Buzzbomb

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one on this forum riding a 29"er. If there's any interest or response to this thread I'll post pics of mine, but has anyone else got one? Pics?

brokenrobot

I'm not riding one - and in fact as a roadie/commuter have never even SEEN one - but I'd like to see your pics

Also, where do you buy tires? If, as I understand, they share a 700c bead with road/touring bikes, seems like if the clearance is sufficient, they might make for decent bad-condition/snow tires for us commuters...

-chris

Buzzbomb

I'll post a few pics in the next couple of days.

Tires: about eight or nine companies now make tires for 29"ers. We do share rim size, 700c, and a lot of guys like old school stuff like the Mavic T500 rims. I have rims by Alex. The whole movement started when a small scale frame builder in Colorado (I think) talked the guys at WTB into building a 2.1 tire that mounted on a 700c wheel, and it's gotten better and better every year since in terms of frames, rims and tire choices and availability. The true 29"er usually has a 2.1 or larger tire, so I don't think it would fit on many commuter or road bikes out there.

GreenFix

Warning: This post is a little off topic.

I like the idea of a 29er, but I really like the idea of your rohloff hub. If I had the scratch I would be joining you as a proud owner. I know cost wise it is similar to higher end Shimano and SRAM stuff, but right now I can only afford low end shimano stuff (which works pretty good). I have read some of your posts about the rohloff hub before. Are you still happy with it? Where do you ride?

Buzzbomb

Yeah, I'm still very happy with my hub. This thing takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. I use my bike with 2.0 x 29" slicks on it for commuting, and I have a pair of 2.3 MTB tires I use for offroad duty. I'll post a couple of pics of typical offroad stuff as well. I ride all the real MTB trails I rode with my 26"er, only I have more fun now...

As far as scratch goes, I was real lucky. I found my bike on ebay, and was the only bidder, if you can believe it. The guy who owned it was strictly a roadie, and got it to use for winter training. I bet it didn't have 500 miles on it when I got it.

Buzzbomb

Here a few pics of my 29"er. This is the off topic Rohloff shot. Check out that chainline...

Buzzbomb

Here's a couple of shots of one of the trails I ride frequently. The overlook and then down the trail from there.

Buzzbomb

Avid disc up front...

Buzzbomb

Avid in back too...

Phatman

those dropouts are pretty wild, man...cool design, though. is the idea that you can put any drop out that you want depending what the bike is used for?

Buzzbomb

Those dropouts are Rohloff specific. You can get them now that have a der. hanger which would allow the use of regular gears, the Rohloff hub, or you could run it SS without a tensioner. The plates that are actually the dropouts have a boss that runs in a milled slot on the frame, allowing chain tension adjustment.

b-29

iv'e got about 500 miles on a fisher 29er. the model is the dual sport 229 which a performance hybrid/cross type bike. it came with mt. style knobbies, but i swapped them for some 700x 38 touring tires and more recently put on 700x28s for a metric ride. its really nice having that range of tires for one bike.

Jonny B

I've been pondering getting either a 700c cross bike or a 26" MTB and I can't decide, maybe a 29er is the answer? I like the look of that Van Dessel, it has lots of options for SS or geared or disks or whatever, just what I've been looking for.

Buzzbomb

Check out Van Dessel's web page. You might have to search around a bit to find the link to the Buzzbomb, but they sell it built with the Rohloff hub or just a bare frame, and the prices are pretty darn good. The bike is nimble, but still inspires confidence on the rough downhills, it's just got good geometry. I'm not sure, but I think they are selling the built bike for around $2200 USD, which is pretty good considering the fork and hub alone would set you back about $1400 retail...

https://vandesselsports.com/b_buzzBomb.shtml

leadbutt

How plush is the bike? I've heard the 29"er's are comparable to having a 26" softail...I realize you have the susp. seatpost, too...but I was wondering...

I met a guy recently at a local trail who purchased a Rohloff to use on a new Blur...haven't seen him since tho...

Buzzbomb

Having never ridden a full sus or a softail, I can't really give you a comparison. It does ride much nicer than my 26ers ever did, and with the added volume these tires hold, I can run 35 psi on trails that I used to have to run 55 psi on to not pinch flat. The lower pressure allows for a better ride, puts more tire on the trail for better traction, letting me dive into the corners a little faster, and I climb a LOT better on this bike.

Buzzbomb

Anyone else ride a 29er? Bueller... Bueller... Bueller...

trekkie820

Damn that thing is sexy!!!!! did you post it in the SS/Fixie site?

Aloner

Where are those trails at?

jim-bob

That rohloff hub sure isn't a singlespeed. Niiiice piece of engineering, though.

trekkie820

they'll still like to see that piece of eye candy

Buzzbomb

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area outside metro Detroit.

Buzzbomb

No, I didn't even think of it. I probably will x post it though, 'cause you can get these 29er frames that are ss ready for under 300 bucks new. Ya still gotta come up with a fork, but a Karate Monkey fork sets you back, what, 75 bucks?

sckot

I've got a fixed/free Karate Monkey with 700x45 tires on it. Not *quite* 29" I think, but pretty close.

John G

I bought a Gary Fisher Dual Sport 129 back in Feb '04. I ride it mainly on crushed limestone trails that have a lot of ups, downs and curves, it's great fun! The bigger wheels probably helps when the trails get a bit mushy.

Here's a pic