29"/26"

[jonassterling]

So I've been hearing all the buzz about 29" wheels and I have an idea for an odd setup. I've got a 1x1 frame, a spare 700c wheel, an old triple crown Tange blade fork(non-suspenstion corrected) and some spare time. I'm thinking the short fork and the big wheel should cancel each other out and correct the geometry. The only things I need are a 29" knobby and a 1 1/8" quill stem. I wish I was still in pgh I would just head down to Kraynics and find just what I need stem wise but not tire wise. Anybody got a 29" tire to sell me?. The idea here is to use the big front wheel as suspension. I don't know this could all be a waste of time to build up a bike that just handles like crap. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Subscription Guy]

I love expermenting, and I hate to discourage it, but there are some things to think about before you burn any time:

I'd be surprised if a 29 inch tire would fit into a non-sus corrected fork designed for 26 tires. Put a 26 inch tire in there and see if you have at least 1.5 inches clearance above it. If not, forget it.

Then you have the problem of your brakes lining up on the 700c rim surface, since the brake bosses were designed for a mountain rim. That's a simple experiment you can try with that 700 c rim you've got there.

Good luck
:)

[jonassterling]

Thanks Karl. I guess I hadn't thought this one out all the way. If the tire fits the forks it may work. If I remember correctly the brake bosses can slide on the fork legs, so if the tire fits(which I doubt it will) this may be a go. I haven't looked at the fork in a few years so I may be dreaming here. I'd like to try this anyway, maybe I should take that welding course I've promised myself.

[Andy in Wi]

If you've got the 1x1 and some 700c wheels, you could definately use cross tires ( the rear might fit a 29" tire, or might not. I've been toying with the idea of doing that to mine), and with some work, you might be able to make a front 29 setup (the stock surly fork for the 1x1 should clear a 29 front). The brake thing can be taken care of using some ingenius paul v-brakes with enough adjustability so that the pads can take a 700c rim on a 26" bike, and will work with canti levers if setup so (however you still need a linear pull lever for using them with 26" wheels). The intent is a way to create a cross bike out of a mountain bike frame, and since in a sense you are doing this, it should work.

Other then ordering a stock fork (or maybe a ti fork ;) ), if you can remove the legs completely from the crowns, finding some 4130 pipe stock (easton al if you want to get fancy, carbon fiber with an aluminum skeleton if you want to impress and show off either carbon fiber fabrication abilities or a surplus of money). Otherwise, marzocchi crowns from before uh... 2000 should have removable legs (since then they've gone press-fit on everything 'cept triple clamps) or even a wrecked motorcycle at the local dump could provide the neccessary fork clamps.

Don't let Karl get you too scared. True, time might have to be spent, and the less money the more time, but hey, winter project!

Happy hunting, and hey, if it doesn't fit right, hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't work, get a bigger hammer.
-WiBA

[JerseyDevil]

A good place to find 29" info is the mtbr.com board. They have a dedicated 29" forum.
I agree with Karl. I don't think your project will work without cutting and welding. In addition to that, geometry is different for a 29er too.
I would just save up for a Surly Karate Monkey, which should be about $400 and available in early March. Fisher also has a whole bike for about $950 list.

[jonassterling]

The Idea here was to keep the wheel base down to near 26" length while adding the "roll over stuff better" stuff up front. It looks like Surly may have done something about the wheelbase issue with the KM but I'm bored with my status quo and want to do something with all the crap I have laying around.

[Office Jockey]

I really think Surly has somthing going with the Karate Monkey. First the pissed off name is it and the color exudes cool. I have a build setup that for what it will cost me we be super rad. Going full ridgid first then getting a Marzocchi MX Comp fork. Avid disc brakes, XT, XTR drivetrain with race face cranks. I am not going to put on triple front chinrings or der cause I don't really need one (thats the cool part). I just think the setup I envison will be rad and much cheaper than the custom steel 29" soulcraft frame I was looking at (In fact I will probly build the whole bike for less than a custom frame and fork.

I am very open to suggestions for 29" disc wheels. I'm a fairly smooth guy who is under a buck 60 so i'm not super concerned but the torque created by discs on a big wheel is something to think about.

Lets not forget that while Fisher may be one of the fathers of Mtn. Bikes it was Wes Williams of Willits bikes who is the father of 29"

[Subscription Guy]

I interviewed Wes, and several other industry types, for a 29 incher tech feature a few years ago:
http://www.dirtragmag.com/articles/article.php?ID=46&category=features

Dirt Rag: way, way ahead of the curve...
:D

[wherd]

how bout getting a 1-1/8 road/cross fork and using that with your wheel.

no brake issues then???

then put a 24" wheel on the back, and you've got a choppa...