Debate!
Yes and no. 😉
Depends. Everyone knows that 32ers are where it's really at, the new undiscovered niche.
Depends who's powering them.
mine is,,,, faster than my 26er was that is.
Mainly because i feel more settled on it.
Horse for courses 😐
they look faster, well, i think the carbon niner I'm currently drooling over does.
Yes
Depends on how well the bike suits
a) the rider
b) the terrain
c) the build/wallet
d) the phase of the lunar-niche-gnarl-cycle calendar
Next!
No. 100% No.
I think.
SB
well me powering it of course!
over 6ft & for doing long rides.
Need an excuse for another bike. Bigger wheels would be good enough.
Have a SS for quick local rides in the woods, hardtail for standard rides, full sus for multi day, CX to get the miles in, road bike for road (duh), 29'er for er..... long, fast rides (and I don't have one).
There has been only 1 race I've ever been to where a 29er won- the Keilder 100. It was smooth and untechnical, almost purely on fireroads, so it was to be expected that a jumped up cross bike would win.
In every other race I've ever been to, a 29er's not even got on the podium. They're slower in every serious MTB situation apart from smooth climbs where they go like shite off a shovel (once you've finally got them rolling).
iirc 29ers were winning all the usa xc titles
dunno what the courses are like tho
The ones I did was pretty smooth and non technical, although the pace was brutal (and a 29er didn't get on the podium at them either).
i've been at quite a few races where 29ers have podiumed, and even won, but i'm not sure if those races included serious MTB situations
[url=
Some none serious MTB situations being ridden on a 29er[/url]
yeah I was wondering about how they were doing in professional races.
Don't like the idea of long, non-technical rides so maybe it isn't what I need. Fancy a 'fast' bike for the days I wanna rip it up.
Mmmmm torq12 this year the solo winner was on a 29er, 90% technical course. I got top 10, my 29er is wayyyyy faster than any 26" I've ever had and It will handle any super techy ridin mo worries 😀
Yes. And no. And sometimes. And sometimes not.
The 12:12 TORQ in your SLEEP enduro - the course will cover an 8 mile circuit of heathland, beech woods, pine forest and open parkland.
the other 72miles must have been pure Gnar?
😆
[i]Don't like the idea of long, non-technical rides so maybe it isn't what I need. Fancy a 'fast' bike for the days I wanna rip it up. [/i]
Oh a cyclocross bike then. So sort of a 29er.
Explosion In a Spaghetti Factory,
Nice video, but [url=
is so much better, very nice.
2unfit2ride - MemberExplosion In a Spaghetti Factory,
Nice video, but this is so much better, very nice.
Far out man!
singletracksurfer - Memberyeah I was wondering about how they were doing in professional races.
Don't like the idea of long, non-technical rides so maybe it isn't what I need. Fancy a 'fast' bike for the days I wanna rip it up.
Seen the Banshee Paradox?
I not like; I love twisty singletrack, and the size of 29'er I need due to my 6ft 4 height means I need to pre-empt a tight bit about an hour before I hit the corner. And even then it's like turning the QE2.
However, over general mtb trails, even to reasonably-teccie Gorrick racecourses, I reckon the answer to your question is yes.
[url=
we all know 29ers can't do tight techy trails[/url] 😉
i agree with macsy...
getting my ventana through trees and round switchbacks is a nightmare...
but on fast rocky wide open tracks..........i am god... 😛
6'3" here and ride a 17" medium 23.2 ETT
Tight n twisty - I louurve!
stu, if you watch the 26r boys they fly through that stuff..
these fellas are a bit steady......
not that i could ride any of it.... 8)
bonesetter - serious question; you love tight & teccie, but do you actually prefer a 29'er for that then?
I know I don't; mainly because over the flick left, flick right stuff I'm way quicker on 26".
29er won at SSUK this year. Not sure if thats the first time its happened?
But it all depends on the terrain and the rider.
