Mountain Biking - Ok it's been a couple of years since GF introduced the 29" wheel for mtb's.

Is the industry buying into it? I feel like the industry hasn't embraced the concept, if they did, there would be more bikes out there with 29" wheels, and more aftermarket companies would be making 29" tires and rims, haven't seen this yet.

Hmm. I had forgotten about the large GF wheels. I knew he had them on his personal bike(s), but not that he was pushing it as some new standard.

Seems like a good idea in at least one way: a larger wheel definitely rolls over bumps easier. <shrug> ....I don't know. Haven't heard anything ...until your thread!

I agree, I think it'll remain a niche market, but not one that prospers. GF has embraced it, but that's the ONLY major manufacturer producing 29ers.

The ones I rode just "felt" wierd, but then I never like GF geometries.

I do like the Karate Monkey from Surly, but would probably never own one!

L8R

I think the 26" wheel is here to stay as the industry standard. When I'm ready for bigger wheels, I'll buy a cyclocross bike. (Only as an addition, not as a replacement.)

It was never Fisher's intent to make it a new standard. It was simply to offer an alternative.

If Fisher was going to push it into a standard, Trek would be making 29" bikes.

I rode a 29" X-Cal, and it felt alright. Definately different.

But I don't see many advantages. Larger contact patch, but heavier wheels. Taller ratio (so harder to get the wheels going in higher gears), longer spokes so more spoke flex (leading to serious wheel tension). SO, I think the benifits don't outweigh the sacrifices.

a 26" wheel rolls things fine :)

Isn't he the one that came up with the 1.25-inch Evolution headset too, lol?

Isn't he the one that came up with the 1.25-inch Evolution headset too, lol?

God only knows................ :o lol

29 inch wheels just seem like another mountain bike "innovation" that nobody really asked for.


:o

Fisher isn't as weird as Manitou when it comes to this.

Manitou released the 1.5 and the post-mount brake's.

The 1.5 is worthless IMO. If you need a 6" travel SC fork, you need a DC fork. and the post mount brakes means expensive adapters.

Fisher wasn't trying to change the world, he was offering an alternative.

Well 1.5 is debateable and I wholly disagree with the 6" sc statement. There is definately a market for it. Personally I wouldn't use one but I have many friends who love to do bar spins and other tricks you can't do with a dc and still want longer travel.

Like all ideas the 29" has a place just not in everyones arsenal. I am never sure why people are so narrow minded to write off every idea that comes out that is different. While I don't like some things (Shi!mano's saint line comes to mind), options are much better than a single choice.

I'm not bashing the 29" wheel, I feel that if there is a place for a 29'r, it will be endurance racing, also taller riders will find it easier. It is better than 1 choice though.

I've ridden a Fisher 29'er at a race and was very impressed with it. Granted it was a race and the course was ideally suited for the bigger wheels i really did like them. If i were to build a custom bike right now it'd have 29" wheels for sure

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Well 1.5 is debateable and I wholly disagree with the 6" sc statement. There is definately a market for it. Personally I wouldn't use one but I have many friends who love to do bar spins and other tricks you can't do with a dc and still want longer travel.

Like all ideas the 29" has a place just not in everyones arsenal. I am never sure why people are so narrow minded to write off every idea that comes out that is different. While I don't like some things (Shi!mano's saint line comes to mind), options are much better than a single choice.

I dunno, the 1.5 may make the fork stiffer, but it's still a single crown with a lot of stanchion showing. One nice case, and there goes your $700 fork. Larger steertube doesn't necessarily mean stronger fork. It means stronger head tube. But means nothing about the stanchion/crown interface. It's great until you case a jump. Just my opinion. I have never been big on bar-spin's though, so I got a Slider :)

What's wrong with the Saint gear?

Originally posted by BAC5.2
I dunno, the 1.5 may make the fork stiffer, but it's still a single crown with a lot of stanchion showing. One nice case, and there goes your $700 fork. Larger steertube doesn't necessarily mean stronger fork. It means stronger head tube. But means nothing about the stanchion/crown interface. It's great until you case a jump. Just my opinion. I have never been big on bar-spin's though, so I got a Slider :)

What's wrong with the Saint gear?

I am not saying *I* thinkthe 1.5 is the way to go but many people believe it. Either way I was more pointing to you saying you don't see a point to a 6" sc and you may as well get a dc...thats more what I was disagreeing with.

