Are 29ers really dead

The QR15 point made above has a point. Are all the people upset about 650b or 29ers being forced on us still riding bikes with 9mm QR front and back? If not, did you have to buy new wheels to accomodate your 15mm/20mm/maxel etc fork or frame?

If not, did you have to buy new wheels to accomodate your 15mm/20mm/maxel etc fork or frame?

Not really I have proper hubs from hope that convert to anything

Been riding/racing on 29ers now for the past year, would never go back to a 26er. I find they’re much more fun to ride plus they roll over stuff much easier.

Most of the races I enter have a higher percentage of 29ers now than they did a year or so ago.

Most of the races I enter have a higher percentage of 29ers now than they did a year or so ago.

Most of the races i enter have no 29ers but the last race i did had some 29ers and 650b mostley 26er though.

mrmo – Member

I’ll just stick with my 26er for the next few years( at least) and see what happens.

I agree with this. I was thinking about a new bike but then 27.5 happened. I wont be parting with cash for a while now so not ideal marketing in some respects!

Most of the races I enter have a higher percentage of 29ers now than they did a year or so ago.

29ers are ideal for XC racers. But for the rest of us……

29ers are no more or less ideal for the rest of us, unless you need or insist on having more than 150mm suspension. There are no downsides for normal AM or trail duties with 29ers. If you’re doing something more specialised then you get the kit to suit. Like I said before, to think you can or should have a one size fits all wheel size for every element of mountain biking, you’re kidding yourself.

I’m not kidding anyone, nor saying that certain people should be on certain wheel sizes. It’s the 29er evangelists which do that.
I’ve found downsides to 29ers for general trail duties for me. To say there aren’t is bollocks, just as it is to say there are no downsides to 26ers. Everything is a compromise.

2014 Zesty 27.5 and 29er

Spicy 27.5. looks like 26 is history at the expensive end of the market for some manufacturers

Northwind – Member

rOcKeTdOg – Member

buying and selling and worrying about profit/value seems to be why others buy bikes though

Really? Who?

you really don’t read the thread do you?

It’s the 29er evangelists which do that.

who needs 29er evangelists, 26″ owners seem to be working themselves up into a sweat on their own

it’s all just riding, try it instead of worrying about “the next big thing”

and that Lapiere is hideous, in any wheel size

Phewwww just back from the shed and mine’s still alive!

Would anybody actually give up riding if they couldn’t get their chosen wheel size?

I wouldn’t.

Just to go back to the op for a sec. The 4 lads I know that have bought new bikes this year have all bought 29ers. These were all new to mtb. There reasoning was from there if they don’t really get into it they’ve got a good towpath cruiser. If they do get into it they’ve bought so they can upgrade ( the bike not the wheel size). My very humble view is if it gives me more people to have a laugh with. There not dead just maturing. Also I like the look of the 27.5 and will seriously consider for next bike( might not have a choice) oh I just bought the wife a 26 as I could upgrade with all my spares!

rOcKeTdOg – Member

you really don’t read the thread do you?

Oh, be a dear and answer the question would you? Yes I’ve read the thread, and I see nothing like what you suggest.

Would anybody actually give up riding if they couldn’t get their chosen wheel size?

Nope. 650b and 26 are so similar, either would do me.

Oh, be a dear and answer the question would you? Yes I’ve read the thread, and I see nothing like what you suggest.

I suggest you read it again, properly this time.

[Quote] be a dear[/quote] wtf?

I would ride any of the three sizes but I will not be buying again until the current situation regularises and we know where the manufacturers are going to settle down. If I had to buy now due to breakage a rigid ss 29r would be my choice. I think 29 is probably the one size that will survive the present fiasco and someone whose riding is dominated by rolling hills it wouldnt sem to offer significant shortcomings.

I think 29r is most likely to survive due to the quantum of recent industry investment and marketing spin. If 29r dies then there is a risk of a pr backfire around the whole larger wheels are awesum message.

The most likely casualty would appear to be 26r at the minute. If i dont buy any more kit i can probably live with dumping the remnants in 3-5 years when i expect we might start to see a reduction in good tyres and riims if 650b fills the small wheel role very quickly.

So not going to answer the question then? Righto.

Probably worth pointing out that many 26′ fred flintsone type relics can accommodate 650b wheels.

Elpanzer’s tasty 650b Lapierre

garage-dweller – Member
I would ride any of the three sizes but I will not be buying again until the current situation regularises and we know where the manufacturers are going to settle down. If I had to buy now due to breakage a rigid ss 29r would be my choice. I think 29 is probably the one size that will survive the present fiasco and someone whose riding is dominated by rolling hills it wouldnt sem to offer significant shortcomings.

I think 29r is most likely to survive due to the quantum of recent industry investment and marketing spin. If 29r dies then there is a risk of a pr backfire around the whole larger wheels are awesum message.

The most likely casualty would appear to be 26r at the minute. If i dont buy any more kit i can probably live with dumping the remnants in 3-5 years when i expect we might start to see a reduction in good tyres and riims if 650b fills the small wheel role very quickly.

