LOL...so few are supportive of the 26" fad these days. FSR is looking good. Hardtail build fizzled out like my Flow, eh?

The "crusade" has been over for some time. I've washed my hands of it. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my style of ride or riding. I really never was. I think my intended role was to try to diffuse the explosion. Sorta downplay the big hoop thing. I will always take a jab at it now and then in jest...I imagine some over protective people will take it as malicious.

I don't care if you hit the brakes and walk a 4' drop. Just b/c I like that kinda stuff, I don't expect everyone else to. It's frustrating (and you're not the first) when I tell people I like to ride 26, ride downtown, ride off and jump trail obstacles...and they throw out the Mountain Dew BMX crap. It's usually the typical midlife crisis yuppy roadie convert that I'm "rubbing the wrong way". I'm actually pretty apprehensive of a healthy sized double. Not enough experience with it in my region. If I case it and destroy a wheel...that's it for me for a long time. I don't have the luxery of banking enough for a new wheelset. Stairs, loading docks, rock drops, going fast down hills, etc...I feel second nature to...but I'm not some gnarred out freerider doing backflips on 10' dirt jumps. Just an average dude enjoying pushing my limits now and then.

My main frustration with the carbon SS 29'er fad is that it's beginning to drive the market. The midlife crisis yuppy roadie converts with all the money are driving the market...which in my region causes all the shops to carry what looks good atop their Land Rovers. It is taking away my choices locally which in turn drives my shopping away from local business and directly to the net.

Whatev's, right? If that's where everything's going, so be it. I suppose it's absolutely no different on the flip side of the coin...when I see a spandex clad, bald legged dude on a carbon 29'er I inadvertantly begin to "profile". Sad fo sho. I'm guilty. I'm almost positive that said roadie on dirt does the same thing to me when he see's me ballin' baggies and a 26" pig-bike. Some have had the audacity to actually be verbal about it..."You should upgrade to a 29'er"...makes me laugh inside.

Long story short IGH...no, everyone can and will ride what they want and how they want even if you drive the market out from under me. We can't all be Dminor when we get over the hill...though he and the unigeez are atop a pedistal IMO for proving that wise men can shred. With those two dudes tearing it up on a regular basis...I've got no reason to stop unless I have a catastrophic moment and lose an eye or something. Oh wait...I've got a whole 'nother hero for that argument to keep me in check.


Cheers