29er as your only SS? [Archive]

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 01:48 PM

Ok so I have a few bucks income tax return comming to me. I'm planning on a new frame, fork, wheelset, and such to replace my current aging beatup singlespeed. Its my only offroad capable singlespeed, and I love it to death. Ride it most of the time.

Then a thought popped into my head: since I'm replacing a good chunk of it, what if I made it 29"?

Would any of you 29" pros recommend a 29" as a jack of all trades do everything go everywhere 80% SS? It would be my only ATB SS again, since I'd be donating the old one to a friend that fits it perfectly...

On a side note: is there big rubber available? 2.5"ish?

Cyclenaut

02-01-2005, 01:53 PM

Ooo! Ooo! Me me!

I have a SS 29er, and it's the only one I have. I love it! The bigger wheels do make a difference. Going over technical terrain is much different with the big wheels. I didn't think it could be as noticeable as it is.

I don't know if you can get 2.5's for them though. 2.2 might be it.

mudskipper

02-01-2005, 02:13 PM

gotta watch that tire size.
what frames are you considering ?

mudskipper

02-01-2005, 02:17 PM

Karate monkey, Rig, Airborne B29 ?

I'd just buy a rig if you can tolerate the aluminum frame ! its part spec is pretty good...and if you don't like the frame sell it and use the parts on a km ..(as previously mentioned on this forum)

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 02:28 PM

kennbenny667

02-01-2005, 02:33 PM

In a word, YES!!! I love my ss KM.

As far as a 2.5 tire.... not right now, but maybe soon according to some of the posts on mtbr's 29er board.

Cyclenaut

02-01-2005, 02:37 PM

TRY:

In England, we have some pack horse trails that are made up of large slabs of stone. Their ancient, so they've been worn and are very bumpy. The first time I rode my 29er down them, it felt almost like my full susser. Very smooth. It seems to roll over technical stuff with ease.

People say the 29er is harder to get going. I can't say that I've noticed this. What I have noticed is that once the momentum of the wheels kicks in, you can tell, and it makes spinning very nice!

Oh, and my bike is a Spot. Made in Canada, eh.

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 02:40 PM

Spot? I'll have to look em up!

I'm starting to get this excited addicted feeling...I think this is the way I'm gonna go!

Cyclenaut

02-01-2005, 02:50 PM

Spot's are great! And not made in Taiwan. Michael and Jessica are very nice people, too. As much as I like the Surly boys, I wanted to give my money to Michael and Jessica instead. And the bike is just cool! I have pictures if you want to see it. Oh wait, I think I posted a pic over on the "I want to see your singlespeed" thread.

Edit: the link to the pictures is on page 11 of the other thread, Chris.

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 03:26 PM

So, the www.spotbikes.com page is under development, no info to be had there. Also finding zero prices online to get an idea of cost. I'll go through the LBS or maybe Spot's online shop anyway though. Maybe I'll shoot em an email...

Cyclenaut: was it a frame only deal? Mind if I ask what it ended up costing?

Cyclenaut

02-01-2005, 03:38 PM

They only do frames, I think. I know the prices are about to go up because of the raw material shortage though. I can't remember what I paid for mine (I worked off some of the cost), but they have custom and off the peg frames.

I know a bunch of people in the UK who have them, and can probably provide lots of pics for you if you'd like.

The website is always under construction it seems!

wooglin

02-01-2005, 03:49 PM

I've got a 29er SS. I've got a 1x1 too, but I never ride it. Only the Voodoo. And the 1x1 is a damn nice bike too.

MTBScottie

02-01-2005, 05:52 PM

wooglin

02-01-2005, 07:19 PM

If the Rig is ever released..........
They are. They have been. People are riding them.

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 10:21 PM

how about snow performance? I'd immagine it would be better...

jonassterling

02-01-2005, 11:53 PM

I'm also in the market for a 29" SS, I'm waiting for the frames to come back into stock at qbp.

If I hadn't already sold my 1x1 I would have debated waiting 3 months for the Soma 29", maybe called Juice.The frame sounds much like a KM: SS/gears compatable, but made from 631 Reynolds tubing, frame same price as the Surly(no fork though). Makes me wonder ablout the Surly prices now. Chinese 4130 for about the same price as 631 made in England?

