29ers on the podiums more and more?

[durianrider]

Is it my eyes or did the recent US XC champs have all the top 10 riders on 29ers?

I test rode a 900$ heavy scott 29er and it felt faster up and down hills and on the flat than my 10$k S-Works carbon epic 26er. WTF is up with that lol!

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Is it my eyes or did the recent US XC champs have all the top 10 riders on 29ers?

I test rode a 900$ heavy scott 29er and it felt faster up and down hills and on the flat than my 10$k S-Works carbon epic 26er. WTF is up with that lol!

Did it feel faster or was it actually faster? I have ridden a few 29ers of varying quality, and they always "feel faster" but my average speed and time spent on the same trails is always comparable. I still ride 26 and until I actually see a big enough gain in time and speed, I'm content with that. I will say the Specialized FS 29er I recently demoed on a rooty and rocky trail was like riding a cloud compared to my 26, but the time around the trail was still about the same and the average speed was within .2mph of my normal average. Maybe they are that much faster, I just don't corner with them as well as my 26 and lose time.

Also, I think there has only been one win on the World Cup by a 29er. Interesting how they seem to dominate racing in the US, but so many of the world's best ride 26.

 

[Master50]

I have asked some current and ex pros about 29ers and so far none have tipped them as better all round bikes. A few have said on certain courses they might go 29 but the kind of courses they speak of are generally flatter and not technical.

 

[Boeing]

I love me some 29er

 

[Boeing]

I have asked some current and ex pros about 29ers and so far none have tipped them as better all round bikes. A few have said on certain courses they might go 29 but the kind of courses they speak of are generally flatter and not technical.

I agree horses for courses. but the latter statement is a generalization in the least

 

[erik saunders]

yeah... it aint the wheel size...

you still gotta drive the thing and make power to the wheel...

 

[Vegan Dave]

I love the remarks from people who have barely ridden 29ers..

There's a bit of a learning curve (especially for those with bad attitudes), but the wheelbase on the race bikes is getting pretty close to 26", and so comments like 'doesn't corner as well' really don't make sense (it's not like they're trying to shorten the wheelbase on 26"). Further - for the few seconds you may 'lose' on any given course in 'cornering' (if that even happens), you're making up tons more elsewhere. Does anyone ride trails that have sharp corners ever 5 or 10 meters, for the entire ride?? It's ridiculous to denigrate 29ers for such a very small portion of the riding experience.

The vast majority of people i know, experienced and recreational, have very positive experiences when trying out 29ers - they're able to climb better, and nearly always say something along the lines of "i cleared XXX section, which i've never done before!" They roll better, period. (And are really nice if you actually ride to your trails.)

Making arguments for 26" bikes on XC trails is about as valid as 26" bikes on the road. 'Nuff said.

 

[Master50]

I agree horses for courses. but the latter statement is a generalization in the least

I agree it is a very generic comment but when you ask them it is obvious that they have not actually spent much if any time on one.

Of my Thursday night group less than %5 are riding 26 any more.

Vegan Dave makes a good point. Lots of detractors have not tried a 29 or spent enough time to make a fair judgement.

Me I just bought a top line XTR Fuji full suspension 26 so I won't be switching soon as much as I want to change. Bad timing!

 

[bc_hills]

Does anyone ride trails that have sharp corners ever 5 or 10 meters, for the entire ride??

um, yeah, pretty much. Steep rooty climbs that require a lot of handling the front end. Steep (but short) descents to hard corners. Par for the course around here, but here's the thing... YMMV.

I believe that what's on the podium, not only in mtb'ing but anywhere, has more to do with marketing than anything else, so I've never been that interested in it. Manufacturers need to sell new stuff and make old stuff undesirable.

I can't imagine anything that I can't climb over now that a little bit more skill and effort won't get me over on my 26er, so I'm not inclined to replace my bike. But when the time comes, who knows, I might consider it. But I find it hard to believe that 29" wheels are gonna be as agile in the twisty, gnarly, brutal ups and downs that I prefer.

Wouldn't it take a lot more torque to move those wheels up and over roots, rocks or whatever? And I don't mean when you're already rolling along, but in a slow techy situation.

