29″ers: Land of the Big and Home of the Weird?
February 5th, 2007 by Guitar TedI’ve noticed something about 29″ers and the people who ride them. Their are a lot of “funky set ups” out there! Handle bars, cranks, and drivetrain choices. Now, it’s not just 29″er freaks that are using these unique set ups. I notice that alot of single speed and off shoots from that in the 26″er world are into the strange and wonderful world of funky parts.
I think this is indicative of a willingness to try new things like 29″ers, or single speed for that matter, that fall out side of the “traditional” mountain bike. For instance, I think that up until now you were consider “out side of the box” if you were riding a 29″er. While that may be less so today, it still kind of goes hand in hand, seemingly, with all things “funky” about mountain bikes.
Handle bars seem to be the most popular item to fool with. All sorts of convoluted bends, sweeps, and rises are showing up on 29″ers out there. Even I have a Midge bar, (an off road drop bar) and a Titec H-Bar, ( a funky bar if there ever was one) on two of my 29″ers.
So, what is it exactly about us 29″ers and single speeders? Is there even a link to be made? I think there is. I feel that there is a bit more of an adventuresome streak and a willingness to “jump in the pool” all at once, as it were by folks who choose single speed or 29″ers. (Or both in the same bike, really!)
It will be interesting to see if the trend to experiment grows with the increasing popularity of the 29″er or if the “pioneers” of the standard were the “real” experimenters. All I know is that I like my 29″ers and my funky handle bars. Go ahead, call me weird if you want!
What is RSS?
Get our articles in your inbox:
wierdo.
I think you’re pretty dead-on Ted. The “standard” setups in the 26″ gearie world are in a definite groove that 29ers (and especially singlespeed 29ers) don’t fall into. Partly because of equipment, and partly because of riding style. The 26″ world has adopted certain archetypes of what is “standard”, due to a larger market share. The 29ers, like you stated, have been on the fringe for a bit due to that lack of equipment. Coupled with singlespeeding and the rise of endurance riding (29ers rule for this), people have been looking for and demanding product to fit their needs. And let’s face it, we singlespeed folk are a little demented anyway (*chuckle*) and like to be that much more different.
I think experience is a big factor too. Most people aren’t buying a 29er as their first bike, and therefore have the experience to know *exactly* what they want out of their ride. Funky bars (at just the right height/angle for them), weird gear setups(for exactly the terrain they ride in), etc.
I agree. Seems like the group of people busting out of the standard 26er world are also using the opportunity to try out a lot of other “unorthodox” stuff. I see more 1X9 drivetrain posts in the 29er section of MTBR than any other part of that forum, to include the Drivetrain section. I also see a high number of rigid steel 29ers. Looks like a big chunk of the community went retro when they went to bigger wheels.
Of course, before long the 29er thing will catch on and it will achieve (or be cursed with depending on your point of view) mainstream status.