96er Question

[BFloFoxRider.]

ok so whats the deal with these?
they sounds as good or better than a 29er since im guessing with the smaller rear wheel it accelerates better and the big front wheel rols over things easier
but is it possible to get a 26 er frame and just put a 29er fork on the front with the 29 inch wheel or does the frame have to be custom built for it? like the trek..

[autoduel]

It has to be a specially built frame to accomodate a 29'er fork unless you want to be chopper'ed out. They're typically FS frames. Only half the compromise.

[BFloFoxRider.]

they sound neat
not that i have the money to get one
does only trek make one?

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

they sound neat
not that i have the money to get one
does only trek make one?

here

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=135

[allison]

Brandon - stop being obsessed with bikes ,frames, forks. Get something, ride the heck out of it. Race if you want to. When you can afford it, buy whatever you want!

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by allison

Brandon - stop being obsessed with bikes ,frames, forks. Get something, ride the heck out of it. Race if you want to. When you can afford it, buy whatever you want!

im just a curious little guy =)))
and if i do this new schooling... im getting a job
and thats MY decision not my parents
LOL

[allison]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

im just a curious little guy =)))
and if i do this new schooling... im getting a job
and thats MY decision not my parents
LOL

You definintely are curious!

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by allison

You definintely are curious!

well its better than selling drugs or my body parts to get he money to buy them
so i just ask alot of questions along the way
until i can get a job or a steady income to fuel my biking expenses

[ghixon]

What Is The Deal With Those “69ers”?

May 6th, 2007 by Guitar Ted
Recently I was given the opportunity to ride a Trek 69er on some off road trails. I also was priveliged to speak with a few elite level racers concerning the format of running a 29 inch front wheel/ 26 inch rear wheel bike. One of those people was Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member Travis Brown. Here’s my take so far on the “69er” idea based upon my experiences and conversations with Travis and other elite level racers. This is my current answer for the question, “What is the deal with those 69ers ?”

Hey, it is what it is. A 26 inch rear wheel we all have experienced before. No amount of “magic”, (read big front wheel and the belief that it somehow changes the rear wheel characteristics) is going to mask that. Just think about it for a minute. The front wheel is a 29″er, no surprises there for guys accustomed to 29″ers. It is what it is.

I don’t see any mystery here with the 69er. When you pedal uphill, you have to grunt and manouver more because the 26 inch rear wheel just doesn’t grip like a 29″er. Sure, it accellerates a bit more easily, but, (and this is the thing 69er folks don’t talk about) it loses momentum more quickly as well. The 29″er rear wheel takes a bit more effort, but when you have better climbing traction and a momentum conserving, “flywheel” effect, you can learn to use that to your advantage on rollers and downhills where I feel the 29″er has a huge advantage.

Travis Brown told me, (as did a couple of other 69er advocates) that they like the 26 inch rear wheel because they can get shorter chainstays and have the rear wheel tucked underneath them more. I didn’t hear anything about weight, acceleration, or other purported 69er benefits. My conclusion is that racers, elite level racers, like their bikes to feel a certain way, regardless of the advantages/disadvantages in regards to the 29″er/26″er debate. It would be just too difficult for them to have to relearn a new platform.

They seem to be a little more flexible when it comes to front wheel size and since that bigger wheel is #1. more comfortable, #2 gives better control, and #3 doesn’t upset the overall physics of pedaling a bicycle for them, ( ie: years of training on a specific wheel size, learning it’s traits and tuning yourself to that) they seem to be okay with the 69″er. I am speaking purely from an elite racing standpoint, and that is what the Trek lineup of 69″ers is designed for, per Travis’ own words.

So, that leaves us “mere mortals” to determine if what they are using makes sense for our riding. My opinion is this: I’m not an elite racer and I don’t have thousands of hours of fine tuning at risk if I choose a completely different wheel platform. So I look at what enhances my trail experience best. The 69er isn’t it.

For me, it’s the full on 29″er. At least that’s my experience so far. I am in the works now trying to obtain a 69″er for testing, to A/B test against a 29″er on my trails to determine if my hypothesis is correct. I am quite confident that I will find a 26 inch rear wheeled bike to be just that. A 26 inch rear wheeled bike, regardless of front wheel size.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by ghixon

What Is The Deal With Those “69ers”?

May 6th, 2007 by Guitar Ted
Recently I was given the opportunity to ride a Trek 69er on some off road trails. I also was priveliged to speak with a few elite level racers concerning the format of running a 29 inch front wheel/ 26 inch rear wheel bike. One of those people was Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member Travis Brown. Here’s my take so far on the “69er” idea based upon my experiences and conversations with Travis and other elite level racers. This is my current answer for the question, “What is the deal with those 69ers ?”

Hey, it is what it is. A 26 inch rear wheel we all have experienced before. No amount of “magic”, (read big front wheel and the belief that it somehow changes the rear wheel characteristics) is going to mask that. Just think about it for a minute. The front wheel is a 29″er, no surprises there for guys accustomed to 29″ers. It is what it is.

I don’t see any mystery here with the 69er. When you pedal uphill, you have to grunt and manouver more because the 26 inch rear wheel just doesn’t grip like a 29″er. Sure, it accellerates a bit more easily, but, (and this is the thing 69er folks don’t talk about) it loses momentum more quickly as well. The 29″er rear wheel takes a bit more effort, but when you have better climbing traction and a momentum conserving, “flywheel” effect, you can learn to use that to your advantage on rollers and downhills where I feel the 29″er has a huge advantage.

