Article from Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
January 9th, 2006 by Tim GrahlFisher Bikes article from Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski:
Soon after I joined the Subaru-Gary Fisher team in 2005, I was asked, “Would you be interested in racing a Two Niner?”
Throughout my career I’ve always been willing to experiment with any equipment technology that could potentially improve my racing. Ever since my junior days I’ve enjoyed trying different setups and dialing in my race bikes. Having never ridden a 29” wheel bike before, I admit that I was initially pretty skeptical of the whole concept. I had seen few Two Niners at races, and I couldn’t see how the increased wheel diameter could possibly offer any improvement over a 26” bike.
I agreed to give it a try though, and I got my first taste of the Two Niner when I started riding a Fisher Rig single speed during my rehabilitation from a bad crash I had at Sea Otter last year. I rode this bike a lot during my recovery and I loved the bike the moment I threw a leg over it.
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That has been the best read of the year for me!
Rockshox race forks!!
But Jermy, if the 29″er is so smooth, how about a rigid fork that levels the weight with a 26″ hardtail? That’s what I’m doing more and more. It’s not my wheels that make me feel slow anymore, it’s the fork. Although I did notice (the hard way) how the Reba gets you around corners faster when not locked out.
It’s cool to hear they’re getting lighter wheels to try and really get their 29″ers up to race level.
My personal experience is that when I’m racing a light 29″er on technical singletrack, 26″ riders just don’t keep up because they are forced to pass even the very last safety margin while I’m still in a relative cruise mode, on relatively low-end tires.
Funny to read how even the most avid gear tinkerer Pro is still sceptical any wheelsize other than what he’s used all his life can be any better. And even after they won their biggest trophy on a 29″er, they can later easily be convinced 26″ is the way to go. Some non-pro’s too, BTW.
Cloxx - you have to remember these guys get pissed off when the mechanics put two scoops of Stan’s in instead of one like all the racers want (yes, I $hit you not.)
The rigid fork is not a negotiator with these guys. The fatigue factor is huge. The weight is in the wheels and tires - which is a disadvantage when the guys he’s racing against might only finish 30 seconds ahead/behind in a 2 hour race. When the tires and rims can come down 200 grams then I see these guys jumping on board. Patience grasshopper..patience!
Kenda 515g tires are already here, other tire sponsors’ turn now, I’d say. Luckily I have no sponsors.
In racing, 29″ may not always help to sit in the middle of a group. Then, we’re no roadies. When I ride my own pace, is where the 29″ really shines. I use all of the course, leave the brakes alone, perfection on wheels. Being held up by a 26″ rider is a waste of time. Luckily, out-braking is a breeze and as Jeremy stated, it’s a real pain to stay on a 29″ers tail (draft) with a 26″er. In any case with out longer rear-end and lager tire, they have to draft some 2″ further behind anyway
In one particular draft-fest race, I was able to wear out the half dozen 26″er in my group by taking the lead in the hard 90-130º forrest trail type corners. I would take those so much quicker, that they had to give it all to come back to my slipstream. with enough corners, taking the lead this way is actually less tiring, and more fun. You force the other guys into mistakes by forcing them on a pace unnatural to their wheelsize.
In Jeremy’s write-up it sounds like it takes balls to even try a 29″er in a race, even if all sponsors and training data are saying “go”. Not every race is the Olympics, better try it before you find yourself on the starting grid there, on your 26″ bike next to your main rival on his never-seen-before 29″er
In all this, intriguingly, not many true 29″ race-worthy tires have come to the market. We’re all riding weekend warrior’s tires. Not the stuff pro’s will typically be using on their 26″ers, but it’s what we got, and what er prove to work.
With the Kenda Karma tires to the market, promising to be quite fast, and stan’s even faster Vel-Crows about to hit, things are getting extremely interesting. The 10% rolling resistance advantage 29″ holds on smooth soil may for the first time be explored in race conditions. Imagine, arguably the biggest trait of the concept, and it it has yet to be sampled in a race kind of way.
Just to be sure, I’ll be on a 8.0-8.6kg 1×9spd 29″ race bike for 2006
He has the wheels and is waiting for the fork,maybe a reba world cup 29″? Sounds like he will be racing on a 29er in 2006.
at least he should give it a go in some non-points races. Better than to wonder after getting 2nd in your season’s big race.
It’s looking good. Fisher rules.
Sounds like his “review” was written by Gary Fishers Marketing Department!
HI IM A 29ER MANIAC, WE HAVE A BIKE SHOP HERE IN MEXICO CITY AND WE HAVE BEEN SELLING MANY FISHER 29ERS BUT WE STEEL WAITING THAT SOME PRO RIDER RACE A 29ER IN CROSS COUNTRY RACES, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ?I DONT CARE ANY MORE IF THE PROS ARE GOING TO USE IT OR NOT. THE THING IS THAT THESE GUYS CAN WIN IN ANY BIKE, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT FOR THE AVERAGE RIDER THE 29ER MAKES A REAL DIFERENCE AND THATS THE IMPORTANT THING.SO IF JFK USE A 29ER OR NOT IS NOT IMPORTANT, AS LONG AS I USE MY 29ER IM SURE THAT FOR ME IS LIKE SHAKE HANDS WITH THE LORD.
HASTA LA VISTA 29ERS FOLKS.
VIVA MEXICO AND FISHER TOO.
SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH.
http://www.rocknbikes.com
I AGREE WITH REALITY
JHK DOESN’T BELIEVE
IF HE DID BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN, HE WOULD RIDE IT.
JEREMY IS WITH FISHER FOR A PAYCHECK, SIMPLY PUT.
LIKE SOMEONE SAID “NOT EVERY RACE IS THE OLYMPICS”
I BELIEVE FISHER COULD HAVE SOLD MORE BICYCLES WITH BETTER MARKETING IE THIER PAID PROS RIDING THEM, AND HAVING THEM AVAILIBLE ESPECIALY WHEN THEY HAD A STRONGHOLD ON THE MASS PRODUCED 29ER.
IF I WHERE JEREMYS BOSS I WOULD FIRE HIS ASS FOR NOT ENDORSING MY PRODUCT.
Harsh words there Mark- I beleive Fisher sells just about every 29er they make. When a pro depends on his bike for his paycheck, it has to be the best tool for the race. Results count when you are a pro like JHK- Fisher knows that and as a result are working to get him the best tool. If the bike is 2-3lbs. heavier than his competitors, it does JHK and Fisher no good. As Cloxxki said, when the race worthy tyres and other equipment come down the pipe for a true race bike, they will be raced. That said, pay attention at Sea Otter…