I have been wondering about the whole 29er thing for a while now. Coupled with the secret desire for a road bike but with space for neither I started experimenting …….
I came across some WTB dual duty rims laced into 475 hubs for bargain price including some rather nice ( 😳 ) 23mm tyres and small block cassette.
These wheels were thrown into my 1998 Caldera that over the years has been modded with a disc tab etc.
This "hybrid" was then used for the L2B this year:
Since then the bike has been used a fair bit for road work and pootling about on.
Then last week I landed some WTB 32mm cross tyres – on they went creating a 29er lite:
I have yet to use the bike offroad yet but I cannot wait.
By my reckoning the BB is only a smidge higher that with 26'' wheels and offroad tyres – certainly doesn't feel "high".
Am guessing only time will tell.
Mud clearance may be an issue but I will have to wait and see.
OT but is there any rules against using a 29er like that in an xc race, or putting road wheels and cross tyres on a conventional 29er like a niner? I was under the impression most xc rcaes would not allow cross bikes but would 29ers, however, this blurs the boundaries somewhat and might be quite advantagous on the right course…
I raced a guy around Mountain Mayhem one lap in 2005 whose bike was set up almost the same – basically a Cannondale mtb with 700c wheels and CX tyres. Seemed to work for him.
Where did the bargain wheels come from? I have an older Kona I fancy doing the same too, and potentially transplanting across to a newer frame so I can run discs all round. I have a widget for shifting the rear bosses up so if the wheel and tyres were cheap enough, it's worth a go.
Would the handling be more twitchy on a 26" fork? ❓
OT but is there any rules against using a 29er like that in an xc race, or putting road wheels and cross tyres on a conventional 29er like a niner? I was under the impression most xc rcaes would not allow cross bikes but would 29ers, however, this blurs the boundaries somewhat and might be quite advantagous on the right course…
BC and therefore UCI allow it
2.0 THE BICYCLE
2.0.1 BC in no way wishes to stifle the natural
evolution of the mountain bike in any
recognised discipline. To this end there is
only one requirement; that the bicycle is
solely human powered. Any bicycle used
in competition must be capable of safely
and efficiently completing the task and
must, as a minimum, be mechanically
sound, have efficient brakes on all wheels
and all reasonable steps must be taken to
ensure the safety of the rider and others.
As part of the latter, bar plugs are
compulsory.
117
2.0.2 If, in the opinion of a scrutineer and/or
commissaire, a bicycle fails to meet the
above criteria the rider must take
immediate steps to ensure the necessary
steps are taken to remedy the
shortcomings and ensure the
Scrutineer/Commissaires requests are
met. Failure to do so will result in
exclusion from the competition.
2.0.3 For Four Cross an effective rear brake is
required.
some organisers ban them as they highlight the fact you are racing around a field (mayhem, 24/12, SiTS etc)
some organisers /ban them to preserve life (Brownbacks,Weekender)
Where did the bargain wheels come from? I have an older Kona I fancy doing the same too, and potentially transplanting across to a newer frame so I can run discs all round. I have a widget for shifting the rear bosses up so if the wheel and tyres were cheap enough, it's worth a go.
Would the handling be more twitchy on a 26" fork?
The wheels were bought second hand ( not that you would know ) but I have seem them built up and available in a number of on line stores.
Handling, whilst different, does not seem to be a problem 😕 smaller contact on the ground is more noticeable.