 

[Boeing]

energy exerted pushing alleged more weight and mass is negated by the tire angle and contact area forgiving

 

[funnytanlines]

the guys getting on the podium on 29ers also used to podium on 26ers, so there's still a lot more to being a proficient bike racer then the just size of the wheels.

 

[pedaling squares]

I'm new to the 29er scene and I don't think I'm as agile on it in the real tight stuff as I was on my 26" bike. Maybe it's just a 'feel' thing that will go away when experience and comfort with the new setup increase. A 1.5" increase in radius shouldn't make a huge difference in placing the wheel. I do clean some stuff that gave me trouble with the smaller wheels, and I ride a hardtail now on trails that I used a FS bike on before, with no regrets or discomfort. I loved my old bike but I'm pretty happy with the switch.

 

[Boeing]

I'm new to the 29er scene and I don't think I'm as agile on it in the real tight stuff as I was on my 26" bike. Maybe it's just a 'feel' thing that will go away when experience and comfort with the new setup increase. A 1.5" increase in radius shouldn't make a huge difference in placing the wheel. I do clean some stuff that gave me trouble with the smaller wheels, and I ride a hardtail now on trails that I used a FS bike on before, with no regrets or discomfort. I loved my old bike but I'm pretty happy with the switch.

if I were riding faster more technical stuff I'd go back to a 26 FS. For example trying to manual through a section on my 29 is problematic and i feel the bike want to straighten up when braking into a corner. also crossing mass over into the next turn is harder etc.

but my riding approach has changed and I just roll stuff now and like the fit and climbing as it is now on a 29er.

 

[Triskelion]

Load the front end

I have to agree....29's do not turn as fast..I've been experimenting...loading the front suspension with the frt brake and recoiling, pulling the frt wheel up and turning in the air......suspension rules....

 

[rickshaw]

I have a mid level 29er hardtail

Don't race, do trails and crappy hole filled dirt roads, the occasional corn field, snow and ice. I like it a lot. I always assumed (for about 2 years) that its tank like heft came from everything being BIGGER ergo heavier. Bigger wheels, bigger tires, bigger frame big = heavy. Right?

 

[papisimo98]

With advent of lighter 29er rims, tires, and a wide selection of forks, the 26in hardtail is on the way out.
I hear all this complaining, but in reality, unless you are doing big jumps and hucks, the 29er is superior in almost every area except acceleration.
Racing a 29er takes a bit of adjustment, but the advantages are clear.
Has anyone ridden an Epic 29er such as Kulhavy's? The bike is a beast. It clearly gives him an advantage of Absalon's standard 26 hardtail.

 

[kiwirider]

Racing a 29er takes a bit of adjustment, but the advantages are clear.
Has anyone ridden an Epic 29er such as Kulhavy's? The bike is a beast. It clearly gives him an advantage of Absalon's standard 26 hardtail.

Funnily enough, the self same bike doesn't seem to be helping Christoph Sauser ... Absalon keeps beating him ...

Then again, Sauser is 4 years older than Absalon - just as Absalon is 5 years older than Kulhavy - so maybe that has something to do with their relative rankings? Just a theory mind you ...

 

[bc_hills]

With advent of lighter 29er rims, tires, and a wide selection of forks, the 26in hardtail is on the way out.
I hear all this complaining, but in reality, unless you are doing big jumps and hucks, the 29er is superior in almost every area except acceleration.
Racing a 29er takes a bit of adjustment, but the advantages are clear.
Has anyone ridden an Epic 29er such as Kulhavy's? The bike is a beast. It clearly gives him an advantage of Absalon's standard 26 hardtail.

Yeah, I don't think it'll be too long before you can't find a 26er ht or maybe even a short travel 26er. It makes sense I guess if your style of xc is more about rolling fast than perhaps steeper, dicier, technical stuff.

I hate the way the industry is pushing it so hard though. Aggressive marketing disguised as something else is always a little off putting to me, but I guess that's the way it's gotta be. "Buy a 29er and ride better." No, ride more and you'll ride better, full stop.

