Comments on: The Effects of 29″ers In The Marketplace http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:26:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7989 Guitar Ted Thu, 08 Feb 2007 10:50:47 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7989 shiggy: Quite possibly you are right. I gave this some thought myself and it makes sense from the standpoint of the wheelsize, (700 c) and the fact that it's not in the "road" category. I'm sure the 29"er is a bit of a conundrum for BRAIN and the organizations that tally such info. Imagine the confusion that ensues over "69ers"! shiggy: Quite possibly you are right. I gave this some thought myself and it makes sense from the standpoint of the wheelsize, (700 c) and the fact that it’s not in the “road” category.

I’m sure the 29″er is a bit of a conundrum for BRAIN and the organizations that tally such info. Imagine the confusion that ensues over “69ers”!

]]> By: shiggy http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7940 shiggy Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:40:07 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7940 Ted, In the Jan BRAIN it was reported that the sales of "hybrid" bikes is up while most other categories are the same or lower. Could the 29ers be lumped in as hybrids--because of the wheel size--instead of mtbs (which also seems to not have a rigid fork group)? Ted, In the Jan BRAIN it was reported that the sales of “hybrid” bikes is up while most other categories are the same or lower.

Could the 29ers be lumped in as hybrids–because of the wheel size–instead of mtbs (which also seems to not have a rigid fork group)?

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7772 Guitar Ted Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:31:38 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7772 doug bernard: Thanks for the tip on Specialized and Fox. I will say that rumors have been rampant concerning both Specialized and Trek entering the fray with full lines of 29"ers for each. Quite frankly, I expect both of them to come online with 29"ers, especially considering the "one-up-manship" both of these companies engage in. Fox is a shoe in for 29"er forks, and if Specialized comes out with 29"ers, they'd be fools for not spec'ing them and getting a 1 year exclusive. Even though they, .....cough-cough......have their own line of suspension forks! No doubt, '08 product intros will be closely watched by 29"er afficiandos. doug bernard: Thanks for the tip on Specialized and Fox. I will say that rumors have been rampant concerning both Specialized and Trek entering the fray with full lines of 29″ers for each. Quite frankly, I expect both of them to come online with 29″ers, especially considering the “one-up-manship” both of these companies engage in.

Fox is a shoe in for 29″er forks, and if Specialized comes out with 29″ers, they’d be fools for not spec’ing them and getting a 1 year exclusive. Even though they, …..cough-cough……have their own line of suspension forks!

No doubt, ‘08 product intros will be closely watched by 29″er afficiandos.

]]> By: doug bernard http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7760 doug bernard Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:45:31 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7760 yeah i'm with matty , fisher has set the standard as far as quality goes with a high production frame company like fisher. I currently own a paragon,but always look and consider what others have to offer. 26er's look like juvenile bikes to me. i've been riding 29er's for years now and there just the norm.26er's although can be nice bike's just look silly! yeah i’m with matty , fisher has set the standard as far as quality goes with a high production frame company like fisher. I currently own a paragon,but always look and consider what others have to offer. 26er’s look like juvenile bikes to me. i’ve been riding 29er’s for years now and there just the norm.26er’s although can be nice bike’s just look silly!

]]> By: Cloxxki http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7751 Cloxxki Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:33:36 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7751 Fisher are better than you can expect for their dollar in terms of frame quality. Frame weight for the Cobia is similar to "scandium" frames that cost the same as the Cobia bike. I may be a rabid zealot, I honestly do not see what 26" has to offer a conscious consumer that doesn't BMX, huck or Dirtjump. For XC, FR and DH, 29" should fit most riders best, once it's all evolved to the level of current 26"er (a matter of conviction and time). Fisher are better than you can expect for their dollar in terms of frame quality. Frame weight for the Cobia is similar to “scandium” frames that cost the same as the Cobia bike.

