Trek and Specialized
November 22nd, 2005 by Tim GrahlEven though the Specialized marketing department steadfastly denies the rumors of a 29er coming out of their shop… I keep hearing otherwise. Today I heard from a third (and more reliable source) that there is something in the mix. No details though.
Also, I heard today that a 96er (29 inch wheel in the front and 26 inch wheel in the back) project has been cleared for the ‘07 Trek line.
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But it seems that the Specialized tire for sure will make it to shops. I wonder how it will sell, and how that will be to the most anti-29″ company out there.
For those that missed it : the 29″ tire was created just for reighning World Champion Filip Meirhaeghe for his Olympic Athens campaign. Filip doped out of the sport just before Athens, so we’ll never know. what I do know is that the Athens course looked liked something I’d definately want those Fast Trak tires for. Dust over hardpack, and prety rough. Lots of time to be made up on a 29″er by not walking some steeps, and DH’ing faster than the 26″ competition.
If Specialized see a Fisher with Specialized tires, they’ll know that Fisher made more money on it than they did. The original tires on the Fisher after all are even in-house Bontragers for Fisher.
69′er for Trek? Oh my… But I’ll redicule it with all my energy. Please let them get smart and just launch a 29″ OCLV and sell thousands of it. They have a guy working for them that known a thing or 2 about bike design, whatshisname…Gary!
Ha ha! Cloxxki, you make me laugh when you speak of 96ers….uh, or is it 69ers? Whatever! I feel the same way as you do about them. I, unlike you, have no experience on the “mutt” bikes, but that is about to change, as I have just picked up a really cheap,(free!) Trek 4500 frame that I’ll be trying the concept out on. I just get real tired of hearing the, “well, you shouldn’t criticize what you have not ridden” line. So, I’m about to throw down with this experiment. (I already know how it’s going to turn out, so no mystery there!)
Congrats on a great deal! Using it for 29/26 makes more sense than for 26/26 anyway. I used to commute/get groceries on a 26/29 ugly bike project, but some blind junkie stole it at the train station.
Stick a big rear slick on it, and for on-road it won’t be too bad
Great way to recycle otherwise unsellable 26″ rear wheels that wobble and creak so violently only you and the kid that nicks your bike will ride.
Yeah see I’ve heard a lot about Specialized being “anti-29er” but we’ll see them sing a different song as the sales continue to rise…
Another funny thing I heard coming out of the Specialized camp… if they do come out with a 29 inch bike they are gonna call it something other then the “29er” cause that’s what Fisher calls it.
So stupid… what? the “700er”?
Call it überbike, monsterwheeler, cheaterbike, startfieldblocker, fat kid’s cyclocrosser, it’s still a 29″ wheeled bike. Personally I’ve always seen it as lame that companies used the same 29er name that Fisher came up with.
Too bad for Specialized, because it was Filip’s favorite tire, and he was psyched by Brentjens’ 29″ stories, they are now stuck with a 29″ tire that is actually quite good. Around 600g, good volume, low rolling resistance and predictable handling at the limit.
When the Fast Trak hits the market, they may well have the season’s best seller on their hands, and all that through the limited S dealers we can get them from.
I’ve got a pair of the prototypes right now, and I’m keeping them. I predict in 2006, races are going to be won on it, and not on a Specialized bike.
Specialized : great tire brand. Too bad they waste their time building bikes from the 90’s, still in 2006
Is the Specialized team manager still there that tried so hard to keep the UCI from upping the wheel size limit? His riders will hate it to be beaten by people on cheaper S “Pro” type tires in a size that doesn’t fit their bikes…
I just talked to a specialized rep yesterday and he confirmed that they are comming out with a 29er next year.