Hi,
I'm on the hunt for a new bike - already asked on here about another type of bike.
Currently looking at whether a 29er rigid might be suitable for what I want it for.
Have people made the own i.e. just bought some rigid forks and fitted to a normal 29er hardtail or are there some decent off the shelf 29er rigid bikes out there?
Cheers for any help..
Singular swift always rates highly with most people. Myself included.
Niner Air9C is very rigid, and the new forks have extra mounts.
Singular loveley biks. (I have a gryphon, rigid monstercrossed)
Also a rigid O-O Ti29er
Any 29er frame worth considering matched with a fork. You may want to try different a-c heights, but start with a-c matched to sagged suspension. My Ti29 with "correct" a-c was pretty uninspiring, but sicne putting on lower forks with more trail it's been a joy to ride.
I have a Cube Reaction carbon with Kinesis iX forks, carbon LB rims and 1x11. Sub 9kg.
Not really a mtb though... ace on smoother bridleways/towpaths and goes anywhere. The lack of heft makes it very quick on the right terrain.
singualr swift or a Stooge would be my go to for a nice rigid 29er without going crazy on cost. Genesis do some good 29/29+ rigid bikes as well
I have a niner emd, with on one forks. Rides well and I can run 35mm cx tyres or 2.25 29er tyres. Does everything I want it to do, and it's quick, quicker than my cx bike on everything apart from tarmac
I've put rigid forks in most of my hardtails at some point but my full-time rigid was a Soda, lovely. Nothing special about a "rigid bike", you just need suspension-corrected forks, and often they have a high niche tax or are 6lbs of steel- why these things go together in people's heads I don't know
Big front tyre helps though!
Most rigid forks are suspension-corrected, which of course compensated for the fork compressing in use, but can make the front end feel a bit ponderous. I've found a slightly shorter fork helps. High-volume rubber also helps on a rigid bike in terms of comfort and handling - I find 29+ gets me out of tricky spots, rolls over roots and rocks better than a regular 29er.
I built up my old 29er inbred with some cheap Hylix carbon forks and a bunch of stuff lying around in the garage, in theory for a shopping/commuter, singlespeed at the moment too with a cheap conversion kit. Really like it, not ventured properly off road on it yet, not sure my knees and wrists are man enough.
Jones, either in 29 or plus flavour
Kona unit, great frames and same fork as Singular rigid steel.
Voodoo Marasa is currently £320 before BC discount, great for the money.
Search for the Stooge thread.
I would consider 29+ if you go rigid, the extra grip is awesome! It makes rigid bike a proper MTB, except riding on big rocks, where nothing but full sus is good enough (I suppose).
Also Pinnacle Ramin, Cannondale and Surly.
Tend to with have full suss or rigid. Got inbred with exotic forks, had scandal with with carbon forks, now running dirty Harry with carbon forks. I waited a while till the dirty Harry showed up.
Sanderson [url= http://sanderson-cycles.com/content/town-crier-greygreen-29er-8 ]Town Crier 29er[/url] with a rigid fork for 29 or 29+? Will take a 2.4 in the back. Gorgeous looking frame in dark metallic blue (less so in grey/green).
May well be purchasing said frame on Monday. However, I have been yo-yoing between this and an Onza Payoff, with occasional Stooge related tangents for ages now...
Got an on one inbred with rigid pace forks, love it. Crap photo but this is it:
[url= https://s8.postimg.org/j9wt898dx/IMG_0671.jp g" target="_blank">
Cannondale, pinnacle, genesis main off the shelf ones that spring to mind, stooge too. Various price points. May want to consider a modern frame that would allow 29/650+ in case you fancy a change down the line.
dovebiker - Member
Most rigid forks are suspension-corrected, which of course compensated for the fork compressing in use, but can make the front end feel a bit ponderous. I've found a slightly shorter fork helps. High-volume rubber also helps on a rigid bike in terms of comfort and handling...
That's my experience too.
As said you can't go wrong with a Singular.
But also look at any of Brant's designs for 29ers, ie Scandal and Ragley TD-1 - that's if you can find anyone prepared to part with one because they're not made anymore.
Surly Karate Monkey, very adaptable, it can be anything you want it to be.
