Comments on: Response from Orbea http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:26:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: norelationtothepresident http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-241 norelationtothepresident Thu, 16 Feb 2006 02:48:22 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-241 I agree that a tumble in a rock garden could fail a carbon frome. Many are sceptical about the ride quality of full carbon frames. The misconception is that they all ride like poo and they are incredibly fragile. Many folks also claim that 29ers are slow and stupid. These folks tend to have one thing in common...they haven't given these bicycles a chance. I've ridden many carbon frames, mostly road (where ride quality is far more noticeable). Even the cheapest carbon frames seem more responsive to power output and have superior vibration damping qualities to metal frames. Carbon is pretty much impervious to fatigue, while steel, ti, and aluminum can only flex a given number of times before they lose their resiliency. If you smash it hard enough carbon will break, but until then it's the ultimate material. I agree that a tumble in a rock garden could fail a carbon frome. Many are sceptical about the ride quality of full carbon frames. The misconception is that they all ride like poo and they are incredibly fragile. Many folks also claim that 29ers are slow and stupid. These folks tend to have one thing in common…they haven’t given these bicycles a chance.

I’ve ridden many carbon frames, mostly road (where ride quality is far more noticeable). Even the cheapest carbon frames seem more responsive to power output and have superior vibration damping qualities to metal frames. Carbon is pretty much impervious to fatigue, while steel, ti, and aluminum can only flex a given number of times before they lose their resiliency. If you smash it hard enough carbon will break, but until then it’s the ultimate material.

]]> By: Cloxxki http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-240 Cloxxki Tue, 14 Feb 2006 10:54:54 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-240 Man, will a well-decked Alma 29"er ever piss off the competition on the starting grid! Can't wait to see the new geometry they picked. They did, didn't they? Any chance of a size XL? For a company that wants a product to sell it, I'm still baffled by them pulling the Alu XL bike. As if 29"ers are for small people only? Man, will a well-decked Alma 29″er ever piss off the competition on the starting grid!
Can’t wait to see the new geometry they picked. They did, didn’t they? Any chance of a size XL? For a company that wants a product to sell it, I’m still baffled by them pulling the Alu XL bike. As if 29″ers are for small people only?

]]> By: Anonymous http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-239 Anonymous Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:57:29 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-239 yeah, just don't drop it on a hard surface...as for a better ride...we all have opinions I just don't agree with yours. yeah, just don’t drop it on a hard surface…as for a better ride…we all have opinions I just don’t agree with yours.

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-238 Guitar Ted Mon, 13 Feb 2006 22:55:21 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2006/02/13/response-from-orbea/#comment-238 Well, that's good to hear! A company that actually wants to have product out there when they say they will do it. Refreshing! As for the comments about weight in regards to this bike vs. aluminum: It's very simplistic to look only at the weight savings, which at 150 grams, ( or whatever it really turns out to be) isn't that significant. However; it would be more wise to consider that when properly applied, carbon fiber can reveal a better ride, a stiffer platform for power output, and yes, lighter weight. Whether or not Orbea's "soul" bike can do this in a 29" platform is yet to be seen. Well, that’s good to hear! A company that actually wants to have product out there when they say they will do it. Refreshing!

As for the comments about weight in regards to this bike vs. aluminum: It’s very simplistic to look only at the weight savings, which at 150 grams, ( or whatever it really turns out to be) isn’t that significant. However; it would be more wise to consider that when properly applied, carbon fiber can reveal a better ride, a stiffer platform for power output, and yes, lighter weight. Whether or not Orbea’s “soul” bike can do this in a 29″ platform is yet to be seen.

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