Editor’s Note: Our test of the Specialized Myka 29″er begins with Grannygear’s first two test riders getting some trail time aboard the 2011 Myka. Here’s a previous post which goes over all the tech/spec issues. Without further fanfare, here is Grannygear and his testers!
Note: The test riders were contacted by Grannygear and offered the chance to try out the Myka. We tried to conduct test rides on familiar trails for each rider. Grannygear made any necessary fit adjustments or specific component switch requests to accommodate each rider. (Specific component swaps are noted) Each rider was given a Q&A form afterward to fill out for us.
Test Rider’s Observations on the Specialized Myka 29″er and on 29″ers in general: By Grannygear:
Our first tester on the Specialized Myka 29″er is a women who normally rides some pretty aggressive terrain. Meet Michelle…………
Twenty Nine Inches: What is your background in cycling? Tell us about your level of experience….how long you have been riding, road VS. MTB, etc.
Michelle: I have the “usual” background in cycling…riding a 10 speed bike as a kid. I also had a hard tail mountain bike I rode for about a year before I had kids in 1995, no shocks back then. My level of experience is intermediate. I’ve been riding mountain bikes again since 2008.
TNI: What is your main interest in cycling now and in the future? Such as fitness, recreation, sport, racing, or as many as fit your situation.
Michelle: My main interest in cycling now and the future is for fun and fitness.
TNI: What kind of bike are you riding now?
Michelle: Yeti 575
TNI: Up to now, had you heard of a 29er mountain bike?
Michelle: No.
TNI: Had you ever ridden one?
Michelle: Not before this demo ride
TNI: What are your impressions of the bike? Did you notice anything different in the way the bike felt compared to your past experience? 29″ wheels lend a certain feel to a bike that is unique. List both good and bad impressions.
Michelle: The Good: Great rolling ability, made some more difficult climbs seem easy. Very stable and balanced. Comfortable, felt like the bike fit my frame. Grips were comfortable. Shifted well. Smooth ride.
The Not so Good: Fork was very bouncy, had to lock out in between down- hills. Missed having a granny gear available.
TNI: What do you think about the concept of women’s specific bikes? Is this a plus for you? Would you seek that out in your next purchase?
Michelle: I like the concept of women specific bikes. I would definitely look at them for a future purchase.
TNI: Based on the brief ride you had on the 2011 Myka 29er, would you look at a 29er for your next mountain bike? If so, why and, if not, why not?
Michelle: I would certainly look at a 29er for my next mountain bike…but would be looking for more upgrades than this particular bike had, such as a better fork, better shifting components, higher quality brakes, etc.
TNI: Any other thoughts?
Michelle: I really enjoyed the demo ride on the Myka 29er. Please keep me in mind for future demo rides.
Grannygear’s comments: I was not sure what to expect when I loaded up the Myka and drove out to the country to meet Michelle and her husband for the demo ride. But I should have had a clue when she requested I put a Command Post on the Myka because she was used to that on her Yeti 575. At the meeting place, she was suited up with a full face helmet and knee pads. OK then. The test ride was a mix of desert double track, sandy and winding with short climbs. At the midway point it climbed significantly up a steep fire road grade, punctuated with big whoops, dips, sand and rocks. That was the return path too, and now I understood the body armor and was wishing I would have upped the tires on the Myka (Fastraks) to Captains or Purgatorys. That did not hold Michelle back much, though. This lady rode the ups and downs with no complaints or issues and the Myka upheld it’s honor, even though it was a bit out of it’s league. I can only imagine what she would do on an bigger travel FS 29er with some serious tires for the desert conditions they ride in.
Our next rider is someone that is very close to Grannygear. Meet Laurie……………
TNI: What is your background in cycling? Tell us about your level of experience….how long you have been riding, road VS. MTB, etc.
Laurie: I began cycling when my husband started over 20 years. I pretty much wanted and still want to stay to fire roads or large trails. No single track. I enjoy the cycling paths around town and some road riding but without traffic. My road riding is still done on a mtn. bike.
TNI: What is your main interest in cycling now and in the future? Such as fitness, recreation, sport, racing, or as many as fit your situation.
Laurie: Currently I returned to cycling when a new dog was introduced into our family that required more/faster exercise than I could offer on foot. We ride around town but really the best is trail riding when I have more time. I’d like to stay cycling for recreation and fitness well into my “golden” years.
TNI: What kind of bike are you riding now?
Laurie: Before trying the Myka I was riding a 20 year old Curtlo Mtn. Bike, a 26″ hardtail.
TNI: Up to now, had you heard of a 29er mountain bike?
Laurie: Only when my husband began riding one and told me I needed to try one out and that I’d love it. Until then, I was pretty much clueless.