Travis Brown told me, (as did a couple of other 69er advocates) that they like the 26 inch rear wheel because they can get shorter chainstays and have the rear wheel tucked underneath them more. I didn’t hear anything about weight, acceleration, or other purported 69er benefits. My conclusion is that racers, elite level racers, like their bikes to feel a certain way, regardless of the advantages/disadvantages in regards to the 29″er/26″er debate. It would be just too difficult for them to have to relearn a new platform.

They seem to be a little more flexible when it comes to front wheel size and since that bigger wheel is #1. more comfortable, #2 gives better control, and #3 doesn’t upset the overall physics of pedaling a bicycle for them, ( ie: years of training on a specific wheel size, learning it’s traits and tuning yourself to that) they seem to be okay with the 69″er. I am speaking purely from an elite racing standpoint, and that is what the Trek lineup of 69″ers is designed for, per Travis’ own words.

So, that leaves us “mere mortals” to determine if what they are using makes sense for our riding. My opinion is this: I’m not an elite racer and I don’t have thousands of hours of fine tuning at risk if I choose a completely different wheel platform. So I look at what enhances my trail experience best. The 69er isn’t it.

For me, it’s the full on 29″er. At least that’s my experience so far. I am in the works now trying to obtain a 69″er for testing, to A/B test against a 29″er on my trails to determine if my hypothesis is correct. I am quite confident that I will find a 26 inch rear wheeled bike to be just that. A 26 inch rear wheeled bike, regardless of front wheel size.

It would be just too difficult for them to have to relearn a new platform.

[roadkillross]

go to treks website and read up on their research and information.......

[DDB@OCR]

Originally Posted by allison

Brandon - stop being obsessed with bikes ,frames, forks. Get something, ride the heck out of it. Race if you want to. When you can afford it, buy whatever you want!

Thank you!

[dutch]

i wonder how the article would read if it was not from a 29er grouch point of view.

[Brendanc]

Plenty of guys out there are running 29" wheels up front on their otherwise 26"er frames. It's probably a good intro to the idea, and you won't have to spend much $$ to get into it.

I build 'em, they work really well. My take on the whole deal has more to do with BB drop, though chainstay length also plays an important role as well.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by Brendanc

Plenty of guys out there are running 29" wheels up front on their otherwise 26"er frames. It's probably a good intro to the idea, and you won't have to spend much $$ to get into it.

I build 'em, they work really well. My take on the whole deal has more to do with BB drop, though chainstay length also plays an important role as well.

Agree. When folks bolt a 29'er fork and wheel on a 26" frame.....it is not good

Just a few years ago frame builders were stretching out 26" frame designs to fit the bigger hoops (29'ers). Some of the worst handling bike ever made.

If the mullet (29/26) is designed correctly........

[ghixon]

Originally Posted by dutch

i wonder how the article would read if it was not from a 29er grouch point of view.

It would probaly read the same, but with the 26"er's sunny disposition!

[cjwally]

96ers are ghey.....kinda like 650b. do one or the other.

[dutch]

Originally Posted by Brendanc

Plenty of guys out there are running 29" wheels up front on their otherwise 26"er frames. It's probably a good intro to the idea, and you won't have to spend much $$ to get into it.

I build 'em, they work really well. My take on the whole deal has more to do with BB drop, though chainstay length also plays an important role as well.

I'm only assuming it's modesty that prevents you from pointing out the differences between your awesome 55 frames and a 26er frame strapped to a 29er fork.

One of these days I will be able to afford a bike as nice as those sirens. one of these days...

[madrider]

Originally Posted by ghixon

What Is The Deal With Those “69ers”?

...Sure, it accellerates a bit more easily, but, (and this is the thing 69er folks don’t talk about) it loses momentum more quickly as well. The 29″er rear wheel takes a bit more effort, but when you have better climbing traction and a momentum conserving, “flywheel” effect, you can learn to use that to your advantage on rollers and downhills where I feel the 29″er has a huge advantage.

...It would be just too difficult for them to have to relearn a new platform.

...and that is what the Trek lineup of 69″ers is designed for, per Travis’ own words.

For me, it’s the full on 29″er.

Interesting.... whenever I ask other riders on the trail about their 29'er, the primary benefit is the FRONT wheel rolling over obstacles for a smoother line, and being able to roll over obstacles that would normally slow or catch a 26" wheel. That would make it seem that a 96'er would be the optimal compromise...

I don't own either, but I am curious and will probably test ride one this year. Do you 29'er owners feel like you're saving energy? If so, THAT is HUGE, VQ here I come!

[Endo Verendo]

Regarding energy/speed etc, I never noticed any difference between the way my 29er wheels roll compared to my 26ers. My 29er wheels/tire combo is the same weight, if not lighter than my 26ers + it seems the bigger wheels roll easier over things. There have also been many times where I'd swear my rear wheel would stall over an obstacle but it just rolls right over it.

The only advantage of a 69er that I can see is shorter chainstays for better climbing. That at least was the primary reason Travis Brown and Trek went that way.