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Time for a new bike!! Suggestions on 29ers?
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Morning gents
Yep, have made up my mind to get a new bike, doesn't help there is a 'GIANT' store with some shiny toys just up the road.
Was in yesterday trying to decide when some 29'ers caught my eye. I'm into mostly XC and technical riding, not so much downhill.
Be interested to hear any and all opinions on moving from standard size to 29'ers.
Churr
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I road with a 29r bloke last weekend and he said the biggest difference he had found was the 29r had a bigger turn circle, he had more trouble getting air with the bike and he found it so much easier to roll over rack gardens.
If you're into technical riding, surely a 26" would be better?
In terms of bang for buck they are looking even better this year. I know the Giants are like arseholes (everyone's got one) but there's a good reason for that was eyeing off the Anthem 29er last year but the 2012 XTC carbon 29er could sway me away from the dually, in terms of spec it's hard to beat at $3,000
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/...
Obviously it's more aimed at pure XC so if you still want to get technical you might need to keep your current bike as well, that can't be a bad thing
You could also go for the Anthem 29er for $200 more for the top spec bike (XT, SIDs etc) or $2,700 for the next level down. So many choices, so little garage space
Interesting, I find the turn circle comment may be a decider. I like the idea of faster travel and easier rollover, but yeh, when doing more techy trails, that turn circle can be invaluable.
Would love to keep the older bike too, but space is at a premium sadly.
This is a shameless plug, but there is a SWEET 29er for sale in the classifieds.
If it fits, I am certain there is no better deal out there.
On a more general subject, 29ers are faster for 90% of riders on 90% of courses.
I have been riding a 29er hardtail for the last 2yrs and in a few months will switch to a dually (or 'fully' as my Euro friends call it).
If you are not worried about out and out top end speed, then the dually is a good bet, and the Giant is incredible value. Specialized arent as cheap, but I am certain that its a case of getting what you pay for. The Brain technology is incredible - giving you the response of a HT, and the geometry is sweet for singletrack and descending...
Good luck - buying a new bike is so exciting!
What bike do you have now? Are you looking for FS or HT? I've recently started riding a 29er HT and I find it is so fast but this is comparing it to my 26" 140mm FS bike. One thing is for sure though, my butt is certainly feeling the effects of no rear suspension.
I was lucky I was able to keep my other bike so the 29er HT is purely for Enduros for me.
Agree - If you are seeking a bike for techy stuff, I would recommend a 26er.
I am also sussing out a 29er - Giant Anthem or a Trek superfly has my nod of approval. Decision time.
If you want a hardtail - I have heard nothing but praise for the 2011 and 2012 Merida's.
Definitely a dually for me, had a hardtail before, and I'm a full suspension man all the way now.
Got a Kona Kikapu deluxe at the moment, but have admired the lines of GIANT bikes for years.
I supose in terms of riding style, everything except the big air. When I'm riding regularly, I am not afraid of a few jumps, but not the huge stuff. Bones don't heal as fast as they used to now I am past the 35 mark.
Hi,I have been riding a Kona Hei-Hei 29er for the past six months and I absolutely love it.I rode a 26' duallie before and loved that too,but with the 29er I feel reborn,I can do stuff I was starting to struggle with,I might be fitter now I don't know,but the 29er is certainly giving so much fun and joy!Check out the twenty niner and singletrack web sites for more info.Freddie.
I stongly reccomend checking out Trek's Garry Fisher lineup.. no-one else can do 29's quite like Gary. Here's a good video that explains things that aren't obvious.
http://youtu.be/PwR0T5a4uuM The 2012 models are out soon.. Considering a Rumblefish myself. http://forums.mtbr.com/trek/2012-rumblefish-spec...
Re turning circle. Riding style on a 29 er is different to a 26er. If you put your weight forward turning issues are marginal.
I may have to have a couple of cheeky test rides at lunch.
edit
I recently purchased a second hand Gary Fisher 29er Hardtail ( actually a birthday pressie for my man) ....and love it. It rolls over everything and moves from wo to go sooo easily! It does take a while to get used to the steering, but not too long ( and I am a rider of average skills), and once you are accustomed to how it handles you will not regret it the big wheels!
My next bike will most certainly be a G2 29er!!!
I say go the big wheels...
tubbsy, I am in exactly the same position as you are. I have a 26er and am looking for a new bike and I am now certain that it's going to be a 29er. The only thing is that I am going to keep my 26er and use the 29er for less technical but faster trails and for enduros. I thought about but discounted a HT, I need something to absorbs even the small hits over 100 kms! I am not sure that the turning circle is too much of an issue as it appears they have managed some remarkable things to get the geometry similar to a 26er but with big wheels.
