Comments on: Racers Begin To Use- And Win- on 29″ers

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:24:05 +0000

George Budd: Congratulations on your SS Championship. Thanks also for stopping by to comment. I appreciate that. Looking at even more 29″er results with both men’s and w omen’s Marathon National Championships being won on 29″ers here in the U.S. Keep on rollin!

By: George Budd

George Budd — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:59:22 +0000

Heh guys – yep, I won the Single Speed Champs in the UK on a Selma. The big wheels really suit SS as it just rolls right on over stuff. It was a close race – I won in a sprint by a matter of inches – from a 26″ rider so those big wheels gave me the edge If the current trend for rocky, rough, technical XC courses in the UK continues, I could well be tempted by a 29er race bike for next season – I currently race on a Moto Rapido 26″ bike. Riding the Selma and the Rapido in back to back races at Dalby Forest (UK World Cup venue for 2010), the Selma was noticably smoother and faster on the rough decents.

By: KRL

KRL — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:59:26 +0000

29er wheels roll smoother than 26 wheels, Smooth = faster. There is a place for both though, another tool in the arsenal.

By: Generalcuz

Generalcuz — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:43:06 +0000

I have been riding my 29er for two years now and love it. When I first bought it, I felt like a lone sheep in a field. The bike store had two 29er’s available. That was it. As my skills and athletic ability improved, it seemed like the 29er crowd did too. In my stable, I now have a full suspension 29er and a hardtail 29er. When Cannondale releases the Flash, I will have a Carbon Hardtail. I am sold.

It’s been fun to see how the evolution of the 29er has developed here in Colorado. A lot of people bought 29er’s out of curiosity I think and the ones who raced did so for a backup or secondary unit. Long story short, the 29er’s seemed to be getting more time since people started clocking new personal times and better results. I have seen this happen over and over and over. Mountain biking is a big business here in Colorado and the 29er scene isn’t going to explode, it already has. I see just as many 29ers as I do 26″ bikes almost every ride I go on.

So maybe it hasn’t caught on in Europe but out here, they are great bikes for the plethora of riding that’s available. No surprise I guess that people are winning races on them. I have been seeing that trend blossom out here.

By: Thunderlump

Thunderlump — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:46:16 +0000

Yeah I remember being po pooed four years ago for riding my SS Unit 2-9 at the SOC now the majority are on 29ers. Same thing for Marathon events in Arizona I see more 29ers than 26 FS.

By: Oderus

Oderus — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:59:13 +0000

Geez Cloxxki, surely you remember the Huffy Blade. That hi tensile, flattened profile tubing. The soft grey rubber tires. The quick release headtube. That’s progress!

By: Cloxxki

Cloxxki — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:50:16 +0000

Presumed disadvantages. I like that.

How long mankind takes to increased wheelsize by 9%. In the same time, we’ll have increased our average height by about as much.
How did we ever come to create Concorde? It flew around the time when the first purpose built MTB’s rolled. It flew last by the time 29″ was definately (re-)introduced. Since, we’re walking only on land (vs on the moon), and flying at barely twice the speed of an Indycar.

At this pace, will the general public ever be ready for something better than a bicycle along the late 1800’s design?

By: Oderus

Oderus — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:57:11 +0000

IMO, all of the myths about 29ers have been debunked and people realize their true value. While agree that the average trail user doesn’t buy a new frame or get a new bike as often as a racer/pro, the shift is happening. I watch people (trail riders, not racers) move over to 29ers all the time here in Colorado. Race wins only validate what most of know and admit to already. I believe that one of the main things holding 29ers back is the media. Some of the more popular publications still don’t credit where credit is due. Unfortunatly, a lot of those readers read it as gospel rather than going to form their own opinion. I think when the mags get their panties unbunched and start objectively reviewing more 29ers, the shift will pick up steam. I’ll know 29ers are 100% legit when I roll into Walmart or Target and see a kickass Pacific or Huffy with 29″ wheels. While some of you are laughing, you know it to be true. It will happen. You can get carbon bicycle type things at those stores now!

By: t0m

t0m — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:42:48 +0000

Race29, I agree. I think there are a lot of trailriders in this forum. Racers in Colorado are definitely more likely to consider and buy a 29er. The 29″ cornering traction advantage is pretty obvious in a race. Racing is taken very seriously here in Colorado. That’s part of the reason I hardly ever race.
My point is, as a trailrider I can’t really buy a new bike very often. If people like me managed to get a good FS 26er in the last few years, they aren’t going to be that compelled to spend for a different wheelsize. Racers tend to buy frames a lot more, and since they already accept 29ers, there ya go. Now long term, I think 29ers are the emerging standard. In 10 years, maybe most serious XC/trail MTBs will be big wheeled.

By: Vlint

Vlint — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:22:48 +0000

I know here is Arizona I began racing on a 29er 3 years ago in the Semi Pro field and while there was no full on “what are you doing” comments at the time the reaction was mixed. This year however I would say half of the pro field here is on them, not that I was the guy winning anything on mine and opening the way but all it takes is a few guys to step out of the box and try it before it becomes OK for everyone else to get on it.