Just because a 29er won a certain event doesn't mean its faster.
mtbmatt - Member29er won at SSUK this year.
I know I'm sat next to her. 8)
mine isn't,neither are my 26ers
I know I'm sat next to her.
Has GB had a sex change? 😮
Mascy. All I was saying was tight and twisty on my 17" 29er (with very short chainstays, so good flickability) is no problem. I wasn't particularly comparing.
I sold both my HT & FS XL Niner's which handled like trucks through the twisty's (good on the fast descents though I have to say).
I would say The Paradox is as flickable as a 26" bike, for me, as fast as I can flick LOL
I much prefer 29er's
Matt.
No.
Neither has the female winner though.
Well not last time I looked. 😯
Surely it's more down the the riders skill than the bike?
I love my 29er, and have been riding it most of the year, although I took my 4 inch travel FS 26er to Snowdon and Penmachno last w/end, which was a good move.
As to which is quickest: I've been asking myself the same question since the summer. The majority of the riding I have done locally around Watford and the 12 / 24hr events have been on the 29er, then every now and again I take the 26er out and have a great time but it's a very different ride.
The 29er has one major advantage: it give me a huge grin, a factor worth its weight in Titanium (!) and it engages me more than the 26er, I feel more involved in the ride and so have more fun. I have adapted my riding style somewhat as you need momentum, meaning you are forced to push a little harder, get out of the saddle more, hang onto gears longer, and gain that next gear, click (very satisfying), and so it goes.
On the 26er, this technique is wasted energy as all I do is sit and pedal. I tried the 26er at Sleepless and it left me cold and wanting the 29er, conversely at Penmachno the 26er was getting air and scooting over the trail like it owned the place.
The answer is still, "I don't know". On some trails, yes, on others, no. Does it matter since I now know which bike suits my aspirations and the trail to be ridden? Nope!
Are you sure Neil was on a 29er as he won at Kielder?
I don't believe so but I may be wrong, the men's vets winner was on a 26er.
Most of the SS at the same event were 29ers.
One team at Bonty ran 29ers and won.
My local club's first race of the season, the Summit series (?) based in High Wycombe, the first three bikes were 29, 29 and 69.
If you cant decide...... get a 96er just like me! 😀
yes no yes no yes no
I suffer more on my 29er when i am not race fit than on my 26. However once I am fitter i find the 29er better to race on and that means faster.
Techy stuff i find it rides the same mainly, better in some stuff (steppy drops, hideous rock gardens) worse in other stuff (downhill off camber switchbacks specifically) i've taken to nose wheelying round stuff like that 😉 Dunno really. Not better not worse just different.
ok sounds like enough to justify another bike, for those 'different' conditions.
yes I was on my 29er (or jumped up crossbike!) at Kielder 100.
29er won at SSUK this year. Not sure if thats the first time its happened?
Nah, George won on his 29er 'Gay Fister Pig' at Bristol in 2007 too. He said he beat you by about a tyre width Matt, perhaps if you'd be on a 29er your tyre would've been far enough ahead 🙂
I can really see the merits for tall folk, but I'm just not convinced otherwise, I think it's hard to comment on their race pedigree, as there just aren't that many out there. The XCRacer 29er team have had some good results certainly, but they're the only dedicated team on 29ers in the UK I can think of.
"Gay Fister Pig"
tee hee
Have to say I've found benefits in 29ers after trying them out, but for trail centres, jumps/air and tight corners, 26er's still have me.
superstar_opponents is just being his usual anti-29er self 😉
my 80mm 29er race bike was fine around laggan black - confidence inspiring in places...
guy i was out in the alps with this summer was handling stuff there fine on his rigid 29er (not DHing of course...)
26 are good at trail centers, and i'll be taking mine to a techy ride at aviemore this weekend, but for big mountain days, and relentless type rides the 29er wins for me. she rolls oh so nicely 🙂
Spaghetti Explosion: where did you shoot that vid? Looks purrttttyyy gooood..
