With the recent news about Specialized’s planned entry into the 29″er market, and another big company coming in with an announcement in a few weeks, the buzz going around the 29″er world is pretty loud right now.

What does the events of this spring mean? How will this affect the future of the 29″er mountain bike? I think there are a few things to take note of here that will be a huge influence on that future.

The Year Of The Full Suspension 29″er: I think one of the first things that will happen is that we will see many full suspension platforms introduced by the “mainstream” bike companies. It’s quite well known in the industry that two proven 26 inch wheeled full suspension platforms are going to see introductions as 29″ers and along with the upcoming Fisher HiFi 29″er, the full suspension 29″er will be found in many a local bike shop later this year and early in ‘08. However; it’s my belief that it won’t stop there, and I expect to hear about and see several new full suspension 29″er bikes that will be ‘08 introductions. I think it’s a normal progression. We saw single speeds and hardtails first, because they are easily produced in comparison to the complexities of designing and building a full suspension bike. Not to mention the costs involved. Now that the market has a foothold, I suspect more companies may be willing to take a risk on the more expensive full suspension 29″er designs. The proliferation of fork designs with Manitou and a rumored Fox shock only help propel this idea.

The Power Of Numbers: The fact that two widely distributed, well known cycling companies are entering the 29″er market will also mean “more”. More 29″er bikes in more places for more people to see. I think by ‘09 it will be a rare off road enthusiast that hasn’t at least seen a 29″er. The other “more” that this means is more 29″er specific parts and accessories. The companies that produce forks, tires, and rims are more likely to trot out new designs if the prospect of OEM contracts is out there to be had. If the general public starts walking out of local bike shops with more 29″er bikes, then I think in a few years we will see a selection of 29″er tires, forks, and rims that will be much larger than what we have to choose from today.

When Weird Becomes Average: After the events of this spring transpire, I think it’s fair to say that 29″ers are going to cease being a “niche” market, odd, or maybe even “29″ers”. With the distribution and prescence that these bigger companies have, the 29″er will become more commonplace and may even become “just a mountain bike”, in the way that “all mountain/free ride” mountain bikes are now just seen as another offroad machine, and not something exciting and different, as they were in the late 90’s. Who cares? Well, you always have the groups of folks that have to be different, cutting edge, and odd. What draws them next is anybodies guess. The rest of us will just be having fun on a big wheeled bicycle, as always.

So, has the last hurdle been approached and about to be cleared for 29″ers? Has the progression from an odd, niche, hairball fanbase to a larger audience that sees the 29″er as “just a mountain bike” been completed? I think it’s more likely than not.