Just tried a 29er for the first time

chiefinspector

Mate had his bike stolen by some thieving scum but luckily his insurance paid out. He decided to hire a 29er for the weekend as he's undecided what bike to get next. I've read a lot about the advantages/ disadvantages of 29ers but was always keen to try one. I have to say that i was very impressed indeed. I only got to try it on my local trails but at least i know that area well and how my own bike can handle them (Trek Remedy). On the downhill sections it feels as if you are going faster and the bigger wheels absorb the bumps a lot better. Not too much difference in climbing but not quite so good for jumps or any time in the air.

For all the doubters out there all i can say is at least give it a go. You might be surprised. Is it enough to make me want to but a 29er? When i come to buy a new bike next year i will seriously think about it.

turnerjohn

or wait for 650B ?

Long_Time_Lurker

I thought the same - spent 6 months testing every 29er in my budget.
Great bikes, but the difference in spec between a 29er and the equivalent 26" meant that I ended up with the better specced small wheeler.

oodboo

So what 29er was it? I recently got myself a focus 29er hardtail and haven't had the chance to get it out for a proper ride yet.

Thewaylander

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

Still say your all hippies though, just cos i have to...

RevellRider

Gave several a go

Most were rather boring, a couple were more playful. None of them were as much fun as a sorted 26" wheeled bike.

YeehaaMcgee

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

As opposed to what, doing backflips?

RevellRider

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

This video kinda proves that otherwise

http://vimeo.com/36855647

chiefinspector

oodboo wrote:

So what 29er was it? I recently got myself a focus 29er hardtail and haven't had the chance to get it out for a proper ride yet.

It was a Specialized Camber FSR 29er. I'm sure there are better and worse ones out there but for a first ride on a 29er i was quite impressed. I would def like to ride some different ones so might look to hiring some during the summer.

mak3m

RevellRider wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

This video kinda proves that otherwise

http://vimeo.com/36855647

anyone else start shouting FENTON @27s

justwan naride

chiefinspector wrote:

It was a Specialized Camber FSR 29er. I'm sure there are better and worse ones out there but for a first ride on a 29er i was quite impressed. I would def like to ride some different ones so might look to hiring some during the summer.

The camber 29er was my first contact with big wheels and I loved it (despite it being one size larger). It was the top spec carbon framed model though and I'm not sure it was the wheelsize that made it feel good. It just felt sorted and comfortable, whith the right amount of feedback from the terrain

RevellRider

The Camber was the first real 29er I rode too, and I found it one of the most boring. I have rode it since and I still feel the same way about it. Being honest though, I found the Stumpjumper with the 26" from last year boring too

Wily-Quixote

I tried a 26er for the first time... What's all the fuss about? Silly, little wheels like a toy bike, gets caught up on roots and looks like a bmx.

Thewaylander

RevellRider wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

This video kinda proves that otherwise

http://vimeo.com/36855647

Actually it was in response to the OP who said he found it more awkward in the air. Not some guy who was a great jumper and could jump a racer if he likes, Martin ashton posted a video where he did all his tricks from Chainspotting on a racer... Doesn't mean you would want too.

And Yee just because we are not pro jumpers doesn't mean we don't enjoy getting off the ground, Most trails have lots of natural lips and so on to leave the floor including plenty of table tops on less natural area's, and alot of places are getting pump tracks. So I was making an observation from his comments. From my experience 29ers are more awkward for this and from the OP comments he did too so more a question of riding style.. If you are a wheels down mile coverer I would say definately and it sounds like his riding is more biased this way so rock on.

But still a hippy

rockmonkeysc

29ers work for some people, I didn't like the ones I tried. I agree with those who said it felt a bit boring & was arkward in the air.
They did seem extremely popular at the XC enduro I went to earlier this year so obviously they must be faster for XC.
Though after saying that my (probably stupid) idea to try this winter is to put a rigid fork & 29" wheel on the front of my 456SS to make a low maintenance 69er singlespeed.

YeehaaMcgee

Thewaylander wrote:

And Yee just because we are not pro jumpers doesn't mean we don't enjoy getting off the ground,

What? What does that have to do with me?

Thewaylander

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

As opposed to what, doing backflips?

That comment. One of your not in the crudcatcher kinda flippant moments I feel

chiefinspector

Wily-Quixote wrote:

But still a hippy

Def not a hippy. Gave up my smoking dope days years ago :roll:

YeehaaMcgee

Thewaylander wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

As opposed to what, doing backflips?