Repak.
it's not my vid. just thought it'd show the way 29ers are going.
I'd recommend a day in the 29er saddle. I'm based in Watford if you wish to borrow mine for a ride-out.
When I did buy, it took a while to really grasp and adjust to the different riding style, not that many had 29ers even 15 months ago (what does that tell you in its self?).
That was on the back of me riding for 2x MBR magazine articles as a "non-magazine test rider" & some might recall said article from a couple of summers ago - and whilst I had parity with the 29ers on said rides, the other tester, Ian, did not.
In many ways, the question is not relevent.
If you have been out racing and riding the summer's events, be they the Bristol Bike Fest, Keilder 100, Polaris, the Gorrick, MM, SITS, Bonty, or if you spend you time at Afan, Dalby and Glentress (forgive me as I do not know your riding history) then you will have possibly made up your mind, after all so may people are taking a 2nd bike with a bigger wheel means there is a real shift in the mountain bike sea-state.
One caveat I would add is that some magazines and certain web forums are more atuned to this change than others. So, in response to the original post: it is still one that no one here can answer for you as such. You have the information, but you need to try one out, possibly? If your ultimate goal is out-right speed, then as has been observed, you'll be better off on a 26er on the more tech' trail centres, but for may other circuits, the 29er will simlpy muller a 26er.
Best of luck. Can you let us know your thoughts if you do make the plunge?
I rode a geared 26er at the National Series race at Dalby, then a 29er on pretty much the same course a couple of weeks later at SSUK. The 29er was a lot smoother and less scary on the rocky sections (Worry Gill and others). However, this may have been something to do with the fast it weighs 3lbs more than my 26er race bike and had riser bars. I'm getting a 29er to race during the Winter (mainly at the Thetford Winter Series), so hopefully they won't be any slower... Having ridden the 29er SS round Thetford, it's certainly a lot smoother through the woops.
GB
Nah, George won on his 29er 'Gay Fister Pig' at Bristol in 2007 too. He said he beat you by about a tyre width Matt, perhaps if you'd be on a 29er your tyre would've been far enough ahead
Ah yeh, I forgot about 2007. I was on a 29er myself then and around Bristol is was great.
Perhaps I would have beaten George this year if he allowed me to get to the technical sections first 😉
Hahaha! Perhaps... It was a strategy mate 😉 I thank the 29" wheels for the 1" advantage come the final sprint! You OK - back problems again at D2D?
GB
Hahaha! Perhaps... It was a strategy mate 😉
A strategy that clearly worked 😛
Perhaps if we meet again at Brechfa I will have a little advantage!
All good now, back is sorted. D2D was just end of season fatigue.
I don't think I'll be racing at Brechfa... If you want a hand setting up etc, I may be able to help out depending when it is - have you got a date yet?
GB
Have you seen the 29HT video now on the Home page?
http://www.singletrackworld.com/2009/10/the-annual-snowdon-video/
Thanks for posting that up.
explosion - is that video of you?
why are you all going so SLOW???
Not I
If you read the postings below the video link for my comments as whilst I have added a link to some of my stills from 2 weeks ago on the hill, I went on to heap praise on the rider's skills - something I posses very little of as I am not the most confident nor competent rider when it comes to venturing out onto really rocky, steep, technical off-piste areas.
Perhaps were I to live in the Peaks I'd manage better, but living in Watford, I'm afraid I have to accept that my skills levels are, at best, limited.
just seemed funny for a 'how fast' kinda thread to watch some lads picking their way down some tech stuff at half an mph with a full set of pads on....
nice that they stayed upright, but pretty dang steady riding!
Ha!
You go & ride the Ranger's Track down Snowdon on those technical sections, then down the final decent at 50kmph and come back here not be in awe.
All I can add is echo Bone's comments from above: "Thanks for posting that up"
tracknicko.
You must have teh awsome skillz bro.