POSTED 3 HOURS AGO #

I think this is what a lot of people will do, Its even hard to sell a second hand bike lately, it will all have a knock on effect and might even back fire on the industry!

I think this is what a lot of people will do, Its even hard to sell a second hand bike lately, it will all have a knock on effect and might even back fire on the industry!

I think you’ve posted this by accident with your trolling account. 😳

It makes sense.

The pussy always makes sense!

We have certainly kept an eye on this thread in our shop and there is some valid points here I must say

Still no sale of 29ers this week in one of our shops have sold a few 26 though so there is still life there I admit and the subsidence of non 29er sales shows this year .

I will go which ever way makes the industry tick over nicely in all honesty

If I’d bought an Orange Five 3 months ago I’d be peeved right now,

You buy your bike with it’s resale value in mind?

I actually did something like this and I’m a bit miffed to be honest. They finally offer something to taller riders, a 22″ frame, which I jumped on and bought. The next year release a whole host of far more interesting things appear.

I’ve genuinely never seen another 22″ Five or anyone expressing the slightest interest in one. Now there’s a 29er and 650b model I can’t see why they would either. Curiously I’d seen it as a brand that would hold it’s resale, as it’s not changed in years, then it changes.

Oops.

Not that it hugely matters, its top fun anyway. It’s about the one time I’ve splashed out though, usually get things on the cheap.

Toasty, ten years ago to the month I took possession of a brand new Sub 5. A couple of months later, the Sub 5 was dead and the 5 was born. I was gutted for a little while, however I have had ten years enjoyment out of the bike now. It’s just about to be replaced by a 29er, so expect the industry to drop them in two months time 🙂 honestly enjoy your bike, everyone stop worrying about what the next big thing is. The bike you own is the one that’ll give you the most pleasure.

Most of the mtb we sell are 29 but as a specialized dealer choice is a little limited
As that about all they offer above £500
Tbh the world is going road bike crazy
A mtb sales of any sort seem a novelty this year

Surely buying a Five last month is no different to buying one just before they put a kink in the top tube, or slackened the angles, or made the seatpost compatible with droppers, or went to a tapered headtube, or, or, or. The design evolves every few years, usually by a tiny amount. It never makes the older bike any worse, but hopefully makes the newer one a tiny bit better each time.

Changing the wheel size by 3% is probably one of the smaller changes really. In fact I’d wager that it’s less significant than any other changes that they might have made as well (e.g. lighter shock mounts). If they’ve increased the chainstay length to fit in the larger wheel then that will probably have a bigger effect on the handling than the change in wheel size itself anyway.

bikeind – Member

We have certainly kept an eye on this thread in our shop and there is some valid points here I must say

Still no sale of 29ers this week in one of our shops have sold a few 26 though so there is still life there I admit and the subsidence of non 29er sales shows this year .

I will go which ever way makes the industry tick over nicely in all honesty

It must be difficult for a dealer to second guess what’s going to be in demand next season. Can you return bikes to distributors if you can’t shift them ?

Nope , sale or return is NOT how it works
if you buy a shed load of stuff at the start of the model year and it flops things get very depressing

At best you might get 30 day terms unless the wholesaler is desparate

edit

I only ever rode a cross bike and road bikes so for me a 29er felt natural and I can swop wheels between bikes. Apart from that I don’t care. Wouldn’t mind trying a 26er though just to be a bit niche.

I rode a 29er today. It was ace. Might do it again tomorrow.

We have 659b in stock right now which are showing great intrest
And the new spicy in 650b mode will be our flagship bike
We are plugging the 650b more at this present time

Won’t there big a huge surplus of 26″ bikes and parts that the industry will want to clear before going the whole hog with 29ers.

Reminds me of the television thing, LED plasma etc was slow to go untill the industry got rid of all it’s ‘normal’ old style tellys.

oldgit – Member

Won’t there big a huge surplus of 26″ bikes and parts that the industry will want to clear

Manufacturers like to create an orderly market. Control excess discounting devaluing the brand. Old or excess stock sometimes gets crushed rather than let the plebs get their hands on it.

Manufacturers & distributors are getting better (i.e out of the dark ages) about forecasting so there ‘shouldnt’ be a massive stock dump at key season points.

Occasionally it still goes t*ts up though.

bikeind – MemberWe have 659b in stock right now which are showing great intrestAnd the new spicy in 650b mode will be our flagship bikeWe are plugging the 650b more at this present time

Where is your shop?

My LBS is full of 29ers, but then he’s a Kona dealer.

Also, I see more and more 29ers about locally…

Whilst out riding I saw a horrific sight, deep in the woods; hundreds of 29ers all with skinny steel tubes and rust, thrown into shallow graves… I think it was the 650bzi’s that had done this…

First they came for the singlespeeders,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a singlespeeder.

Then they came for the fatbikers,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a fatbiker.

Then they came for the 29ers,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a 29er.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Etc.