Do a search. I have been in many discussions as to my issues with saint. I don't really feel like going over my issues again :)

i have yet to try a 29" wheel but i'm open to new things. but then i'm not in the market for a new bike anytime soon.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
I am not saying *I* thinkthe 1.5 is the way to go but many people believe it. Either way I was more pointing to you saying you don't see a point to a 6" sc and you may as well get a dc...thats more what I was disagreeing with.

Do a search. I have been in many discussions as to my issues with saint. I don't really feel like going over my issues again :)

Gotcha, my bad.

I don't understand the logic behind it. But I guess if you are willing to shell out the bucks, by all means, get one.

If I had an Evil Imperial, I would consider running a breakout, but otherwise, I'd just get another Slider.

I was actually considering buying an Evil Imperial :o




I think I'd go with a Shiver SC or a Dorado SC...

Dorado SC is kinda odd.

I'd take the Shiver simply because the Shiver's are notorious for being maintainence free. The Dorado's are rebuild *****'s.

I'd run an 03 Slider on it, and then put an 04 on my Scream :). I am considering building an IMP in addition to my Scream. I just might next summer. Either an IMP or a sub 20lb XC hardtail.

Originally posted by BAC5.2
Gotcha, my bad.

I don't understand the logic behind it. But I guess if you are willing to shell out the bucks, by all means, get one.

If I had an Evil Imperial, I would consider running a breakout, but otherwise, I'd just get another Slider.

Well when you see riders live doing 15 ft box gaps trying to go backflip while doing a barspin you would see. Or better yet huge 15 ft wall ride to a barspin...either way depending on your market a long travel sc definately has a place....:)

Back to 29" - now that it's UCI race legal, what would prevent someone using a cyclocross frame in an MTB event?

What exactly is an MTB anyway. Is there a limitation on the wheel size? You can buy 24" MTBs for little people. 29" would make a nicely proportional wheel for a very tall guy.
There is no good reason for riders of every size to ride the same size wheel.

I have a Surly Karate Monkey and quite like it. It absolutely rails through tight singletrack. The larger contact patch helps keep the rear tire planted on loose cruddy climbs.

A

Originally posted by BAC5.2
I dunno, the 1.5 may make the fork stiffer, but it's still a single crown with a lot of stanchion showing. One nice case, and there goes your $700 fork. Larger steertube doesn't necessarily mean stronger fork. It means stronger head tube. But means nothing about the stanchion/crown interface. It's great until you case a jump. Just my opinion. I have never been big on bar-spin's though, so I got a Slider :)

I always hated the OnePointFive system at first. It just seemed unnecessary and 'just another dumb mani standard.' However, after having ridden a Sherman a few times I can definately see some practical uses for 6"+ with a single crown fork (Mani is making a 7" sherman in 04). Around here the trails are mostly switchbacks in and out of gigantic canyons. What you end up with is switchback with turns so tight a tripple crown fork just won't get the job done unless you stop and pivot the turn. The Sherman allows riders to zip around hairpin turns without sacrificing travel. Is it for everyone? Definately not. Is Manitou the only way to go? I've heard similar praises of the 6" Z1, so I doubt it. All in all, I would say the OnePointFive standard is indeed a niche market, but not so small a niche that it borders on useless.

Are there even any 29" tyres to go with the wheels?

No, they just wrap large rubber bands around their rims.



:D

I ride a 29"er and love it. Check out my sig. - I have a sweet 26" wheeled MTB that I don't ever ride off road anymore. The physics of the 29" vs. 26" wheeled MTB cut both ways, pros and cons on each side of the fence. I won't argue the physics of which one is "better" because I think it depends on where you ride and your riding style. You have to try one out on a trail, not in a parking lot, to get a real idea of how they ride. They are totally different. Anecdotally, I can tell you that my experience has been a more stable ride downhill, a little slower to pick up speed but way better at maintaining momentum, and I can rail the twisties just as quickly as the guys I ride with who are on 26"ers. The ride seems more comfortable to me because I can get away with 30 psi and no pinch flats because of the extra volume of air in the tubes. There are about 10 or 12 tire choices currently, and Sun, Alex, Mavic, and two or three other companies I can't think of right now make rims, each company has two or three different models. As far as wheels being weaker goes, mine are still perfect, and the 26"er had more need for truing after comparable riding. Don't dismiss the idea out of hand, these bikes are here to stay. 29"er MTBs aren't for everyone, but those I know who have them love them.

I knew I still had this somewhere. This is a couple of years old, there is a lot more 29" specific stuff on the market now...
http://www.cyclecambridge.com/29er's.html