Comments on: The Last Big Hurdle http://twentynineinches.com/2007/03/24/the-last-big-hurdle/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:41:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: BearSquirrel http://twentynineinches.com/2007/03/24/the-last-big-hurdle/#comment-12963 BearSquirrel Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:09:33 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/03/24/the-last-big-hurdle/#comment-12963 My local Raleigh dealer was on the waiting list to get a single Raleigh XXIX. He thought the thing would be in the shop for a LONG time. It sold in a couple days, he's 29erless again. My guess is that his next order will be for more then just one. An of course, when Giant jumps in (and they will) he will probably order some of those too. For a small shop a 29er is probably a good way to market a "do anything" bike. My local Raleigh dealer was on the waiting list to get a single Raleigh XXIX. He thought the thing would be in the shop for a LONG time. It sold in a couple days, he’s 29erless again. My guess is that his next order will be for more then just one.

An of course, when Giant jumps in (and they will) he will probably order some of those too.

For a small shop a 29er is probably a good way to market a “do anything” bike.

]]> By: leven http://twentynineinches.com/2007/03/24/the-last-big-hurdle/#comment-12949 leven Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:25:43 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/03/24/the-last-big-hurdle/#comment-12949 As a bike shop manager, I have to agree with Guitar Ted's rant. It's amazing to see how many NEW COMERS to the sport of mountain biking come into the shop specifically to lay eyes on a 29er mountain bike. When they finally see one they remind me of a - pardon the cliche - kid on Christmas morning; their eyes equal in size to the big wheels they see. 29ers have officially lost their "niche" tag in my opinion. When small brands like Titus or Intense add stock 29ers to a very short list of stock models, you know this is no longer a trend. When massive brands like Trek and Specialized add 29ers to the line-up, they do it so they don't get left behind. We still sell a plethora of 26ers, but as the months and years progress, our 29er sales have grown immensely. Heck, a quarter of our floor mountain bike stock is dedicated to showcasing 29" bike models. I greatly anticipate the years ahead of us. Who knows, maybe one day soon a quarter of my showroom floor will be 26ers! As a bike shop manager, I have to agree with Guitar Ted’s rant. It’s amazing to see how many NEW COMERS to the sport of mountain biking come into the shop specifically to lay eyes on a 29er mountain bike. When they finally see one they remind me of a - pardon the cliche - kid on Christmas morning; their eyes equal in size to the big wheels they see. 29ers have officially lost their “niche” tag in my opinion. When small brands like Titus or Intense add stock 29ers to a very short list of stock models, you know this is no longer a trend. When massive brands like Trek and Specialized add 29ers to the line-up, they do it so they don’t get left behind. We still sell a plethora of 26ers, but as the months and years progress, our 29er sales have grown immensely. Heck, a quarter of our floor mountain bike stock is dedicated to showcasing 29″ bike models. I greatly anticipate the years ahead of us. Who knows, maybe one day soon a quarter of my showroom floor will be 26ers!

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