Mountain Bikers , how about 29 inches?

Beta

Lot's of folks ride 29ers in my neck of the woods. Simply put, the tires have more surface area than the standard 26 inch wheel.

Once one has the bike up and moving forward, keeping it moving forward is relatively easier than that of a bike with 26 inch wheels. A second advantage with 29ers is that they roll through/over technical terrain slightly better.

A slight disadvantage would be on steep, technical ascents. Under this scenario, since one is moving so slow, 29ers are slightly harder to keep moving forward.

It simply depends on what type of riding you are into. IMHO, weight is somewhat of a non issue. Unless you are into racing, a 28 pound full suspension bike with rear suspension lock out capability is more than enough. I just can't see justifying an additional $3,000.00 for a boutique bike that weighs 2.5 pounds less than a high end mass production bike (i.e. Specialized (minus the s-works line), Trek, Giant, GT, etc).

It's all relative. I ride with guys who ride hard tail single speed bikes with 26 inch wheels. Even though I have 27 gears, I can't even remotely keep up with them. Neither uphill or down hill.

treitz3

Beta wrote: »

Once one has the bike up and moving forward, keeping it moving forward is relatively easier than that of a bike with 26 inch wheels.

Once again, I'd like to point this fact out. Try to get rolling uphill on steep terrain.

Then tell me whether or not a 26 or 29 will work better for you. Once you are going and once the kinetic force kicks in, that's one thing. Try starting at the bottom of a hill [which happens often off-road] with a 29 -vs- a 26. Who will win every time?

treitz3

Beta wrote: »

Unless you are into racing, a 28 pound full suspension bike with rear suspension lock out capability is more than enough.

Holy mother of God!!! 28 lbs? :eek:

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Upstatemax

I have ridden some of the super lite bikes out there and I'm personally not that comfortable on them...

I can't feel the bike under me and I lose my sense of what's going on. I just don't feel the front end at all.

Plus most of those bikes are made of carbon, I don't trust carbon at all... at least on a mountain bike. If you take a nasty spill, I have seen all sorts of carbon parts snap. The only part of my bike that's carbon is the seat pan for my saddle...

SDA1C

Tom, you've gasp a couple times now in regards to the 19 lb of your ride. Lets have a run down of accessories you have that lets it be a >20 ride. I have some rockin accessories and my fs Profet is still 26.8 lb. I know its a hard tail but what else you sportin on that call girl that makes her so skinny?

SDA1C

Upstatemax wrote: »

I have ridden some of the super lite bikes out there and I'm personally not that comfortable on them...

I can't feel the bike under me and I lose my sense of what's going on. I just don't feel the front end at all.

Plus most of those bikes are made of carbon, I don't trust carbon at all... at least on a mountain bike. If you take a nasty spill, I have seen all sorts of carbon parts snap. The only part of my bike that's carbon is the seat pan for my saddle...

Stem and brake levers/calipers....6061 for the rest

Upstatemax

SDA1C wrote: »

Stem and brake levers/calipers....6061 for the rest

Nothing like being 25 miles from your car and having your carbon handle bars snap...

Lol, its a serious walk of shame.

treitz3

This project was years in not only the making but the implementation. The only things that are original are two set screws for the bottle mount and one other thing. If I provide a pic, you will know. For me to provide each and every mod would waste my time for those in the know. If those in the know don't know? Tough s@#t.

This bike has been modified over the course of many years and decades of thought. Everything has been approved by me with the utmost of consideration. This was also built on the first frame to come out in NC. In other words, hand built and polished correctly before the frame issues appeared. If I were to run down the exact aspects of ALL of what has been modified, I would be here for a long time typing.

I am here for audio, not cycling.

SDA1C

I got one for ya friend....

I had a set of carbon straight bars on a Comp ST Mtn Tek about 500 years ago lol. I ran into the side of a yellow taxi in MGM parking lot in Las Vegas that had run the light. Busted them kids straight away! Never again will i trust carbon. In fact my stem it carbon enforced aluminum. That stuff is pass or fail. No questions asked HAHA

SDA1C

No wirries Tom ... don't get defensive .

Heres what I ride...Dont laugh ok:biggrin:

treitz3

Can you honestly pop-a-wheelie on that for two blocks? If you can, I'll give you a cookie. Trust me, it'll be a great damned cookie.

