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marv
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 5, 2011 - 05:05pm PT
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my old Stumpjumper got ripped off in downtown Oakland -- I know, like, no way!! -- a few years ago and I'm finally past the grieving and can move on to purchasing a new ride. Anyway, I go online to see what's out there, and it's all 29er this and 29er that. Why? I loved my old Stumpjumper. Why are 29ers "in"?
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Reeotch
Trad climber
Kayenta, AZ
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Uh, marketing . . .
Pros: faster, smoother ride (rolls over bumps better)
Cons: Don't climb as well, expensive, a bit heavier
Now, get ready for the forum police to remind you that this is a CLIMBING FORUM - blah blah blah . . .
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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I'm a 26er guy myself, but having watched a friend cruising along on his 29er, I think it's all about flow. Go with the flow!
You can even get your Stumpy in the 29 flavor now...
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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I just switched. Sold my old 26" FS Cannondale and got a 29 Turner Sultan on eBay.
I'm very happy with it. It for sure does roll over stuff better, and also seems to get better traction, because of the bigger contact patch (though that could also be a function of suspension design).
They are marginally heavier, and the wheels are heavier, but for me at least, that wasn't enough to outweigh the advantages. You are seeing more and more pros riding 29ers, and they are certainly very weight conscious.
I liked it well enough that when I bought a new bike for my wife, who doesn't ride alot, I got her a 29er as well.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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I haven't ridden one, but it seems like mostly a marketing thing. Maybe it helps for hardtails, but if you have full suspension I am not sure how much it buys you.
You have to makes some compromises to get proper positioning unless you are taller and can use a bigger frame that accommodates the wheels. I hear they keep momentum well, but accelerate slower (thus comments about flow)
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Full suspension 29ers are way overstupid.
Get a rigid steel 29er singlespeed and your dick will grow by 3 inches. Now that's hype you can believe.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
or some such
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Some of the local trail riders seem to like 'em. My bro Blueberry has one, a single speed, and he's gotten wicked strong on it.
Meh. I dunno.
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marv
Mountain climber
Bay Area
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Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2011 - 06:18pm PT
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well, that ends it, for I am all about teh uphill radness. fukkk this 29er sh'yyttt
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland
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Over a long ride a 29er will cover more ground then a 26er. If you are racking up the mileage daily you will notice a big difference in better speed and handling compared to a 26er.
Go test ride one and then maybe you'll understand... or not.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Better handling? Depends on what kind of riding you do. Twisty technical singletrack, you'd be way better off on a 26. More maneuverable. Not knocking them, I'm actually thinking about getting one to play on.
From what I can tell, single speed is just a "look at me, I'm special" deal. I don't see any alarming benefits from it at all, but there are detractions. I went for a ride on tech singletrack with a guy on a 29er SS and he was 1) out of the saddle for about 85% of the ride, and b) didn't clear near all the climbs I did on my heavy 26er (3x10). Not saying cleaning the climbs is everything, but who likes doing the hike-a-bike any more than they absolutely have to? This is a guy who was riding at ton too, so not a nOOb on that bike, or weak, just wasn't making the tougher tech climbs.
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland
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That was a single speed, most people I know riding 29ers xc have 27 or so gears to work with. SS or fixed gear are better for cruising around town.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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If a '29er covers more ground than '26er over the same distance I just changed my mind :-)
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Rock!...oopsie.
Trad climber
the pitch above you
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Over a long ride a 29er will cover more ground then a 26er.
Reminds me about the time I heard I guy explaining to a newbie: "Yeah they try to make most of the pitches here less than a ropelength."
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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They can take you to some bishin places. I swapped out the cranks and put in some pegs. Now I ride mine Fred Flintstone-style.
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miwuksurfer
Social climber
Mi-Wuk
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^^ Like. ^^ Is that a Karate Monkey and is it in the Snake River Canyon?
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the goat
climber
north central WA
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I'm in the same boat- my 26" Curtlo got pinched this winter and now I'm trying to decipher the 26 vs. 29 bs. So what's the bike for a moderate rider to get?
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sportcamper
Trad climber
NEW HAMPSHIRE
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i love my 29'er, sometimes...it almost feels like cheating tho-
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Nkane
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Slightly related question - I'm moving from the east coast to SF next month - what's the mountain biking like out there? I hear about a lot of closed trails? How far will I have to drive for some singletrack?
And I ride a 26er.
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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There are pros and cons...
If the 29 was faster, then everyone would be racing on them. But that isn't happening. Look at the world cup event over the weekend. The person who won, was on a 26inch hard tail. The bike weight and the motor is still the most important things. There is also so much hype up there about 29ers.
The 26 inch bike will accelerate faster and be more responsive. The 29er will take more time to get up to speed but once it is up to speed it will generally roll easier. Unless you spend a fair bit of coin a lot of 29er's have poor geometry and the frame/wheels are just too heavy.
If you're racing you choose the bike that suits the course. I ride a 26 hard tail, a 26 full suspension, a 29 hardtail depending on the day. At tomorrow's race I'm riding a 25 FS.
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