Ride to work bike - 29er?

dmorton

The cycle to work scheme application is opening up in few months, so I must buy a new bike.....well possibly

I have an Orange Crush which I love, but I'd actually like to start riding to work and there is some forest nearby to play in at lunch

I've considered a couple of options:

Buy another set of wheels, one set with slicker tyres on for on the road, then keep a set at work with knobbly tyres on. This causes a few issues, I don't think switching wheels constantly is a good idea for brake discs/pads (bending/warping by accident) and general wear and tear. Also what if I get home and want to go off road, my knobbly tyres will be at work.....Plus 26" wheels on the road...if I get fit enough (the plan) I'll probably be able to out pedal the bike gearing.

Second option, look at a 29er mountain bike with compromised tyres. 29" wheels will probably be better on the road, the right tyres should still allow me to use it off road at lunch.

Third option, drive to work with my Crush in the boot.

Any comments, alll thoughts welcome!

cavegiant

I ride a Niner WFO and it was my commute bike.

Scwalbe big apples mon-fri then knoblies on the weekend.

I managed to maintain 25kph for 90mins straight a few days ago, so not a bad compromise.

Down the Road

Third option

Go for a hybrid or one of the Gary Fisher Dual Sport bikes

Ie Utopia or Montare

ride_whenever

Get a 29r, fit a reasonably low-profile high volume tyre and ride it to work on knobblies. You don't mention the length of your commute, but as long as it isn't more than 10miles you're unlikely to notice a huge difference in times, 10-15minutes difference tops.

The Rookie

WMB have a good 29er in this months £850 group test (hazy memory was it a Trek) that scored very well and would seem to suite what you want, air forks (only ones in the test) so lighter than coils and even without lockout you could pump right up for the road!.

Simon

VWsurfbum

i was looking at these if my company ever get the finger out with the cycle scheme
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec025513
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... scale%2029

Before the VAT increase the team was doable

Down the Road

I'd get this and save over £200 Has the same fork and better brakes (have used both)


Gary Fisher collection Cobia

Get it from an independent and have it set up right as well.

Sorry if you are stuck with Evans

supersonic

Can't see why a 29er would be, in general, any better on the road than a 26er, unless you want to up your gearing by 10% or so.

VWsurfbum

supersonic Rolling resistance, the 29ers Roll a lot quicker than a 26er. i ride with the same tyres as my brother on his 26" and i have less pressure in my tyres and i still roll quicker. (his wheels are better than mine too)

supersonic

I've seen evidence to the contrary though. Maybe it depends on the tyres, but 26er have less air resistance as they spin through the air, which some have noticed. Also a reason why some Triathletes use 650b, as they are quicker for them.

I guess the best, as usual, is to test and find out what works for you.

VWsurfbum

yep.

dmorton

Thanks for the replies. My commute is about 9/10 miles

Simple mechanics suggests that, on two bikes with the same ratio gears (same size and number of teeth on cogs) but one with larger wheels, the larger wheel one would be in effect geared "higher", does it not? One turn of the rear cassette equals one turn of the wheel, the 29" wheel having a larger circumference and therefore greater distance covered in one wheel turn.

I can out pedal my 26er Crush at the moment any way........going down a hill.........with the wind behind me :shock:

It does totally depend on how the bike the geared in any case. There was an article in MBUK about 29ers a few months back, pros and cons, I'll try and find it!

supersonic

the larger wheel one would be in effect geared "higher", does it not

Indeed, is geared 622/559 higher if the tyres are the same depth.. Can be a good thing if you want the higher gears.

unless you want to up your gearing by 10% or so.

Does depend on the tyres too. I 29er with narrow slicks can come up the same size as a 26er with fat knobblies

Duffer

dmorton wrote:

Simple mechanics suggests that, on two bikes with the same ratio gears (same size and number of teeth on cogs) but one with larger wheels, the larger wheel one would be in effect geared "higher", does it not?

You're absolutely correct. Which is why 29ers can be (and often are) built with different gearing to the 26er equivalents. By using a larger cassette, you can immediately negate the difference in wheel size (if you want to, of course.)

dmorton

just resurrect this thread.....

I'm quite tempted by the Gary Fisher Montare. Looks to be geared for the road, plus has wheels and tyres suitable for road use. http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/dual_sport/montare/ Anything similar to this from other manufacturers?
I suppose I could then buy another set of wheels, and it be fully off road ready if needed. Although the gearing might be too high.

Something like the Trek Cobia or the Scott Scale isn't setup for the road initially, although a simple tyre change would make it more road worthy.

The main function of the bike would be on road use, but the option to take it properly off road with little fuss (e.g. a wheel change) would be good!

I suppose something that it truly 'dual sport' would be ideal!

paulbox

If you are more in to mtb'ing than road riding I'd go for a mtb focused bike and just stick some good quality semi slick tyres on it.

9/10 miles is going to be easily do-able on semi slicks and they are great to ride off road, especially when the ground firms up a little, saying that, I used to use ss's in all but the mudiest of conditions. They roll well on the road too, I did the London to Brighton (c. 65m) a couple of times on my hardtail with semi-slicks fitted.

Can't comment on the 29'er debate as I've never ridden one. But in terms of commuting time differences, mine is 23 miles, takes approx. 1h 40m on 26" hardtail with slicks compared to 1h 19m on road bike. So I don't think a 29'er will make that much difference over 10 miles.

Down the Road

dmorton wrote:

just resurrect this thread.....

I'm quite tempted by the Gary Fisher Montare. Looks to be geared for the road, plus has wheels and tyres suitable for road use. http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/dual_sport/montare/ Anything similar to this from other manufacturers?
I suppose I could then buy another set of wheels, and it be fully off road ready if needed. Although the gearing might be too high.

Something like the Trek Cobia or the Scott Scale isn't setup for the road initially, although a simple tyre change would make it more road worthy.

The main function of the bike would be on road use, but the option to take it properly off road with little fuss (e.g. a wheel change) would be good!

I suppose something that it truly 'dual sport' would be ideal!

Montare is meant to be what you want. Don't worry about 2 sets of wheels get 2 sets of tyres. 29ers run a 2" or 2.1 normally and the rims on Montare are wide enough for that

It takes 10 minutes (or Less) to change the tyres for the weekend

dmorton

From the Montare Q&A page:

Q:
Are the wheels 29ers?
Asked on 11/11/2010 by Anonymous

Know the answer? Answer this question

1 answer

*

CUSTOMER CARE

A:
The wheels are 700c, which essentially has the same diameter as a 29" wheel.
Answered on 11/15/2010 by Will from Trek HQ Waterloo, WI

Aren't 700c wheels thinner and for road tyres only? That's why I wondered about another set of wheels...

Down the Road

29ers use 700c or 622mm rims. 29 inch is the height of the top of the tyre from the ground Same idea for 26"

dmorton

Thanks, for some reason I'd got it into my head that the Montare had very lightweight rims, essentially road rims....after looking at the pics on the website I see this isn't the case! They're Bontrager Ranger disc, 32-hole rims, any thoughts on these, will they stand up a bit of abuse?

Down the Road

Same wheels as the Cobia so should be ok

dmorton

Indeed they are, I think I should have a look at the Cobia and the Montare in the flesh in a shop.......

Also I'm in the Berkshire/Hampshire area, any recommendations for shops that know what they're talking about?

dmorton

Just to follow up the comment about shops, East St Cycles in Farnham seem to know what they're talking about