Twenty nine inch wheels have been around a short time, but in that time a lot has happened. The wheel size has attained a status here in the United States that it almost is normal to see 29″ers in many places. In fact, on some trails, it is all you see. Although this may be the case, 29″ers still are not a big enough percentage of new bike sales to command the best technology for components and frames from many companies. In fact, if it weren’t for some very important “benefactors”, the wheel size may have never come out of the shadows, or have been brought to reality in the first place. Perhaps it is a good time to take a look backward to see why we have what we have now in the world of 29 inch wheels.
What I am setting out to do is give a brief historical back round, not an exhaustive treatise on the origins of 29 inch wheels. That said, some of you may learn a thing or two.
The origins of the modern 29″er have similar roots to the 26 inch wheeled mountain bikes of the 70′s and 80′s. (Image courtesy of Fisher Bikes)
The Roots: Of course, many know that the modern day 29″er was spawned by the production of the first 2 inch wide 622 ISO knobby tire by Wilderness Trail Bikes called the Nanoraptor in 1999. However, it isn’t widely known that WTB also was heavily involved in the design aspects of early 29″er frames as well. Of course, it makes sense when you think about it. WTB had a fat, large diameter tire that didn’t fit any frames that were in production in 1999, so making the whole thing work was somewhat important, as long as they were going to the trouble of making a tire. Mark Slate and Steve Potts worked hard on 29″ers and were instrumental in coming up with some of the earliest ideas about what would make a good 29″er . Working with Gary Fisher and utilizing his ideas, they enabled Fisher Bikes to be the first production 29″er on the market only two years down the road. Thus the 29″er had a similar connection to the early days of mountain biking, with some of the same people involved.
Of course, early mountain bike pioneers were not limited to Northern California, and neither were early 29″er pioneers. Colorado was the earliest hotbed of 29″er activity then, and that centered around the Crested Butte area. Small custom manufacturers like Willits Bikes run by 29″er evangelist Wes Williams, Moots, and then with others spreading from there. The 29″er began to gain some fans in the early part of the 2000′s, but it was still a small movement. There wasn’t a suspension fork, rims were borrowed from touring bikes, and most 29″ers were still one off custom bikes for the trend setters.
Now the movement may have dithered along for several years and petered out because of the lack of industry support, but things were happening behind the scenes that changed the course of 29″ers. Most of that credit goes to Fisher Bikes. Some of the Crested Butte gang also gets credit for convincing White Brothers to do a CX-1 in 2001.
Fisher pushed big wheels for racing from the very beginning. (Image courtesy of Fisher bikes)
The Lean Years: In the early to mid-2000′s things were not moving along too well. Sure, Surly did the Karate Monkey, bringing the 29″er within the reach of many more cyclists, but beyond that, these years were marked by folks obsessing over the lack of rims and tires. There were lots of rumors swirling about who would be the next company to jump in with a 29″er, but the reality was that for many, the 29′er was on life support. Then something remarkable happened in 2005 that began the turnaround in fortunes for 29″er riders. Gary Fisher convinced Rock Shox to work up a 29 inch compatible version of the Reba. After that, it seemed as if a dam had cracked, sprouted a big leak, and then in about 2007, things really let loose. The rest of the story is well known to most 29″er aficionados.
Materials technology and a decade of refinement have brought us to the present time where a 29″er’s performance rivals that of a 26″ers. (Image courtesy of Niner Bikes)
Moving Right Along Now: That’s a too brief historical look at where we have been and lots more folks and companies had a hand in it all. (There just isn’t space here) That said, it bears looking at because the 29 inch wheel is poised, I believe, to make further inroads in the mountain bike world. Racing is going to change the 29″er landscape, (it already has begun to do so), and new developments in longer travel, down hill oriented parts and frames has already taken 29 inch wheels to places that only a few short years ago people said they would never go to.
Well, here’s to “never” and beyond!
What will happen is anybody’s guess, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the big wheels really take a hold in Europe. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see someone other than a Fisher Bikes rider win a World Cup race on a 29″er in 2010. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a 29″er compete in a World Cup Down hill event somewhere in the next two years. By the time another ten years pass, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if 29″ers are seen as being “just a mountain bike”. Will 26″ers become obsolete? That isn’t at all what I think. The two sizes will just co-exist without any further drama.
When and if this all happens, it may be helpful to remember that it almost didn’t happen. But I am sure glad it did.
Great historical perspective! Disc brakes, tubeless, carbon fiber all revolutionary changes.
The “safety bicycle” remained unchanged for 80 years, now things are changing at warp speed. GT, at some point please talk about how “standard” 29′r geometry has changed in the last 4 years and the effect 29′r specific forks have had. Thanks…
+1 – Great write up, and I too would like to hear more about evolution of geometry.
