Eurobike 2011: The Beginning

EUROBIKE 2011 – The Beginning: By c_g

Hello there … I apologize for letting you guys hang there waiting for news from Eurobike. The shear multitude of new bikes and brands at this show is keeping me busy non stop and with all these new introductions to the big wheeled market there are a whole lot of ME-TOO 29″ers bikes, but still some really interesting products. Those are the ones I tried to focus on but really, I feel wasted … with still one more day to go . While I am still collecting all my notes, brochures and memories to get to you the interesting news – here come some editorial thoughts triggered by the EUROBIKE show 2011.

With this show I officially declare 29″ers to have “landed” here in Europe. Last year 29″er bikes have been a huge attractor to DEMO DAY, which shows people were approaching the concept with curiosity and interest but when looking at the showcases it still was a niche thing. I sure had expected a whole lot more 29″er bikes this time but nothing like it really turned out …they have been (or better yet- are) EVERYWHERE!!!

It remains to be seen how the market will react in the course of the coming season but speaking for Europe almost every big player (CUBE, BULLS, FOCUS, KTM, …) has done much more than one or two “probing” models – heck, CUBE bikes is striking out with 10 models on the first attempt, ranging from 599 to near 4 grand! With all those brands now offering 29″ers at every price range it is an easy task for every mountain biker to get a 29″er bike – not only those of us who “live and breathe bikes” – from now on even brand loyalty is no excuse anymore to your friends .

The EURO 29″er Scene: So far here in Europe there has been a 29″er community that dared to be different, but if I read the signs correctly it may be soon that we are a part of the mainstream biking community, even here . A part of me regrets that as it is in the human nature to be “different” or “individualistic” but then again isn’t that what most of us have been trying to achieve: Convince our friends and riding buddies to at least give 29″ers a honest try – not everyone will be as fascinated by the ride but I dare to say MANY WILL. In the last years I have set multiple friends on 29″ers enjoying the different ride feeling of a 29″er and some of them re-discovering the fun of biking in a new (often simpler) way.

2Soul Cycles Quarterhorse.

Here in Europe mountain biking in general is dominated by suspension technologies, carbon frame designs and a general affinity for technology. Somehow by the detour of purist cyclists (single speed & rigid riders) picking up the trend first – I dare to say partly because they feel the advantages of 29″ers the most – 29″er bikes have undergone a rapid development. I myself have come to 29″ers that way from being a rigid steel rider. From classic steel bikes 29″ers have gone through all stages of refinement with lightweight carbon frames and state of the art suspension technologies being the more recent ones. And all that in only a couple of years. Looking at what bikes I ride nowadays (be it for pleasure or a review), I find myself in a completely different place. I am sometimes wondering when the “back to the roots” feeling of 29″er has been substituted by performance and modernism. Any thoughts?

Rotwild full suspesion 29″er.

Eurobike Show´11: When looking at the tech side of 29″er here at the show it is apparent how the designs have caught up to 26er bikes in any aspect. There are plenty of parallel technologies between 26” bikes and 29ers – the introductions by ROTWILD and CUBE show how 29″ers are treated now as true alternatives and equals.

But once the pace is high it is hard to slow down and so we see some cutting edge suspension technologies applied in 29″er only, like the all new IBIS Ripley. (Shown above)

In general it has been fascinating how very few 29″er steel frames have been shown …. no worries, I have found some and will bring them to you later (shown at left is the FIXIE INC. Twin Flame prototype)

When something becomes mainstream there will always be those visionaries thinking new ways, developing new philosophies and ultimately diversify what has been seen in 29er bakes further. The 2SOULSCYCLES Quarterhorse (recently introduced here and soon here on test. Pictured above.) or the 29″er with the world record holding shortest chain stays at 405 mm –the STJINCYCLES Mike!!! Be sure to see a few good examples of 29″er bikes that dare to be different.

Another trend long foreseen have been long travel 29″ers – be it hard tails or full suspension designs and we have seen a few of these as well – like the TRANSITION BIKES Bandit 29″er pictured below.

With all this news we haven´t forgotten the components either and some new treads are coming your way as well – pictured is the all new SCHWALBE Hans Dampf 2.35. (Pictured above)

Transition Bikes Bandit 29

As you see, there will be some interesting news coming your way from EUROBIKE 2011 … stay tuned.

RIDE ON,

c_g