Unimpressed with a 29er
 

I was considering a 29er so when me and a friend
went riding we switched pedals in a real rocky section and rode his bike. I have a CDale Caffine with a FOX fork, and I wasnt really impressed with a 29er. As far as spend 2k+ for one I dont believe it was worth getting. The 26er I feel is more nimble and handles better. My buddy also comented on how quick my bike handles. Anyway does anyone else feel the same way?

It's ok. We forgive you. Go ahead and ride what you like.

I have both wheel sizes, and also a 650b singlespeed. When I first tried a 29er, I thought I'd never go back, but eventually I realized that I'm just a guy who likes to change things up a lot. Right now I'm alternating between a 29er fully and a 26er hardtail. That's pretty much bass-ackwards from the norm, I think.

With a 29er, the wheels are always there; they cannot be ignored. With a 26er, the wheels disappear underneath you, and you can focus on the ride. ;) (just kidding, sort of)

29ers look cool anyway...

i am not a fan of 29ers and would never own one. to say they aren't worth getting is wrong, unless you are saying they are not worth it to *YOU.* there is a place for them, and many people like them and prefer them, so they obviously have merit.

they are totally worth it, for some people.

I'm a shorter guy (5'4") I tried a 29'er - the trails here in New England are just too tight to get those wheels a turnin...

They have their place. I loved my hardtail 29ers at the local singletrack park but I'm back to only one mountain bike, a 26" full squishy and lets be honest, any day spinning the cranks is a great day regardless of wheel size.

How dare you put down 29ers!?!?! Curse you!!!!!!!!!!

full squishY??? What a great expression! I want one! I ride a rigid 26er. I lust after a 26 squishy. oooh - now I know what I'll name my new bike - squishy! C'mere squishy! Let's go play!

I started a thread on a local forum about how if I see another 29'er, I may vomit.

I got severely flamed. These guys around here are hardcore sit'n'spinner 29'er types. I wasn't aware of how bad it was.

The non-stop crusade is your cause, what's the point? Does everyone have to ride like they're on a BMX track?

Why yes. Everyone should at least try. :thumb:

Well I ended up buying a CDale Rush with 650b wheels but put on my 26ers and liked them more. The Rush works great for the area I ride in, tight single track and open ATV trails. The bike has a FOX fork up front with a FOX RP23 in the rear and the bike was made in the good ole US of A. This is by far the best bike I have ever ridden, I had a Trek Fuel years ago and it didnt hold up well so I never thought I would go back to a full suspension.

I know ed, it's all good!

I 100% agree with you :thumb:

If you mean BMX track as in haul ass hard pack roller coaster twisty turns then I say HELL YEA! !

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".:lol: 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.:lol: 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.:thumb:


Cheers

Yes!

I hate to see the trend going all that way too. Our lbs just about only sells 29er's and nothing under 19 billion bucks.

PacNW - 29er don't seem that common
 

I've been to two local bike shops, a Performance shop, and REI. The latter two are showing NO 29 FS bikes and only two rather inexpensive 29 hard tails. Performance in Tacoma tells me there is no demand for 29FS bikes.

The two lbs have a total of five models of 29FS compared to many dozen 26FS bikes models.

I ride several days a week in different locations almost every time. I've seen one 29 of any kind in the last month.

But - I don't ride in the really popular Seattle areas, e.g. Duthie Hill, so maybe up in the more affluent Seattle area they are common. Down here in the dirt poor Tacoma and Olympia markets - they seem pretty rare.

April - July - Riding two or three days a week in the Santee/Mission Gorge Trails / Otay Lakes and other San Diego areas I saw very few 29s of any kind.

That settles it...I'm moving to Malo.

Eddie, you're so hooked on class envy. It's too bad you and your cadre of whiners can't just be happy within yourselves. I hope as you mature you gain happiness without the need to attach others. Good luck!

I envy those who get alot of ride time. I've never met a truly happy rich man...thus I have no desire to belong to any sort of higher class. As for maturing...I'm trying, but I don't figure it's gonna happen any time soon...so don't hold your breath.:lol:

I think I'm just misunderstood, IGH. I jest, I jab, but I love my MTB brethren...all of them. I would give you the shirt off my back on the trail w/o a second thought.

I take pot shots at the 29er fad to keep my own passion (the 26er) alive. Though I know that 26 will not die. Can you imagine a NWD 29er video? :D Gnarly freeride uphill action, Brah!

I suppose it's my fault that people take me seriously when I jab...though they could just roll their eyes and not be so serious on the webz.


Cheers

^It's true. I secretly long to be a lyrca wearing, lap timing, carbon SS 29er riding middle aged man driving a small luxury SUV with the most extravagant Thule roof rack on the market so everyone knows I'm the 'shiz'. That is what young people say these days, isn't it?

Seriously though IGH, you've never enjoyed a cheap laugh at the expense of an unpleasant stereotype? You've never profiled anyone in your entire life? You go ahead & enjoy sitting atop your golden pedestal, but don't judge me because I like to play in the dirt.