for the 'novelty' or for being 'cool' because more often than not they got ridiculed.

 

Ride one. Especially considering your size. You won't go back'

 

NOTE: I don't actually ride a 29er myself

[Stevief]

I have a 26fs and my long time riding buddy just got a 29er fs . he doesnt shut up about it, i think its cause he has to justify his decision or mayble its that good. All i know is i love my bike and i love riding and whatever makes anyone happy so be it. If the 29technology actually is better or not still up for debate as we have seen. Who knows maybe in a couple of years i might get a 29 er maybe not. What im trying to say is at most of our level of riding that is all of us on the hub the bike is not the one holding us back its our skills and ability that dont match our bikes, so i doubt a 29er will make us any better or faster than we are at the moment.