I'd point out that 29ers have made zero inroads where I ride. I guess what I ride qualifies as "trail" instead of "xc", according to the marketers and money makers, if that means anything.

 

[papisimo98]

Funnily enough, the self same bike doesn't seem to be helping Christoph Sauser ... Absalon keeps beating him ...

Then again, Sauser is 4 years older than Absalon - just as Absalon is 5 years older than Kulhavy - so maybe that has something to do with their relative rankings? Just a theory mind you ...

I hear you about their respective ages, but I still think Absalon is the top rider.
BTW, Sauser has been using the hardtail as well as Stander.
Fumic has been using the prototype Scalpel.

 

[pedaling squares]

I'd point out that 29ers have made zero inroads where I ride. I guess what I ride qualifies as "trail" instead of "xc", according to the marketers and money makers, if that means anything.

I was just in Fernie and didn't see any on the trails. Can't remember seeing any in the shops either. Like you say, probably due to the steep (and incredible!) terrain.

 

[dasher666]

The industry would not be collectively pushing something so different just to make you "need" a new bike, like some evil empire of manufacturers. 29 inch bikes ride pretty awesome done right, and they seem to me to excel in tight, rocky/rooty, steep terrain, and I can't corner on either of my 26 inch bikes anymore. This was NOT my opinion a year and a half ago, but I've now got open minded experience on these bikes.

 

[kiwirider]

BTW, Sauser has been using the hardtail as well as Stander.

According to Sauser's website, he's been using both ...

Actually on his site, there's an interesting comparison test that he did during the offseason between the Epic 26 vs Epic 29. Found that the difference over a 5km circuit was about 12 seconds ... That would equate to about 1min 46sec over a normal race. Add in all of the variables that are inherent in racing (bad lines, stuck behind back marker, fatigue, etc) and you're still looking at a fairly close run thing between the two sizes - which I guess makes sense, otherwise the UCI wouldn't allow the two wheel sizes in the same race ... Anyhow, that piece on his site is worth a read - in typical Sauser fashion he breaks down a whole bunch of details about HR, shock pressures, etc ...

 

[kiwirider]

The industry would not be collectively pushing something so different just to make you "need" a new bike, like some evil empire of manufacturers.

Really?? Which bike industry would you be talking about??

You're clearly not talking about the one that sells the stuff that I buy. That one routinely develops new standards for bottom bracket sizes, head set diameters, handlebar diameters, groupset indexing (in the old days, you could mix and match across all manufacturers), matching of chainrings, makes spares available to pro teams but not the public, etc ... All stuff that forces you to change out perfectly good equipment when one relatively minor part wears out/fails ...

The industry is one of the worst/best (pick your adjective - both mean the same in this context) at hyping up and convincing consumers that yesterday's product is hopeless and that it all comes down to equipment ...

(And before I get the usual slamming for being a flat earther - I ride a mix of alloy and carbon frames, Record Ergo on my roadie and Veloce Ergo on my cross bike, X.0 and discs on my fully, etc ... I just believe that, over a relatively basic level, vast majority of riding is about the rider and the gear is really so much less of a difference than we're hyped into believing ...)

 

[dasher666]

Would you prefer companies not try to improve products? When frame tech improves, components have to catch up and vise versa. Some of the recent new component interfaces (your basic complaint) have been the enablers of some awesome new technologies, but if you really want to run a 26.0 bar on your cross bike, and you want to pay a shop guy to face your headtube, and you want your new stiff, fast carbon road bike to have a square taper bb,...i don't need to stop....

 

[kiwirider]

Would you prefer companies not try to improve products? When frame tech improves, components have to catch up and vise versa. Some of the recent new component interfaces (your basic complaint) have been the enablers of some awesome new technologies, but if you really want to run a 26.0 bar on your cross bike, and you want to pay a shop guy to face your headtube, and you want your new stiff, fast carbon road bike to have a square taper bb,...i don't need to stop....

Nothing against improvement - just against change for changes sake ...

And no, you've missed my basic complaint - and misconstrued my comments ...

Anyhow, this isn't the thread for that argument ... go across to Bikes & Gear, read a number of the threads on this topic there, and if you want to keep the argument going, that's the place for us to do so ...