Tell the truth...:biggrin:

SDA1C

Hell no! But alas...That's not its intended purpose either lol. I'm sure there are those that can. Wheelies were never my strong suit. I think my longest is about 30 feet. I knew a kid in grade school that could ride one clear out of site. His name was Ralph Herr. He had the biggest POS for a bike but I tell you ... He could ride it lol.


One of them Oregon hippie cookies? If so I'll give it the old college try LOL

treitz3

Alright, getting back into it...when bouncing from rock to rock, is it not easier [or even feasible] to lift the front end and learn the bounce from rock to rock with a lighter front end than that of something that is heavier?

Instead of reacting, you could offense before the situation even became an issue to begin with. Wouldn't you want that instead?

SDA1C

Apologies to the OP. I will post pics of the 29er in the family. we are very happy with its performance and have nothing bad to report other than the pedal clearance that is only a issue for me. I am however larger then the bike so it really doesn't play there either.

1C

SDA1C

treitz3 wrote: »

Alright, getting back into it...when bouncing from rock to rock, is it not easier [or even feasible] to lift the front end and learn the bounce from rock to rock with a lighter front end than that of something that is heavier?

Instead of reacting, you could offense before the situation even became an issue to begin with. Wouldn't you want that instead?

Would I want to bounce from rock to rock? NO! Thats what shocks are for....

I get your idea of foreseeing the line but how often will you get it right? 80% would rock! But 20% will still be a trip to the hospital. The fellow that got me hooked, Pat Roland, rode a Prov500 all hard. I had a POS cheapie with a bunk front shock. He wrecked, I bought beer lol. I guess if the idea is to escape the brew bill then by all means ride hard. If the idea is to ride 2 or more days n a row. Get some sus!

Upstatemax

SDA1C wrote: »

I got one for ya friend....

I had a set of carbon straight bars on a Comp ST Mtn Tek about 500 years ago lol. I ran into the side of a yellow taxi in MGM parking lot in Las Vegas that had run the light. Busted them kids straight away! Never again will i trust carbon. In fact my stem it carbon enforced aluminum. That stuff is pass or fail. No questions asked HAHA

I basically stopped cycling when I lived in NYC... it was just too dangerous.

I felt safe again when I moved to PA, then I took the worst fall of my life and did not touch my bike for three years. This is my first season really being back on the bike.

SDA1C

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soDZBW-1P04


couldnt resist :biggrin: this is an audio forum you know !

Upstatemax

SDA1C wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soDZBW-1P04


couldnt resist :biggrin: this is an audio forum you know !

Lol, I don't even remember it hurting... I don't remember anything till well into my ER visit. Then was on so much pain meds it did not matter.

But I could not get on my bike without getting physically ill. Head trauma is a ****...

Beta

treitz3 wrote: »

Once again, I'd like to point this fact out. Try to get rolling uphill on steep terrain.

Then tell me whether or not a 26 or 29 will work better for you.

Couldn't agree more. The exact reason why I don't ride a 29er.

treitz3 wrote: »

Try starting at the bottom of a hill [which happens often off-road] with a 29 -vs- a 26. Who will win every time?

The stronger rider. Regardless of what he rides or the size of his wheels.

SDA1C

You know upstate...Wrecks blow! But not as bad as being misinformed lol. The energy expenditure difference between starting out on a 26 vs. 29 is about the same as setting your empty beer can on the counter vs. throwing it i the trash. The "oh god it takes more to start out" crowd don't want the unknowing to know the fact that the difference is like wiping your nose. If the swingarm and fork to convert my Profet to a 29 weren't in the 3500$ range I'd have done it already.


I generally save this point for lots later in this argument but since Tom is such a good sport here it s....

Whats wrong with a little extra spent energy anyway (no matter how small that is) Aren't you there to exercise anyway?

"I want it easy and I want it now" has no place in the MTB world in my opinion.

I would convert simply on the basis of better handling to avert an ? on that point

1C

SDA1C

Beta wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. The exact reason why I don't ride a 29er.





The stronger rider. Regardless of what he rides or the size of his wheels.

Try a lower take off gear..or would that chain angle not permit that?

Always...regarless of ANYTHING else

mantis

It's 7:15am , the birds are singing and the trail is calling. I'm going riding.