I may be a rabid zealot, I honestly do not see what 26″ has to offer a conscious consumer that doesn’t BMX, huck or Dirtjump. For XC, FR and DH, 29″ should fit most riders best, once it’s all evolved to the level of current 26″er (a matter of conviction and time).

]]> By: Matty http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7749 Matty Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:53:26 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7749 Subpar frames? Anyone remember life before 29er's were cool and trendy, im pretty sure fishers were the only ones at that party. Remember a time when Rebas hit the downtube? Fishers were right on with fixing that problem before it became a problem. The rig pretty much set the standard as far as 29er single speeds are concerned, now every company under the sun has a single speed using a EBB. Ive personally owned three 29ers, 2 of them being fishers, Ive never had an issue with them, no flex, good geometry, no issues. Yeah they may not be the prettiest welds on the planet, but no machine weld is. Oh and they carry a lifetime warrenty, where as your overpriced, niche brands usually carry an one to five year warrenty. Subpar frames? Anyone remember life before 29er’s were cool and trendy, im pretty sure fishers were the only ones at that party. Remember a time when Rebas hit the downtube? Fishers were right on with fixing that problem before it became a problem. The rig pretty much set the standard as far as 29er single speeds are concerned, now every company under the sun has a single speed using a EBB. Ive personally owned three 29ers, 2 of them being fishers, Ive never had an issue with them, no flex, good geometry, no issues. Yeah they may not be the prettiest welds on the planet, but no machine weld is. Oh and they carry a lifetime warrenty, where as your overpriced, niche brands usually carry an one to five year warrenty.

]]> By: greg http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7747 greg Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:37:27 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7747 i agree GF has been a leader when it comes to large production bike companies in the 29er realm. The unfortunate thing is that they are also the leader in subpar quality frames. i agree GF has been a leader when it comes to large production bike companies in the 29er realm. The unfortunate thing is that they are also the leader in subpar quality frames.

]]> By: doug bernard http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7743 doug bernard Sun, 04 Feb 2007 01:58:24 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7743 just a quick comment,about what Guitar Ted said about "Top Tier" company's jumping in the 29er market.this may be old news to some ,but new to me.Specialized will have a full line of 29er's out in June/july as 2008 models. My sales rep also mentioned to me "don't be surprised to see fox forx on those either" yeah! just a quick comment,about what Guitar Ted said about
“Top Tier” company’s jumping in the 29er market.this may be old news to some ,but new to me.Specialized will have a full line of 29er’s out in June/july as 2008 models. My sales rep also mentioned to me “don’t be surprised to see fox
forx on those either” yeah!

]]> By: bobblogbob http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7742 bobblogbob Sun, 04 Feb 2007 01:52:27 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/02/03/the-effects-of-29ers-in-the-marketplace/#comment-7742 This is a good question. MTB sales have declined over the last several years as road has spiked and from what I now see as a durable good that is beginning to level off if not waning. The only thing that attracts people into any market is innovation. MTB sales for years had a huge run because what developed from a clunker into a true MTB continued to evolve in design, shifting, suspension, and weight. Now 29'ers are taking to the masses and it is an innovation that is needed in the off road market. It is what will drive the off road market over the next few years back up again. I don't believe it will completely remove the 26 inch wheeled MTB from the market but I do believe there will be companies in the next few years that will start to produce lines of 29'ers that will trickle down in price just like we had seen suspension forks go from special orders, to high end, and down to entry level. This is a good question. MTB sales have declined over the last several years as road has spiked and from what I now see as a durable good that is beginning to level off if not waning. The only thing that attracts people into any market is innovation. MTB sales for years had a huge run because what developed from a clunker into a true MTB continued to evolve in design, shifting, suspension, and weight. Now 29′ers are taking to the masses and it is an innovation that is needed in the off road market. It is what will drive the off road market over the next few years back up again. I don’t believe it will completely remove the 26 inch wheeled MTB from the market but I do believe there will be companies in the next few years that will start to produce lines of 29′ers that will trickle down in price just like we had seen suspension forks go from special orders, to high end, and down to entry level.

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