I think I may be talking myself into waiting for the Soma. If they can make less clunky looking and working dropouts than the KM I may very well wait.

tryandgetme

02-01-2005, 11:59 PM

a big problem with me, is once I have my mind set on something, I'm extremely impatient!

Cloxxki

02-02-2005, 06:45 AM

Makes me wonder about the Surly prices now. Chinese 4130 for about the same price as 631 made in England?
Which 631 in England would that be?
There's increasing demand for European made (custom or production) 29"ers...

MTBScottie

02-02-2005, 06:53 AM

They are. They have been. People are riding them.

Embrarrisngly enough, after I typed that, I wandered over to mtbr and sure enough, someone had started a thread, "Just got my Rig".

wooglin

02-02-2005, 08:24 AM

If I hadn't already sold my 1x1 I would have debated waiting 3 months for the Soma 29", maybe called Juice.The frame sounds much like a KM: SS/gears compatable, but made from 631 Reynolds tubing, frame same price as the Surly(no fork though). Makes me wonder ablout the Surly prices now. Chinese 4130 for about the same price as 631 made in England?
The 05 Voodoo Dambala is also 631, which may drop the price somewhat. Worth a look.

jonassterling

02-02-2005, 10:45 AM

Just to clarify--The 631 tubing is made in the UK, the frame is welded in Tiawan.

Just received the 2005 BTI catalog, Voodoo'd distributor. No price drop on the steel voodoo 29", but the scandium one is about $20 cheaper.

wooglin

02-02-2005, 10:58 AM

Just received the 2005 BTI catalog, Voodoo'd distributor. No price drop on the steel voodoo 29", but the scandium one is about $20 cheaper.
Err, what exactly is the price? I got a bro deal, but never thought to ask what retail is.

Cyclenaut

02-02-2005, 11:52 AM

Just to clarify--The 631 tubing is made in the UK, the frame is welded in Tiawan.

Wait, Reynolds makes 631 and I thought that they are producing in the US now?

jonassterling

02-02-2005, 07:35 PM

631-
The guy I talked to at SOMA said 631 is made in the UK and shipped to Tiawan for welding and painting. NO mention was made of the US. I spoke to them again today and was told summertime for the 29" frame.

THe Voodoo frame seems unchanged from last year, same green, still 853, retail maybe $750-$850? I've only got the wholesale and am not sure if they have a MSRP.

wooglin

02-02-2005, 07:47 PM

THe Voodoo frame seems unchanged from last year, same green, still 853, retail maybe $750-$850? I've only got the wholesale and am not sure if they have a MSRP.
That's the 04 frame. The 05 is definitely 631. BTI just hasn't changed their catalog. Do they list a 20" but not a 19"? The 20 is being discontinued in favor of a 19. And maybe a 21, too.

jonassterling

02-02-2005, 08:24 PM

That's the 04 frame. The 05 is definitely 631. BTI just hasn't changed their catalog. Do they list a 20" but not a 19"? The 20 is being discontinued in favor of a 19. And maybe a 21, too.

I got the listing from the 2005 BTI catalog, new as of last week. Maybe they have alot of 2004's to sell through before releasing the 631 frame mid-season?
What's your source?

wooglin

02-02-2005, 09:22 PM

I got the listing from the 2005 BTI catalog, new as of last week. Maybe they have alot of 2004's to sell through before releasing the 631 frame mid-season?
What's your source?
Here you go. voodoojb is the Voodoo product rep.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=72572&highlight=631

hophead

02-02-2005, 11:12 PM

Raymo853

02-03-2005, 08:52 AM

I wish the Dambla was still 853, I am biased towards R853 as my handle should prove. 631 is a bit cheaper, a little heaviery and a little stiffer riding than 853 correct? Still miles better than AL od Scandium tubes.

jonassterling

02-03-2005, 10:36 AM

Well here's a link to the BTI catalog, no mention of a 631 frame.