TNI: Had you ever ridden one?
Laurie: No, not until now.
TNI: What are your impressions of the bike? Did you notice anything different in the way the bike felt compared to your past experience? 29″ wheels lend a certain feel to a bike that is unique. List both good and bad impressions.
Laurie: I noticed that it rolls much faster and easier whether I’m riding road or dirt. It is much easier to ride through sand and the 29″ is more steady downhill. Overall it is a balanced bike and steady, especially when a dog is leashed and running next to you. (Editor’s Note: She does not tie the leash to the bike, but holds it in her hand at the grip.)
TNI: What do you think about the concept of women’s specific bikes? Is this a plus for you? Would you seek that out in your next purchase?
Laurie: I’m not sure that I have ever given it much thought since the current bike I own seems to have the general “mans” design to it and all that I have ever seen for “good” bikes have come that way. Only the cheap Huffy bikes with the girls/boys bike seem to have been specific.
TNI: Based on the brief ride you had on the 2011 Myka 29er, would you look at a 29er for your next mountain bike? If so, why and, if not, why not?
Laurie: Yes, I believe so, especially if the price is right. I like the solid, balanced, and steady feel of the bike. For what I want it to do, safety and steadiness is a must.
TNI: Any other thoughts?
Laurie: I need to pay specific attention to how much pressure is on my arms/neck/shoulder area. Therefore, a handle bar and stem that can be adjusted to be closer to me and put me in a more upright position would be favorable.
Just two days ago I rode my old bike, a custom Curtlo, which is a good bike. Old, but good. I noticed that that I had to work harder in a sandy patch, felt the rocks…each and every one of them! The old bike just didn’t roll down the trail as easily or quickly as the Myka. The Myka is much better for having a dog leashed and heeling next to you on a ride. It adds more stability when squirrels and bunnies are running back and forth and the dog is anticipating a fantastic run. I want to stay upright, pedal quickly and easily, and return to base not entirely spent. And that goes for me and the dog!
Grannygear’s comments: Laurie (Mrs. Grannygear) is no stranger to mountain bikes, having ridden them quite a bit in the 90′s. However, a nagging neck injury complicated her riding as a low handlebar aggravated the issue. The higher front end of the 29er was in her favor in this case, allowing for a normal stem and bar combo, and not the high rise stem she had been using on her 26″ bike. Watching her ride the bike, it is obvious that the bigger wheels and the design of the Myka are a hit for her. The increase in stability and rolling ability have made a marked difference in her confidence and I can attest to the fact that she is getting faster!
Look for more test rides coming soon. The Myka was supplied by Specialized at no cost. We are not being paid or bribed for this review/test. We will strive to give honest opinions and views throughout.
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Just a cautionary comment. Laurie’s practice of holding a leashed dog while riding is nuts! I know 2 people who have been seriously injured in this practice having been jerked out of control causing a crash. I’d never do it. I on the other hand, have run 2 crazed, pulling, Alaskan Huskies (trained sled dogs) in harness attached to the head tube. I at least have more control of steering and braking that way. They have races around the world using this technique and it works quite well.
Glad to see a WSD 29er, my wife currently is riding a GT Peace 29r. She’s 5’2″ and the GT had the lowest standover. I really like the top tube design and so does she. This may be her next bike. Thanks to the ladies for their views.
@Optimus GRRRR: I deleted your comment. I will not tolerate sexist comments on this blog.
Let’s keep the comments on subject here.
C Door: I would think That you’d have a better chance if you could let the dog go, as Laurie could, than if you were tethered to the dog(s). Just my two cents.
Well, maybe if you kept a very loose grip you could let go. But what’s the point then? You may as well just let the dog run unleashed and train it to stick close by. My daughter does that with their two dogs. Electronic dog training collars work well for that. Just an idea.
How tall are these ladies? I would really like my wife to hop on a 29r, but she is only 5’4″.
What is with the downhill helmet Michelle?
A bike, a leash, a dog…a tragedy waiting to happen! It’s not just nuts, it is (pardon me..?) just stupid; too many people have already found it only takes once to become permanently injured.
Enjoy the bike, enjoy the dog, but not together.
Uh, riding alongside a dog on a leash isn’t hard, at all. I have an extremely high energy, medium sized mutt, and she and I have done many miles on the rail trail around my home.
I always use a prong collar, though, as it pretty much guarantees that the dog won’t pull too hard. We’ve done 10-14 miles, and she loves it. For safety, I only hold on to the leash with a couple of fingers, and I don’t wrap it around the bar.
