I'm still thinking it's a bit of industrial propaganda but remain open-minded.......
No I'm 5'6" and while I know that there are 29ers out their that would fit me they tend to look as ridiculous as the 26"ers for those that are 6'5".
Nah, I've already got one 😉 Next bike will more likely be a 26" full sus unless 29er full sussers start dropping in price soon.
More likely I'd buy a Pugsley and a set of 29er wheels.
"No I'm 5'6" and while I know that there are 29ers out their that would fit me they tend to look as ridiculous as the 26"ers for those that are 6'5"."
I didn't look ridiculous on my XL Santa Cruz Nomad! Not in my head anyway! lol!
Seriously though, some FS bikes are fine for 6'5" beanpoles. Not many, but some.
no, there aren't any decent freeridey ones. maybe next time like the idea of a tallboy, as i'm 6'3ish
Loco. Nicolai have both the AC and AM in 29r guise now.....
ohh do they I'll have a look, has to be a 2.5" stroke shock or more so can run the DSP shocks on it. Hadn't though about Nicolai, cheers.
Nicolai have both the AC and AM in 29r guise now....
Yer - been drooling at the prospect. This is however a textbook case of Want as opposed to Need. Should maybe use the ones I have a bit more before thinking about another one........
Think the shocks too short 🙁
not until they do something about the stupid head angles.
scandal 29er = 72degrees! - what the hell is that about?! - that's a road bike.
etc.
Tried it, not for me.
As per druidh, buy different bikes not "better" ones.
I doubt it but that Santa Cruz carbon 29er HT has got me casting it lustful looks.. 😳
ahwiles - try it - the angles work differently with a bigger wheel and trail.
LoCo - Turner Sultan?
nope shock too short again, will stick with 26 for the next bike, will try a few 29ers for the next bike
Nope, got 2 already ! 😆
nope, If I wnted to go in a straight line on a smoothed surface I'd take the road bike out. The kind of places 29ers seem to be touted for are the kind of places I don't like riding.
TooTall - Memberahwiles - try it - the angles work differently with a bigger wheel and trail.
i have*, and it's bloody awful.
(*santa cruz tallboy, and an inbred 29er)
Yeah. I'll probably give it a go before the year is out.
See what all the fuss is about. 🙂
scandal 29er = 72degrees
That's rather silly. Specific angles are pretty arbitrary and are just typically the ones that work for that particular bike - eg 26" bikes with typical fork offset/etc.
Different sized wheel bikes have different geometry and dynamics and so need different angles. As you mentioned, 72 degrees feels right on a road bike because it's different to a 26" mtb.
If you don't like the bikes, that's a different matter. I doubt it's down to the head angle alone.
you can buy 26ers with head angles ranging from 71ish to 65ish degrees. different bikes for different riders for different types of riding.
brilliant.
you can buy 29ers with head angles ranging from 71ish to 70ish degrees. they all seem very similar when you look at the numbers. which is of course fine.
really it is, but there's not a lot of choice, which is of course fine, and after trying it, i'm choosing not to choose.
Only because thus far most have been the equivalent of the 26" bikes that are more the 71-69 degree range so there's a similarly narrow range (eg a couple of degrees) in the 29ers. The more freeridey/DH ones that are starting to come out are more slack I'm pretty sure.
then i shall continue to wait and watch.
eg
64.5deg head angle.
very nice, and when is it for sale?
(i'm not suggesting that all 29ers should have a 63degree head angle, but a little choice would be nice. I've tried a few of the bikes available now, and dint like 'em - and there doesn't seem to be much variation)
Not yet 😉
hmm, 2013 bike for the 'company stable' 😕
Nope!! Yet to have a 29er past me in bendy singletrack up or down,seen lots pass me on straight flat stuff though 😉 cheating sods!
Rich
Possibly... Still half thinking of 29erising my rigid, all I need is frame and wheels as the forks are already 29er corrected. But I'm enjoying it as it is.
Don't think there's any chance I'll be replacing my 2 main bikes though.
no
No. I don't see the point especially as whatmtb and mbr seem to be buming them up alot.
Yes for me. Got a demo ride on a Yeti Bigtop this w'end.
I'm possibly selling mine. (med Singular Peregrine with ALfine and lots of shiny bits in case anyone's interested)
But I'll get another. I'd prefer something a little less "road" and a little more mtb.
no, had 9 in the past. 😯
still got 1.
they are all pants and should be banned
we mustn't forget they're the next best thing.......................perhaps / possibly / maybe............. ❓
yes, i doubt i'll ever buy a 26er again. 29er's just suit me and i'm not a tall or crap rider.
I'm curious about trying one, but wouldn't spend any money on one yet.