BTI (http://www.bti-usa.com/item.asp?item=VD2918&searchtype=&itemsearch=&filter=)

Will the 631 frame drop in price, or will the price stay the same due to the world wide material shortages?

wooglin

02-03-2005, 11:55 AM

Well here's a link to the BTI catalog, no mention of a 631 frame.
Notice they don't have the 19" or 21" in stock?

As for pricing, that's the question, isn't it? :)

Cyclenaut

02-03-2005, 02:50 PM

They also make hubs.

Yup, I have two of 'em! Sorry, I was referring to doing just frames vs. complete bikes.

tryandgetme

02-03-2005, 03:17 PM

I've been noticing alot of 29ers have short head tubes, probably to keep the handlebars from going too high...This has me concerned in the longevity of a 29er frame since there is such a long moment arm stuck on such a short head tube. Not concerned enough to stop me from getting one...any comments on this?

wooglin

02-03-2005, 04:36 PM

What the hell is a "moment arm", long or otherwise? :confused:

hophead

02-03-2005, 04:46 PM

What the hell is a "moment arm", long or otherwise? :confused:
Is that like a Johnson rod??

tryandgetme

02-03-2005, 05:08 PM

think lots of leverage...long fork hang on that head tube....

http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/torque/Q.torque.example.RHR.html

moment arm: "distance between the pivot point and the point where the force acts."

the fork dosent really pivot in that direction, but imagine where it would pivot if it were free to.

dangerousdave

02-03-2005, 05:34 PM

sure would'nt want any play in that headset!!! and your right- wonder what the tube has for a min. distance before failure under increased stress-- you'd think there'd be a hell of a safety factor built in,, but then again what about BMX's? or perhaps more imp. what is the rake on the fork? and the offset dist. from pivot #1 to the axel- and 2nd pivot arm in the prob.???
HEy, don't blame me,!! you opened the can!! :D

tryandgetme

02-03-2005, 05:47 PM

well BMXs are inherantly overbuilt, plus they only have a short length from the axle to the center of the head tube, less leverage! I was oogling the GF rig, and that just looks like a LOOONNG fork there....

I'm more concerned with the forces similar to if you hit a log or something...

Rake dosent even matter, since we're not calculating anything here...at least I'm not...my question was totally subjective! :)

robcycle

02-03-2005, 07:14 PM

Devil's Advocate here, but I think rake might matter as the length of the moment arm would be the distance from the head tube to where the force would intersect an imaginary line perpindicular to the force. Example: Think of a cartoon railroad switch 3ft long. If it is perpindicular to the ground and you push paralell to the ground, the moment arm is 3ft long. Now put the lever at a 45* angle and push paralell to the ground. The effective lever length is reduced to whateverthe distance to the ground is (its been a long time since trig). Anyway, the point is that having an equal fork length, a slacker head tube should experience a smaller moment. Phwew.

-Rob.

*Note* - This assumes that the *force* you are experiencing is paralell to the ground, i.e. rolling along. For a perpendicular force, say a drop, a less rake would put the axle closer to the force, and have a smaller moment.

tryandgetme

02-03-2005, 09:28 PM

so, yes? no? dont worry about it and ride like normal?

wooglin

02-03-2005, 10:02 PM

so, yes? no? dont worry about it and ride like normal?
I haven't heard of a rash of failures at the head tube on the 29er boards I frequent, so I say don't worry about it. I certainly don't. I'd be more worried about a wheel failure (and I don't worry about that either). OTOH, I don't go hucking off crap. The current 9ers aren't designed for that. But basic trail riding? Sure, go for it!

tryandgetme

02-03-2005, 11:51 PM

What would you consider within the bounds of current 29ers? 1 foot drops like you'd find on a tough trail? I ask because I do alot of stairs, sidehopping off of curbs, stoppies, that kind of thing when I'm commuting...if its not recommended, perhaps I should hang onto the old hardrock?

wooglin

02-04-2005, 11:23 AM

You're way overthinking this. Get one. Ride it. Grin.

tryandgetme

02-04-2005, 12:12 PM

thats the plan, but until the money rolls in all I can do is think! lets call it a habit, addiction is such an ugly word.

tryandgetme

02-08-2005, 06:51 PM

more specifically, rim options. Does anyone out there make a 29" MTB specific rim? its hard googling this stuff for some reason...probably because 29 is such a numeric number...

jonassterling

02-09-2005, 12:14 AM

UPS just dropped off a set of Sun CR-18 rims at the shop today. They seem identical to the 26" version, which was a good performing, slightly boring rim.