I like Giants (my 26er is a Trance and a great bike) but have decided that it's worth spending the extra to get something that is a little bit better engineered but still decently spec'd (Giants are pretty much always really well spec'd). So far I have it down to a Gary Fisher Superfly (100), Specialized Epic (Expert/Comp) or Cannondale Scalpel. At this stage the Epic is a nose in front as I have spoken to few people who have bikes with the brain and had a quick ride on one and one of my LBS sell Specialized which I think just makes dealing with issues that little bit easier. The price is also closer to what I had originally budgeted (but over, of course, it's always over!).
The Gary Fisher is an awesome bike, rather than go for something like the brain or pure lock out of the shock, they have well engineered the linkages to drastically reduce pedal bob which seems to work very well. The issue there is that the Superfly is that much more and quite a way out of my budget (about $6,500!). The Cannondale is difficult to measure because it is the first year that they have made the Scalpel in a 29er and I am not sure if they are even out here yet. It is going to be super light for a dually 29er though.
There are, of course, a heap more brands but for various reasons those are the bikes that I have gotten my search down to. Let me know how you go, I would be really interested in what your thoughts are as you look at a few different brands/models. PM me if you're keen to go and have a look (depending where you are of course!).
Good info there Dave. Didn't actually test ride at lunch, but did walk around some of the cycle shops in Syd CBD. Had a look in a specialized shop as I'd never heard of 'the brain', the guy there took some time to show and explain to me what the bike is all about, have to say, well impressed with the setup of the Specialized bike, like the pivot system too. Problem for me there is the price, I'm looking in the 2-3k range.
Wanting to get back into cycling after a fairly lengthy layoff, what better way than with a shiny new toy?
Also had a look at some Trek bikes, but none of them float my boat.
I'm in Syd CBD if you wanted to catch up and check out some cycles one day for sure.
Hi,
I went from a Cannondale Rush to a Giant Anthem 29er. The new bike is so much faster. Irons out the bumps so much better. The only way to go in my book. Comparing 26 inch to 29 inch bikes at similar price points, i.e. Anthem 29er to and Anthem 1, the 29er almost feels like your cheating.
Only thing, the bike came with Crossmarks front and rear, which I am going to swap out for Racing Ralphs and converting the rims to tubeless. Apart from this, out of the box, I have had no need to upgrade.
With all these fast 29er's around how long before they race 29er's and 26er's separately ?
Ants
Interesting you are going the dually for racing - I presume epic sworks 29er ?
What pushed you from HT to dually ? I am wavering between the two at the moment, but am leaning toward the dually given it's is around the 10kg mark for a 29er dually. The guys in at Jet are pretty good salesmen as well.
Epic sworks dually is pricey though.
D
I'll be pushing an S-Works Epic next season (actually, from Mid October).
What has pushed me? Nothing really, mostly the fact that the grass is always greener!
To be completely honest, I am seated style of rider. When I ride my roadie, I prefer to stay seated. I tihnk I will benefit more for the ability to ride through things than I will lose from carrying the extra 1kg on the bike.
I expect to be able to get it down to about 9.5kg anyway - so its still respectable!
I am currently suffering the problem of whether to keep the HT - just in case. Decisions, decisions....
Re the guys at Jet. I reckon the bikes mostly sell themselves. Mark and Jarrod know their stuff though. You should speak to Mark about training ideas though - thats his real forte. Get him to show you the torture chamber upstairs. Thats the place to be if you wanna get fast.....
I wish, lucky fellow. The S-Works is $10K, I don't have that sort of cash and can't really justify it on a bike right now. I am looking at either the Comp or the Epic, probably the Epic. Both are carbon with an aluminum rear triangle. The Epic has less carbon bits than the S-Works but also has the brain up front where the Comp does not. The Epic shares a few parts with the S-Works and a few with the Comp but the 2012 Epic has Formula R1 brakes (the others have Avids). It's $1,000 more than the Comp but I can see the extra value.
I am thinking dually because I think that over 100km feeling that little bit "fresher" is something that I will appreciate later in a race. I will also use the bike for less technical, longer rides that still have a few bumps that make having a dually worthwhile. I am not concerned about the extra weight, I could lose 5kgs myself anyway and could buy some carbon Rovals if I want to reduce rotating weight later on. My main thought about going for a HT was for better climbing and generally no pedal bob in the rear end. Seeing how good the brain works has me satisfied that will not be an issue.
http://nobmob.com/node/20950#comment-63711
N+1 people.. you must have one of each
a few more months
http://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/ripley_29er/
There's only one answer: http://jonesbikes.com/
I'll post pics of my Jones soon. A truly extraordinary bicycle!