She took me down one time, the first time we went out. She didn’t have to chase anything, she just had to poop. She hasn’t done anything erratic since that first instance, and riding with her is pretty enjoyable.
I only use my mountain bike, a 29er (obviously), and I’ve yet to use my CX bike.
Good luck with the dogs. Just saying, things happen quickly and dog’s reasoning abilities aren’t nearly as fast as their natural instincts. I watched friends nurse a broken elbow and collar bone after their unfortunate trips off the bike. Their dogs were there to lick their injuries though.
“I pretty much wanted and still want to stay to fire roads or large trails. No single track”
Sounds like Laurie should be riding a CX bike with a basket, not field testing mountain bike tires.
@GT, What was the gearing on the bike? In the pictures with Michelle the crank looks like a triple. So I don’t understand the no granny gear available comment. But I like how there were two different riders from two different backgrounds.
Can you please get some more experienced women to test these bikes? The first woman is riding in a DH helmet and hiking boots. It’s really hard to take her seriously.
The second woman’s basis for comparison is a 20 year old mountain bike.
A woman that is going to purchase a 29er is more than likely an experienced mountain biker and would like to hear feedback from a woman who possibly has more experience riding 29ers. And riding more technical terrain.
@Smitty: I’ll leave that comment for Grannygear to address. He’s off the grid for a week on vacation, so it’ll be a bit before we hear from him.
NOTE: Keep comments on topic folks. I’m going to delete anything off topic here, (and already have)
@FemaleMTNrider: I appreciate your comments. Here’s a couple of things to think about.
1: Grannygear has other riders lined up to check the bike out and we’ll be hearing from them shortly. So, perhaps your request for a “more experienced women” will be fulfilled.
2: Having the women test the bike that we have is also good for those women who wouldn’t ordinarily be mountain biking, have not mountain biked for a while, or are into a different style of mtb’ing than you are.
I think what we’re going to see is a wide cross section of female cyclist who are going to find out that they can enjoy riding mountain bikes on off road trails, (of all types) because of bikes like the Myka and the Fisher Collection WSD 29″ers. So, if we had only “experienced” female mountain bikers on this review, that sends a message I think is limiting, ya know what I mean?
Finally, I would disagree that “a woman that is going to purchase a 29er is more than likely an experienced mountain biker” because that is limiting the audience. I think if you carefully read the post and a couple of the comments here, you are seeing women who are not “experienced mtb’ers” looking at this 29″er as a possible way to more fully enjoy cycling. Isn’t that a good thing?
@all…
Phew! I go away for awhile and all kinds of things go on!
OK. First, the dog thing as I knew this would bring out the naysayers. Laurie does use a pronged collar on Sophie, she does keep a light grip on the leash and Sophie is well trained. can something happen? Sure. Riding a bike at all is dangerous. Riding a bike with a dog brings in more complications but is hardly ‘nuts’. I do appreciate your concerns and the head tube idea is interesting. Thanks for the suggestion. ‘Nuff said about that.
Now, let us get some perspective on this approach here. Asking for a ‘pro’ or ‘expert’ level review of this bike is missing the point. First off, it is an 1150.00 dollar bike, round abouts. It is not aimed at a high level rider with different priorities like light weight components, aggressive geometry, etc. Wait for the 29er Safire, etc. What would you like to hear? More comments like, “it is stiff, yet vertically compliant, stable yet responsive”? Meh!
Many, many ladies I see are typically on a bike they got handed down from a boyfriend, a brother, or, if bought at a bike shop, may not be a high end bike OR really designed with their needs in mind. Either they did not know what they really wanted or the bike shop did not take them seriously.
Are their many exceptions to this? Of course. I see ladies on 3K$ bikes and they ride them well, race them, etc, having become informed and experienced about mountain bikes as time went by.
So, here is the Myka, one of the first in a new genre of MTBs for the ladies…29″ wheeled ones. What we wanted to do, and what we hope to accomplish, is let several ladies ride these bikes with no pre-information about 29ers, or at least very little. We wanted to get them out there and let them use the bikes the way many, many women will use them…as a tool for fitness, recreation, and fun. Then we will see what they say. What is important here is not whether they are qualified to test a tire, but how did they feel after riding a 29er that was designed around a ladies needs. Was it is better? Did it make a difference? Did it make them feel more comfortable, faster, slower, what???
Cuz, really, that is what it is all about. If riding the bigger wheels on a bike like the Myka makes you want to ride more, get out there and get fitter, have fun, climb bigger hills and ride singletrack faster, then who cares what tires it does it with?
I will say that the M4 frame is quite nice to look at and I think is worth upgrading over time, such as lighter wheels, etc. Is it a race bike? No. Could you? Sure, but really it is a fine moderate trail HT and all around fun bike to ride. Frankly, this bike will fit the needs of a huge segment of lady riders and would be a great stepping stone into the pool of 29ers.
