Not sure if this has been posted before.
Bike Forum
29er downhill.. why not?
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Posted 5 months ago #
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Didn't Intense plough quite a bit of investment money into trying to develop a 29er DH bike before giving up?
Posted 5 months ago # -
think we soo much suspension on DH bikes the benefits of bigger wheels are pretty void
Posted 5 months ago # -
there's that niner bloke and somebody from norco(I think it's norco),over on pinkbike,it's a recent article,read it yesterday.
as usual there's some pretty good comments in the comments section.Posted 5 months ago # -
I was thinking about this a while back... As a s**t downhiller, I think I'd get a lot of benefit from it, on a fast lumpy course like fort william. But those irritating people who can actually ride a bike, they skim over the lumps that I steam into.
Posted 5 months ago # -
6" and finesse,or 8" and plough?most girls I've asked say the important thing is to know how ride a bike with technique...
Posted 5 months ago # -
It would end in tears, exploding wheels and dead pandas.
Apart form that, I reckon it would be pretty good on open fast courses but you would probably need to be built like Peaty for the tight and twisty stuff where you generally have to put a bit more effort into turning them in.
There is some pretty decent long travel (130mm+) 29er stuff coming to the market at the moment so things might start to change over the next few years.Posted 5 months ago # -
Didn't Intense plough quite a bit of investment money into trying to develop a 29er DH bike
I think you might find they just knocked up two frames to play around on.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Brendon Fairclough stated that he expects a 29er to win a DH World Cup race in the next few years.... and when it does he'll quit
Don't let the door smack you on the arse on your way out Brendog
I can see it working on the type of course Peaty won the world title on out in Australia which was open & not as technical as say Champery which is ultra tight & technical!
Posted 5 months ago # -
+1 Brendan
Posted 5 months ago # -
aye,but sancho was on the mule,while don Q was on a horse.
like 26" and 29ers innit.just equine.Posted 5 months ago # -
Walt works is a small frame builder who made a DH 29er a long time ago.
In that blog post he was lementing not being included in Bike Rumours coverage of the same topic....
Posted 5 months ago # -
I think a 29er will have advantages on certain courses but not all of them you could well see riders adopting the big wheels for one course and then back to 26" for the next.
That will lead to calls for banning them no doubt but what I reckon would be better would be compelling riders to state one size of wheel for the entire season and have it noted on their licence. It would mean riders and their sponsors would need to be confident in their choice of 26 or 29 before the season started...
Posted 5 months ago # -
When i wrote "why not?" The answer to the question was already explained by the female bear! ;O) I didnt question the possibilities of the 29er winning a DH race for one moment (at the time) but wouldnt be surprised if one did.
Posted 5 months ago # -
29ers will win on some courses eventually, I mean the bigger wheels are an advantage aren't they? You don't see anyone debating the use of 20" wheels do you? They would be really strong and "chuckable".
Posted 5 months ago # -
People may not go in for 20" but 24" have been tried for DH and 4x. Still not a benefit ultimately but there you go.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Trek have a prototype kicking around too
Posted 5 months ago # -
Brendon Fairclough stated that he expects a 29er to win a DH World Cup race in the next few years.... and when it does he'll quit
It was Rob Warner that said a 29er will win a World Cup race. Brendan then replied "When that happens I'm out of it!" Or words to that effect.
EDIT - just checked Warners Twitter - Ade (below) is right, he just said a 29 front wheel, not full on 29er.
Posted 5 months ago # -
They only said a bike with a 29 front wheel
Posted 5 months ago # -
How about Pietermaritzberg with that loooong pedally section? Can't see them being any good at Champery though!
Posted 5 months ago # -
If we can get some oldskool downhill action instead of these modern courses then yeah
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJjZ34ZQl0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWgfEu_oVI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFxL8yQakrkPosted 5 months ago # -
I think what you need to remember in this debate is that wheel size is one variable amongst many that could affect race performance in DH and its not without its tradeoffs.
Don't forget either that the thing has to suit it's rider it's one thing to plop peaty on a 29er quite a different thing to put Danny Hart on one, very different builds and riding styles.
Yes one will win a race eventually, assuming it doesn't go the way of the skinsuit.... but are 29ers overall "better" for DH racng? not a clue the reference data/annecdotes are pretty scarce right now...
Posted 5 months ago # -
How about Pietermaritzberg with the biggest huck on the circuit?
ftfy
Posted 5 months ago #
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