if i was organising a international bike event in 2010, andi wanted a snappy t shirt idea for odd shaped wheel riders, Pushing Back On My 29r, would look good on a t shirt……………… 😉

What like SSEC 2010 for example?

It would be a good idea but I have no idea who might be involved in organising it. 8)

i'm in the boat as you tootall. got mine and they are excellent, thats all that matters really.

Ti29er.

I think you'll find that a good persentage of posters on this thread own 29ers.
(some only own 29ers)

And also a sense of humour….

And for dunstick here's a 29er on a boring towpath.

And just to add insult to injury it's rigid and singlespeed.

Happy new year to you too. xxx

and you sold the fork?

And the last major downhill race win was……………..?

Downhill racing bikes usually win downhill races, when they're a latest innovation megabollox, if they're just a niche fad, for people who want to be different, with too much brass, they'll just pass wearily by…….

And the last major downhill race you won on your 26er was?

There's more to life than fat feckers with 10 inches of travel rolling down a hill.

Oh and while we're on the subject why have the likes of Santa Cruz and Intense started to take an interest in 29ers then? Not to mention Giant and Specialized.

Na your probarbley right it's just a passing fad.

A bit like folks that are new to off road riding….

And……………breathe……. 🙂

I'm building a 29er at the moment.
However, as all sorts of rif-raf are now riding them and they are losing their elite niche charm, I am using a Rohloff hub to stay ahead of the pack.

I reckon 2010 will be the year that public interest really increases in 29ers, so hopefully 2011 will be the year that companies start bloody importing them.

I had a look at a GF Paragon a couple of weeks ago. Rather than looking wrong (as so many suggest), it really loked right.

On the contrary, a lot of 29" wheeled bikes look more right as there wheels are more in proportion to the big frame.

Tootall, Im getting me one of those in a few weeks 😉

Vote for Rage Against the Machine to keep 29ers off the top spot.

Theres only one way to sort this out………..fight fight fight!

Calm down you lot. Its just a fad for beardies (or those secretly wishing they could grow one).

It'll be 32ers next year or butchers baskets or something.

Oh no – attack of the wee people. Scared.

*imagines being mobbed by hobbits and oompa loompas*

*LAUGHS HEARTILY*

(Duggie – you'll hate it – just so capable and non-barge-like)

LOL

A couple of phrases spring to mind… "It's the rider, not the bike" and "A bad workman blames his tools"… 😉

Seriously though, 29ers are good in their own way. I was sceptical, had a go on one (EIASF's Jones actually!) briefly that got me thinking about them… Eventually bought one 2nd hand very cheap, and I like it. It wouldn't be my first choice say if I was going somewhere like Afan, or even the Alps (I have 2 full suspension bikes I'd rather take instead), but that's probably more due to the fact it only has 80mm travel suspension forks and no rear squish than the wheel size.

Anyway, on my 29er I have beaten loads of people on 26" wheeled bikes down technical trails, I have also been passed by loads of people on 26" wheeled bikes on the flat or up a hill. Explain………….. 🙄

I have also seen people do 10ft drops on a 29er with 1.8" wide tyres and skinny rims. I have even seen people with (and you'd never get this!) only one gear on their bike (sometimes with 29" wheels, more normally with 26", one even with 650B!), manage to ride up a hill! 😮

2010 for 650B 😀

Advantages of bigger wheels but retaining 26" geometry and suspension travel – ergo, they ride faster but handle like 26"

.. It's coming 😉

I have to say, if I ever buy another MTB (which isnt looking too likely anytime soon) I'd not be looking at a 26 but I have had thoughts about a 29er with a 650b front wheel (to sharpen and steepen the handling)
Is this muddying the water too far?

Muddying? No.

Utterly pointless? Yup.

20/24/26/29 it's all just riding innit