Bicycle thread

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

I've got one of each. I've read all the alleged advantages of the 29er's over 26er's, but I've been unable to prove any of them in practice. I've seen no noticeable advantage in climbing or stability or better traction over my 26er. My suspicion is that they're simply too small to be measured in anything but 'laboratory conditions'.

I think a lot of that has to do with riding style, experience, and terrain. Up here, everyone sees a noticeable difference in what a 29er can do. The two regulars who ride with me, saw it on the very first time I went out on my 29er. As you may recall, I've ridden the trails you ride. There's a noticeable difference in the sugar sand and rooted areas.

Also, you're comparing a long-travel 26" (plush-absorbs it all and has a totally different suspension design from your 29er) to a XC 29er (tighter ride). I think if you compared like bikes, with the same suspension design and travel, rode at a faster pace, rode more challenging terrain (more mountainous area), you'd see the difference. I'm not putting down your capabilities, let me be clear about that.

Originally Posted by Aurelius

What is instantly apparent however, is that my 26er is quicker through the turns, accelerates and stops faster than the 29er, and just feels a lot more lively and fun to ride aggressively. And the differences in these respects are by no means subtle.

I'll agree with that. I kept my 26" for a while, before letting it go. But, everytime I grabbed a MTB, I took my 29er. I do miss the lively ride of my 26", though.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by ducnut

I think a lot of that has to do with riding style, experience, and terrain. Up here, everyone sees a noticeable difference in what a 29er can do. The two regulars who ride with me, saw it on the very first time I went out on my 29er. As you may recall, I've ridden the trails you ride. There's a noticeable difference in the sugar sand and rooted areas.

I think I can say pretty confidently that I've ridden these two bikes on every kind of terrain one can find in the area: little rocks, huge boulders, small and large roots, sugar sand, hard packed dirt, steep climbs and descents, and even through grassy fields. I've also had two very experienced riders (Ben Mays, who runs a mtb training school, and Dave, a former BMX racer) do back to back tests, and both came away with exactly the same impressions I have. Neither could say for sure whether the 29er was indeed faster over all, but both said without the slightest reservation that it felt slow and sluggish compared to the 26er.

Also, you're comparing a long-travel 26" (plush-absorbs it all and has a totally different suspension design from your 29er) to a XC 29er (tighter ride). I think if you compared like bikes, with the same suspension design and travel, rode at a faster pace, rode more challenging terrain (more mountainous area), you'd see the difference.

I'm not aware of any 29ers with 6" of shock travel, so I don't know how such a comparison could be made. I'm told that 29ers typically have less shock travel because their larger wheels roll over objects more easily. That would still mean however, that a 29er with 4" of shock travel would be less effective at absorbing hits when going off drops than a 26er with a full 6" of shock travel.

I'm not putting down your capabilities, let me be clear about that.

It would be a perfectly legitimate point if you did. Rider skill is obviously going to determine to some extent how the bike behaves. Long travel suspension may make up for imperfectly timed landings, for instance - something an expert rider may not experience at all. A 26er, which allows the rider to make more rapid adjustments in speed when entering corners or when climbing steep slopes, is going to be more forgiving in instances where I'm either carrying too much velocity or too little. I also find it much easier to make rapid course adjustments, which pays big dividends when racing up a slope and not knowing which way the trail will turn as I reach the top. A more experienced rider would be familiar with these trails and have chosen his entry perfectly to avoid any surprises. Yet the fact that a 26er enables me to make up for these kinds of mistakes is something I would say counts for it rather than against it.

[Blur]

Sad day in Charlotte today

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Accid...155297615.html

[enjine]

Just picked this up today. I have been out of bike riding for years but the area where I live has lots of great roads and paths. This bike should be perfect for the kind of riding I do.

My R1100R and XR400 will handle everything else.

[brewer90]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

I've got one of each. I've read all the alleged advantages of the 29er's over 26er's, but I've been unable to prove any of them in practice. I've seen no noticeable advantage in climbing or stability or better traction over my 26er. My suspicion is that they're simply too small to be measured in anything but 'laboratory conditions'. What is instantly apparent however, is that my 26er is quicker through the turns, accelerates and stops faster than the 29er, and just feels a lot more lively and fun to ride aggressively. And the differences in these respects are by no means subtle.

I'm faster on my 29er than on my 26er on my timed route that I've been riding for four years. I also climb better on it and clear a lot of rocky ledge climbs that I never could before it. I broke my rear derailleur on my Niner and went back to my Yeti 26er and didn't like it. I sold it once I got my Niner fixed. Different strokes I guess.

