The leaks keep on coming from unofficial and official sources. 2010 looks to be a very interesting year for 29″ers and fans of the big wheels. More companies joining the big wheeled revolution, and more high end product than you can shake a stick at. It may seem ironic coming out of the economic meltdown of late 2008, but we’re talking about some very spendy 29″ers in this post. Time will tell how that works out.
First up we have the sneak peek of Santa Cruz’s new 29″er model dubbed the “Tall Boy”. Using the VPP suspension design, this model will reportedly have 105mm of rear travel, (4.13 inches), that pivots on the newer angular contact bearings with grease fittings for future maintenance. Formed from carbon fiber, this rig is said to have a target weight of “really light” and will be offered in the orange seen here and possibly one other color. (Note, the aluminum rig shown behind the orange bike is a test mule prototype) No word on whether an aluminum version will be offered, or what the retail price might be. This picture is courtesy of Santa Cruz’s blog, where you can see more images of this new model.
Next up we have a photo of Tomac Bikes new entry into 29″ers dubbed the “Flint 29″. Not much is known about this new offering, but it is interesting to note the eccentric bottom bracket. No word on whether this feature will make it to final production. We hear this will be a 2010 introduction, so more info should be coming soon. You can see this image and read some inner-web banter about it on this thread on mtbr.com.
Finally, we have this image sent in by a reader of Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski’s Superfly 100 which he rode to victory in a recent Winter Park, Colorado cross country event. The Superfly 100 is Fisher Bikes new carbon fiber full suspension 29″er for 2010. Note the SRAM components in the anodized colors from SRAM’s “Select Program”. JHK has been running 2X9 setups for some time now. Note the direct mount front derailluer. If you look behind JHK’s rig, you can see Heather Irminger’s Superfly hardtail.
That’s it for now, but look for more “leaks” and news as the summer progresses.
One day they’re riding 1.8″ tires because they roll “so fast”, next they’re on fat tires and full suspension? Or still the 1.8′s?
All I can say is that Trek’s offerings are getting better and better, even if Trek prefers to sell one 69er bike (total sales) rather than hundreds, thousands of 29″ers, like the rest of the world. Really, WHY is still buying 26″ers in sizes larger than M? A paying customer, but a paying customer that deserves being protected from its own ignorance. Come on, Trek!
Curious GT…..what is the small ring that JHK is running on that 4 bolt Noir crank? I’m quiet curious.
Cloxxi-I diagree pretty heavily with you. Big wheels are what I run now but I can tell you they aren’t perfect by any means. My last two trips to Fruita I was wishing for a 26″ full suspension bike like i was on my first few times out there. My Mamasita is built nice and light with EDGE wheels so it’s no slacker to boot.
On 69ers, don’t knock it until ya try it. I had a Trek 69er singlespeed for a bit and it was a sweet little ride that chewed up tight/twisty/technical stuff better than my 29er. Recently missed it so much I have a Carver frame coming next week to replace the Mamasita for a little while.
26″ wheels are still very legit depending on needs/purpose. For instance while i’m interested in trying a Santa Cruz Tallboy at Interbike this year for what I’d like a suspension bike on here in Colorado I’d be aiming more likely a Blur LT or an Ibis Mojo or a Knolly endorphine 5″+ travel 26″ wheel instead.
Sevo perhaps Mamasita is not the best handling 29er? Just a guess. Try as many big wheelers as you can. Especially those with new forks offsets, stiffer frames, try new superfly 100, try new rip9 and wfo9 for a while and then jugde.
DC your ignornance never ceases to amaze me. First off the Mamsita is a great ride….as I stated and many others would. And what would you know about how the Superfly 100 and Wfo ride? They aren’t even available to the public yet. Plus I think you missed the point in general that 29er wheels aren’t an end all be all. And that’s what is sometimes forgotten….they aren’t perfect. Do I love them for most of what I ride? Yeah. Did I sell a full suspension Ellsworth to make the switch? Yep. But do I see where I miss the attributes of such when I go to places like Fruita that while most of it is ok on a 29er the full effect of such terrain is best experienced on a 5″ travel 26″ wheel rig.
Sevo, sorry but when someone jaxtaposes a Ht frame with 80mm fork to 127mm FS rig I tend to be ignorant. Apples to apples. Take a good 5″ 29er and check with similarly built 26er.
