Comments on: Tuning The Ride: 29″ers and Steering Performance Part III http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:09:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jason Hilimire http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-38019 Jason Hilimire Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:01:34 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-38019 I'm loving the quicker handling and nimbleness of my Superfly, that was my main gripe with my Supercaliber and Paragon. Felt like you needed and act of congress to get thru a sharp turn. Not anymore, the new g2 stuff is has brought it back around. I’m loving the quicker handling and nimbleness of my Superfly, that was my main gripe with my Supercaliber and Paragon. Felt like you needed and act of congress to get thru a sharp turn. Not anymore, the new g2 stuff is has brought it back around.

]]> By: Mike http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37138 Mike Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:48:44 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37138 G-T: 1985 to be precise http://www.firstflightbikes.com/1985_American_Montaneus.htm G-T: 1985 to be precise http://www.firstflightbikes.com/1985_American_Montaneus.htm

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37130 Guitar Ted Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:02:52 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37130 Anonymous: been there. See Mongoose's "Front Porch" and early American mtb's from the 80's ;) Anonymous: been there. See Mongoose’s “Front Porch” and early American mtb’s from the 80’s ;)

]]> By: Anonymous http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37126 Anonymous Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:43:05 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-37126 How far are we from eccentric head tubes? Change the HT angle on the fly depending on trail use. How far are we from eccentric head tubes? Change the HT angle on the fly depending on trail use.

]]> By: jeremy Uk http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32318 jeremy Uk Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:07:43 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32318 I've said this elsewhere but it's more relevent here. I chose this particular geometry over say a Singular Swift [UK 29er web based co] due to the fact that I can go either way with a sus fork. From 71 head 47offset and 470 fork I can go 80mm travel 490mm sus fork with 44mm offset without hopefully too much of a change On the other hand if and when the G2 geometry forks become available I can buy a 100mm fork, use the smoothie head set with the deeper base cup [+5mm] and end up with the head angle within a smidgeon of sagged Fisher G2. Even the BB measurement shouldn't be more than 5-7mm out as the Fishers seem to run a highish BB. Of course readers will know I'm anything but an expert, and weight distribution may make the bike handle differently, but I think it should work, close enough to take a risk. Niner and Singular have used a long rigid fork so that buyers can switch to a short offset sus fork [all that was available], steepen the head angle, and still get good handling results The new forks may allow a change in their thinking. I’ve said this elsewhere but it’s more relevent here.
I chose this particular geometry over say a Singular Swift [UK 29er web based co] due to the fact that I can go either way with a sus fork.
From 71 head 47offset and 470 fork
I can go 80mm travel 490mm sus fork with 44mm offset without hopefully too much of a change
On the other hand if and when the G2 geometry forks become available I can buy a 100mm fork, use the smoothie head set with the deeper base cup [+5mm] and end up with the head angle within a smidgeon of sagged Fisher G2. Even the BB measurement shouldn’t be more than 5-7mm out as the Fishers seem to run a highish BB.
Of course readers will know I’m anything but an expert, and weight distribution may make the bike handle differently, but I think it should work, close enough to take a risk.
Niner and Singular have used a long rigid fork so that buyers can switch to a short offset sus fork [all that was available], steepen the head angle, and still get good handling results
The new forks may allow a change in their thinking.

]]> By: racer http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32303 racer Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:49:37 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32303 Thanks for the write up, I have been planning a new custom fork for my Vicious and your explanations have reinforced my decisions. Slacken the head angle and increase the offset. I am hoping the longer wheelbase will be good too. Thanks for the write up, I have been planning a new custom fork for my Vicious and your explanations have reinforced my decisions. Slacken the head angle and increase the offset. I am hoping the longer wheelbase will be good too.

]]> By: racer http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32304 racer Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:49:27 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32304 Thanks for the write up, I have been planning a new custom fork for my Vicious and your explanations have reinforced my decisions. Slacken the head angle and increase the offset. I am hoping the longer wheelbase will be good too. Thanks for the write up, I have been planning a new custom fork for my Vicious and your explanations have reinforced my decisions. Slacken the head angle and increase the offset. I am hoping the longer wheelbase will be good too.

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32295 Guitar Ted Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:43:28 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32295 Mike: That was beautiful! (wiping back tears) :) :) Mike: That was beautiful! (wiping back tears) :) :)

]]> By: GreenLightGo http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32274 GreenLightGo Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:26:41 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32274 I like Mike's description - it paints a portrait of what I feel is the difference between my 26" and 29" bikes. Great description. GT - thanks for tackling this. Your objective, laymans approach is always appreciated. I like Mike’s description - it paints a portrait of what I feel is the difference between my 26″ and 29″ bikes. Great description.

GT - thanks for tackling this. Your objective, laymans approach is always appreciated.

]]> By: Cloxxki=Anonymous http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32273 Cloxxki=Anonymous Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:41:11 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/08/tuning-the-ride-29ers-and-steering-performance-part-iii/#comment-32273 Jeremy, you bike then is identical to my Redline Flight, on paper. Just I get the top tube I need with the XL frame. Really natural and never overly nervous or slow, don't you think? The larger On-One's really got this geometry because we at the time felt that 26" riders would need something extreme to be convinced. So it was not intended as the ideal 29" bike, rather than something that would impress on the short term, and that it did. Today, I cannot come up with much better figures than Gary worked out, by TESTING geometries. Don't yáll underestimate this factor, hardly ever is geometry actually testing in various setup before deciding on a set of figures. Designers like to think they know it all, and don't need testing. I'm like that even, and will stay so until I get access to resources to test multiple versions of a proto frame. It never went past 1 proto, really. Mike, the way you describe 29" seems like how someone would want a bike. If one wants to ride rodeo, buy a mechanical bull, not a 26" bike. Want to ride XC, get a bike that does cross the country, in fluent lines. Jeremy, you bike then is identical to my Redline Flight, on paper. Just I get the top tube I need with the XL frame. Really natural and never overly nervous or slow, don’t you think? The larger On-One’s really got this geometry because we at the time felt that 26″ riders would need something extreme to be convinced. So it was not intended as the ideal 29″ bike, rather than something that would impress on the short term, and that it did. Today, I cannot come up with much better figures than Gary worked out, by TESTING geometries. Don’t yáll underestimate this factor, hardly ever is geometry actually testing in various setup before deciding on a set of figures. Designers like to think they know it all, and don’t need testing. I’m like that even, and will stay so until I get access to resources to test multiple versions of a proto frame. It never went past 1 proto, really.

Mike, the way you describe 29″ seems like how someone would want a bike. If one wants to ride rodeo, buy a mechanical bull, not a 26″ bike. Want to ride XC, get a bike that does cross the country, in fluent lines.

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