rugerben

I'm not much of a MTBer. I really know very little about it. But I know that when I do ride "off road" (usually hilly dirt paths with a couple rocks and roots. No DH or jumps or anything), I like to have multiple gears because lets face it, riding on dirt/mud is tougher than asphalt.

So why do companies all have 29er MTB's with single speed set-ups? Are these actually meant for anyone to take off-road? Do people ride trails with SS?
Or are these bikes meant for the "I want a MTB shaped hybrid bike" crowd? You know, the kind of people who buy a Giant Boulder so that they can ride with the kids one Sunday every summer.

I'm actually asking the question honestly.

I'm editing to add:
The only real use I could see for a SS 29er with disk brakes is if you are a bike commuter (which I am) and if you had a very flat commute but with lots of potholes and whatnot. So you'd get the ruggedness of the MTB frame, the shock absorption and grip of 29ers, and you don't need more than one gear since you don't have hills. But that's really the only practical use I can think of.

bikinfool

I know quite a few people who ride 29ers, some rigid, some ss, some not. Single speeding is pretty popular, whether it's done rigid or a 29er or on a 26 inch bike. Some of the best riders I know prefer single speeding and some of those guys have gone the 29er route. I don't ride a 29er personally, have too many bikes with 26 inch wheels already (including one single speeder, which I do trail ride occasionally as long as it's not too steep). As to why it's more like why not? They're also simpler and give you a better workout.

born2bahick

I got beat in a race once by a guy on a 29er SS. He certainly seemed to think they were OK for real trail riding. I have since done longish 80+ mile training rides with him. At the end of the day, he's still beside me. He makes the single life look pretty appealing.

rugerben

Wow. So people really do ride trails with SS. I learned something today.

Just because I use multiple gears like a huge weenie, doesn't mean everyone does.

Thanks for letting me know. Mystery solved then.

dminor 

There's a guy on our shop team who does the Wed. night XC race series in the summer on a SS (not 29er though). I usually take solace that most of those guys in my class (40+) that spank me have at least 10 years on me - - but this guy is a few years older and whips my ass every stinkin' time. It's downright humbling; the guy's an animal.

C Law

I race most often on my SS 29er. sometimes rigid, sometimes not. And I usually place pretty good in my age group.

I will be racing in 2009 exclusively on my SS 29ers just to have fun (and to try and win a few as well)

I really don't see them being much of a disadvantage, to be honest.

I guess it depends on the course.

pinkrobe

I rarely if ever see anyone on SS 'round here, much less a 700C version. The only guys I see on Big Wheels are tall and skinny, 6'4"/170 lbs sort of thing. They would be fast on any bike, multi-geared or not. Most guys are on Superlights, Blurs, Nomads [see a trend?], Coilairs, Ibis Mojo [carbon of course], lots of Transitions, lots of Norcos. When I take my Unibomber out, I get some funny looks...

mcoomer

We did a trail ride up the Palisades about two months ago and when we go to the shelter at the top there was a cute girl on an SS 29'er up there. To top it off, it was rigid! We're talking about something like 3000' of climbing on the way up. I was busting my hump on my Stumpy so I know she was working hard but she was there so props to her.

Mike

127.0.0.1

I know a dude who rides 29 SS and rips anyone anytime on command. if you 'are' a badass
you can be a badass on a 29'er SS just fine

127.0.0.1

ftfy

Hot Rod Lincoln

I have several geared FS bikes along with an IndyFab 29er SS. I weigh about 260lbs and have no problems keeping up when I ride it and I actually prefer riding it 75% of the time. Geared properly for me and the climbs are no problem

rb07

Many races here have SS divisions, so yes, people ride them on trails. Saw many in the SS division climbing neck and neck or faster than geared riders. Of course, like others have said, many of these guys are fast on a bike. Any bike.

elf 232

SS is not as simple or difficult as it sounds, its a common misconception. SS adds a new dimension to pedaling, it is a much smoother and quieter ride.

29er wheels IMHO (Mr. Gary Fisher as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km67fjE8DqE) are the way all MTB's will go. Originally wheels were made 29 and 30'' but as roads became smoother, there was not as much need for a large wheel. So technically that 26'' your riding is more like a road wheel than ANY 29'' wheel.

There are many great bikes that are not only meant for offroad, but do amazingly well. For example, Trek 69er, Gary Fisher Rig, Bianchi makes a lot of solid built SS, Surly SS's.

Dannihilator

I am calling BS on this. It's not going to be the way all mtb's will go. You have the dh/freeride set where a 29" mtb will probably never happen. For shorter travel bikes, you can get away with a 29er setup where with a long travel bike the geometry will be way out of whack and the frames won't feel right with a 29er setup. It's been tried on a dh bike a year or so ago and it didn't work out too well. I think for the longer travel group, the future is in the 650b size. Just slightly bigger than a 26" wheel and still has the benefits of a 29er. Plus frame wise nothing has to be changed drastically to account for the slightly larger wheel.

mcoine

marketing gimmick

Dannihilator

Thing is the rigid 29er SS is really popular right now and that is what's selling.

At the moment if I want to ride a bike with large wheels, I'll just get out my fixed gear.

elf 232

If it doesnt work the first time... that doesnt make it BS...

It very well might not work on DH, due to the need for stronger spokes, but remember they also roll faster, which makes you pick up speed sooner (just on a test ride i could feel the difference, in speed pick up)

They do make 26 inch wheels look like youth bike wheels, when they're side by side.

mcoine

So.. larger wheels = faster acceleration?

Cyclist30907654

Of course. That's why I pimped out my Civic with 20' rims.

ghettocruiser

Except of course, that almost all modern road bike use 700C rims, which are the same diameter as 29er rims. Which kind of makes them much less like road wheels.


If I want to ride a "rigid 29er" I'll just go for a ride on the 'cross bike. Done.

mtnbiker66

Ol' Gary wouldn't be trying to sell a few bikes would he????

OK Elf,why is 29 the way everything will go?

S.D.XC

rydaddy

Say whaa?

pOrk

Yup, marketing gimmick. Its just pure coincidence that people are winning races on SS 29ers.

I'm not tall enough for a 29er, I rock a 69er SS and I LOVE it.

Psycle chic

I'd like to see pics of elf's 29'er SS.