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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Jan 21, 2014 - 07:20am PT
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For that style of riding ,Ed,a hardtail 29er is going to be the best bang for your dollar.
Look outside the major brands[Trek,Cannondale,Giant],look at say Jamis,KHS,Surly.
Right now,you could find a 2013 model,reasonably priced,before the 2014's hit the shops.
I would demand front suspension,and that bike would cover some serious terrain.
We love 29ers here back east ,because most rides are broken up by roads,gravel and singletrack.Big wheels cover more ground,not about racing.
http://www.jensonusa.com/Jamis-Dragon-29-Sport-Mountain-Bike-2012
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Jan 21, 2014 - 09:16am PT
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For me, a 29er is just more fun. Rolls over more stuff faster and easier, has more traction in loose terrain. I haven't noticed any increased effort required, but of course the "engine" is the overall limiting factor :-). I really love my Niner RDO, super fun ride.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jan 21, 2014 - 09:35am PT
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I ride a 32er.....that's my inseam. If my knees go bad I might consider a bike.
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Barbarian
climber
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Jan 21, 2014 - 11:44am PT
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The bike weight and the motor is still the most important things.
Spent part of Saturday watching my 16 y.o. son riding in his first ever 6 hour solo endurance race at Vail Lake. His weapon of choice: a borrowed, dead-stock, 18 year old 26" Stumpjumper. The bike wasn't the lightest out there, but the motor was firing on all cylinders.
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MikeL
climber
SANTA CLARA, CA
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Jan 21, 2014 - 11:50am PT
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Ed: my interest is to take advantage of the various trails that are close by my house, Del Valle has both single track and dirt roads with some long rides I don't have to drive to get to. More interested in going up then down, going down in control... I'm looking for conditioning and I'm not racing.
As always, it seems, the future is difficult to predict. It may not be what you think you'll do with your time these days but what you'll come to later as you learn a sport. I think you became an off-width devotee or adherent. I wonder if you could have predicted that.
We started our biking with simple XC here in the bay area, but we rode every weekend, and before we knew it we had upgraded twice and got into downhill, technical riding, and traveling to north (BC) for its trails yearly. Our bikes are serious all-mountain rigs.
Now we must be careful about my wife getting more brain injuries (re: her fall down a stairway). As for me, this year I turn 67, and I can really feel my energy and strength waning. We're looking for calmer biking rigs, but they all seem tame and the experience a little dull by comparison. Maybe 650b's with 150mm travel would work for us. Maybe swapping out the heavy components and going light on our 26"ers could be an answer.
Getting out in the woods, especially on the more remote trails, seems a must for our solution. But I could also see finding yet another sport.
I guess there is no way to know what you'll find yourself to in the last analysis.
For me, I think the aerobic conditioning is good and all for one's health, but invariably no matter what I find myself involved in, the sports I find myself enjoying the most are or become technical: climbing, biking, weightlifting, even running. For me, it's always the head game that is the real part of any sport. (I can breath heavy and long in any of those sports.)
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jan 21, 2014 - 12:02pm PT
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For Ed's endeavors:
I'd suggest checking out your local bike shop(s) for a test ride and check to see if there are any deals on last years models.
A 29'er w/ front suspension sounds about right for you. If you have any back issues look into bags/water bottles that can be mounted on the bike. With the bike packing thing going on you can find a variety of packs to mount on a bike so you bring the kitchen sink, or a wall rack or a Bosch kit?!?! I always liked the Missing Link when I was about the BayArea.
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Srbphoto
climber
Kennewick wa
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Jan 21, 2014 - 12:06pm PT
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just think how fast some of these guys would be if they had decent bikes.
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AlanDoak
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jan 21, 2014 - 12:50pm PT
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My latest ride is a Trek Superfly 29'er, and I love it.
Pro's:
Smoother ride -> comfort and efficiency
Can run lower tire pressure -> better traction and comfort
Con's:
Tad heavier
Geometry might not be ideal for smaller riders (I'm 5'9")
Cornering isn't as nimble
Pairing them up with long travel suspension doesn't work well
29'ers are especially good for long endurance riding. They're great all around bikes. They're not great as downhill big-hit bikes. 27.5" as a mix of the two is the latest fad. Fat bikes are also becoming popular as a trail bike.
There's a bike for every style and taste, good luck in finding a ride that makes you smile.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jan 21, 2014 - 01:14pm PT
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Looking for bags..? Try stormy leather ...The lip-service can provide a good ride...
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jan 21, 2014 - 03:35pm PT
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I'm planing on getting a 27.5 this spring barring any financial distractions. I love my current bikes but, as a friend recently pointed out, it's from the 90s (the mid 90s): cantilever brakes, hardtail, etc. I probably would've pulled the trigger on a 29 the past couple years but I'm only 5'7" and the geometry just isn't favorable for a rider of my height. Eyeballing a Yeti SB75. I tend to keep bikes a long time so I'm gonna test ride first though just to make sure it feels right.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jan 21, 2014 - 05:05pm PT
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My riding partner is 5'7" and rides a 29....No size fits all...
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
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Jan 21, 2014 - 06:52pm PT
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Most good local shops will have test ride bikes. You should absolutely do that and see what is what for yourself. A good bike is a big investment (in fun), and you should be happy with what you choose.
While a hard tail will save weight and $$$, full suspension is easier on older bodies. Either way, from what you indicated you would like to ride, get a good more XC'ish type set up rather than a heavier All Mountain bike. You will save weight which you don't have to push uphill.
Edit: Haven't riden much in Big Bear area, but there is good riding up there. The SART is worthwhile too.
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Barbarian
climber
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Jan 21, 2014 - 06:56pm PT
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Frame geoometry varies quite a bit from one model to another. Theoretically, it should be possible to find a 29er that fits almost any rider. Seat, handlebar and stems can all be adjusted or replaced to get that custom fit.
Similar to the old boot adage: What is the best boot? The one that fits the wearer. The best bike is the one that fits the rider.
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