+2 Great write up. I read this website for stuff like this. Awesome. I find it somewhat odd that Europe has been slow to embrace 29ers considering the long history and popularity of cyclocross there. You’d think the advantages of 700c wheels offroad should have been immediately apparent to them. Maybe their aversion to 29ers was born out of some traditionalist need to maintain a sharp line of distinction between “mountain biking” and “cyclocross.” It seems to me that Europeans tend to be more traditional in all aspects of their cycling. Seen a Dutch city bike lately?
A few ?’s: If you were being hired by a bicycle musuem to do an exhibit on 29ers, what models would you want to display as the “Top 3″ for importance and impact on the movement? And of the models currently being sold, which do you think best represents the direction that 29ers are heading? Maybe there’s more than one answer to that one.
To All: Thanks and I will make some commentary on the geometry questions in a future editorial post. Look for that soon.
@John B: Interesting questions and also deserving of their own post. Give me some time to work that up and I will post on those subjects soon.
Though in philosophy, I agree with where modern geometry has taken 29-inch dirt bikes, with increased offset allowing shallower headtube angles while preserving quick steering, but I do have to say, there’s something about the feel of a short-offset, steep heatube angle setup that I find appealing… It’s not for everyone, and it certainly feels more “direct” and perhaps a bit “jumpy” relative to today’s in-vogue setups, but hey, variety is the spice of life. And to be honest with you, I’ve rarely ridden a 29er I haven’t enjoyed, regardless of geometry. They’re always entertaining at the very least!
I won’t burst your top-three bubble, but I’m pretty sure of the three 29ers I’d put up there… I’d rather not boil it down to three though. There are at least five bikes I want to put in there.
EXCELLENT questions John B.
Looking forward to the next few articles.
Back in 2000 i was designing stuff for whyte and Marin and was riding at a 24 hour race GF was there with a team and he was riding his 29er,, i must admit i was very doubtfull that it would every take off,, despite appearences the mountainbike rider is actualy reserved and doesnt realy embrace change ,, and doesnt tend to stray to far from the norm,
example whyte preston which we did about that time,, i still think it was a good design, but was never able to develop to it’s full potential ,,
but now the 29er is gaining ground,,, i started a thread in singletrack world asking if 2010 would be the year when a 29er is no longer niche
a bit like singlespeed and fixies it starts with a trickle and becomes a flood
i think the dam is about to burst on the 29er
Ade
Really good stuff. Thanks for putting the time into putting this all together.
” A few ?’s: If you were being hired by a bicycle musuem to do an exhibit on 29ers, what models would you want to display as the “Top 3? ”
1. Wes Williams Willits
2. Mark Slate’s Willits (WTB owner who pushed “the tire” through
3. Bob Poor’s Willits
Those three fella’s right there pushed it through for the masses – just enough for others to be interested. I still remember Wes at Interbike 1999 dressed up as the “New Sheriff” shooting cap guns at everyone.
I believe the rider (in very bright lycra) pictured is Ryder Hesjedal. I think I’ve seen this pic somewhere before. Correct me if I am wrong.
@simenf: Yes, you have it right. That is a young Ryder Hesjedal who was racing for Fisher back then.
Hmm. Where does the Panaracer smoke, Diamondback Overdrive, and Bianchi Project bikes fit in here? Ritchey MT. Cross (30/44 double…now where have I seen that recently..?) Wasn’t it Bruce Gordon who advocated for fat 700c off-road very early on?
I’m not saying I know these things, I’m asking because I’ve got them stuck in my mind from reading them somewhere, just not sure how they fit in to the overall picture.
@jimmythefly: Certainly those are prototype ideas and products for what we now know as the 29″er. There were tires and bikes and ideas floating around that were near the mark then, but nothing like we have today with true 2 inch wide and wider tires. The Nanoraptor, introduced in ’99, was what I consider to be the dawn of the “modern 29″er”. Let the arguments rage about “who was first”, or “this was a 29″er”. I am not interested in that really.
Although I’m a Fisher fan, history obliges me to add:
When Fisher presented their two 29″ hardtails at Eurobike, Sept 2001, Nishiki was also there, with a 125mm FS bike, and their own-labeled carbon suspension forks. 29″ may have been reason for their decline. Nice trekking bike brand.
I think the current year (2010) is very important. Bigger players are testing the waters as we speak with Scott being the latest example.
Personally I would not start holding my breath starting today though. I am pretty sure there will be a much stiffer competition in this segment over the next couple of years, which will eventually result in lower prices and better specifications.
Cheers!
PS: Thanx for all the info you provide!
i’m certainly no expert on mtb history but i always understood that diamondback was among the earliest companies to really sell 29ers with their overdrive model10 yrs ago. i understand they’re not that well thought of nowadays but don’t they deserve a lil credit?
@Mark: I’ll refer you to my response in comment #13 here.