Having asked at the LBS whether they are selling, the answer is no, and nobody in my riding group (of around 30) has got one. Maybe I'll try one at the Afan demo day.
I wonder if they are a regional thing? Judging by the above posts, its the same handful of people who are buying all of the 29ers.......
It isn't the head angle that really matters, it's the trail. Bigger wheel = more trail for the same head angle.
some people are open to change, others are not.................or, 29rs are like bum sex...........dont knock it till you have tried it............ 😉
^^^^^^^^^^
hardly comparitive 😯
i just bought one, so yes.
just having a 29er built ,, here is a few numbers for you
71deg head angle
71.5 deg seat angle
609 top tube 24 "
413mm 16.2" chainstay
I have more friends that now want a Pugsley/fatbike than a 29er 😮
Fatbikes are 29ers 🙂
it's the outside diameter of the tyre doesnt matter how you acheive this 26" wheel with very big tyres or 700c with not so big tyres
I hope not. If I do it will be because I've given in to peer pressure. I'm more niche riding a 26er among my riding mates than if I had a 29er. Part of my objection is the "if you're tall you should ride a 29er" stuff, which I can't see any logic in at all. The last thing I need is a longer wheelbase, and the trails round here are flat enough with out being smoothed out!
they are pointless, ridden by dullards and are the next redundant technology.
save yourself the time accept that the 26er full sus and the long travel hard tail are the only bikes you need unless you are a nichemongering attention whore
thread closed please move along onto a "what 26" tyres for..."
I like the way people keep repeating the "29ers are no good on singletrack" myth, as if repeating it is all it takes to make it true.
I ride a 29er.
I find that when I turn the 'bars, the bike goes round the corner.
What magical properties do 26ers have beyond that ?
I ride a 29er.
sell it now before the bubble bursts, put the money to a proper mtb and accept that you were wrong and that you strayed from the path of righteousness
i reckon my 29r with the build it has, could, in the right hands keep up with any of the 26'' fan bois on here, no matter what they ride.
Been there and tried it (3 times), not for me whether ss, rigid, geared etc, so 26ers all the way now.
Folk keep saying there slow on tight singletrack...my mates (on 26") arnt slow and im no riding god yet keep up no probs...
dont think im dull...and no one notices me...
big_n_daft; come out for a ride some time and lets see...
Having conducted extensive in the field research at SITS, Bike Fest, Set2Rise etc, I can honestly say that I overtake far more 26ers on my 29er on singletrack than I have 26ers overtake me. That includes team riders, who I would expect to be going faster than me as a solo.
I'm thinking about leaving my map board on and wearing my Sustrans Volunteer Ranger tabard this year to really rub it in.
I used to ride this!
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4418525654_e06b662e18.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/46613883@N08/4418525654/ ]ONE ONE TI456[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/46613883@N08/ ]timoreillyhalifax[/url], on Flickr
Now I ride this and I prefer it! Not for everyone, but I won't go back to a 26er!
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5395407921_10e6cdc3a4.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/46613883@N08/5395407921/ ]SCANDAL 005[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/46613883@N08/ ]timoreillyhalifax[/url], on Flickr
I'd like to try one, but the cost of forks needs to come down first, i don't want to be rigid, may as well ride the crosser for that!! I do know what i want though, steel, 100mm travel, HT, 1X9 (or 10 if cheap enough!).
you can buy 29ers with head angles ranging from 71ish to 70ish degrees.
One of my 29ers has a 69degree head angle. Should i send it back as it's been made wrong?
I've never had problems keeping up with 26ers on tight singletrack either. 🙂
Bazz,
I got new 100mm Rebas for 300 off ebay!
.
Bazz i bought the cheapy Suntour 100mm Epicon fork for £180 from CRC, not quite as plush as a Reba but it takes the hits ok(enough to keep up with 26" bikes) and its nearly a year old and no probs after nearly 2000 miles,it has an alloy crown and stantions so pretty light and 15mm thru axle, a service and tune from Mojo or TF Tuned would make it pretty decent,
I like the way people keep repeating the "29ers are no good on singletrack" myth, as if repeating it is all it takes to make it true.I ride a 29er.
I find that when I turn the 'bars, the bike goes round the corner.
What magical properties do 26ers have beyond that ?
It's not that they're no good,it's just they are not as fast if the trail is tight 'n bendy so you have to slow down & speed up a lot......
I ride both btw & have done for over 18 mths now......
...it's just they are not as fast if the trail is tight 'n bendy...
Let me guess; You've got power steering on your car and if you drove my Land Rover, you'd complain that it was hard to park.
Am I right ? 😛
Your bikes rubbish if it doesn't have purple anno bits on, or wide handlebars or single speed or 10 inches of suspension....................................
They'll keep making the next big thing and we'll keep buying it...................enjoy!
