29ing – please will someone put me in my place

After fighting against the tide for 2 years with my Large BFe I’ve finally decided that at 6’5″ its probably best to find a bigger frame. Heavens above provided me with an XL Solaris frame. Brilliant…

However I’ve now entered the minefield of what to get it built with. My opinion over the last few years was that all things 29er were made of cheese and cannot be trusted.

In terms of rims have also thought of going for flows, as again are crests made of cheese too?

This direction so far has led me to turn down an awesome deal on a Reba fork on the premise that it won’t be strong enough and should be looking at at least a Rev fork. I think in the back of my mind I just want an xfusion Trace.

Any advice on experiences with the rev? Intended purpose of the solaris is to replace my BFe, which was absolutely everything and anything.

You’re right about the crests, buy arch or flow to be safe.

If my 29er can survive my weight and ham-fisted skills, crashing over features i’m trying to float over, crashing on top of the crest of a gap jump rather than landing gracefully on it’s backside, then 29er’s are plenty robust enough. I ran a pair of revs for a year and a half in 140mm travel form. A little bit flexy, but took plenty of punishment, so again, plenty strong enough.

Having said that a Solaris is not a ‘send it’ rufty, tufty bike like the BFe is it? Isn’t it more trails/XC orientated?

What rims and fork did you have on the BFe?

Just buy the equivalent of those.

@wobbliscott – thank for the uinput, sounds like its revs for me!

singlespeedstu – Member
What rims and fork did you have on the BFe?
Just buy the equivalent of those.

I have sektors and flows on my BFe. They share the same lowers as the 26rev so I was hoping the 29rev would be for similar purpose. Was thinking of building flows but the best I can find is £60 a rim!

Have a look at the Pacenti Rims. The DL31 is wide, not too heavy, and strong enough to resist the bashing I’ve handed too it so far.

I’ve had 29er Flows and WTB I23 for several years and only ever bust one Flow.
That was a freak off and i landed knee first on the wheel and pulled a spoke through the rim.
As for a fork. I find the Rev on one of my bikes to be a little flexy.
The pike and 34 on other bikes a lot less so.

Cheap 29″ rims HERE

@SpongingMachine – that much for 2?! How the… Thanks dude!

X-fusion Trace will be beefier than Revs; aren’t they 34mm (instead of 32mm) stanchions?

If you are bigger guy beef it up a bit. Just got some flows and they seem pretty good with Fox 34’s. But I’m 105kg and really notice the flex on a 32mm or lower fork.
The Pacenti DL31 rims look pretty robust and wide.

I haven’t found Crests to be that flimsy..

How heavy are you?

I’m 2″ taller than you and have weighed anything from 240-260lbs. I’ve ridden 29ers in varying degrees of feckless lardcore since 2006. I’ve never trashed a wheel and would have Rebas again in a heartbeat. I loved the Halo rims I had built into my 1st 29er wheels and I’ve not damaged a pair of Flows in 5 years of abusing them on a hard-ridden Turner Sultan.
Stop fretting.

Very happy X Fusion Trace owner here in the Peaks, 13 stone fully kitted up.
Also found 32mm forks flexy.

Great fork for rougher/rockier areas or heavy riders.