SDA1C

AHHHHH just got back! . The daughter woke me at 6.15 this morn for our ride:biggrin:

gudnoyez

Well I wish the birds were singing here its 9:23 and already 87 and humid as hell this heatwave is gonna be killer but still getting the Trek out, all this talking about MTBs has given me the upgrade itch and iam pedaling down to the Trek store they are having a sale not looking for a bike but an Evoke RXL saddle to replace the bontrager that came with my trek then will take that one and replace the worn out Selle Flite that has served me well on my Specialized, I hear these new Evoke Saddles our nice they have different sizes and widths they fit you there at the store hell who knows might even test out a 29er good day fellows, Mantis after all the technical advice you got here yesterday, hope you were not overwhelmed and are having second thoughts, Just remember there is a sale at all trek stores until the 24th of this month go get you that 29er and save some money!

gudnoyez

I went riding yesterday and was riding some bluffs above a crick bed that spills into the Mississippi not overly agresive but enough to put the shocks to work, I met some guy with a kick **** Cannondale full suspension all XTR componets and he said it listed at a cool $3500 he got it for $1700 from his brother a former Cannondale employee, he was telling me that Cannondale went bankrupt and were bought out from company in Taiwan, and he told me the reson you dont see stores carrying them anymore is because they are not a good built bike anymore and if you find an older model snatch it up fast as the new ones are inferior, thats why he bought the one he was riding, so all you looking to buy a 2011 Cannondale just remember they are not the originals.

mantis

gudnoyez wrote: »

Well I wish the birds were singing here its 9:23 and already 87 and humid as hell this heatwave is gonna be killer but still getting the Trek out, all this talking about MTBs has given me the upgrade itch and iam pedaling down to the Trek store they are having a sale not looking for a bike but an Evoke RXL saddle to replace the bontrager that came with my trek then will take that one and replace the worn out Selle Flite that has served me well on my Specialized, I hear these new Evoke Saddles our nice they have different sizes and widths they fit you there at the store hell who knows might even test out a 29er good day fellows, Mantis after all the technical advice you got here yesterday, hope you were not overwhelmed and are having second thoughts, Just remember there is a sale at all trek stores until the 24th of this month go get you that 29er and save some money!

All good as I love tech talk no matter what the subject. At the end of this season I'm gonna take a serious look at all the bikes I like but I'm leaning towards a 29er. I really want to take one for the weekend and really give it a good test ride.

My ride today was only 7.19 miles but they where very difficult single track/trail riding. Logs stacked up all over the place , roots out of the ground , many small hills up and down around trees. The place is Core Creek Park in Langhorne Pa. They have excellent single track riding. It's not for the beginner rider. You have to know how to handle your bike well as you can crash easily , I know from experience LOL. The heat also makes you tired faster when riding. Even in the shade.

gudnoyez

I just got back from the trek store got my Saddle, and test drove the Trek 29er Mamba the Cobia was not available at the store to test ride, not in my frame size anyways . I like the Mamba it was on slale for $829 down from $959 what can I say loved the way it handled feels like more of a bike underneath my 6,4 Frame. I am not familiar with SRAM componets it had a shimano crank a SRAM rear derailer and a shimano alivio front derailer, the guy told me if I wait till spring the 2012 they will have deore componets front and rear, however he told me that there is no worries or problems with the SRAM stuff as they are decent componets, I have Deore Componets on my Trek now and have never had any problem with Deore componets, I just might be getting me a mamba 2012 this coming spring. I was wondering if any of you guys have a MTB with SRAM componets, and what you think of thier componets.

SDA1C

We rode about 3 miles I'd guess. I don't keep track of of the mileage for her and I. Shes 8 so they arr short but rather consistent about her early morning adventures.

SRAM is SRAM, Avid, Truvativ,Rockshocks and a few others . They have primarily been Road bike components until the mid 80's When they got into MTB to compete With Shimano. Their X-9 line is as good or better than Shimano XT. SRAM makes some of the best bicycle components on the planet being comparable to Campagnolo and Shimano.

I prefer SRAM to Shimano simply due to the facts that Shimano doesn't support the twist shifter and SRAM has a 1-1 actuation ratio where Shimano has I believe a 1.6-1. The overall quality is supurb and I've never had an issue with warranty.

Last I checked the x.o group was 1190$ for the 2010 build group and the XT Shimano was 1017$ to give you a price comparison as to quality. SRAM are very good components.

1C

SDA1C

I found this rather interesting to the made in china thing....

http://allanti.com/articles/where-was-my-bike-made-pg328.htm