.........but in a good kind of wow this bike actually fits me way. First experiences of other people riding they're 29ers? Will it take some getting used to?
I had a go on stoners 29er. After 10 mins I forgot I was riding it.
It just feels right to me.
26" wheels feel like half way between a BMX and a proper mountain bike now.
None of my bikes are 26" now.
29er all the way. As soon as you get used to it, 26" feels like a toy bike.
I had a go on a 26er the other day. Damned near killed myself! 🙂
29ers all the way here.
Give a few good rides out on some decent trails and you will be fine. Like anything new it takes some bedding in.
As per the above.
I also found i had to alter my riding "style" a bit in tight twisty stuff to get the best out of it. Basically i find i need to be a bit more forceful with it but that could just me my lack of finesse 🙄
Bikes are great. 29er's are better 😉
Sold all my 26" stable and now ride 29ers, I just think they roll over stuff better. Still fall off it though 😳
I've got the experience to come next week when I get my first 29er built up. I've resisted for ages, but have now jumped in feet first with a Niner RIP 9. Decided to keep with a 26er hardtail for now to wring what I can out of the rather uninspiring local terrain, and go 29 for bigger days out. Can't wait to see what it's like.
You'll love it when you've riden it more. It's not a pure case of better or worse than a 26" bike, just different. Most people that ride a 29er love them, but there not for everyone! Well not until you ride the right one. Just finished building up my 2nd 29er, a single speed at that! I'll never go back. Enjoy 😀
Anyone that tries to jump on the 29er bandwagonwheel is just following the mainstream crowd.
Can 29ers be hammered though? I just imagine the wheels to twang on corners... I've no experience at all though. Genuine question. 😕
robsoctane - MemberCan 29ers be hammered though?
No that'd be totaly impossible.
Ask all the people me and him /\ hammered past on the downhills at the dyfi.
😉
Still makes me chuckle.....
😆
Bought cheap 29r 2 weeks ago to try it out.
Loved it.
Sold 2 x 26" wheeled bikes.
Ordered new nicerer 29r.
Will not go back.
😀
After seeing that video I want to try one. That showed the lot of them, eh? Well done... 😉
roboctane - don't go thinking that if you get one you will be able to ride like Stu. Stu is a legend... 😉
He's got flabby arms in that video though
Liking my scandal 29er after approx a year, but the wheels are not as good through rocks, especially at slower speed. Swoopy trail centre type riding feels great though - irons out brake stutter and corners well. Smoother pedally stuff is faster too. Still have 26" FS and SS though.
^^^^^ Look at em all on the smooth line. Pah 😆
After seeing that video I want to try one. That showed the lot of them, eh? Well done...
Not necessarily down to choice of bike / wheel size though, more likely better riding skills and aggressive race tactics. Most of the overtaken group look like they can't really be bothered to even pedal or move around on the bike.
It does look like it rolls well though.
rocketdog.
You try riding fast on the rough line with a shite fork and see how much your arms move. 😉
I just can't imagine the wheels holding up when being blasted through natural rock gardens, over serious root sections and off drops/over jumps. To me their like the wheels on women's shopping bikes and suited to similar terrain! Can honestly say their not for me or the type of terrain and style i like to ride (no trail centres) Don't get me wrong I may change my mind 1 day, maybe when I'm old and lost my driving license and need transport to go to the shops! 🙂
ruscle - MemberI just can't imagine the wheels holding up when being blasted through natural rock gardens, over serious root sections and off drops/over jumps.
ruscle - Member
if I could only cycle in 1 place till I die would be the Quantocks.
Oh dear you seem a little confused and not half as gnarlcore radsik as you're trying to make out. 😉
[img] 
[/img]
I just can't imagine the wheels...
You'll find life becomes a lot more enjoyable when you stop letting your lack of imagination hold you back.
Horrible things! 😉
Busted aren't that hideous....
Not trying to kid anyone, honest I'm crap on a bike but that is also a point as would probably fold the wheels with my ham fisted riding ability! and its how you ride not where imo. Seemed to have touched a nerve! Don't see any 29ers at quantocks but then their probably mincing about on some smooth stuff somewhere else. Anyway its only my opinion which is only worth something in my mind! Put Steve peat on a 29er and I'm positive he would show me different...
ummmm.......this debate (i.e. "are 29ers tuff enough for the rough stuff?") is easily solved, but ya jes gotta look in the right places:
[url=
how popular they are/will become is another issue entirely, but they can certainly handle (as long as it's a frame/build that is used for its intended purpose...)the abuse that your average mortal could inflict on it.
I've broken 4 29er frames.
I haven't buckled a 29er rim yet.
In my experience, the wheels are not the weak point.
There's less than 20mm difference in wheelbase between my 26" Whippet and my 29er Race bike, yes the whole bike is some 3" longer but that's at the wheel ends, the tyre contact is in roughly the same place so for me the perception that 29ers are more of a handful through the tight stuff doesn't hold up.
