29ers

Is it a case of don’t believe the hype, or are they the best thing since Crank Bros pedals?
What about if you’re 5’8 or under?
Should I be thinking of trying one (I’m 5’8…)?

Try one. I love them, couldn’t see any downsides on the ones I tried (Lynskey ridgeline and Santa Cruz Tallboy) and they fit me properly. Even if they don’t work for you, at least you’ll know and won’t have to worry yourself.

Give it a go, it’s only a bike after all.

I really rate mine for general trail & XC duties

I’d like to try one, too, but it’s hard to find a small framed test bike. Unless anyone knows somewhere?

29ers are significantly better than Crank Bros pedals.

29ers good. Crank bros pedals fall apart in 5 minutes!

Funnily enough I’ve got Candys on both my MTBs and my road bike… Never had any problems with any, even though 1 pair are 5 years old.
I’ll look into 29ers, though I was told at my local bike shop they’re just a fad and that much more bits’n’bobs are available for 26″.
Is it like VHS and betamax, where beta was by far the better system but VHS won out due to better marketing?

I probably won’t bother riding 26″ bikes again.

I’d like to try one, too, but it’s hard to find a small framed test bike. Unless anyone knows somewhere?

If you have a Specialized Test Centre near you they can get hold of any size of Jett Comp, Carve Pro, Camber Comp Carbon or Epic Comp Carbon for you to demo…

I’m 5′ 7″ and have jus put together a Karate Monkey SS. So far I’m loving it, but the geometry helps, a cunningly well designed frame..

crank bros pedals are quite like 29er wheels as they EXPLODE”

Committed to 29ers now there is a technical reason of which I won’t bore you with as it would end endless rants on this and other forums ,

If you have a Specialized Test Centre near you they can get hold of any size of Jett Comp, Carve Pro, Camber Comp Carbon or Epic Comp Carbon for you to demo…

Thanks, will have to try and arrange a test ride soon.

Can be better. Can be worse.
Can be faster than a 26er. Can be slower.
Can be more fun. Can be less fun.
Can fit a shorter person well. Can be a pig to fit a shorter person.

Love mine (09 GF Paragon upgraded to 10 speed). It’s great for local riding (South Downs); balanced, easy to hop over obstacles, fun in the woody singletrack and on average over 1mph faster on my regular loop than my 26in FS, but if I were going to Wales, for example, I’d still take the FS every time.

You’re gonna have to try one before you know the answer in your case.

I’ll look into 29ers, though I was told at my local bike shop they’re just a fad and that much more bits’n’bobs are available for 26″.

let me guess, they only stock 26″ bikes? 🙄 i’d get a new LBS if i were you even if you ride a 26″ bike for ever

thats not my name if you are midlands based, there are a few of our mob that ride little 29er’s and I’ve got a spare 16″ you could have a play on as well.

in fact if there are any 29er curious types in the midlandshire area drop me an email and we’ll get something sorted out for you. Whole range of bikes, from on-ones, lynskeys, salsa, jones, fisher, surly etc.. sizes from dinky to gates for 6ft 5 riders

I’m 5’7″ and ride a 16″ scandal that fits perfect and is better than any 26er hard tail I have ridden.

Do these 29er things come in different variations?

They all sound like they’re the same to me.

Can you recomend a 26er to me?
Or are some of them different too?

I’ll look into 29ers, though I was told at my local bike shop they’re just a fad and that much more bits’n’bobs are available for 26″.

I was told that about suspension some time ago.

What was the shop?

SSStu I believe they’re all the same frame, just painted in different colours

Thanks for offer Tazzy, but I’m down south (Surrey). 😥

I am racing in the Merida brass monkey round 2 so you can have a ride on mine after the race assuming the wheels havnt exploded

@adeward I’m dying to hear that one. As you say once you guys have confirmed that they are the new coming you can stop eulogising and then the 26″ faithful haters will have nothing to bleat about, then the forums will finally shut up!!!