That comment. One of your not in the crudcatcher kinda flippant moments I feel

I don't understand. Even when I jump, I stay wheel side down. I don't do backflips. Neither do you I suspect.

lostboysaint

Really? Another "go on, try them, you'll like them" thread? FFS, there's still plenty of us that have and don't but don't feel a desperate need to pontificate about proper wheels (unless provoked!). Some of us are even proper sized as well!!

chiefinspector

lostboysaint wrote:

Really? Another "go on, try them, you'll like them" thread? FFS, there's still plenty of us that have and don't but don't feel a desperate need to pontificate about proper wheels (unless provoked!). Some of us are even proper sized as well!!

Just sharing an opinion. That's what these forums are for. Not trying to pontificate about wheel size at all. The OP didn't say "try them, you'll like them". It said you might be surprised. I know many people don't like 29ers and don't get on with them but there is nothing wrong in trying them out if you never have done before. Despite what gets said about the whole 26/29 argument its up to the individual to decide for themselves.

cooldad

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

As opposed to what, doing backflips?

That comment. One of your not in the crudcatcher kinda flippant moments I feel

I don't understand. Even when I jump, I stay wheel side down. I don't do backflips. Neither do you I suspect.

I do massive jumps and backflips while having sex with supermodels.

Unfortunately I always wake up.

dubcat

I think I could manage a backflip but first I need to establish the correct tyre pressure for doing so. But that's another thread.

Back on topic - generally speaking what did you feel was different about 29"? I figured they would be better for riding over bumpy things at speed but tougher at low speed. That's just guessing though ...

an_original_name

i have to say i was pretty impressed the first (and only) time i rode a 29er. it was a stumpjumper fsr of some kind. i found it to be surprisingly lively, and throwing it around a bit and getting the bike in the air didn't seem too different to a 26er, but when you put the wheels back down again you definitely noticed.

i was also surprised that i was actually able to ride it properly, i'm only 5'6" and i've always assumed that even a small 29er would just feel far too big, but it didn't. I would definitely want a dropper post though. because of the interrupted seattube i couldn't get the seat down low enough for my liking on the descent, and i could only just get it high enough for climbing.

Northwind

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

Alright if you want to stay wheel side down all the time then..

As opposed to what, doing backflips?

Nah, as opposed to crashing

chiefinspector

Dubcat wrote:

I think I could manage a backflip but first I need to establish the correct tyre pressure for doing so. But that's another thread.

Back on topic - generally speaking what did you feel was different about 29"? I figured they would be better for riding over bumpy things at speed but tougher at low speed. That's just guessing though ...

As you say, the 29er rolled much better on the rocky & rooty terrain but i found it was better going either fast or slow. It also felt faster on certain downhill sections although i'm not sure if it actually was. I couldn't get it in the air as well as my 26er and on tight technical sections it didn't turn as well.

In an ideal world, i would have one as a second bike. I wouldn't say 29ers are better than 26ers, just different. When i come to buy a new bike next year though i will be trying as many 29ers as possible before making up my mind (unless the 6 numbers come up!!!)

wobbem

Thought I'd stir the pot a little with this 8)

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/dirt-magazine-26v29-bonus-feature.html

Northwind

"This video might not make full sense unless you’ve read the article Steve Jones wrote"

It'll definately not make sense if you've read the article Steve Jones wrote!

YeehaaMcgee

wobbem wrote:

Thought I'd stir the pot a little with this 8)

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/dirt-magazine-26v29-bonus-feature.html

Comparing different bikes, and finding out that one is faster than the other shocker!
Tell you what, I'll bet that a 100mm XC racing machine is faster round a trail centre than a 140-160mm AM machine too - but one is more fun than the other.

cooldad

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

wobbem wrote:

Thought I'd stir the pot a little with this 8)

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/dirt-magazine-26v29-bonus-feature.html

Comparing different bikes, and finding out that one is faster than the other shocker!
Tell you what, I'll bet that a 100mm XC racing machine is faster round a trail centre than a 140-160mm AM machine too - but one is more fun than the other.

Depends who's riding them. My offspring mullers me on anything.
But then his party trick is cruising up behind bunches of roadies on steep hills on his Enduro, then powering past them still sitting down.
Their faces make my suffering worthwhile.

bails87

cooldad wrote:

Depends who's riding them. My offspring mullers me on anything.
But then his party trick is cruising up behind bunches of roadies on steep hills on his Enduro, then powering past them still sitting down.
Their faces make my suffering worthwhile.

Are you sure he's yours?