Now as far as the boots and FF helmet – You did not see Michelle ride that Myka up and down that mogul-ed out, rocky, bomb crater of a fireroad or you would not say such things. Both her and her husband ride pretty big travel bikes over rugged desert terrain and she is interested in keeping her face looking nice in the case of a header. OK? As far as her saying the deal about the granny gear, yes the bike has a triple and it was working that day (this is a pretty mean hill climb), but her Yeti has an overall lower effective granny then the Myka and she noticed that in the steeper sections. Even so, she complimented the bike on how easily it rolled through the sand and rocks for a 80mm travel HT.
More ladies are coming up and I bet that there will be one of those that some lady reading this can relate to, but we may not hit the target for all our viewers.
Sooner or later we will get back to all the techy, expert stuff and all the rest of you can be happy again.
grannygear
grannygear
I actually really value what Laurie has to say. My wife recently had a 4 level fusion in her lower back from a car wreck that has prevented her from riding a bike for a few years. She doesn’t need a super high end bike, but I was at a loss to find something that I felt she’d be able to comfortably ride. Maybe I have an idea, now.
@panhandl
Ya made my day.
@all
Yes, I was amiss to leave out the height, etc of the riders. I sure am not going to ask for age and weight!
All of the ladies have been at 5’4″ to 5’6″ so far and that has been a pretty sweet spot for the 17″ size. I think that below that would be good for the 15″ and so on for the 19″ frame.
grannygear
Granny and Ted,
Great idea to have riders of intermediate abilities check out the new Myka, a 29″ bike for beginner-to-intermediate riders. As you say, the Safire 29 (and perhaps even an Era) is for riders with more serious intentions (the weight and component kit of the Myka should provide some clues).
It is quite interesting that two different individuals who are not in the 29er pipeline, per se, mention the easier rolling of the Myka 29 and that they felt almost immediately confident with the stability. As one who recently hit the trails on a SJ FSR 29, those were my first thoughts and impressions as well, although I was a bit biased as I had researched the 29″ idea pretty intensively before swinging a leg over one. Michelle also mentioned the greater ease in climbing some of the ascents she had done on her Yeti. Again, my experiences align with hers.
Finally @all the less-than-positive remarks above:–You certainly are entitled to opinions but why come here and try to act all cute and all-knowing re: riding with dogs, full-face helmet, hiking boots, baskets, etc… you don’t know the skill sets, experiences, motivations, and concerns of the individuals who tested this equipment. In fact, I’d dare say you have enough work on your hands to simply worry about number one so why don’t you get a life and do just that.
GG- One other flaw in your tester selection: Looks like you may be buying a new bike for your wife soon!
Wow, How ignorant some people can be, Just got back from Hurricaine, Bryce and Zion. She might even outride Ya! I just bumped her to a upper intermediate. Your opinion means nothing!
@grannygear……..Thanks again bro.
I know a girl who is only 5`2 who rides a 29 and loves it.
What`s up with that lady in the Darth Vader Helmet anyway?
Michelles Husband: People are ignorant? This is a 29er MTB Blog, and your wife had never heard of 29er before, and is wearing a full face helmet and hiking boots for an XC ride around Los Pen on a hardtail. Do you even know what that word means?
@skidder, @Optimus GRRR: She rides a Yeti 575 as her regular bike and according to Grannygear, she’s pretty daring and talented. I guess if I was going to go for a test ride, and my only helmet was a full face one, that’s what I’d bring.
And besides…who cares? I find it hard to believe folks are getting hung up on this. Weird!
I appreciate all of these riders taking the time to give the Myka a try and then sharing their experiences and thoughts. There is something to be learned from LISTENING to anyone’s observations rather than getting caught up in what they’re wearing. My wife and I are new to the MTB scene and with so much to learn we simply have to try and parse good info from wherever it is available and from as many sources as possible. I chose to start on a 29er and love it. It is perfect for the rocky/rooty trails in my area. My wife got a lower end 26er not wanting to spend a ton on an unknown venture but has really taken to it and I’m investigating upgrading her ride, possibly to a 29er. While she isn’t exactly like any of the four riders that have tested it so far, there are nuggets of relevant info from each of them. Until we can get our hands on a women’s specific 29er and test it for ourselves, this is invaluable info. Thanks again to the ladies and to twentynineinches!
Thanks for all the comments and these reviews! Test rode one the other day and fixin’ to purchase it in the near future. New to mtb but just moved to Alaska to take advantage of the many miles of trails within the municipality as well as those a little more off the grid.