Tim's got it wrong.. Jones' are terrible.... you wouldn't want one
Shhh Tim, they'll lose their exclusivity if you keep shouting about them
I have seen Mark's torture chamber and politely declined an invitation. I know I would have benefited from attending however was just too busy at the time. So agree he has excellent experience on the training side and has been very generous sharing ideas with me. Maybe over summer I will commit to a proper training schedule.
Anyway my 1 cent on the bikes. A 29er will be more comfortable and forgiving when your tired. Thats what I saw first hand with my brother at the 24hr worlds last year. He did the first 6 hours on my sworks epic 26 and then swapped to an anthem 29er. The 29er was softer and more forgiving over the stomlo conditions. When he had a flat early in the morning and we put him back on the 26inch bike he came back with sore forearms etc and had to take a break. In that situation we should have dialed out the firmness that you want in a sprint race or when you are fresh and made it softer and more forgiving. I still think the 29er would have been better over the braking bumps etc as they were modulated for 26in wheels and the 29er just handled them better. Anyway the expensive xc bikes have the adjustments in them to suit different conditions eg muddy versus hardpacked dry etc. I run mine on the firm side of the lockout so it feels more like a hardtail and that doesn't seem to give me any side effects in the longer races and I am old.
I think there is up to 5-10 minutes difference between 26vs29er in a 100k race depending on the conditions. I don't think the weight (1-2K) makes as much difference to most people so understand not everyone needs an sworks (or equivalent). Having said that mine has been fantastic and made me a better rider. I still think there is more difference between a trail and xc race bike than the xc race versions of 26 vs 29. There are also sections of most tracks where a trance is faster than an anthem however on the whole the xc bike will be faster. My next bike will be a 29er, preferably an epic.
Depends on what you mean by technical riding "All mountain" roll offs, rock steps, logs , more general trail riding than racing. For technical riding some 29er can be hard to lift the front wheel over things, bunny hop, and feel unstable due to the higher centre of gravity.
For this type of riding don't rule out a 29er hard tail. I said I was never going back to a hardtail, I was to old to ride a hard tail, guess what I have just built up a 29er hardtail, the ride compared to a 26 hard tail is chalk and cheese.
Mind is a Banshee Paradox, frame geometry is built around a 120mm fork, it has a lower bottom bracket height and very short chain stays. Alot short than my 26, 5" dually. This makes it easier to lift the front wheel, accelerates quicker, and feel more stable.
Short stem it is more and all mountain bike, longer stem more trail.
so, who in this thread own a 29er??
I do. Here's mine
http://nobmob.com/node/21960
you seem to have a stick stuck in your BB....?
Its to keep the bike grounded in case Brian gets struck by lightening when he climbs all those massive hills on his super light HT.
I rode a Spot Rocker belt drive steel framed 29er singlespeed for a couple of months. Not quite long enough to adapt to riding all the climbs around Manly Dam with no gears unfortunately, but enough to get a strong taste of what they can do. Next off-roader will probably be a 29er, albeit with gears.
The only thing I didn't like was the tall front end of the cockpit, which most of them seem come with off the showroom floor. First ride I felt like a clown on stilts. Flipping the stem made the bike feel a lot more responsive and "planted" around the singletrack and slow speed techy bits, and I would have liked to have tried a flat bar but it wasn't my bike and I had to give it back.
I'd also consider a steel, Ti or carbon hardtail for a 29er race bike.... subject to a test ride to confirm I could hack it since I'm rapidly approaching ps's "old" status
.
Both SS, both hardtails, one steel with a spongy fork, the other Ti and rigid.
For the riding I do, they are the best solutions for me and thoroughly capable. My 26" bike is just too much bike for my riding. Yes it will handle any technical challenge it is shown, but for out and out speed and enjoyment I find the 29ers much better.
I ride XC and gumby around on technical stuff. The rigid bike is suited to more technical stuff than the bouncy bike, but I haven't had much of a chance to try it yet. As Timoth's write up on his says, the geom is really set up for fast steering. If I did more technical stuff, I'd build up a bike with gears.... I find the only problem I have with technical challenges is not having the perfect gear choice..... more strength will solve that over time.
I can only comment from my perspective, but, at Christmas 2010 I was almost totally converted into a scummer. I hadn't ridden my 26" MTB for ages. I borrowed a friend's 29er and within 15 k's was hooked on MTB again. I've ridden more MTB this year than the previous two combined and theres still 3 months to go.
Remember, opinions are like bums. Everyone has one, and most of them smell. My Opinion: try as many as you can of the bikes you are interested in, then make the decision yours.
Different bikes will suit different peoples style of riding and where they ride, blah, blah, blah
29ers Rock
Thank you for your time.
mpn
That is funny!
Yes I own a 29er, but you already know that, Dan. I want another, but with gears and spongy bits at either end.