I tried ordering some Ritchey offset rims, but they where out of stock. WTB makes a Dual Duty rim, DT has a nice, but spendy new trekking rim, Mavic makes a few touring rims that look to fit the bill nicely, the list goes on.

Personally my first 29" wheelset will be XT disc hubs, DT 14/15 spokes and the afore mentioned CR-18 rims. Boring but solid and I've heard they take to tubeless conversion quite well.

Wooglin, you seem to have the inside line on Voodoo, any idea of avaliblity on the 631 Dambala? Price?

The next shipment of Karate Monkeys may be awhile, and I want to ride. This damn tax refund is burning a hole in my pocket.

tryandgetme

02-09-2005, 10:33 AM

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with the IRO Mia. Its a disc specific (as far as I can tell) 26", but they guys at IRO say 29" fits fine! So I can just buy 2 wheelsets, a geared 26" for climbing walls and the 29" SS for everything else, and run full length housing from a thumb shifter to a derailleur, and just change the chain and ziptie everything down when I want geared 26". I know, I know, I'll probably never use the 26" set, such was the case with my current singlespeed...

Cyclenaut

02-09-2005, 10:38 AM

Try, I don't ride my 29er any differently than my full susser. Don't worry about it, you aren't going to break the frame unless you are doing silly, silly north shore type stuff, and even then I'm not sure you'd break it.

wooglin

02-09-2005, 11:11 AM

Wooglin, you seem to have the inside line on Voodoo, any idea of avaliblity on the 631 Dambala? Price?
I don't really. Your shop will have to check with BTI.

For rims, Salsa Delgados or Bontrager Mustangs are both good choices for 29ers.

tryandgetme

02-09-2005, 11:43 AM

oh! I just found sun rhyno-lites for 29" hidden in sun's road category! they look identical to the 26" version...

jonassterling

02-09-2005, 07:32 PM

oh! I just found sun rhyno-lites for 29" hidden in sun's road category! they look identical to the 26" version...

Did you look at the weight on those pups?

Wooglin-I talked to BTI and the sales guy was a little clueless, maybe a call to Voodoo is in order. I've got a number to Joe Murray here somewhere.

tryandgetme

02-10-2005, 12:29 AM

I suspect they'd be a wittle bit on the porky side, sure...

onegear

02-21-2005, 11:25 AM

I'm thinkin' karate monkey.

'naut, explain that technical terrain difference if you could? Easier? Harder? Better for some, less better for other stuff? How's it handle in tough slow rocky stuff? Its noticable, but is it good noticable? How would you describe it?

I've got a KM setup as my mountain bike. It handles beautifully. I just can't seem to go back to a 26er......

There are some definite differences.....not all good. Obviously, it rolls great! Unfortunately, it's a little harder as a climber (until you get used to it, that is). When I first started mountain biking with it, I had a really hard time restarting if I stopped during a climb. Once you get used to the bike (how it handles) and you build up the legs, it wasn't a problem. The bike handles wonderfully in the snow. I run the WTB Moto Raptor tires when mountain biking and the Nano Raptor tires when commuting on the streets. Overall, I prefer the 29er over the 26er.

I think you'll definitely enjoy it!

tryandgetme

02-21-2005, 11:41 AM

not too worried about climbing, I can see Saskachewan's one tree from here :D

yep, gonna get that IRO Mia frame and throw the 29er wheels on there as soon as I can.

rattlecan

03-13-2005, 12:28 AM

dood

ill make you one.

i just made a custom steel twenty niner on tuesday.

i made a twenty six and a 29 singlespeed for myself.
i trashed my 29 in tucson 24 hr race (our team won, all 4 on my bikes) and am back on the 26... i miss my 29!
the small wheels feel so slow...

sorry for the internet hiatus... ive been busy building and riding.