29er - the experience

[Buttah Ball]

With another snap in my chain stay has my bike laid up.  I was given a loaner to keep me riding while Trek/Gary Fisher try to figure out what the heck they are going to do.  Although I was not happy, my local shop gave me a choice of loaners - I picked a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp 29er.  I might as well begin the process of deciding what route I am going to be going in the future.

I headed out on Friday evening for a night ride and not a long 1 (a few miles to loosen the legs for Saturday's festivities).  I realized I need to air-up the suspension and adjust the seat slightly because Saturday was to be a long day on the bike.  On Saturday AM, I woke up and headed out.  My goal was to do about about 30 miles of riding (2 trails) and say good night to Rocky Point as it  becomes a full time killing ground until April.

Arriving at the trail, I pulled it off the car and hope that the loaner rig would allow me to get my miles in.  After 2 miles or so, I was sure it would not.  I hated it!  It wasn't cornering right, it felt as if it took forever to get it moving forward, and being that it was not "mine" it wasn't adjusted correctly (I made the mistake of not moving the brake levers).  For some reason, clueless as to why, I kept catch the pedals onto the turf when cornering.  But the story doesn't end there.

Fortunately the ride is not 2 miles or so and whether I like the bike or not, I had to put in miles.  I moved forward.  Eventually, I began realizing that the bike handled somethings excellent.  The ride felt smooth in areas of the trail.  I did not have a computer (its sitting on my handlebars), so I cannot look at averages - but I would imagine it was faster when looking at the end of the day.  As the day went on, I learned some of nuances of the bike.  I learned that it was not my Fish and I could not treat it like it was.

There were a lot of things I liked about the big wheeled rig.  There were a few things I disliked though. 

(+: Pro 29er / -: Pro 26er )
+ The bike rolled faster.  It kept speed easier
- Felt it took more effort to get it going
+ It handled bumps excellent to the point that some were not even felt.
- I could not "whip" it around berms.
+ Fast, straight sections the bike excelled and had more in it
- Twistier areas, I think the smaller tires handled better.
+ The 29er stays grounded (speed)
- The 29ers is hard to send flying (fun)
= Both bikes climbed the same (I seen no real difference)

I don't know if it was my mood, the fact I was riding a new bike, desire to train, or whatever else - I kept going and going.  I set out to ride 30 miles (2 trails) and ended up doing about 50 (2 trails + the main only in each).  I cannot say I felt any different after the ride.

Overall the experience was very positive and I enjoyed the big wheels.  Will I make the change when the times comes?  I don't know.  Maybe?  Possibly?  I think it will boil down to the "bang for the buck" aspect which heavily leans itself to a standard 26" bike, but if the finances allow and I can invest additional money into the bike, I can see myself converting.

and folks, that's my experience.
 

[Buttah Ball]

Alas - the ride was a 1 and done.  I received a call that my bike is done and ready for pick-up.

[Coreman]

Nice review BB.
My experience was very similar for the most part.
I like my 29'r when i'm in the mood for it.
Then again, i change my bikes like socks. 
Also, my 29'r is a SS so i really can't compare it fairly to my geared 26'rs.
In a nutshell, my 29'r is a buzz that i enjoy more on certain trails.

[The Llama]

ya, I can agree with 90% of what ya said. the tight stuff comes with getting used to the larger wheels. When I first got on a 29er I kept actually hitting trees and rocks and such with the edge of the front tire because of the larger wheel, you just learn to turn in a bit earlier. Also wheel/tire weight is a BIG deal and in my mind almost the most important thing on a 29er, it's way more noticeable when trying to get the thing moving in the beginning. One other thing I have noticed with 29er's and people who are long time 26 riders is that they need to get into a more granny gear. People think they are harder to start because they are thinking in terms of the smaller wheel rotation and what gear they are in. With the bigger tire (more distance traveled per rotation) you need to be like 2 gears easier when starting off to have the same distance traveled of the bike per rotation of your pedals.

But ya, I keep thinking I'll sell my 26er, but then I get on it and it's just fun to ride too, sorta like getting on a go cart instead of driving a car.   

[Coreman]

The thing i wonder about is this:

How did they come up with 29". Did various manufacturers actually try different sizes....like 28" or 30" etc??
I think i read somewhere about this once, but i forgot.
Who here knows?

[The Llama]

they just used the old 27 inch rims back in the old days, now they are the same 700cc rims from a road bike... just a tad beefier 

[Buttah Ball]

The thing i wonder about is this:

How did they come up with 29". Did various manufacturers actually try different sizes....like 28" or 30" etc??
I think i read somewhere about this once, but i forgot.
Who here knows?

I kinda wonder the same thing.  What is "magical" about the number 29?  Why not 30?  What are the benefits of a 29"?  This more of intrigue then anything else because I wonder if we are all going to be debating 31" wheels over the 29" wheels.  How big are wheels going to get?

Since the post, I have put some miles on my 26" HiFi Deluxe.  I am a a touch disgruntled with my bike right now, so I am looking for a reason to replace it.  Truth be told though, I love the friggin' thing.  Its so tuned for me, that its hard to ride anything else because I know how it will act and react.

Other things, thoughts and whatnot...
--How much more is a 29er V. 26" bike.  Meaning 2 bikes, both using the same quality of components - how much more is a 29er?
--How long until the wheel and tire manufactures get the 29" into equal footing with the 26" (from high to low and all the choices)?
--Are 29" wheel more susceptible to bends (both minor and catastrophic)?


As the piggy bank gets filled up, I will do more research and I am sure there will be more questions to add.  As I learn more about this sport, my brain churns and my decisions are made differently.  It seems throughout the island, the 29er is taking over.  I wonder how many of those who ride them are leaders and how many are just sheep.  I will admit, when buying my last bike, I was a sheep.  Everywhere I looked there was a full suspension bike and I though that was the bike style to have.  Like I said above, I love my bike so I do not regret the purchase at all, but my next decision will be MUCH more informed then my last.

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I do want to ride a higher-end HT.  If and when I make the change, it will be to a HT (I have my eye on a 2x10, 29 HT).  The issue is though, if/when I do this, I am going to need to find a demo because this is not an investment I am going to be making blind or with a few laps around a parking lot.