Interbike ‘07: Outdoor Demo Highlights
September 25th, 2007 by Guitar TedFirst off, I know a post is worthless without pictures, but I’m at the end of a long day and tomorrow starts way too early. Besides, this pic downloading thing takes time. Look for some better images tomorrow and some details on each bike I rode today and tomorrow.
This post will just touch on some highlights of the day.
The 650B Experiment: Yes, I rode one. Yes, it was fun. But the questions still remain. Specifically, how does this wheel format work in regards to 26″er and 29″ers. I think it’s got some legs, but in a very narrow niche that probably will see some play in a few companies lines starting next year.
I rode a Haro full suspension mountain bike fitted with the wheels. You may have seen reference to that bike here earlier in Tim Grahl’s post on the “B” wheels. It’s a six inch travel bike that I felt maybe wasn’t the best test subject for me to try the wheels on. I would much rather give a hardtail a shot, but after looking around, I didn’t see anything out there today to try with “B” sized wheels. Maybe I’ll turn up something tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll say this: Six inches of travel will give you a lot of “grace” that masks whatever your front tire is trying to do for you. I can’t really say anything about that. The rear wheel didn’t seem to roll up over climbs like a 29″er can. It seemed to me to not hold its momentum as well as some of the 29″ers I rode after it did. I will say that it spun up rather easily, making me think “26er-ish” type thoughts, but it wasn’t all squirrelly like a 26 inch wheeled bike.
The tires, the Neo-Motos, are outstanding grippers and held a line in the loose, rocky terrain rather well. I liked the tread pattern and width of the tire just fine. I realize that Panaracer manufactures these, so it comes as no surprise that my impressions of the Neo-Moto are quite similar to the 29″er Rampage. Yes, I realize they are different treads, but they are pretty similar in performance and dare I say it: looks? Yes. I dare say it! That said, the B” movement isn’t going anywhere without more choices, and we shall see later in the week what is brought forth that might bring promise to this wheel format.
I’ve got some ideas on where this might go, but that’s another post!
Budget 29″ers Appear: I got a chance to look over several of the newer, less expensive hard tails coming out. I actually rode one of the Marin offerings and was impressed. Look for details and some first impressions on that bike and others coming soon. I can say that the choices will be surprising and a welcome change from what has been up to this point a $1000.00 plus category.
So, What’s The Coolest Thing You’ve Seen So Far At The Show?: You know, I can’t count the times I was asked this question, and for most of the day, I didn’t have a concrete answer. However; the boys at Niner took care of the answer to that popular question for me late in the day. One problem: I can’t say what it is! Nope! But you’ll be super surprised and pumped about it. I am! The big unveiling will happen at the Interbike show on Wednesday morning. Stay tuned to have your socks knocked off!
Okay, that’s a wrap up for today. Look for more expanded coverage to get posted on Tuesday afternoon when Tim and I download all the Outdoor Demo stuff on you. (Yes! There will be pics! G’Night, ya’all!)
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you stinker! wed. is just to far away.
I think I have been hangin out w/ my 3yr old to much.
Leave it to the guys at Niner to leave us wanting more of something we have no clue about. Personally, the Jet 9 is a great product for 2008, but that’s common knowledge. This “surprise” should be worth the wait, only with some nice pictures please!
Really cheap 29ers will help the 29er landscape. Cheap bikes cry out for upgrades like forks, wheels and tires. Cheapo 29ers will do more for product availability then the high end ones will ever do.
BearSquirell,
I agree with you, Totally, but I fear the announcement of the “budget 29er” is also the Announcement of the “Wal-Mart 29er”
So they sucked ya into the 650B scene huh, lol…… can’t wait to hear a more detailed ride review as compared to 26 and 29″ wheels.
When is 27andahalfinches.com supposed to be up? LoL
how about a sneak peak? You have my email..
27andahalfinches.com is still available!
Raleigh and Redline have had budget SS 29′ers for a couple years and the Karate Monkey has been around forever, a sub $400 frame+fork. The knock on the Raleigh is that it’s ~$700 pricetag buys a very heavy (~27 lbs) bike. The Monkey is kind of heavy too unless you buy expensive light components. The Redline comes in two iterations - one around $450 or $500 that is heavy framed and has taken some knocks from experienced MTB’ers about component quality - no personal knowledge but MTBR Forums have had discussions and my LBS guy steered me away. I have the higher end Redline which retails for ~ $900 rigid and SS, and the only real complaint was the skinny stock tires. Took the rigid forks off in favor of Rebas after a painful 12 hour race. Works pretty well and friends who ride premium brands, as well as Surlys comment favorably on it as a very stable, smooth bike. I know a kid who races and wins on one at expert SS level, the cost factor doesn’t seem to be a handicap. You want gears and a front boinger, or light like Niner, I question whether you could do it for less than $750 without running fatally bad parts that would defeat the basic 29′er purpose (fast smooth XC riding, and simple if it’s a single) and forget about lightness. (See Bontrager’s Iron Triangle of light, strong and cheap, pick any two). As a clydesdale, I can’t run whippy forks so the question is academic for me; at some point you’re not riding an MTB, you’re riding a sort of hybrid with knobby tires and a decal that says “MTB”. Just my 2c, YMMV.