Well I took my brand new 29er out for the first ride of any distance today (6 miles, loose gravel/mud/clay etc) and it was the first time I've ridden a real bike in probably 12 years or so. Every bike I have owned previously (in my full grown years) has been a 26" so I guess I had a few (ignorant) ideas about what a 29er was going to be like. In some cases I think I was right but for the most part I realize I really had no idea on the reality of the 29er. I haven't ridden this thing nearly enough to even BEGIN to act like I know anything about the 29er but there are a few misconceptions (or misunderstandings) that I had that even in my short time on the 29 I was able to clear up.
This is MY OWN experience and your mileage may vary - I am a GREENHORN and this is just a few things I have realized about MY 29er in MY experience. If anyone else has experiences to share (things being different than you expected) I'd love to hear it. I love talking bikes in general. Always have even in my long hiatus.
What I thought (WIT)
What I Realized (WIR)
WIT - 29er's probably lose a lot of turning ability due to the huge wheels
WIR - HA HA - This bike turns tighter than I could on any of my 26" wheeled bikes (its also MUCH newer for what its worth). At one point I had to come to an almost complete stop waiting on my neighbor who was riding with me and as I waited I started playing with figure 8's etc and realized I could really twist the bars on this bike and turn TIGHT circles even at extremely low speed without any feeling what so ever that I was losing my balance. I also flew as fast as I possibly could (in the distance I had) down a gravel hill and leaned onto a paved road (90d right turn from road I was on) and while I took it a bit wider than I would have liked (there was a pedestrian walking his dog to my inside on the road I was turning on) I know the bike could handle it at a much harder lean and a tighter turn.
I don't know for sure about more/less turning ability etc in any definitive way yet but what I do know is that as far as any bike I have ever had (all being 26's) this 29er gives up NOTHING to them in its ability to turn and carve on the loose and / loose on hard roads I've ridden so far. I need better tires before I go to the trails as my stock tires are more road/dirt than anything muddy/wet.
WIT - That thing is huge. There is no way I could possible be comfortable on something like that. EVER! (I'm 6'2 230lbs)
WIR - This thing is comfortable (changed the seat!!!!!!) with plenty leg room and although it sits me up higher than any bike I've ever ridden, it does not make me feel skiddish about whipping it around. Originally I figured It would be a top heavy affair that would leave me laying in the ditch or on the side of a trail somewhere the first time I really leaned hard. NOT the case.
WIT - Something that large and heavy (30 lbs, hardtail) can't be flickable
WIR - It isn't "quite" as quick to switch side to side and flip around as my old 26's but I feel this may actually be more of me needing to work on my technique and get back into actually doing this sort of stuff. I believe that with proper technique, more endurance and practice I will be able to rapidly spin, flick and hop this bike just as well as any 26 I've owned.
Maybe there are others out there who have never rode feel a little "meh" about a 29er. I was for a long time but now that I have ridden (and now own) one.....I LOVE it.
I haven't been on it enough to get to know it well and I haven't even taken it to the mountain tracks yet but already I have learned that much of what I thought was just born of my ignorance to the 29er. that being said... I am looking forward to learning more and more about it and going on many many adventures in the world of the 29er........... But I still want another 26'er to go next to it
Ride hard and fast and remember......Speed will never hurt you. The sudden stop is what gets ya!
