Specialized to offer TWO 29″ bikes for 2007?
June 5th, 2006 by CloxxkiRumors along this line aren’t new.
And why wouldn’t they, the Fast Trak tire is selling out all the time. Specialized can hardly deny, even to themselves, that there is no market, when they’re selling them that easily with over a dozen very capable 29″ tires to compete with.
On the RideMonkey forums, now a rumor surfaced saying the 2007 model year would see a Stumpjumper 29″ hardtail AND an Epic 29″ full-suspension.
The Fast Trak Pro 29×2.0 tire offers volume that others would call a 2.3″. As the name implies, it rolls pretty fast. Weight is just around or above 600g, making for an excellent volume-to-weight ratio.
The 29″ Fast Trak proto’s were first spotted on Californian trails just after the 2004 Athens Olympics, on non-Specialized bikes. It was never confirmed, but the word goes that 2003 World Champion Filip Meirhaeghe (Belgium) had demanded a 29″ bike for his Olympic campaign, and had threatened to shred his contract over the dispute. However, Filip never actually made it to Athens due to an EPO offence weeks before the event, which forced him to skip the 2005 race season, and cost him the Specialized contract anyway.
What if Filip would have remained “clean”…? The Athens course was all dust over hardpack, with high-speed descends and tricky steep climbs. It looked like 29″ Fast Trak heaven to me, having seen the excellent TV coverage of the Olympic races and riding the tires. Specialized may have been saved a huge development+supply problem with Filip NOT winning Olympics on 29″ there, the 2005 models already showcased in brochures and on exhibitions…
With Haro confirmed to offer two bikes, Redline to add a higher-end model, Orbea carbon Alma’s confirmed, WTB Weirwolf 2.55″ tires confirmed, Niner adding new bikes every month, Cannondale proto’s out in the open, and perhaps even Specialized to follow…will 2007 be the year of the 29″er?
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2007 the year for 29ers! On the manufacturing side I would hope so, as a bikeshop lifer myself, I always had to introduce customers to big wheels. Now I have customers specifically asking for 29 inch wheeled bikes! However, I’ve spoken to a Canadian “freeride” sales reps and their adage is only the pacific northwest and a few shops in Colorado have shown any interest in a 29ers. My opinion if your a manufacturer and your not making a 29er,your already behind. It’s great to see that the 2007 year bike launch will have the largest selection of 29er completes to date!
I know that K.C. is packed with 29′ers and myself and a couple of friends are doing their part for Germany. Hey… we’re doing the best we can!
Any specs on the proposed Stumpjumper ‘29? and when will it be available?
Thanks,
Bob
any opinions on these tires, looking for something that rolls well
It’s a better front tire than the Nano, IMO. More cushy rear. Maybe slightly slower, but still fast. Bit less rear tractions perhaps.
Keep in mind, I’m comparing to steel bead Nano’s, kevlar ones ought to be nicer.
For pure speed : Kenda Karma is my favorite.
When Specialized finally rolls out their 29″er a couple things will happen. One: hell will freeze over as Specialized specifically said that they had absolutely no interest what so ever in producing a 29″er when queried by the sanctioning bodies. Two: Richard Cunningham will have to find a new favorite bicycle company to pimp in his SoCal-centric rag.
They ought to call it the Epic Eating Crow 29″er when they roll it out at Morgan Hill for all to see!
I recently recieved comments from one of the R&D Enginees at Specialized to whom I posed the question of 29ers in their 2007 lineup….his response was that Specialized was only investigating it but had no plans to offer them ….but that they did make 29 inch tires!
I LOVE that post Guitar Ted!! Right on the money…
If Specialized is the King of Production MTB’s introducing a 29′er would just reinforce what their competition says is true. My money is that they won’t offer a 29′er. Why would they admit that Gary was right even if the market is there? And really how big is the 29′er market? Also how long will that market last? Maybe Shimano will bring back BioPace now that Bobby Julich is rocking O’symmetric rings……..
The market will be there forever. a 29″er does not last longer than a 26″er. riders buy another one every couple years. Many current 29″ riders are multiple offenders already.
The real question is : how much market is Specialized ready to lose out on? The upcoming of 29″ will NOT boost their sales if they stay out of it. People are going elsewhere as we speak.
They’ll have to do better than the competition to increase sales, but that’s the way a market works. Make products people want, or you’re dead.