New Orange 29'er...

VWsurfbum

A new 29er DH video coming out
http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/2 ... turman,109

rockmonkeysc

Compare that to how much faster & bigger CG can go on a bike with the correct size wheels. Really looks like he is taking it steady, not boosting any of those jumps at all.
It's just a film for Santa Cruz & Banshee to promote their 29ers.

VWsurfbum

yeah maybe, i wonder if we'll see on the DH circuit? theres a few teams with them available to them?

Northwind

Intense have been mucking about with 29er dh bikes for ages. But the lack of tyres and forks is a big issue. Til you can get a 29er Boxxer, 40 or 888 and a 29er highroller and wetscream (or equivalent) they're always going to be up against it.

VWsurfbum

yeah thats true.
I've been floating around over on MTBR.com, there's some real fanatical people on their. but the 26-29er debate has almost blown out!
There's some great freeride bikes like the intense etc, but aparently CUBE have a full on DH machine, but i have seen no pictures.

rockmonkeysc

I can't see it working on a DH bike. The forks will need to be longer & have a higher arch between the lowers so they will either flex more or be heavier. The wheels wont be as strong or heavier. At high speeds the extra gyroscopic force will make them harder to turn.
The only reason I can see for the teams wanting to use 29ers is to help push sales of 29ers which would then mean that they could phase out 26" wheels to cut production costs by only having one standard size which is also the same size as r*ad bikes.
It's all a conspiracy

chez_m356

RockmonkeySC wrote:

The only reason I can see for the teams wanting to use 29ers is to help push sales of 29ers which would then mean that they could phase out 26" wheels to cut production costs by only having one standard size which is also the same size as r*ad bikes.
It's all a conspiracy

is there such a thing as a standard size?

rockmonkeysc

I have just read an interview with the Banshee designer on Pinkbike. When asked about the ride & handling characteristics of the 29er he basically says it should ride the same as the 26" wheel bikes. What's the point if it rides the same?

VWsurfbum

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I have just read an interview with the Banshee designer on Pinkbike. When asked about the ride & handling characteristics of the 29er he basically says it should ride the same as the 26" wheel bikes. What's the point if it rides the same?

It will still roll faster and get over objects easier, but without any drawbacks usually assosiated with big wheelers

rockmonkeysc

Other than wheel & chain stay & fork flex, extra weight, more expensive, limited & more expensive tyre choice, limited options for forks & wheels.
Rolling over stuff easier isn't much of an incentive for a freeride/all mountain bike. Half the fun of riding bigger stuff is manualing through roots & jumping as much as possible and picking the right line. For xc, yes it's an advantage but personally the reason I ride all mountain & freeride is that I want the challenge. Also on a big bike you can carry a lot more speed in to the rough stuff anyway so I really don't see that big wheels will give any advantage.

chez_m356

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Other than wheel & chain stay & fork flex, extra weight, more expensive, limited & more expensive tyre choice, limited options for forks & wheels.

Hasn't all of the above also applied to 26'' wheeled MTB's at one time or another in there history

VWsurfbum

and when you hit the rough stuff the bigger wheels will handle it better!

rockmonkeysc

and when you hit the rough stuff the bigger wheels will handle it better!

Really? If your riding fast the wheels are just skipping over the tops of the roots & rocks. I can't see that there would be any difference other than the amount of time you would spend truing the weaker wheels.

VWsurfbum

I give up.
here's a picture of my bike to offend to

rockmonkeysc

Would look nicer with 24" wheels 8)

Torres

RockmonkeySC wrote:

and when you hit the rough stuff the bigger wheels will handle it better!

Really? If your riding fast the wheels are just skipping over the tops of the roots & rocks. I can't see that there would be any difference other than the amount of time you would spend truing the weaker wheels.

Depends upon your defenition of better; a larger diameter wheel (29er) will have a greater moment of inertia (resistance to change of angular momentum) than a smaller diameter wheel (26") due to the bulk of the rotating mass being further from the axle. As a result the bike won't be slowed down as much by impacts coming from roots and rocks; allowing you to carry more speed through the rough stuff.

VWsurfbum

yes basically, and the larger circumfrence will go over the rocks and over gaps easier like

chez_m356

VWsurfbum wrote:

I give up.
here's a picture of my bike to offend to

aarrgh my eyes, oh er actually, mmm nice, not sure about those cables though

supersonic

If bigger is better, why have the mainstream manufacturers stopped at 29? Why not 32? Fact is bigger is only better for some - 29er will be a sweetspot for some riders, 26 for others, 24 or27.5, or a mix and so on.

Torres

supersonic wrote:

If bigger is better, why have the mainstream manufacturers stopped at 29? Why not 32? Fact is bigger is only better for some - 29er will be a sweetspot for some riders, 26 for others, 24 or27.5, or a mix and so on.

It's the otherside of the argument isn't it. Big wheels roll better over stuff better, but as a result are more difficult to accelerate and a bit more cumbersome to turn. So it depends purely on riding style and types of trails.

supersonic

Spot on.

VWsurfbum

Torres wrote:

supersonic wrote:

If bigger is better, why have the mainstream manufacturers stopped at 29? Why not 32? Fact is bigger is only better for some - 29er will be a sweetspot for some riders, 26 for others, 24 or27.5, or a mix and so on.

It's the otherside of the argument isn't it. Big wheels roll better over stuff better, but as a result are more difficult to accelerate and a bit more cumbersome to turn. So it depends purely on riding style and types of trails.

I agree

Northwind

I disapprove of choice though, makes it harder to decide what to buy.

TheJohnClimber

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I can't see that there would be any difference other than the amount of time you would spend truing the weaker wheels.

I've only ridden 29ers since 2007 and I've got 6 of them, I've ridden loads and only had one buckled wheel and that was then a branch jambed in it, I had more buckles before 2007 on your so called "normal" wheels.
They aren't slow to accelerate, my Niner's wheels are lighter than any 26er wheels I've ever owned so these accerlerate faster IMHO.


The only 26" (rimmed) bike I have is the slowest accerlerater I've ever ridden, but it's great fun

And 29er outside diameter

So give big wheels a go and them slag then off if you don't like them, don't knock it until you've tried it.

OT slighty I did ride a 36er last summer but I didn't like it as the truss fork wasn't as good as my Jones's truss fork


And if Orange are looking in on this I'll happily swap over your new frame for my Rumblefish's frame for a free test/review

DodgeT

Evening Kiwi ...

Have tried 29er's, not for me, I prefer the kiddy size wheel bikes, far more fun for the type of places I like to ride


edit to add - I say fun above as in my point of view for my riding, as I ride / mess about like a kid, now this may differ from the fun the rest of you wish to experience on your big wheeled adult bikes. Just wanted to get that in before you think i'm saying big wheels cant be fun This guys certainly enjoying himself.