Tire Rumor And Trends
June 11th, 2008 by Guitar TedFollowing on our news of Schwalbe’s soon to be released Furious Fred in a 29″er size, which we learned of at Sea Otter, comes news of other race inspired treads for 29″er wheels.
First off we have the 29″er version of the Continental Race King, due out in August. The Race King should be a “true to size” 2.0 tire, according to my source, which would be a different turn of events from Continental who are notorious for releasing “under sized” tires to market. The 29″er treads most likely will not feature Continentals “Black Chili” compound, but will be fairly light weight with expected weights in the low 500 gram territory. Unlike the Furious Fred, there will be a modicum of useable tread on board with the Race King.
Finally, we have heard from a reliable source that Geax will be producing a Barro Race in a 29″er size. this is somewhat similar to the Continental offering in that it will feature a tread pattern albeit a low tread type. Details are sketchy at this point, but from what we could glean, this tire will not feature the “TnT” bead (Tube, no Tube) since the weight is rumored to be just north of 400 grams for this tread. More when we learn it on all of these three 29″er lightweights.
What does this new threesome point to in terms of 29″ers? Obviously racing bred designs, they will no doubt find there way onto many rigs lined up at races this fall and next spring, but there could be another reason behind these tires. Europe.
Europeans have not been too hot on the idea of a 700c based mountain bike since the weight of the wheels and tires has been deemed to be too heavy. These new offerings and wheels from Mavic and Fulcrum may be just what the Europeans need to get them to even consider trying a 29″er. Manufacturers stand to gain a whole new market, and if the Euros don’t bite, well the performance hungry 29″er freaks in the U.S will certainly be buying into these new tread designs.
Will 29″ers be seen winning World Cup XC races with European pros aboard sporting these latest treads? Doubtfull. Perhaps what we might see is a new group of 29″er afficiandos from across the pond embracing the big hoops though, and that can’t be a bad thing.
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I’m one of the not many European (Czech republic) 29er rider and I really love my GF Paragon 08 with the stock tires Bontrager Jones 2.2. I will never go back to 26er bikes. After 2 month aboard the 29er the 26er wheels looks stupidly small regardless the maybe lighter weight. The 29er bikes idea is great.
I’m French, ridding 29″ers since nearly 4 years…
Thanks to intense lobbying, people do know now about 29″ers. At least the one reading the papers.
It hasn’t catch up in competition yet. Absalon & Dietsch for example do have sponsorts with 29″ equipment, but never used it in competition to my knowledge.
@ Kralyk do you want to help me to run a website about 29ers? Look north to your slavic kith
29ers are more numerous in CZ than in PL
The double or tirple USA price really kill us. Imagine a hi-fi pro 29er for 5776 $ instead of 3000 $?
Schwalbe in that link dares say 340g. If they make it like the 295g one, just 9.4% “longer”, that would be indeed possible. The bead adds 11%, and they may reinforce it for 29″ like Stan does, to keep it more tighyly on rims.
I one day raced Conti Twister Supersonics (~330 each) with light tubes. I flatted out of that race despite sealent, and then never got the tire mounted straight again. But what a rush, the low rolling resistance, and that feeling of light weight. It didn’t give me a fraction of the speed it seemed to bring, but it made me fast alright.
That weight, with a better casing and compound, upgraded to 29″…criminally quick that must be.
The very fastest 26″ race tire, but faster, more comfortable, and more grip. Nah, nothing I’d want
I’m a biker from Poland and I’ve been riding mountain bikes since early 90’s. I also own a GF Rig 29er. In my opinion the 29er is a great bike but not really competitive with 26er bikes. 29er is comfortable and fits me well, but it fells like driving a truck rather than a sports car. The weight of the wheels is really crucial. To solve the problem I replaced heavy bontrager tires and tubes. Instead I have Maxxis Ultralight 26er tubes and Racing Ralph tires. What a difference! Anyway the whole philosophy about the 29er is still more or less experimental in Europe. If I compete and want to win races I won’t do any experiments with the equipment. I don’t think the 29ers will ever be as popular and race proven as 26ers but it’s ok for me.
@ racerX I am making an assumption that you own an old geometry Rig before G2 when the offset is changed. The thing to consider for you would to take a spin on G2 and other 29ers with equal or more than 44mm offseted fork installed.
Reba up to 2008 has 38mm of offset whereas all other forks have 44,48mm offset, which make a huge difference in handling, GF invented g2 forks with 51mm which resembles the steerability of 26ers at least in trail department, which is 71,9mm for Hi-fis 29ers.
Feel free to explore my website http://29er.pl
good news on the tire front – hopefully these will prove as light as the projections and convince more well known racers to give them a shot.
I also hope that people understand the ‘intent’ of these lightweight tires and don’t complain incessantly that they aren’t as durable as the heavier tires (ala the current brew-ha-ha over the Racing Ralphs on MTBR).