Well, some of us read it and some smarter than I downloaded all the info and pics before the stuff got pulled. Let’s just say that the true information is a different tale than Mr.Cook’s and I have it on good authority that the first “modern 29″er” built with “THE TIRE” actually came out of Wes Williams Willits Brand shop in Crested Butte.

So, that’s the first 29″er and everything afterwards is really just anecdotal. The meat of the story is that Mark Slate was convinced and designed the tire and had it authorized to be manufactured. Others took that first batch and did more convincing, and on down the line to today. Without that first tire, we’re still riding 26″ers today. So, to all those who played a part, and especially to Mark Slate and WTB, I say THANK YOU!

Whatever way you want to read the history, the facts are that it comes down to getting that first tire, and to me that is all that really matters today.

Crested Butte is pretty tough to lump into one sort of riding. You can bet you will climb a lot and if you are from the midwest, you might want to put that small ring back on your bike, you will be using it.

Various rides there have different characteristics. 401 offers climbing to the top of Schofield pass at nearly 11000 feet just to get to the bottom of the trailhead. After a few more miles of climbing the trail, you will ride down some very smooth and very exposed single track.

Other rides there are very rough and rooty with a lot of seriously technical sections. Your can test your skills on some of the short rides right outside of town. You will find babyheads and exposed aspen roots in many spots and rhythm is sometimes hard to find.

The descent out of the epic Reno Flag Bear Deadman has thirty two switchbacks in less than three miles. It is rutted, steep in spots and shredded by dirt bikes. I am able to navigate it on my Mamasita with a Reba, but I will get dropped by riders on 26ers who would not drop me on any other part of the trail. The long wheel base on my 29er is a bit of a penalty, but everything can be ridden without a lot of drama.

The only real constant in CB is that the soil is great and there is a lot of traction.

Everything can be done on a hardtail, and most trails should be done on a hardtail. Some trails make you wish you brought a double squishy.

The most important thing to do when in that part of Colorado is Monarch Crest Trail. It is the most beautiful trail I have seen. It starts near the top of Monarch Pass and goes ends near Salida, The high point is well above timberline at 13xxx feet. You will ride a ton of different terrain. I can not emphasize enough that if you are near it you have to ride it. There is no place I would rather be and if somebody wants to drop my ashes there after I die, that would be fine with me.

Sorry to get so far off track for those of you that were looking to tune their ride.

Art: I think dynamic isn’t a bad way to go. It emphasizes “interaction” between components. Good call.

BunE: I was talking with my riding partner a month or so ago. We’d LOVE to get out East and see what the terrain is out there. Here in Utah, SS rigs don’t go over to well (at least in the mountains) so we’d love to see about Wisconsin or some place more “hilly” where a single speed might work nicely. I’d love to start expanding my stable with wire donkeys tuned for more specific riding types. I’d love to try a ridig single speed with some funny handlebars on some smooth single track.

Mirroring GT’s comments, I love that I have tuning options for big wheels now. IMHO, the future looks bright for the 29er platform.

So “test and contemplate, cause its 2008″ seems to be the mantra of twentynineinches this year.

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