29 inch roadbike... why doesn't this work?

[Todd Richards]

29 inch hardtail rigid front mb with geometry closer to a roadbike. with 130mm rear spacing, I coud then outfit with: Dura Ace 9 speed sti with compact double crank (34/50) and widest cassett (11-23?), avid mechanical disc road front brake, canti rear, drop bars with cross-top levers. By outfitting this way i could then use 29" mb wheels (as long as they are laced to 130mm hub) OR 700 wheels...

THUS ALLOWING ME TO RIDE ONE BIKE YEAR-ROUND, WITH WHEELSET CHANGES FROM HEAVY 29ER STUDDED TIRES AL THE WAY DOWN TO LIGHTWEIGHT SET FOR CLUB CRITS....?

WHY DOESN'T THIS WORK

[chipcom]

http://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html

[thechamp]

why would you only want one bike? crazy talk!

[flatlander_48]

29 inch hardtail rigid front mb with geometry closer to a roadbike. with 130mm rear spacing, I coud then outfit with: Dura Ace 9 speed sti with compact double crank (34/50) and widest cassett (11-23?), avid mechanical disc road front brake, canti rear, drop bars with cross-top levers. By outfitting this way i could then use 29" mb wheels (as long as they are laced to 130mm hub) OR 700 wheels...

THUS ALLOWING ME TO RIDE ONE BIKE YEAR-ROUND, WITH WHEELSET CHANGES FROM HEAVY 29ER STUDDED TIRES AL THE WAY DOWN TO LIGHTWEIGHT SET FOR CLUB CRITS....?

WHY DOESN'T THIS WORK

There's not a lot of difference between this and a cyclocross bike...

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adult...st-disc-r.html

[Thor29]

Why would you use a 130mm hub and a mullet setup? Run a 135 hub so that you can have a rear disc brake to match the front. I agree with Chipcom - Surly Karate Monkey. But unless you are doing heavy duty mountain biking, a cyclocross bike would make more sense. It would be lighter and much better handling for road duty. The Surly Crosscheck has room for up to 45mm tires but doesn't have disc brake mounts. I have a Crosscheck with two sets of wheels - one set of fancy road wheels and one set of bomber cyclocross/touring wheels. This bike can do anything. Oh, and the frame has 132.5mm rear spacing so I can run either 130 or 135 hubs. I've smoked people on full suspension rigs on single track with it while only running 32c tires. Kinda harsh and bouncy compared to my 29er with front suspension.

[CK95959]

OK, the parts wish list n all aside -- It will work. More like - it does work. I made one, except it is a cross bike. i did it to the exact same layout as my 57cm Knobby X except I added plenty of clearance for the 29" tire. I built the frame with the heavy duty OXPLATINUM tubing I use for my Roshambo's so the frame wasn't super light or anything, but i was looking to make a do all touring bike with v-brakes that i could carry 50 plus pounds and not have a bike that rides like a wet noodle. i call it the "Knobby X-pedition".

One thing that i get is a lot of toe overlap with the 29" tire even with a 57cm top tube and 73º head tube angle (same as my Knobby X). The other thing that happens when you run 23C road tires is the BB drops to 10" (from 11.5") which is fine if you like really low gravity cornering down major decents, however it will suck bigtime if you like to pedal through or out of the corners.

Otherwise it is a cool bike that is fun to ride. i am currently running Michelin Jet S's on it and the bike rides and handles wonderfully.

If you are ever in Nevada City come by my shop and you can take her for a burn.

out,

CK