New Monocog 29er owner
 

I just picked up my first single speed and 29er on Saturday. I wasn't too crazy about the brown color of the 2007 Monocog, but once you're out on the trail it seems like a really nice color. I put on some eggbeater pedals and an old water bottle cage I had laying around and I was ready to go. It was 40 degrees on Sunday so the weather was cooperating for it's first ride. The first thing I noticed was that I was higher off the ground than on my 26er. Although the bike felt better than my 26 right away. I felt I was more stable in my cornering, which translated into faster corners. After a while I felt like was taking corners much faster than on my 26er, but it could have all been in my head since there is no computer on this bike. I really liked the way the big tires soaked up the bumps on the trail. It is a rigid bike and only a few times did I feel that a suspension fork would be a nice addition. The other big thing I noticed was that it seemed like I was able to stand up and lean over the front wheel more when pedaling hard. On my 26ers I always lose traction when I do that. So that was a nice surprise. Overall it was the most fun I've had on a bike in a long time. I couldn't be happier with the big wheels and the single speed. There will be many miles put on the MC29er.

On a side note. I will definetely be getting a geared hardtail 29er for racing. I am in love with the big wheels.

Here are some pics on the bike and trail. Sorry for the poor quality. I had to use my phone camera.
http://www.innickwetrust.com/mc29/1.jpg
http://www.innickwetrust.com/mc29/2.jpg
http://www.innickwetrust.com/mc29/3.jpg

Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the brown color.;) I'd really like to get one of those myself. I was scoping out the 26" MC for a year or so until they came out with the 29'er.

I think your pic's are very nice for a camera-phone.


Good purchase!

those are pretty sweet pics for a camera phone. I just bought an '06 monocog flight on clearance, can't wait to pick it up.

cool man. my buddy just got an 06. we've been out a few times, he likes it. its his first singlespeed so he's still adjusting. but overall pretty happy. i'll take my bianchi lewis over it any day though :)

why not race the ss? a ton of us up here do. screw gears man!

I did Chequamegon for the first time this year. I can't imagine going up all those hills on the SS.

Nice purchase. Have fun on it. I love the feeling of a singlespeed.

Does it make sense to compare a $450 Redline to a MSRP $1399.99 Bianchi? Especially since the redline is a rigid 29'er and the B'yankee is a suspended 26'er...two different worlds.

I have yet to ride a 29'er, but yours looks really nice. Im sticking with 26" until the price goes down and the options increase for 29ers.

I've got my eyes (and heart) set on a SE Racing B.M. ss-29er.

The price is right, I just don't have any extra cha-ching right now!

That SE Racing ss 29er looks pretty nice. Have you ridden one yet? I wonder how the aluminum frame feels compared to the steel frame of the MC.

What are the advantages to having a 29er?

For the bike rider:

It's all about the mo' baby.

Plus, chicks dig large wheels. Oh, don't let them fool you. Women say size doesn't matter, but we all know better.


For the bike companies:

They get a whole new product line to sell in an otherwise stale and stagnant XC mountain bike marketplace.

Awesome!
 

Hey man, bike looks sweet! I love the brown color, too ... very "earthy" ...

Man, I wish I could have worked it out to go with you on Sunday :mad: just seeing the pics has me jonsing so bad to get out there again ...

I've been putting in some good trainer time, but it's just not the same... whaaaa I wanna ride!

Call me if you get any time to ride around the holidays, if the weather cooperates ...

The 29" wheels roll over bumps easier than 26" wheels. They have higher volume tubes which smooths the ride out, it feels almost like suspension. They also have more momentum to keep you moving over obstacles. Plus larger framed people seem to be more comfortable on the bigger wheeled bike. Like me. The MC29er fits me like no other bike has before. I see a geared 29er in my future.

There are drawbacks too, the wheels/tubes/tires are heavier. Which means there is more mass in the wheels to get rolling initially. This is a much(overly) debated topic on 29er forums. I'm sure someone else will chime in with why 29ers are a fad and why they will go away. But they are crazy fun. Which is why I bike to begin with.

The brown color looks much better in person. I'm so used to my two yellow bikes that I have grown attached to the dark color.

Sunday was beautiful man, I wish you could have been there. It's gonna be a while before the trails are rideable again. This rain has muddied them up I'm sure. We'll have to get together and do some concrete or gravel riding soon.

I have a dvd for you for your trainer. Here is a Link

Even if there weren't measurable advantages (and disadvantages) to the 29" wheels, it's fun to try something different. In fact, I'd say exactly the same thing about singlespeeds, so a 29" singlespeed should be all the more fun.