Touring - A. Homer Hilsen, isn't it just a 29er?

I really like Rivendell's new A. Homer Hilsen, a "Country bike" as they call it with loads of clearance
for 700c tyres. However, isn't it really just a 29er..........?

I have yet to see a 29er that looked as good as a Hilsen and used sidepull brakes.

I have yet to see a 29er that looked as good as a Hilsen and used sidepull brakes.

Agreed its a great looking bike and I love the clearance and the massive reach on the Silver sidepulls. My question was a bit tongue in cheek as I'm amazed at the whole 29er craze as I've been riding up to
622-35 on my Rambouillet for a while to go down tracks and the AAH would look pretty good with some 29er
tires on it.

So really aren't 29ers really just road bikes with good clearance...hmmm.

I rather cheekily describe my touring bikes as "29ers" to the mountain bike crowd, when I show up at the trails on a Trek 520, then proceed to ride apace with the rest of the group.

A 29er is going to have mountain bike geometry, flat bars, radically dropped top tube, provision for front suspension - IE suspension corrected rigid fork if rigid fork is stock- disc compatible and/or have canti studs.

A homer Hilsen is yet another reiteration of the wide tired 700c bikes so popular these days, but designed specifically around using super long reach sidepulls- "reintroduced into production by the tireless efforts of Grant Petersen" kind of quirky and poseur, IMO.

Grant's Rivendell is going to pimp the 27.5 (650b) as the new "mountain bike" spec unparalleled since the invention of the safety bicycle......

I'm a fan of the A Homer Hilsen. Not going to buy one, though. It seems to me it is an exact replica of a 1970's 27 inch wheeled sport touring bike. Why pay $1500 for a bike you can find at a garage sale for $15?

Edit: I should say a 1970's sport touring bike which someone has converted to 700c wheels and upgraded with new Tektro extra long reach brakes.