I’ve ridden both for a few years, have no problem with either, but have gone back to 26″….for the riding I do…

My 29er tyre exploded..bead snapped…BOOM!!!! The mrs (who was infront) crapped herself! Said it sounded like a shotgun
Five miles from home 😥

ade ward – Member
I am racing in the Merida brass monkey round 2 so you can have a ride on mine after the race assuming the wheels havnt exploded

Thanks again for the kind offer but i’ve just checked the date for round 2 (18th Dec) and I’ll be in Kent at a christening. Thanks again guys for the offers.

I’ve tried a couple 29’ers at my LBS test day a few weeks ago and as I was interested in buying one. Felt good till I got to some technical tree route section I normally fly through on my 26’er and it all went pear shaped felt really disconnected from what I was riding on. But I only found this out after trying a trek and cannondale all thanx to my LBS. so try before u buy is my suggestion

Do any of you know if anyone does a slack 29er with 120 to 140 travel, F/S or H/T that would be good for some agro xc, Glentress, and Laggen trail centers??

Do any of you know if anyone does a slack 29er with 120 to 140 travel, F/S or H/T that would be good for some agro xc, Glentress, and Laggen trail centers??

Niner make the WFO 9 which looks a pretty versatile FS frame.

http://www.ninerbikes.com/wfo9

Do any of you know if anyone does a slack 29er with 120 to 140 travel, F/S or H/T that would be good for some agro xc, Glentress, and Laggen trail centers??

Canfield Nimble 9 or Yelli Screamy
Banshee Paradox

Why do you need so much travel for a trail centre like GT? I’m running 100mm rebas on my EMD and it eats spooky woods and the like for breakfast.

The height thing is a bit of a myth too. 5’8″ here on a medium Trek 29er and it works just fine…

Edit: Decided to start a different thread rather than OT this one.

thats_not_my_name – Member
Thanks for offer Tazzy, but I’m down south (Surrey).

Head for the Hills in Dorking have a medium Singular Swift demo bike.

Medium salsa el mariachi and charge cooker demo in my shop.

Singlespeedstu made a good point…. Are all 26ers the same?

GaryLake – Member

The height thing is a bit of a myth too. 5’8″ here on a medium Trek 29er and it works just fine…

That must be tough to admit 😀

Tried a 29er Titus Rockstar, loved it. Carries momentum totally unlike a 26er, didnt think it screamed up the steeper non technical climbs in the same way as my 24lb epic though. But when the thing was up to speed, rolling through the undulating quicker terrain was effortless. I have a 26″ zesty for all my general fun riding duties, which I have no intention of changing, however financially cant justify replacing the epic for race/marathon duties with a 29er.
So I am now deperately thinking of reasons why the epic will be better, and being red is not really doing it ! and I am struggling…..And you lot are not helping, by saying how quick they are !! confirming what I am trying to mentally deny 🙂

are they the best thing since Crank Bros pedals?

I’ve got a Swift with CB pedals, so far they’ve both been brilliant, the pedals for 2 years winter SSing and the Swift for 2 weeks.

Sam – Member

thats_not_my_name – Member
Thanks for offer Tazzy, but I’m down south (Surrey).

Head for the Hills in Dorking have a medium Singular Swift demo bike.

Or if you’re arround Swinley arround Christmas give me a shout.

Went for a ride yesterday, with the exception of one ‘obstacle’ the Swift did everything the 26″ SS before it did, only better/faster/easier. The one bit it didn’t do better was a nasty rock garden with a few roots thrown in for good measure that passes between three or 4 trees meaning the line choice is fairly fixed and the last time I rode it it ended in a stack as I didn’t get the line choice right and still havent got the confidence to hit it again.

Went for a few laps of the pump track as well and the wheels didn’t explode.

That must be tough to admit

What my height? 😉

I’ve just ordered a Singular Gryphon, 29″ wheels and fully rigid, this is my first 29er so I hope I don’t die 😆

Update just in – you’re going to die.

Should be perfect for those farm tracks and forest roads you guys ride.

That’s why I bought it druid, you can take yours next time your here 😆