I have recently purchased a Gary Fisher 29er and I love it...."reborn" is one word to describe it. I found it alot easier to do the log rollovers and uphills. At first I found the tech stuff a little harder but once you learn how the 29er handles you easily get over it. She just eats up the downhill rambling single track. Take one out for a long ride and you will love it!!
reason for the silly question Macr is that i reckon only 29er owners and riders should be commenting on how a 29er handles. Like any bike, there is settle in time,
I don't remember saying it was a silly question. Anyway it is time to go for a ride on my 29er and try out my new Pro Tharsis CF bars.
Just an update, I wound up going for a GIANT Trance X. Standard size (ie: not 29). Price played a factor, 2011 model greatly reduced.
Not bothered about a 29 just yet, maybe sometime in the future. Thanks for all the comment and discussion.
but I didn't comment because everybody has their own riding style & every brand handles differently for each rider ..
betcha George W rides a 29er now
I spent Sunday morning riding around Lake Parramatta on a mates new 29er Specialized something with a brain?
Lake Parra is quite techy but I was surprised at the agility of the big bike. It took a bit to get it going out of a slow corner but once I got going it kept plenty of momentum and wanted to go hard. Chattery little rocky stuff was a breeze. I became quite a fan. I wouldn't race it at Mt Annan, Stromlo, Awaba or anywhere else with lots of tight switchback but it really is the choice for the 100km enduro's. I think it would save plenty of time. Almost unfair they are that quick!
I have to say that although it is a common held beleif that the 29er is much slower round corners (which it may be), its really something that takes getting used to.
Getting off the 26er and hoping on a 29er and trying to compare them in a ride or even two, is a real struggle. Lines are completely different, angles of attack, apex's - all of it needs to be ridden differently.
I'm hitting up Stromlo this weekend in the Rocky Trail race, and will be on the 29er, and think it will be fine - its not too tight there. Annan - maybe, but big Troy went well there on the weekend on his Giant 29er. I really think its about riding it, and getting used to it.
On this topic, a little birdy just told me that Jet Cycles in Sydney have ordered a fleet of Specialized Epic Expert (Carbon) in all sizes to offer customers as demo bikes. They want people to take them, and try them: brain shocks, big wheels, carbon frames...
They've spent their own money on it, as it was agreed, people need to be able to actually ride these things, rather than listen to a Pro rider saying "yeah - its good, trust me".
Maybe see y'all at Stromlo where I'll be creepin' round the corners trying to 3 point turn my barge....
I'm hitting up Awaba on the 29er this weekend for their club round. Raced the 29er there before and didn't see and issues
Interesting article in this month's AMB comparing the characteristics between the Giant Anthem 29er vs 26. The article's overall impression is that for most people the 29er may be the better proposition.
The only major drawback seems to be the extra power required to maintain the same climbing speed as the 26.
Interestingly, the article also states that despite the 29er's reduced acceleration out of corners, you could maintain a higher cornering speed due to the 29er's bigger tyre contact patch with the ground.
I've not had the chance to ride a 29er yet, but look forward to trying one out for myself.
i thought that article was good, however from what i read, those giant 29er wheels are very heavy. I wonder what the test would have been like if they had of had a lighter wheelset on the 29er. (assuming the 2 bikes pictured where the actual test bikes.
But as they said, they would have had to change the wheels on the 26er, to make it a balanced review.
did they?? didn't see that comment. XT wheels vs giant stock wheels, not particulalry fair
I"m pretty sure that the 26" anthem comes with the XT wheels as stock
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/...
I had also been keen to try out bigger wheels for a while so when at the Jarrahdale 6hr the nice guys at Wembley cycles offered demo bikes to try I jumped at the chance. I was racing my 11kg Yeti FSR and took out a Specialised Epic comp 29er (a reasonably affordable model)
Despite being on a bike new to me & only set up roughly I managed to lap within 4mins of my previous lap on my own bike.
I know that doesn't sound that good, but as the 29er is definitely a fair bit heavier and not really set up I thought it was surprisingly close, especially as I didn't feel that I was really going for it (the SRAM shift confused me a couple of times).
On the trail I found that I could take fast sweeping bends faster & definately noticed the smoother ride & holding of speed with the bigger wheels.
I also took a bit of air over a log hop & some small drop offs with no drama. I liked the way the 29er handled & felt very stable. The only noticeable downside was a slight lack of sharpness through tight techy bits & slower acceleration but then again I am running a 1600g wheelset on the Yeti.
Conclusion: my next big bike buy will be a big wheel xc race lite duallie with 100 to 120mm of travel. I'll probably build it from components unless a complete bike turns up at the right price. Unfortunately trickle down will take a while.
I may even sell a child..... I don't suppose a 15 year old Kona's worth much tho:-)
T