It is getting time for me to roll out my Top Ten 29″er Products of ’09 list again. While I compile my list and start writing up posts, I thought it might be fun to give you- the readers of Twenty Nine Inches- a voice in this process.
Let those cogs in your head start turning and as they do, here are a few things to keep in mind for The Reader’s Choice Award for 2009: First- The product in question must have been available for purchase during the calendar year of 2009. So, no new “unobtanium” frame sets, bicycles, or components. Okay? Second: The product must not be marketed as a 2010 product. Anything available now, but marketed as a 2010 product will go on next year’s list for a possible Reader’s Choice Award. Third: The product must be 29″er specific. So, it will be limited to frames, forks, wheels, rims, tires, and complete 29 inch bicycles. Finally: I will be the final judge on the voting. The ideas for this award will be accepted by sending an e-mail via the link at the right margin- (diggers@twentynineinches.com). Keep it on track and keep it fun. Your choice will be revealed just before the #1 Top 29″er Product Of 2009 is posted.
Okay- so what are you waiting for? Have at it!
Pie plate?
agree with EJ the 36 cassette, needs consideration. While not 29′r specific, it was developed with big wheels as the intended target. Other ideas would be the Niner carbon fork, introducing carbon fiber as a mainstream 29′r material.
In the spirit of Copenhagen, at some point could you do a “carbon” footprint analysis of the 4 major frame materials: steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. For now I think you can omit bamboo…….keep up the good work!
Why would you put something as heavy as a Shimano 36T cassette on your bike to make it climb better?
@JeroenK: you’ve just revealed where you live….
Greets from Norway
Good call, Willie. I’m interested in the same thing. I’ve been curious which frame material requires the most energy to make and which material is the most environmentally friendly.
My latest love is the pair of Bontrager 29-3 tires I installed a few weeks ago.
By far the best tires I’ve used for the conditions I encounter -mostly hard pack. Rolls fast on the packed stuff, corners great & not too bad in the wet either. I’m running them tubeless with their Super Juice. No flats yet. -M
Willie,
Actually, I was referring to the spoke protector in the picture
I have no vote for best products.
SuperFly 100. Game changer of the year. SC Tallboy? Well only released in Large for 2009 so far from what I can see so scratch that one.
Banshee Paradox?
Bontrager XR1 Team Edition
[quote]Why would you put something as heavy as a Shimano 36T cassette on your bike to make it climb better? [/quote]
It doesn’t make my bike climb better. It makes it easier for me to ciimb up those hills with my big butt still on the bike, instead of pushing my bike up those long non-ending hills. I really like the 36T cog. On my 29er, I find myself able to “slowly” get up hills that I just couldn’t get up before. I for one, am thankful for it. I’ll take the bit more weight for the ability to just keep pedaling a little bit furhter.
@Willie @JYB: You guys might be interested in this new series that I am updating on The Cyclist: http://www.thecyclistsite.com/techy-stuff/
just so u guys know that pic is the new 10spd xx.
My vote : Niner carbon fork
The 29-3 is my choice. Great all-around tire that’s exactly right for my riding style.
I vote for the Redline Monocog Flight. A versatile well rounded value. Its especially true in these economic conditions. Most high dollar stuff, is irrelevant to most, and out of reach for average people who are affected by the times. A great product, ready to hit the trails with an msrp on par witht a lot of forks, and wheels. The working mans friend for sure.
@mtbkski, don’t bite
I fully understand the usefulness of a 11-36T for some. Just wished they would be lighter or, in the case of the XX, not decadently expensive.
I’d like to nominate the Big Mama full suspension frame from Salsa Cycles. I believe that, especially in light of the newer big wheel dualies coming out this season, the performance and value of the Big Mama looks better than ever.
+1 for increased front and rear travel
+1 Niner carbon fork
+1 Niner carbon Air 9 (unless only available until 2010)
+1 for WTBs newer beefy tires.
+1 for the wider rims too – from Salsa?
Thanks for the link, GT. Looking forward to your posts on The Cyclist. I’d also like to add that I feel that the Bontrager 29-3 front tire is a great product from 2009. I really think that more people should give it a go as a rear tire. It works pretty darn well. I haven’t even used it on the front yet, but I’m running it on 2 rear wheels.
my vote goes out to the following:
- VELOCITY P35 rims (wide, tubeless ready, relatively light, multiple colors)
- NINER Carbon fork (weight, riding charactersitics, optics, for taking the step of a long overdue rigid fork update)
@JeroenK: Yeah, it is excessively heavy. But to avoid walking before the XT/XTR/?? version arrives we’re stuck to that extra pound of steel
Maxxis Ardent 2.4 29er
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If you like big balloony tires, but you wish your WTB WW2.5s had more bite, then this is the tire you’ve been waiting for. Cush + bite = winner.
Vote 1, NINER Carbon fork.
The XR1 almost made it as its a supreme race tyre but its trash after 500km so no value there..
+1 for Superfly 100
+1 for SC Tallboy
+1 for 29-3
I’ll have to say TLR tire and wheel products in general. UST adds alot of weight and trying standard tires can be a bit of a crap shoot. Nice to have products that can be run tubeless with a little more confidenc that you want have a tire blow off the rim.
Several companies making TLR tires and tubeless rims. Good stuff.
+1 Superfly 100 / ABP on a 29er….finally
+1 WTB Kodiak
+1 post mount front deraileur
gfsf100
spesh carbon ht
wfo (is that 09?)
niner carbon fork
xx
Lefty Fork adapters becoming available from Cannondale and the new alloy Lefty 29.