LA Times covers 29ers

[0gravity]

Ya'll see that in this Tuesday's health section? It was a nice big full page spread with a bunch of 29er bikes. Coincidentally, the same day I got to try a 29er single speed for the first time. It was a blast, I was all smiles on the ride. Bike was a Redline Monocog 29er. Real basic, but it did the trick. Real tempting at less than $500 for the whole bike instead of 2k plus like the ones the Times covered.

Here's the article text...

The wheel, reinvented

April 23, 2007

Six years ago, when mountain-bike pioneer Gary Fisher came out with a radical new mountain bike with extra-large wheels, most of his own dealers didn't want it. Except for a couple of custom builders in tiny Rocky Mountain towns, no one believed that the heavier 29-inch-wheeled bikes were faster than traditional 26-inchers. But when some endurance riders started winning races on them, word began leaking out: Big wheels roll over objects better, are more stable (because the rider sits deep between the tall wheels) and build noticeably more momentum on descents, flats, pavement and all but the steepest climbs. Now, having flattened the criticism like a two-tire monster truck, the big-wheel revolution is exploding beyond its niche. Longtime riders are dropping their "little wheels" like yesterday's news, and manufacturers are rushing to make big ones, including seven models from Fisher's namesake brand.

Roy M. Wallack



Versatile player with comfort in tow

Fisher Super Caliber: Dual-suspension aluminum bike with a simple, effective design.

Likes: Good for all types of riding — short, fast races to all-day expeditions. Quite comfortable due to the combination of big tires and moderate 3-inch wheel compression. Simple, low-maintenance single-pivot suspension design stays laterally stiff. Includes 27-speed SRAM 9 drivetrain.

Dislikes: None

Price: $2,399. (920) 478-2191; Gary Fisher Bikes .




*

A light touch when you feel the need for speed

Salsa Mamasita Hardtail: Front-suspension race bike with exotic aluminum-scandium-carbon fiber frame.

Likes: Light 3.4-pound frame. Fast. Stiff scandium-alloy mainframe transfers power well from pedal to wheel. Comfortable for a hardtail due to flattened carbon chain and seatstays, which flex vertically to take the edge off bumps. Combined with the natural shock absorption of the big tires, it provides minor rear-end cushioning. Test bike has 80-millimeter fork (3-inch), hydraulic brakes and Shimano XT 27-speed drivetrain.

Dislikes: None

Price: $850 frame; bike tested $2,300. (952) 941-9391; © Salsa Cycles 2007 .

*




A one-gear rebel with a split personality

Trek 69er Singlespeed: A one-gear bike with two wheel sizes: 29-inch in the front and 26-inch in the back.

Likes: It may have some advantages over a standard single-speed (a growing low-maintenance, high-fitness niche becoming dominated by 29-inch wheels). The rear wheel, being small, can accelerate faster and sits slightly more underneath the rider, aiding steep climbs. The big front wheel provides more rolling speed and floats over objects better than small-wheel bikes. Rare sliding rear dropouts allow tightening of a stretched-out chain by simply sliding the wheel and disc brakes back as a unit. Up-sloping seated position is comfortable and does not seem to hurt handling.

Dislikes: Mismatched wheels are a major hassle; riders need to carry two different-sized spare tubes, tires and spokes. Also, expensive for a single-speed; good, matching-wheel singles with disc brakes can be had at half or a third of this price.

Price: $2,200. (920) 478-2191; trekbikes.com .

*


Sweet suspension so it's rugged-trail tough
Niner RIP 9: All-conditions, rough-and-tough dual-suspension bike from the bike industry's only 29er-only maker.

Likes: Guts to match your own. With 4.5 inches of suspension travel, the RIP (Roll in Peace) can swallow jarring hits and scary steeps. A tough, nimble-handling machine with top-end components: SRAM X0 27-speed drivetrain and tough Crossmax tubeless tires with burly, large-diameter, straight-pull spokes. No wasted energy; unique "constantly varying arc" suspension design minimizes suspension movement under hard pedaling yet sucks up to small bumps well. Clever "bottle cap" stem lets the bike be customized with a snap-on bottle lid. Phosphorescent paint glows in the dark.

Dislikes: None

Price: $4,000. (877) 646-3792; ninerbikes.com.

*

Roy M. Wallack is an endurance cyclist and runner and the coauthor of "Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100." He can be reached at roywallack@aol.com.

[Pain Freak]

I feel the fad fading!

[Gabriel Zink]

The press is stupid and knows nothing. See John Balzar, LA times who quoted me claiming that I only ride a single speed along with other lies.

[0gravity]

Originally Posted by Gabriel Zink

The press is stupid and knows nothing. See John Balzar, LA times who quoted me claiming that I only ride a single speed along with other lies.

The press is stupid and it reaches a buttload more people than a niche online forum (no offense STR, of course). I didn't point out LA Times coverage because I'm grateful to be educated about 29ers by them. Rather, it signals an interesting juncture for 29ers that "mainstream press" would even know about 29ers and find it worthwhile to cover it prominently. As Pain Freak says, maybe that means it's gotten big enough the fad will fade. But I won't bet on that.

PS: I'm press too (albeit niche) but I still say cut it some slack.

[dstepper]

STOP THE 29 HATE AND FREE FO!

Dean

[cjwally]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I feel the fad fading!

Fad Fading? I own 26 and 29...I like them both. All that matters is that everyone has fun doing what they love. See ya on the trail.

[soul rider]

i'm going to put 20" bmx hoops on my Banshee Scream
yeah i know i'm a trend setter

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by soul rider

i'm going to put 20" bmx hoops on my Banshee Scream
yeah i know i'm a trend setter

I'm getting one of those!!!