Wheels are more likely to flex more but for robustness I've never had any reason to question them. Smaller incident angles over the same rocks, bigger tyre volumes and higher axle centers seem to be more than enough to compensate. There is also more free length of spoke to take the strain as the wheel deflects in its rotational plane.
Don't see any 29ers at quantocks but then their probably mincing about on some smooth stuff somewhere else.
You make this far to easy. 8)
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/3098802244_2cecf21c56.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/3098802244/ ]2008_1210qride0005[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3098803934_1f02796089.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/3098803934/ ]2008_1210qride0006[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Even girls on 29ers think the Q's are a bit lightweight. 😉
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/3097955007_0662c79971.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/3097955007/ ]2008_1210qride0002[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
ruscle - Member
I just can't imagine the wheels holding up when being blasted through natural rock gardens, over serious root sections and off drops/over jumps. To me their like the wheels on women's shopping bikes and suited to similar terrain!
tripe really, show me the stories of broken 29er wheels. I'm 17 stone and regularly ride places like Lee Quarry and local trails and a wheel has never let me down, also never seen a 29er wheel fail at the Brownbacks races which hammer bikes
Can honestly say their not for me or the type of terrain and style i like to ride (no trail centres)
how do you know? until you have tried a few you can't really have a view which is based on experience.
my wheels just snapped just after this and it's hardly technical, i'd steer clear if i were you, it's far too dangeous to ride 29" off road
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5564458444_c00b592880_o.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/5564458444/ ]rooty line III[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
new set of wheels needed after riding "houns" bridge too, even this was too gnarly for them
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5658152192_025ce7894b_o.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/5658152192/ ]the Wyre Forest ride[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
this is where they belong, so you get a nice soft landing when it all collapses beneath you
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4838057432_01866a5a40_o.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/4838057432/ ]swift+gull[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
29ers look ridoculous
dirk_pumpa - Member
singlespeedstu's 29er looks ridoculous
Stu I take note that all of your pictures are on nice smoother soft grass and leaves and your generally motionless, also you seem to be in around all the nice easier trails. Each to their own I guess, if you like them that's cool, but I don't.
your generally motionless,
Yes I always find it easier to take pictures when i'm stationary. 🙄
On a serious note if you really think that 29er wheels can't cope with your [s]riding[/s] mincing on the q's you're either stuck in 1993 or as you admited not very good...
rOcKeTdOg - Memberdirk_pumpa - Member
singlespeedstu's 29er looks ridoculous
Yep it's ridoculous how they can ride steep rocky stuff without exploding the wheels.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/3935265888/in/faves-stu-b/
the Jones aint' no oil painting whatever is riding on...except when it's semi-fat, then it looks cool 🙂
It ain't about oil paintings it's about riding. 8)
For me anyway.
Stu- Sounds to me like you haven't rode much of the quantocks, but I'm probably wrong. I reckon you like your niche bulls**t by following the latest fad, but I'm probably wrong! Anyway you have kept me entertained for the day. Each to their own.
I think they look fabolousous 😕
Anyway you have kept me entertained for the day. Each to their own.
Funnnily enough riding one of my niche bulls**t bikes has kept me entertained today. Trying to get a bit of humour going with you before and after has been a total waste of time though...
But as you say each to their own. 😆
Why would someone with no insight or experience of the subject contained in the title of the post feel the need to pass comment based purely on conjecture and prejudice......unless of course their(sic) a total chapeaux du derriere?
Each to there(sic) own,thanks for sharing.
all 29ers are bloomin silly, and that stu chap can't ride without stabalisers.....that's why all the 26" wheeleis were having to let him come past in the video, so that they didn't get tangled up
or his manly girth had reached a terminal velocity and there was no stopping that much momentum 😀
I miss my Niner 🙁
Watch out for all the shopping bike wheels exploding in these pics
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3515850649_8b346a794d.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/3515850649/ ]Jase gets all sailored up[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5086547009_4d64849955.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/5086547009/ ]Threerider Stu[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4019835000_b21ee0304c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/4019835000/ ]Stu[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2305261708_2a86ea3303.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/2305261708/ ]Flying Jones (Best viewed biggerer than this)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
I just can't imagine why the Forestry Commission and the land owners from around the country aren't up in arms with all the 29er wheels left by the side of the trail after they fall apart or explode everywhere 🙄
In fareness though Tollah the rear wheel that's on the bikes in your two middle pictures did have a spoke snap the other day.
While it was just sat in the garage too. 😯 Maybe he has a point about 29er wheels exploding. 😆
They look a little scared in those pictures! And I thought we were bonding Stu! Happy days, atleast your not riding a horse or some other waste of time.
*drums fingers and waits for someone to post pictures and videos of radsik ruscle getting all gnarled up in the quantocs*
Well thanks all for replying, made great reading!
I think they look awesome, still haven't ridden it properly yet. Came home on it last night after work via the pub. A very wobbly 2 mile ride, felt weird then but think that may be the drink affecting my judgement.
