650b... next big thing or just another gimmick?

VWsurfbum

paul.skibum wrote:

Like I say I'd love to test ride all three wheel sizes on similarly oriented bikes back to back on the same trail and see if I could tell the difference, feel the benefits and so on. Be great if it was a varied track with roots, flat sections, berms, jumps, tight corners, climbs etc etc to try out all aspects in one short section. I guess a route like the Wall or Penhydd would be a good test track actually.

I think thats what is needed for most people.
I know that a 29er works for me, but that said i'm still going to buy another 26" bike to "play on"

angry_bird

VWsurfbum wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

Like I say I'd love to test ride all three wheel sizes on similarly oriented bikes back to back on the same trail and see if I could tell the difference, feel the benefits and so on. Be great if it was a varied track with roots, flat sections, berms, jumps, tight corners, climbs etc etc to try out all aspects in one short section. I guess a route like the Wall or Penhydd would be a good test track actually.

I think thats what is needed for most people.
I know that a 29er makes me look gay so I'm going to buy another 26" bike to "play on"

FTFY

lostboysaint

.

VWsurfbum

Angry Bird wrote:

VWsurfbum wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

Like I say I'd love to test ride all three wheel sizes on similarly oriented bikes back to back on the same trail and see if I could tell the difference, feel the benefits and so on. Be great if it was a varied track with roots, flat sections, berms, jumps, tight corners, climbs etc etc to try out all aspects in one short section. I guess a route like the Wall or Penhydd would be a good test track actually.

I think thats what is needed for most people.
I know that a 29er makes me look gay so I'm going to buy another 26" bike to "play on"

FTFY

Watch it birdy! when you coming to play in the dirt at Epping?

angry_bird

VWsurfbum wrote:

Angry Bird wrote:

VWsurfbum wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

Like I say I'd love to test ride all three wheel sizes on similarly oriented bikes back to back on the same trail and see if I could tell the difference, feel the benefits and so on. Be great if it was a varied track with roots, flat sections, berms, jumps, tight corners, climbs etc etc to try out all aspects in one short section. I guess a route like the Wall or Penhydd would be a good test track actually.

I think thats what is needed for most people.
I know that a 29er makes me look gay so I'm going to buy another 26" bike to "play on"

FTFY

Watch it birdy! when you coming to play in the dirt at Epping?

Got another couple of weeks messing about around Cannock yet before I have to head down, in fact I think I'm moving in a fortnight today.

VWsurfbum

up your way on sunday (cannock) with other Epping frequenters.

Anyway back on topic, My29er will be against three 26" bikes on sunday, we all shall be recording our ride, i'll post on strava the results

angry_bird

Might see you around up there, planning on going up one day this weekend (don't know which yet as it depends when I can get the car).

fat_homer

Angry Bird wrote:

I don't give a damn what different wheel sizes can do and how each is supposedly better. I have a bike, I like the way it rides, I'm more than happy with it and have no intention of changing it. As long as I can still get the tyres I like in 26 inch and can replace the rims if I bust them I'm happy.

The biggest issue I have with the massive take off of 29ers and 650b is the risk that manufacturers forget about 26 and we see a reduced availibility and/or choice of bits that fit, so forks, tyres and rims really.

Couldn't agree more!

Dirtydog11

Horses for courses innit?

Northwind

I heard a conversation in the glentress cafe, that went a bit like this:

"I'm definately going to get a 650b bike next, it's got all the advantages of a 29er without the drawbacks"
"Do the bigger wheels not still have some of the drawbacks?"
"Nah, because I'll fit lower profile tyres to it"

Hang on- you just invented the 26 inch wheel!

VWsurfbum

Oh god, i'll informed puppy :roll:

supersonic

Northwind wrote:

I heard a conversation in the glentress cafe, that went a bit like this:

"I'm definitely going to get a 650b bike next, it's got all the advantages of a 29er without the drawbacks"
"Do the bigger wheels not still have some of the drawbacks?"
"Nah, because I'll fit lower profile tyres to it"

Hang on- you just invented the 26 inch wheel!

The marketeers will love this!

YeehaaMcgee

VWsurfbum wrote:

Oh god, i'll informed puppy :roll:

what?

Chunkers1980

Ill as in poorly.

Northwind

I find that refreshing- generally speaking, the problem is people leaving apostrophes out, rather than randomly adding them. Perhaps this'll restore balance to the grammar.

Chunkers1980

Why are you not a mod any more?

Northwind

Me? I totally am. It's just hard to tell because I'm very lazy

Chunkers1980

Yeah, you've lost your redness.

<mod edit- it's true, I haven't got a good redness in me any more >

YeehaaMcgee

Northwind wrote:

I find that refreshing- generally speaking, the problem is people leaving apostrophes out, rather than randomly adding them. Perhaps this'll restore balance to the grammar.

I think you're being far too optimistic. Ive seen missing ones, I've seen ones' that shouldn't be there, and some idiot's just pepper all their posts' with them willy' nilly.

Chunkers1980

You missed should'nt

YeehaaMcgee

I did'nt!

cat_with_no_tail

You could'nt

YeehaaMcgee

You have'nt got any good couldnt's in you.

paul.skibum

I was chatting to a guy in the LBS the other day (plumbing his mind for AM bike info) he was saying he is a 29er evangelist but admitted tight turns were the bain of his existence and he found himself avoiding some trails because he knew they would be tricky.

He was singing the praises of the Rocky Altitude for next year with 650b on though - he was suggesting it could be just the thing for what I was loking for (I want a AM bike that can do the odd day in the bike park) - I didn't want to slap him int he face. But I did anyway.

A 650B for a bike park - wash your mouth out.

cat_with_no_tail

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

You have'nt got any good couldnt's in you.

I woul'dnt

stubs

I tried a 29er yesterday a Scott and I have to say it felt like a bike. There was no sign of me becoming a better rider unfortunately.

YeehaaMcgee

Did it taste and sound like a bike too?

stubs

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Did it taste and sound like a bike too?

It had SRAM gears and Avid brakes so it certainly squealed and clunked like a bike with Sram kit. Otherwise it was just a bike, if I had got on blindfolded I doubt I could have told you what size wheels it had.