This bulletin has been brought to you via considerable amounts of strong beer and I think most of it is spelt right
Salut!
Just have!! Bought a Cube Stereo Race 26er in November for the bouncy stuff and now added a Niner Air 9 for the fast stuff and most other stuff, will be using it as a tool to increase my fitness.
The old 26 vs.29 debate means a good excuse for a bit of clash and tallboy doing skids, rock gardens and stuff.
One of each is best.... 😉
Or quite possibly worst... 😯
Ah **** it, I'll just go riding and not worry!
ade ward - Memberjust having a 29er built ,, here is a few numbers for you
71deg head angle
71.5 deg seat angle
609 top tube 24 "
[b]413mm 16.2" chainstay[/b]
hmm, are you sure about that bit? - cos i wanna see photo's an that. (that's short for a 26er, and you'll be wedging in a tyre that's at least 35mm taller)
Not for me.
Just got one and definitely in love!
Sort of, if you count a road bike as a 29er?
I was sceptical but prepared to try it, had a Scott Scale pro 29er on loan for 3 weeks now and I like it... So far I've raced it at the Gorrick Enduro, taken it round Cannock, done the beast and climax trails and then weds I took it to the peaks.
This nonsense that they don't do corners and get wedged in stuff is completely wrong, well at least for this bike with a reasonably competent pilot anyway.... I find singletrack on in is great, so much grip it really can be thrashed through it. It seems more planted and stable on decents and smooths rocky climbs really well.
The downsides.....
Extra weight, mine is 1lb heavier than the same spec in a 26" this is all in the wheels, although having said that the extra rolling speed seems to make up for the lack of acceleration.
The front end is harder to lift so manuals and wheelies are harder, this was noticeable in the peaks trying to negotiate the peat bogs as I couldn't sometimes get the front wheel as high as I'd like to clear them.
Lack of tyre selection, I like 2.25 Tyres as a rule and the rocket rons that come on the Scott are ace but I'd like narrower options for racing/mud, I've had to got to maxxis for some 2.1 aspens and to bontrager for mud x to get a set up for every occasion.
Wheel flex, obviously there's more leverage force going through the rear wheel and longer spokes etc. so I've noticed the rear wheel flexing slightly under hard accelerations and twisting corners. Although this is using no tubes crest rims which are not exactly known for their stiffness even in 26".
Having said all that, for me the benefits outweight the negatives so I've ordered one as my race bike for the year, it won't be my only bike as it won't replace my meta 4 for rocky trail centre duties but it is certainly more than just a fad, it has obvious advantages.
It might have been my imagination, but there seemed to be quite a few more 29ers at the last round of the Thetford Winter series than usual. Still massively outnumbered by 26ers.
They definitely roll better and get through mud more reliably. I think the stuff about being slow through twisty stuff is, at least for me, not relevant, since in my case the limiting factor is how slowly my dullard brain works.
EDIT: even with my slow old brain and allegedly slow 29er steering I was still finding I'd be catching up riders on 26" wheels on the fast cornery twisty bits.
My 26" 456 is still a lot of fun though.
Blazing. Interesting as dipper reports similar. He does struggles to get full travel out of his nicolai helius ac 29er however
lets just say i've no plans to buy a 26" bike ever again
Nah
Had one and a 69er, nice cruisers and I miss the off camber traction. But I'm a one bike man and a 'nortmal'xc race hardtail suits me.
The other thing was weight weenie'ness. Everything was heavier on the 29er obviously due to the larger size of suss forks, tyres etc. And if you argue the weight point by using rigid singlespeed as an example, I'll just say rather than go that route I'd stick with my crosser.
No, never.
if anyone has ever tried to keep up with Steve Webb on his Singular 29er in the swinley singletrack at a Gorrick then they will know that this '29ers are slow in singletrack' claim is a load of old sh1te... 🙂
Blazin, unless you back to back your test with the 26" version of the same bike you don't know whether that would be better.
oldgit - Member
The other thing was weight weenie'ness.
weight watchers is your friend
My 26" 456 is still a lot of fun though
because it's better by design
ahwiles you well have to wait a couple of weeks but the numbers are right
Blazin, unless you back to back your test with the 26" version of the same bike you don't know whether that would be better.
I did big and daft, I've owned and ridden for the last 6 years on 26" Scales, the 29v26" was a back to back observation. all my comments still stand.
Interesting from Blazin'. It is a different riding style on a 29er though I find. Carrying speed an all. Also I didn't really "get" them untill I rode a really light but strong bike, which cost me a fair bit to put together. 29ers are certainly much more expensive like for like and that maybe where the comparisons are uneven.
Anyway am quite happy with both my 26ers and 29ers. Cant see me not riding either.