Looking forward to taking it out tomorrow for a proper ride, especially now the hangover has gone.
Stu- Sounds to me like you haven't rode much of the quantocks, but I'm probably wrong. I reckon you like your niche bulls**t by following the latest fad, but I'm probably wrong! Anyway you have kept me entertained for the day. Each to their own.
What a fud 🙄
Just watch the wheels don't explode if your riding anything as core as the q's. 😉
[img][url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5115/5914816479_5cec9b037c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/56594563@N07/5914816479/ ]_0110235232[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/56594563@N07/ ]tangwyn[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Our regular big wheel exploder.
Your spoke probably snapped as you had to ride it up your drive Stu and that is Tarmac, that well known gnarly surface they use for 29ers to ride on. 🙄
Are those white painted SC32s tang?
Have you seen how rough that gravel is at the side of our drive? I must have strayed onto that and caused the explodage of the wheel.
I think lookmanohands got handy with some vinyl!
29ers look ridoculous
I suppose for tall blokes they may look ok, certainly more in proportion.
When your legs are as short as mine they do look ridiculous.
I haven't yet seen a 29er round my way (West Yorks/Peaks etc), maybe they aren't as well suited to the trails? I don't know.
A 26" wheel bike seems big to me after BMX....
The riders and their abilities in the video posted above have not convinced me on how good the bigger wheel descends.Using those mere mortals to make a butchers bike appear spiffingly good on screen does not do it for me.
:O)
Thank you all for the laughs you have given me on this grey day while at the inlaws! I've not once stated I'm radsik and gnarly but will do my best to live upto the tag, maybe a few ghosties next time I'm on the bike! But I will stand by the fact that the quantocks are awesome, and I hope to see you all mincing around those combes. 😉
I got my new 29er home from the LBS today, just a few hours ago. Upon removal from roofrack and setting down upon my block paved drive both wheels exploded before my very eyes. They are rubbish. I am taking it back and getting a 26" wheeled proper mountain bike and driving to the Quantocks first thing in the morning.
The Welsh lads I ride with are always complaining about their 29r wheels exploding in the rocky gnarl of the Dyfi forest so god knows what carnage is afoot amongst the rocks, roots and very sharp grass of the Quantocks.
Just setting off now on my stupid, wheel exploding bike! 😉
I'm just about to go trailquesting on mine (did I mention I ride trailquests ?).
Hopefully, it will be a nice flat course with no bumps or sharp corners.
surely you should plot a route away from all the contours on the map Graham?, just to be safe...OMG, it's not on the quantocks is it?? 😯
Just as i thought then. Still no pictures of radsic ruscle busting the quantoc gnar. 😆
All you biggwheel riders out there be careful today. They could explode at any time without warning. 😯
Maybe I should cancel today's FOD trip to ride Skull, Dungeons and Dragons, follow through etc etc to go ride the Q's or maybe I won't….......... Not sure my fence sitting wheels would cope withe Q's
Q's have some good spots but if you think they're awesome then that's ok but there's much better riding around.
Lookmannohands must be a cwap rider coz he rides a 29er and doesn't cover the brakes 🙂
Just got my 29er out of the garage, wheeled it down the drive and would you believe it, exploding wheels strikes again. Gutted it didn't even see the Essex countryside let alone the quantocks
Just finished an interview with Midlands today about the exploding wheels phenomenon here in Shropshire. I think they are going to issue some sort of PSA about it. I'm campaigning for a "No 29ers" sign for the Long Mynd. It's just too dangerous.
29ers look like an Australian's nightmare.
Someone's put in a complaint and British Cycling may ban 29ers from trailquests now after two other riders got injured by shrapnel as my wheels exploded when I accidentally rode over a fallen leaf in the road today.
lol@ all the above,
but, all pisstaking aside, i dont understand where this idea that a 29er is inherently weaker is coming from?
i mean, lets face it, despite the '29er' name tag, we are actually talkinig about 700c wheels here.
would anyone care to remind me what size of wheels are ridden in paris roubaix?
lots of bs spouted about them, especially from people who freely admit they havent tried them.
Bigger wheels for the same weight and construction will be weaker and more flexy - simple physics. Same for forks.
Obviously though that doesn't mean they're not up to the job in the real world (except Q-Xtreme (TM) type stuff)
assuming the same dropout spacing; 110mm front (?), 135mm rear, and the same rim section, a bigger wheel will be a bit weaker/more flexible.
(angle of spokes, bigger things are inherently more flexible, etc)
And, given that bigger wheels could easily end up heavier, i guess there's a reason to use really light rims on a 29er, just to keep the weight down a bit.
but i can't remember the last time i folded a 26" wheel outside of a crash, or felt the need to complain about them flexing, i think i could live with a wheel that's a little less strong/stiff. i really don't think i'd even notice.
ahwiles.
Stop it now you're just confuslicating the subject with sensible talk.
We'll have none of that on here thank you very much.