[brewer90]

Originally Posted by Chisenhallw

Many wise people have said that it's important to learn to pick a line and negotiate obstacles with a 26er first. Then go to 29.

And other wise people have said just the opposite. Both bikes have their pros/cons - just get the one you like and enjoy the sport

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by brewer90

And other wise people have said just the opposite. Both bikes have their pros/cons - just get the one you like and enjoy the sport

its a lot easier on your bike and wallet to learn how to pick a line and ride smoothly.

M

[Stinez]

I'm faster and climb better on my 29er than my 26er.

It may have something to do with the ~6lb weight difference.

That said, riding the heavier bike for the last several years has conditioned me to the point of riding up with the fast kids now that I'm on a equally capable and lighter 29er.

Some of them used to try to drop me on climbs but they've learned that I'm there to stay.

OTOH -Having gone down kinda hard on a steepish section on the 29er I've been checking my speed on HD's until I regain my confidence. (It's a slow process because my aim is the long term.)

[rbrsddn]

OTOH -Having gone down kinda hard on a steepish section on the 29er I've been checking my speed on HD's until I regain my confidence. (It's a slow process because my aim is the long term.)[/QUOTE]


And broken collarbones and separated shoulders are no fun atall! Ask me how I know!

[brewer90]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

its a lot easier on your bike and wallet to learn how to pick a line and ride smoothly.

M

And why is this not possible on a 29er?

[Blur]

Originally Posted by rbrsddn

And broken collarbones and separated shoulders are no fun atall! Ask me how I know!

I cracked two ribs each of the first two years after getting back into mountain biking. I was afraid it was going to become a tradition
Thankfully, haven't cracked any ribs since 2008.

[rbrsddn]

Originally Posted by Blur

I cracked two ribs each of the first two years after getting back into mountain biking. I was afraid it was going to become a tradition
Thankfully, haven't cracked any ribs since 2008.

Werd! I separated my shoulder in '99 on the Fat Chance, first ride with my new Time Atac's. Popped a wheelie in a neighbors driveway, bounced off a tree, while failing at unclipping, and had my first visit with Vicodin. Collarbone was on the M/C, but a few firsts there too. First ambulance ride ever. First taste of Morphine. First long ride home with then GF while not talking for hours... Not things I want to repeat anytime soon! the plus side of the collarbone was it happened at the beginning of the '03 TDF. I laid on the couch for 3 weeks watching bike racing, popping Vicodin.

[Oznerol]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

its a lot easier on your bike and wallet to learn how to pick a line and ride smoothly.

I started learning much faster on a FS bike. Because when I chose a bad line, I still knew it -- the squish doesn't hide your mistakes, it just reduces the associated penalty a bit. That made me bolder about trying new things, which helped me to learn more quickly. Also, I didn't wear out nearly as quickly from soaking up the hits with my legs, so I rode more, which also contributed to faster learning.

But more importantly: I have more fun riding a more capable machine. That's what it's all about in the end.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by brewer90

I'm faster on my 29er than on my 26er on my timed route that I've been riding for four years. I also climb better on it and clear a lot of rocky ledge climbs that I never could before it. I broke my rear derailleur on my Niner and went back to my Yeti 26er and didn't like it. I sold it once I got my Niner fixed. Different strokes I guess.

Odd that you should say that. I shaved over 20 seconds off my best lap time on my favorite local trail just by switching to a 26er. Both my 29er and 26's have carbon fiber frames, and weigh about the same (~27 lbs), but the amount of inertia those big 29er wheels produce makes the bike feel much more sluggish during rapid directional changes. I really want to love the 29er, but the 26er is a much more enjoyable and engaging ride.

[brewer90]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Odd that you should say that. I shaved over 20 seconds off my best lap time on my favorite local trail just by switching to a 26er. Both my 29er and 26's have carbon fiber frames, and weigh about the same (~27 lbs), but the amount of inertia those big 29er wheels produce makes the bike feel much more sluggish during rapid directional changes. I really want to love the 29er, but the 26er is a much more enjoyable and engaging ride.

I can easily see feeling that way. I do get that sluggishness too when I try to rapidly accelerate out of a slow section. In order to get the faster time I had to change my riding style and start carrying more speed through the corners in order to keep my momentum up and keep those big wheels rolling. We have a lot of rocks out here so the big wheels help on that too which is one of the reasons I switched.