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Perhaps 'hate' is a little strong.
Silly big wheels, no suspension, no gears...
OK, a step too far with the no gears thing but I never did get the whole, "they roll better man," or "it's just back to basics and so pure dude" attitudes with, shall we say, non-standard modern day trail bikes.
Advances are there to make things better in my opinion so suspension and the likes are a must.
Well yesterday my outlook changed somewhat. I went up to the Wolftrax to demo the Mojo SL and the 5 Spot and managed to get a ride on both. I enjoyed them both but have to admit that I didn't enjoy them as much as I wanted to and shan't be replacing my Golden Willow with either of them. I did however happen to see a guy queuing for the uplift with a bike that just DID NOT belong there in the queue! There he stood awaiting the arrival of the the land rover with a Niner Air 9 Carbon. I'd seen the bike in mags and it's just a beautifully designed bike so I had to try it. Completely NOT what I was there to try yet I have to say I found it utterly fantastic! It climbed so well (even with me riding!) and wasn't as bad on the downs as I thought it might be but I will have to work on upper body fitness! I bought the Bionicon off the back of a demo at Laggan a couple of years ago and I think similar may happen this time! It will...nae... must have gears but I have to say that this bike has changed my opinion on several points that are regularly discussed on here that, by and large I would normally 'pfft' at and move on to the next thread.
As an aside it was a rather disappointing day as there were nowhere near as many stands there this year. Perhaps this is a reflection on the fact that there is less disposable income out there and the industry seems to be heading in the other direction?
As an aside it was a rather disappointing day as there were nowhere near as many stands there this year.
I couldn't make it, but a mate of mine spent the weekend up there. He said it wasn't as good as last year. His main disappointments were the lack of Orange bikes and the fact the Orange run was closed.
I guess the bike show in Glasgow may have had an affect too.
Completely NOT what I was there to try yet I have to say I found it utterly fantastic!
If only a few more people would actualy try stuff before posting on here about how they hate it.
I thought that too Geoff however I was at the bike show today and there was nothing there that would have affected the usual turnout at the Wolftrax.
Giant, Spesh and Trek will be there with the Demo Series on the 7th of May though.
I have read your post a few times and I really am not clear exactly what it is about. Have you seen a bike that you would not normally consider buying, ridden it, and then thought it was OK? Or is it the other way around?
Stu, 😀 as I said, hate was a strong and a little tongue in cheek. I very much [i]dismissed[/i] it as opposed to hating it I s'pose.
I'm not saying for one second that I'd sell everything and have the Niner as an 'only bike' but I'll happily add it to the collection.
It's my birthday in 11 days and the desktop background has been changed to a Niner Air 9 Carbon so she knows what I want! 😉 😀
Simon,
Kind of both I s'pose. I wanted a Mojo or 5 Spot this year but don't think I'll go for one as I was a little underwhelmed by them. On the other hand I liked the 'look' (and only the look) of the Niner but the fact it was a 29er, fully rigid and all together not what floats my boat should have meant I didn't like or want it. However after having a ride on it I kind of 'get' it now. And indeed want to get it!
I still like my comfy, bouncy bikes though 😀
Light bike + groomed trails = 🙂
Did you take it down the black 😉
However after having a ride on it I kind of 'get' it now. And indeed want to get it!
I still like my comfy, bouncy bikes though
And that's the great thing about bikes. There's always room for another that's total different to what you've already got. 8)
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Feel the desire...
Rode one a while back at a demo day and it was lovely, not sure it was just the bigger wheels as I rode a Tallboy as well and wasn't fussed by it.
Think I would do a 1x10 setup though.
I too had ridden other 29ers and they did nothing to change my opinion. It just seems to be an all-round package with the Niner.
Buzz, that looks fast whilst sitting still! Not to mention expensive 😀
I would have taken it down the black but to be honest I'd rather buy one because I wanted one not because I'd broken it! 😀
buzz-lightyear - your shed looks a little lost on that vast lawn.
Isn't the air 9 just an on one carbon 29er without the melted downtube? You could save ur missus a pile of cash
singlespeedstu - Member
If only a few more people would actualy try stuff before posting on here about how they hate it.
Very true.
rOcKeT,
I have actually looked at that. It's not as aesthetically pleasing as the Niner but I wouldn't mind seeing it in the flesh. I did buy my On One Whippet unseen and other than it eating itself it is a very nice bike.
The Niner as that something extra though and I think I'm worth it 😀