Considering

[Rev.BudGreen]

Met a guy on the trail at Council Bluff Lake in MO last weekend. He was riding a Gunnar Ruffian 29-er ss. Nothing but good things to say about the bike. I've got a ss road bike, but not mountain. Since I enjoy riding my ss road bike so much, I think I'm going to try to pop for a mountain version.

So, my quesiton is: Should it be a 29-er? I think probably the answer is yes, but would like to hear opinions. And, if y'all agree w/ me (which, if you're in the 29-er forum, I think you will), do you have any suggestions? I can't afford a custom bike. Looked at the VooDoo frame as a possible option, but don't know how much they cost, etc. Anyway, would like some suggestions. Thanks.

Peace........Rev

[tryandgetme]

IRO Mia. cheap, VERY sturdy (I aint gonna break mine anytime soon) and you can fit 29" wheels in there. And soon tony will be offering a 29" option for the complete bike, if thats the way you want to go. I'm impressed by the weight too compared to my previous rigid frame/fork. If you buy direct from them it comes to $579 USD

http://www.irocycle.com/

[wooglin]

How tall are you? What kind of riding?

[Cyclenaut]

I LOVE my 29er Spot. I ride it almost exclusively on the trails now (depending on how ridiculously hilly a ride is, and how much time I have to ride it).

If you are looking to save some dosh, you could check out the Surly Karate Monkey. Gary Fisher also has the Rig now, which is gorgeous.

[Goride]

Just be sure 29er is for you.

There is lots of hype out there about it, but there are more than just a few of us that seem to feel that the larger wheels are a bit sluggish feeling.

-brad

[Cyclenaut]

Ok ok...I have to say more now. This sluggish feeling that people keep talking about...I know what they mean by it, and yes there are points where it does take a little more time to get the bike moving, but this is at the very beginning when you first start to pedal. When you brake it takes a little longer to slow the wheel down, but this doesn't mean that you will hurl yourself off a cliff. It just means that you'll apply more brake at first until you get used to it. It's sort of like switching from v-brakes to discs. People have noticed that they aren't as easy to turn through switchbacks, as well. And you have to work them into corners more than on a 26 inch bike.

All of that matters if you are racing though. If you are out riding with your friends then you're not going to be miles slower than they are just because you are on a 29er. In fact, when you do hit the sweet spot, you can feel the momentum of the larger wheels taking over and suddenly your pedaling becomes easy work. This is something I've never noticed on a 26in wheel.

Overall I think the 29er is tremendous fun to ride, and it does make riding through techinical stuff very smooth.

If you aren't racing, then you should try one out.

[Rev.BudGreen]

Wooglin: I'm 5'10 w/ a 32" inseam. 38 yrs and about 154 lbs. I race cross country on my geared hardtail and would use a 29-er ss for trail rides w/ like-minded folks who are out to train, dig the day and enjoy each other's company. Try to go fast, yes, but mostly just put in some miles and have a great time doing it.

Chris: Thanks. I will check those out. I thought the Mia was 26" only. So they do a 29er, too? Thanks.

Peace......Rev

[tryandgetme]

yeah its disc specific, with enough clearance for 29" wheels.

[wooglin]

yeah its disc specific, with enough clearance for 29" wheels.
Wow, that sounds like quite a few compromises in a single frame. In a neither fish nor fowl sort of way.

Rev, at 5'10" you could go either way. I suggest you find something you can test ride before pulling the trigger. Big wheels are a gimme for taller folks, but you're a little below what I would classify as the cusp. Doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you, just that a bike designed around 26" wheels could also easily work.

That said, if I was in the market for a 29" SS I'd get a GFRig no question.

[Cyclenaut]

Nat Ross races on a Fisher 29er full suss bike, and wins solo 24 hour races (he won Moab last year, among others). His lap times are not far off of the pro guys who are racing on teams.

[haloblack]

I have only recenly added my 29" Karate Monkey to my stable. Having a 26"ss and a 29"ss, I can tell you that the smooth rolling you hear about is not hype. Im sure big wheels arent for everyone (like a cool band, I dont want them to be). I can make the analogy that a 29ss is like a car with less torque and more horsepower. Yes, it feels a little slower from a start, but once you have any momentum at all, you can feel the wheels "pulling" to turn over more. Its just plain FUN!

Most importanly I can say that (for me) The 29" cadence on a fireroad is much more fluid and efficient feeling. I dont feel the "dead spot" in the pedal stroke that I do on my 26ss.

My 26" feels more nimble handling and feels more "bunnie-hoppable". The 29" seems to climb a little better and even decent with more confidence. ( I think because if the taller wheels and longer wheelbase)

That said, I love them both, but I almost always pick the 29er no matter what the trail.

Hope that helps..

[DosNueveMan]

I always have to laugh when I see some of the stuff people post here. I see so much sterotyping about 29ers that is nothing more than a bunch of bunk. First if 29ers were so slow to get rolling they'd consistently be in the settling dust on any ride or off the start line at a race. People here often talk like it's some kind of huge measureable difference when in reality it makes no difference in the end. I have only noticed the dust settling on the riders/racers behind me when I ride my niners. At the last 2 races I was at all 29ers present were on the podium for their respective races. So maybe fitness has more to do with it than not. Second, 29ers are not just for "tall" riders. I'm 5'8" and I know many others that are shorter than me on niners. Size of the person has nothing to do with wheel size. I have found that 29ers are right for me - they're not for everyone though (it's a preference thing). Finally, there are plenty of reasonablely priced options out there for SS 29ers including Walt Works (custom frames), Surly, and the Gary Fisher Rig. Stay away from a bike that was not originally designed to be a 29er - you're just asking for a poor ride.