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/505/31888714800_25652085d5_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/505/31888714800_25652085d5_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QzTZVA ]0T0A4605[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146501625@N06/ ]John Stanley[/url], on Flickr
Trail 29er with an EBB for singlespeed and a Fatty rigid fork. Now running XT 11spd. Bought secondhand on here and probably my most used bike. It can handle any of the local riding and 95% of my PBs in the area have been on this.
Stanton Sherpa. Dan will apparently soon be selling his own Stanton rigid forks. Here's his prototype 29 plus which he had at Cannock last week. [img] 
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jones kool-aid drinker for six years - only bike - 29/29+/fat front end.
rigid is great.
I'm really enjoying my recently rebuilt Kona Unit since I added a 29+ front end.
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I've been eyeing up the Surly Krampus in red. They sell it as full build or frame and fork.
Only ever ridden rigid, Jones Diamond and Singular Gryphon are great although not dissimilar. P29er also good but a bit more aggressive.
Always been Stanton and Travers curious. Stooge Speedball also looks tasty.
Swift here, varies between 27.5+ and plain 29r. both have their plus points.
Like it after a long time on hard tails (and before that rigid 26").
Another Karate Monkey fam here. I've an old school geometry OPS version. Running mine with a sus fork though.
Frameset can still be had (if you need a small frame) here:
https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-forks-c6/mountain-bike-frames-c48/karate-monkey-ops-29er-frameset-p17342
Meant to add, if you just want the SS frameset then more sizes:
I've got a Felt 29er frame with On One rigid carbon forks in my garage that I'm about to advertise?
My email is in my profile if you want details.
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Stooge Speedball also looks tasty.Its a bloody yobbo, cant wait to see the steel prototype version in a couple of weeks.
there will be both of the Ti versions out on the chase tonight if anyone wants a spin on one
Love my jones
[img]?oh=f3da13fe32f35310d51a78fac6d95ff3&oe=59C7B51D[/img]
love my speedball
[img]?oh=9897b3b8337aa16600a58bf381aeb37b&oe=59C4FD7C[/img]
Singular & stooge (the new Ti one is ace!) I've touched Tazz's
8)
and my stooge 🙂
Tazz's speedball inspired me to dig this out
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singular peggy?
Yep
The El Mariachi made me into a Salsa fan, but they don't make it any more. Shame, cos I'd want the steep HA if I needed to replace it.
Most rigid forks are suspension-corrected, which of course compensated for the fork compressing in use, but can make the front end feel a bit ponderous
That's what steep HAs are for. You can get away with steeper because you have no fork dive.
Charlie the bike monger is selling salsa el march frames for around £350 at the moment
Singular gryphon and
2 Jones here - all really good bikes - you can't go wrong with a singular for the price TBH
The El Mar is a stunning bike if you want to cover a lot of ground on and off road. It's slightly less good on steep nadgery stuff, but it can still do it of course. I paid more than £350, so I'd be taking his arm off at that price. I can't tell you how much I love mine.
Having owned a stooge and two Ritchey P29 s they are brilliant, very different and I generally choose the stooge
molgrips - Member
The El Mariachi made me into a Salsa fan, but they don't make it any more. Shame, cos I'd want the steep HA if I needed to replace it
I feel the same about my old school geometry Karate Monkey.
I reckon if anything happened to it my main option would be Brother cycles Big Bro.
Have a look at one and see what you think.
Yeah that looks good. The angles are what's important for me. But those dropouts are also cool.
My mate's Shand Bahookie is also pretty similar, but rather more expensive. Slacker HA though, but not sure if his is the stock HA or not.
@rocketdogPlease tell us what your excellent-looking front mudguard is.
I was going to ask the same!!! 8)
it's a mudhugger FR
perfect for todays arid conditions too
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Sweet mudguard Rocketdog.
OP, The Trek Stache is a great bike and can be run 27+, 29 or 29+ and SS too. I've got one with suspension and after feeling a bit meh at first I now bloody love it. Hands down the most fun bike I've had. Think it's a keeper and seems very versatile.
Think they've stopped the rigid version unfortunately. It might look odd and cumbersome, but give it a go and you're in for a shock. Very nippy and extremely capable bike.
I have a Swift and a Stooge, both with 29+ front ends. Very different and both superb. I will never willingly part with either. I've also had an SS-specific Inbred which was also good but not quite so special.