Big wheels keep on rollin
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Suburban Detroit
Posts: 552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Big wheels keep on rollin
I posted up a while back with details about my 29er, seems not many had heard of them. With the recent UCI ruling on the 29er's eligibility to race, and now a first Nat'l victory on one in Europe, I'm sure we will all be hearing more about them. The second article has the details...
https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...004/news/may13
https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...004/news/may13
#2
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Wohoo...29ers are allowed to compete against 26ers. XC races are already close to road races on dirt. I was really hoping they would improve the courses to be much more technical. Now more roadies are gonna play to make cash. Terrific.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Suburban Detroit
Posts: 552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I doubt that courses will be redesigned. 29ers are capable of technical xc stuff. Doubt anyone would want to ride northshore with one though. I ride xc, and don't hack on northshore stuff even if it's not for me... I guess it just boils down to you ride the trails you have, and buy a bike based on what you ride, right?
PS: 29ers were born on the Colorado front range, pretty dumbed down terrain there, no?
PS: 29ers were born on the Colorado front range, pretty dumbed down terrain there, no?
#4
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Buzzbomb
I doubt that courses will be redesigned. 29ers are capable of technical xc stuff. Doubt anyone would want to ride northshore with one though. I ride xc, and don't hack on northshore stuff even if it's not for me... I guess it just boils down to you ride the trails you have, and buy a bike based on what you ride, right?
PS: 29ers were born on the Colorado front range, pretty dumbed down terrain there, no?
PS: 29ers were born on the Colorado front range, pretty dumbed down terrain there, no?
I would never put north shore stuff on a xc race.. (even though I love north shore stuff)
#5
Wood Licker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
And I dont expect courses to be redesigned. I just wish they would be (I am sure it would get people watching which would mean more money in the industry). Xc races today aren't fun to watch. I found a vid of an old school vid and wow was I impressed. Much more interesting and exciting. Jumps, log hops everything I would want on a xc trails was in a race...
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Suburban Detroit
Posts: 552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Western Cup has some races that are pretty nuts. I just heard about a race in Moab where one competitor died (only reason I even know they race there). Anyhow, if you've ever ridden in Moab, you may have done Amasa Back and Jacob's Ladder (the Jacob's Ladder portion is a hike-a-bike up three or four hundred feet of elevation thats more like a rock climbing event than a trail), and I doubt anyone would find a race there to be boring. I wonder where OLN was for that event? Maybe XC races are boring due to the choices the people who are in charge of programming make.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Suburban Detroit
Posts: 552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you check out the article, click on the pic of the bike to expand it. Look at the fork. This guy won a national MTB series on a fully rigid. Cool! (One of the benefits of 29ers is the ability of the big tires to run at much lower psi's without flatting, giving you a pretty cush ride.)