29ers and Chairlifts?

Bit of a random question.

I did the Passportes du Soleil last year and am heading back next summer to do a weeks riding in the same region.

I was riding a 26″ wheeled full sus last year, but my sole bike is now a 29er. From memory some of the chairlifts cradle the wheel from the bottom and every chairlift seemed to be slightly different in they way it carried the bike.

Does anyone know whether or not 29er wheels fit all the chairlifts?

Ha, that was exactly my thinking when I was on the same charlifts during the PPdS this year.

I assume a 29er wheel would sit deep enough into the “cradle” to keep the bike secure. I base this on recalling the cradle being quite deep, such that even with big volume tyres on my 26″ wheels my bike sat low enough into the cradle thatthe bottom of the fork legs picked up a lot of scratches.

I am taking a group of 20 out there and a few have 29ers so i thought i’d check just in case we needed to make alternative arrangements.

When I rode out there a good 5 years ago on the old school Big Hits (24inch rear) I didn’t have any problems so would imagine the same can be said for the other way round. Although I’m sure someone will come along with first hand experience of 29inch bikes out there.

Anyone else any ideas?

The lifties are pretty good at making it work with whatever you have. They had no problems with unicycles or the tag-along.

Well when I read the title I thought you were so pleased with your bike you were going to take it on the stannah upstairs – Phoenix nights stylee 😀

I would have thought you would be fine. Its only a couple of lifts that dont use hooks on PDS. If that worried take a strap with a hook you can quickly throw round the bike onto the chair?

EDIT there were a few 29ers when I last went 2 years ago and didn’t hear of any problems

Hi Andy mate.

Still having problems with the new 29er and getting it built.

I was just thinking ahead to the PdS next year, seem to remember some of the chairlifts being ones that just cradled the bottom of the wheel tightly, wasn’t sure if 29er wheels fitted in those.

Would you still like to come?