To my favorite mainstream bike manufacturer :

It’s great to see you TOO are exploring the riding traits and sales opportunities of the 29″ wheel! However, an incorrect memo seems to have been passed around that there’s but 2 ways to sell a 29″ bike :
1- Singlespeed Hardtail, preferably rigid, always steel
2- Full-Suspension, 27spd

Indeed, these two do represent an ever-growing marketshare, also among 29″. Some need FS to get around their local trails with their old backs, and some like their trails rough, so it’s good they’re there. Singlespeed has been growing in popularity since the invention of the derailer it seems, so it’s cool there’s choices.

But aren’t you all now all trying to sell a singlespeed bike to a small group of riders that are pretty much sorted by now? Yes, bike collecting is becoming an Olympic sport lately, but if you look at 26″, which part of the pie goes to steel singlespeeds, and which to geared aluminum hardtails?

If you’re going to give 29″ a go, please just make a geared hardtail just like you have a dozen or more models of in 26″ right now.
With pretty much only the Fisher hardtails being offered with gears, these are now sold out year-round. Some people need their 29″ fix so bad, they’ll give singlespeeding a go for it, as there are no gears offerings out there. Ideal solution? No. we get to pick from many more SS offerings though, and not all want a Fisher per se.

There’s a HUGE void in 29″ supply right now, that’s keeping riders from jumping over to 29″ for their next or even “extra” bikes : no geared bikes, anywhere. Making them is selling them. Ask Orbea, and why they decided to make 1$million carbon molds for 29″ bikes. While we “all” agree that Shimano is evil, is going all-singlespeed really the way for the industry to stay healthy?

Although 29″ + Singlespeed is one heck of a magic recipe for riding nirvana, it most certainly is not for everyone. Not the easiest thing to sell to the weekend warrior.

Tell me, when doing your thing selling bikes, do you aim to share a niche market with the competition, or to sell as much as possible? What do your current loyal followers typically want, alu or steel, gears or singlespeed? And what if they want 29″ as a starting point for that? Will you get their business again?

Steel is real, but 29″ers in aluminum are just fine and will sell well too. You don’t HAVE to acquire steel building skills to sell a 29″er. Try it!

Yours sincerely,

Cloxxki
-Four 29″ hardtails, one of them a steel rigid singlespeed I bought 3 years ago.