My 29er rant

[Jaco-fiets]

I am not totally comvinced with the 29er thing yet. Its nothing new. Years back you could get 29ers and it never took off. Why not? Now everybody thinks because burry races a 29er and some of the local bike shop owners ride that they must be better for some reason. I highly doubt that Burry rides a 29er because he thinks its a better ride. The man gets paid to ride it and his job is to created a market for it. Same goes for the shop owners

 

This is my opinion so pls dont flame me for it. Im not saying its a bad ride. I've never ridden one. Im just saying to be aware of the huge market effort that goes into this that is spearheaded by worldclass riders

[Mecnic]

I would also like to join the rant and have a few points to raise:

 

1) I am still to see that a 29er in my size exists, I am 167cm and finding a decent 16" 26er is hard enough.

 

2) Some say that angles don't realy work or still haven't been perfcted on 29er in my size (small) a medium has a short stem and this odd kink in the seatpost it looks odd.

 

3) the big wheels accelerate slower and can be a bit "lomp" in the tight stuff it funny to watch a someone who can barely stay up right try to negotiate technical on a 29er

 

4)lets face it 26er has over 20 years of development behind it and if you had to add up each different manufacturers development thats easily over 100 years of thought behind the almost perfect 26er.

 

5) I might get altitude sickness from the extra height especially on a full susser

 

6) Spares availablity, and the wheels are stronger on a 26er for those of us who are hard on wheels (might be small but ride hard)

 

7) I am tired of being discriminated on for having a 26er I am student and I can't just buy buy buy.

 

I realy like this forum so don't burn me at the stake

 

P.S I heard Chuck Norris still rides a 26er, can't argue with that logic

Edited February 6, 2011 by Mecnic

[XCer]

The 29er were not introduced to take over from the 26", it is just there as an additional option to explore different riding experience through the bigger wheel size. I am 6ft and weigh around 88kg's and feel very comfortable on the 29er. The 26" MTB will never loose its place in any way and will be around for years to come but because there is now this new big wheeled bike people are stressing out that they may be missing out on something or that they will have to layout big bucks to by a 29er FS.

 

So you can decide on two different size bikes now but it is not for everybody. Lets not knock those who ride 29er's and the 26" rider should not feel like they are loosing out on anything. Bike speeds are very similar, but the overall feel of both bikes is very different - ride one and decide for your self!

 

To may people out there are moaning about the 29er as if it is going to take over and it is not. It is just a much welcomed option for riders looking to experience something different or in my case, big riders looking for that extra edge.

 

There is no right or wrong - just ride!

[Wyatt Earp]

I am not totally comvinced with the 29er thing yet. Its nothing new. Years back you could get 29ers and it never took off. Why not? Now everybody thinks because burry races a 29er and some of the local bike shop owners ride that they must be better for some reason. I highly doubt that Burry rides a 29er because he thinks its a better ride. The man gets paid to ride it and his job is to created a market for it. Same goes for the shop owners

 

This is my opinion so pls dont flame me for it. Im not saying its a bad ride. I've never ridden one. Im just saying to be aware of the huge market effort that goes into this that is spearheaded by worldclass riders

I explained it waaaaaay back in this thread

[Wyatt Earp]

 

~ I will be doing the MTN National Clarans MTB race on 19th February which is a XCM 78 km's and will be able to give some feedback after this event.

 

 

Cool, we will hold you to it.