Take a rocky mountain 120mm rig there along with new rip9. Get light wheels.
I still don’t get people compare a meticulously designed bike with relatively 10 year old idea with its last 3 year boom.
Sevo: I believe JHK normally runs a 27T small ring.
GT-Do you know what brand? Looked like a normal crank or does he use a 27t Granny…and where does one find that?
DC-Your an idiot. If your not going to read my post before you respond. Don’t respond. You missed the point-26″ wheels do some things better than 29″ wheels. Nuff said. I’ve got quiet a bit more time in on a variety of old and new FS rigs in my 18+ years in the industry. I have EDGE wheels which are the lightest you can get as I mentioned.
Oh and BTW all the great suspension designs out there are 10+ years old for the most part other than DW Links or Nine’rs but they don’t ride too much differently. FSR has basically been early 90s (I know, I road/tested both Specialized and AMP designs then). VPP was bought from Outland Bikes who came up with the design around ’95 (I still have one of their brochures from a trade show). On goes the list.
So in short, please do your research before you go spewing your armchair engineer quips.
Sevo: I think I build 69ers before the word got into use. I many have done 5-digit kilometrage on it, before I could get affordable 29″ers to replace all 26″ers in use in my stable. My longest ride ever was on one, I can still feel that ride.
29″ is not perfect no, bigger equals better if your wheels are doing what wheel are made for. To a point, obviously.
My ’97 URT design VooDoo was a wicked fast bike in a straight line, bob or no bob. With a modern damper and 29″ wheels…it could easily be my rough trail bike. I don’t ride FS ever. Someone gave me a Nishiki FS29 frame, but never got to build it.
Sevo: Ay Sea Otter last year JHK was running special Bontrager branded rings which I suspect come from SRAM. I’ve no idea what brand rings he used for 2009.
Cloxxi-I’ll agree with you to a certain degree. I do love my 29er wheels for most everything but the fun, really technical stuff I ride the just don’t have the ability to accelerate over certain obstacles as well because of the size no matter the wheel weight. My EDGE wheels weigh 1490 but don’t like going up certain stuff in Fruita smaller wheels work better at. Which is why I’m trying a Carver 69er…comes next week so we’ll see. Maybe I’ll love it, maybe not. I had or a bit a TREK 69er singlespeed that was fun and made me see the potential in one.
I did build a 96 at the shop back in Iowa that was fun….45x700c Smoke in the rear, Suspension fork with 26″ wheel in front. Was really quite fun but the clearance was too tight in the rear it didn’t take much to get the tire rubbing.
I’ll agree with you too a good old URT done right could be interesting to try again. Castelleno Designs Zorro is really really fascinating on many levels but getting John to write back or anything is really tough. But would like to try it…could be the perfect “all in one” bike plus would break down nice for travel.
As an aside: You still in the Netherlands? I may go back later this month. Been 10 years.
GT-Thanks. Yeah I hate those pros and their “Special” stuff
I’m running an old XTR with a 5arm compact spider and 42/29 but it’s getting old and creeking. Wish SRAM already had an XO 10 speed group with a 180mm crank arm but fat chance that’ll happen anytime soon.
Sevo- Actually, last year we were running Stronglight rings on most of the bikes (on Bonty cranks made by Truvativ). This year we have been running Truvativ/Sram rings. If he is on the Sram XX, it is a 26/39 combo (yes, XX rings) and if on the Noir cranks, 26 (64 bcd)/ 38 (104 bcd) mounted inner and middle position on a standard triple crank.
Pay attention to Nationals bikes- got something up my sleeve for those bikes…
Matto, thanks for the inside line.
26/38 in production. yes, bliss for my big wheels
When will Shimano make some for my XTR set? Please, Please !
I hope Davidcopperfied will press his self destruct button one day. Sooner rather than later…..
Matto-Yeah Drool Drool on the XX stuff. I have been a firm believer for a few years you loose too much momentum shifting to the granny to justify it’s existence….and that a “middle” between the granny and Middle ring is needed….now we’re slowing getting it. I’ve been running 29/42 with a 11/34 for a bit. But occasionally the idea of a 28 or even 27 I’ll admit sounds nice
Where can you get Stronglight rings in the USA?
Professed-
-$10 says Shimano will have something at Interbike.
-And Ditto on DC
Yay! Tomac 9er!!!!
Boooooo Crackenfail!!!!!
That is all…