My Fuji was stolen just last night. I am looking at 2010 Rockhopper. I couldnt care any less about suspension. But I was thinking the fatter tires would be nice. The bike is also light for a 29.


Question how many of you commute only on a 29er?

How many you of do this out of choice & could afford to purchase
a different bike.

Try some fatter smoother tires. Rack mounts?

I have a Marin Muirwoods 29er. So far its worked out well as a town bike.

In the future, I plan to install Freedom Cruz 29 X 2.0 tires on it - fat slicks to replace the default 700 X 42 Continental Town And Country Ride tires.

I'm looking for more comfort in riding on the rough streets in my town and wider tires are ticket.

I used to commute on a Muirwoods 29er. It was great in the winter (which around here means just cool and rainy). Usually in the summer I found myself thinking it was too much of a heavy beast, but then sometime the following December I'd make a mental note not to let myself sell it the following summer. Eventually I sold it anyway.

These days I commute on a cyclocross bike year round. I've got 700x35 tires on it now and could probably go as high as 700x40. Fat tires are nice. Sometimes I wish I could fit Big Apples on this bike to try them out.

2 years ago, I purchased a KHS Tempe 29er and commuted on it for about 4,000 km (not all in one year) and was very happy with it. However, I was not happy with the tires and went narrower and smoother: 700x32 Schwalbe Marathons. Yes, the ride was a bit stiffer but the speed was better because of the narrower, harder, smoother tires. My wife is starting to commute on her 29er but she wants smoother tires for better speed but the same soft(ish) ride so I'm going to get her some Big Apple Plus in the 700x50 size.

We both lock the front suspension (neither bike has rear suspension) and are happy with the ride. Mine does not have rack mounts (pity) but I put a rack on it that attaches using P-clamps: my wife's does have rack mounts and she bought a rack and a wire basket that snaps on top so she can just drop her lunch bag and purse in the basket. She only commutes on nice days so rain protection of her and her items is not an issue so far.

I now have and primarily commute with a touring bike, Kona Sutra but I still use my KHS Tempe fairly often. I will ride the KHS out to camp/cottage which is a 66km ride from work or 72km from home. I have switched tires again to Continental Country Plus (700x47) for some intermediate depth tread that is good for both the highway section as well as the dirt road section of the ride.

I've never heard of these tires before, they might be an alternative to the Big Apple Plus that I'm considering. However, I'd probably not be able to get them through my LBS and have to buy them direct from the Freedom site.

I didn't buy my set at retail price! I bought them on eBay for an offer of $25.00 each = $50.00 for the set plus free shipping from Bike Wagon. The 29er set came out priced the same as a set of 26" tires! I didn't pay retail for them and it never hurts to put in a lower offer. (The bike store sold theirs for $31.00 each). The Commuter edition on the Freedom site with the Urban Barrier upgrade is $34.00 each! Ouch. I paid less for the same tires!

I'm going to look into some Clements see if they have anything around 2". As far as rack mounts I'm not for sure. I like the Bontrager rack that mounts to the seat post. Handles all the weight I need & is a great place to hang my locks keeping them off the frame.
I also have a trailor. I've no problem useing a pack in the cooler & colder months.

Sure, why not. I regularly commute on a 30er and I think it is great.

A 29er is just another name for a road 700c tire size, just usually for a flat bar bike rather than a road bike.

Question is if it has rear suspension - if it does, then it's usually bad. It will suck the power out of your pedalling unless you buy a more expensive and sophisticated rear suspension system, and usually people don't want to pedal a $3k bike to work.

Front suspension is nearly as big of a deal - some people say it eats some power, but I'm not sure about that. It's unecessary for road riding with a fat tire.

I read someone else say this and it's seemed to be true - you lose about 2mph if you have knobby tires vs slicks, and 2mph for mountain vs road bike. Put slicks on rather than knobbies, and it's not to terrible. It just kinda depends.

Why not? It's a bike, put some slicks on it, maybe a rack, it should be OK.

It won't be if you put less than an ounce shy of two pounds worth of tire at each end. What do they use, a lead band for flat protection?

They use Kevlar. All the bike tire makers seem to use it in their flat protection bike tires. Light and strong.

Bought the bike.
Completely different feel from what I'm used to.

OH! & it's red.....Didn't want any one to miss this.

I read someone else say this and it's seemed to be true - you lose about 2mph if you have knobby tires vs slicks,

Not 100% true.

I have Conti Crossride 42's on my CX bike and there's no difference in rolling resistance compared to 24mm slicks. No difference in speed on the road and they grind fire roads just fine.

It's more about tire design. A tire with an interrupted center knob tread pattern, (most knobies) is going to be a lot slower on the road than one with a continuous center knob pattern. That doesn't necessarily mean a continuous band of tread. Pairs of knobs that are offset and overlap work the same way.

Frontal area and side area catching the wind is a different story. There is a noticeable difference there, but only in a cross or headwind.

29ers are over-built, you don't need his much bike to ride to work.
Stuff you don' need: knobbly tyres, suspension, wide bars
Stuff you do need: std rack and fender eyelets, rack-compatible rear disc mount.

Put some flashing lights, a siren and NYFD stickers on that bike, and cars will move out of your way.

Really though, a suspension fork and knobbies are not the best for most commuters, but I have no idea where you are riding, so it may be the perfect bike.

I agree.
But what I needed most was a bike that is disk equipped, the capacity to take larger than normal size tires & cost less than $500. Not an over abundance of cross bikes (my first choice) That fit my criteria.

I purchased this bike for less than $200 & it will weigh in slightly below 25 lbs. Which is just dandy for my use going into winter.
It will be a bit before I can replace my Fuji cross

Yup I would be just fine with a solid fork. I've been dumped twice already because of the nobby tires & leaning the the bike hard in a turn on pavement. It took the second dumping to prove to me & my hard head that what I was attempting wasn't best done with these tires.

The 29er platform is tough and versatile. You get a bomb-proof bike for urban streets and the ability to accept wider tires is a plus.

From that view & my not being a gram counter. A 29er does make a lot of sense for some that can appreciate what you've mentioned.
I ride for the freedom I feel it gives me. This freedom I feel when riding reaches out to other aspects of my life. My money for one, it allows to keep more of it. As long as I can keep some creep from steeling my bike. Riding helps me to go fishing every day. Important stuff.

I am beginning to see even more of this freedom when the foundation of my bike starts with a 29er frame. My options regarding what I do to it are more open. As is the freedom to ride comfortably on any terrain that varies significantly through out any given day. It is my choice.

A fast bike can be fun. A bike that has all the latest, greatest & lightest stuff can be an accomplishment to own.
But I don't own or ride a bike for any of that. A fast bike will at some point be held to a new standard. The latest & greatest tech will soon be found lacking.

My reasons for owning & riding a bike are much more satisfying to me than trying to reach or grasp at some thing I will never be able to maintain..... Jeff D.