I Heard 29ers Suck
May 25th, 2005 by Tim GrahlI’m one of those people that once I know something, I assume everyone else knows the same thing. I guess that’s why it always cracks me up when I read different forums and read threads from people that have never ridden on a 29er bike but are more then willing to give their opinion on it.
Haven’t used [a 29er]. I don’t think the benefits outweight the negatives. I think they would mess up the center of balance and considering mine is already high I don’t need more height.
They look very cumbersome and unwieldy in my opinion, i’ll be sticking with 26″ until somethin else becomes the standard.
Because of this I’m gonna start posting some Frequently Asked Questions about the 29er. If you have any specific questions feel free to email me.
What is RSS?
Get our articles in your inbox:
Well, I have a 29er, it is great!
I have a 26 too and it is great!
Buck Up camper, bikes is bikes, taste is taste and n’er the two shall meet.
a month ago i went to a 29er monocog and its the coolest bike. easy to ride and simple…and i like simple! having rode bmx for the last 11 years the single speed , ridged frame is ideal.and if anyone wants a good reason to “upsize”,then just click on the bontager link to the right and read the tech article and testing they have done ,then tell me the positives do not outweigh the negatives.anyhoo…i love my bike and wont be going back to a 26er or a multispeed for that matter…thanx
I’m 66 and ride for fun and excercise. I’ve ridden a certain 9 mile desert trail near my house 5-6 times. There are 4-5 places I have had to get off my bike one way or the other on each ride.
I rode it Weds on my 17 inch Cannondale F500 with out shifting out of 32-18. I couldn’t get past the usual stoppers which are usually small washes with steep sides, rocks and soft sand.
Weds afternoon I bought a 17 inch Monocog 29er. I took it to the trail directly from the store and road about 2 miles without my gear. As an aside I met on the trail a man about my age riding a 2006 Monocog 29er. Since it was the first bike of any type I had ever net on this trail I considered it a weird but good omen as he was quite friendly and very knowledgeable regarding 29ers. He said he was able to ride the entire trail without a dismount quite often.
The next day, with less than 5 miles on the new bike I rode this trail with only one spot barely stopping me.
I felt much more confident on the new 29er than on my 26 hardtail which I have been riding for 11 years
I was actually amazed, it seemed all the hype I had read on the web that prompted me to buy a 29er was TRUE!
For my northwest Tucson rides this bike is great. I’m stoked.
I’m another recent convert to singlespeeding, finding that it suits my riding style and decided that my first SS would be a Niner SIR – a steel 29″ machine.
Built it up rigid and light (about 9.5kg) and it is an abolute joy to ride.
Having a professional engineering background and being a complete technophile I am suprised that my chi chi weight weenie US made dual suspension bike with all the bling seems to play second fiddle to the raw and easy pleasure of riding the SIR
It may not be faster overall – rigid is fabulous uphill but still spooky downhill – even with the added control that 29″ wheels and big tyres provide – but the pleasure the 29er provides in the riding is worth more than any such detail.
Hopefuly more will be attracted to this post and simply have a ride of a 29″ machine and see if they enjoy it as much as the rest of us. The nay sayers can say as they please. Have pity on their missed enjoyment.
29ers do suck.