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why?

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
29ers have their merit, but they won't catch on until manufacturer support is wider spread. Big tires mean nothing if they suck.
 

wood booger

Monkey
Jul 16, 2008
668
72
the land of cheap beer
29ers have their merit, but they won't catch on until manufacturer support is wider spread. Big tires mean nothing if they suck.
29ers have definitely "caught on", I think Specialized has about 6-7 models in their lineup both hardtail and FS. I think the benefits are mostly for the XC race crowd or super tall folks. They feel kind of goofy when turning/manuvering in the tight stuff, and I think a DH 29er would exaggerate this. And most 29" tires out there are XC orientated.

But it is inevitable that some 29er dork will spout all over themselves about how a 29er DH rig is the best thing ever. For some reason 29" wheels attract the super nerds/dorks, kind of like recumbents.
 

livewakesnow

Monkey
Nov 19, 2008
137
0
woodinville
Hmm well I did find the thread on it. Didnt see the sticky.
but for those who actually gave input thanks and sorry for not looking closer haha
 
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Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
29ers have definitely "caught on", I think Specialized has about 6-7 models in their lineup both hardtail and FS. I think the benefits are mostly for the XC race crowd or super tall folks. They feel kind of goofy when turning/manuvering in the tight stuff, and I think a DH 29er would exaggerate this. And most 29" tires out there are XC orientated.

But it is inevitable that some 29er dork will spout all over themselves about how a 29er DH rig is the best thing ever. For some reason 29" wheels attract the super nerds/dorks, kind of like recumbents.
sorry, I should have said "Catch on for DH". There are few or no tire manufacturers that do a committed tire and no rim manufacturers that do serious DH rims for downhill use.
 

Hesh To Steel

Monkey
Dec 12, 2007
661
1
Hell's Kitchen
There was a thread about 29er DH on this forum not two weeks ago. There is also a long one on mtbr.

Someone has put together a DH 29er with, for the first time, one-off DH specific parts.
 

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
29ers will surely be a hit with a 40-dead veteran dh class. Atleast, I would assume so since only old men ride 29 xc bikes.
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
29ers have definitely "caught on", I think Specialized has about 6-7 models in their lineup both hardtail and FS. I think the benefits are mostly for the XC race crowd or super tall folks. They feel kind of goofy when turning/manuvering in the tight stuff, and I think a DH 29er would exaggerate this. And most 29" tires out there are XC orientated.

But it is inevitable that some 29er dork will spout all over themselves about how a 29er DH rig is the best thing ever. For some reason 29" wheels attract the super nerds/dorks, kind of like recumbents.

Yeah, I rememder two or three years ago specialized was talikin trash about fully 29rs. If I remeber correctly, it was aimed at gary fisher. I guess they changed their tune after they felt a mrket opening up.
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
Why not go all out? 29er front, 650b rear, both tubular. :) And why not make DH specific clip on aro bars for those wide open sections?

Really, I would like to ride a 29er before jumping to bashing it. It has to be beneficial in rock gardens.
 

ChrisKring

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
2,399
6
Grand Haven, MI
anyone remember when 24" was the thing to have for DH? There were people touting "physics" to support that too.

29" is limited due to wheel strength, tire selection, etc. But by all means, keep the bike industry going and buy everything.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
anyone remember when 24" was the thing to have for DH? There were people touting "physics" to support that too.
The geometry issue isn't significant between those two wheelsizes but it is going up to 29er even for HTs. Wheel strength is physics too. Some places like Plattekill 24" still make sense for a few riders.
 

Huck Banzai

Turbo Monkey
May 8, 2005
2,523
23
Transitory
Umm, Im one of those super tall guys they keep talking about, got some time ona few different 9'ers, and, umm..

NO! It's clumsy oaf gearhead crap. Park it next to your Iro and beach cruiser.

Sales dont equal substance - eg Britney Spears....
 
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ChrisKring

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
2,399
6
Grand Haven, MI
The geometry issue isn't significant between those two wheelsizes but it is going up to 29er even for HTs. Wheel strength is physics too. Some places like Plattekill 24" still make sense for a few riders.
my point was to watch out for bogus marketing physice. The same people that were pushing 24" a few years ago are pushing 29" today. Physics hasn't changed. Why was wheel inertia such a problem 6 years ago and isn't a problem today?
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
my point was to watch out for bogus marketing physice. The same people that were pushing 24" a few years ago are pushing 29" today. Physics hasn't changed. Why was wheel inertia such a problem 6 years ago and isn't a problem today?
Marketing force can beat inertia anytime ;) I'm sure with the right amount of crap from the big producer advertisments people would go crazy for 29'' and say that's what they really need. The crap ideas people take from adverts still amaze me.
 

ÆX

Turbo Monkey
Sep 8, 2001
4,920
17
NM
Still one of the sickest bikes ever made!!!!

Alex, where are you man????

It's my birthday today so I get a email notice and remember all the nice folks here on RM. I spent I lot of time on here in the past.

I ran my own shop for a year in my hometown of Amarillo. Now I am renovating a '50 dental office I got into a hostel. Financing it thru a mng job at huge pilot bike mega store Hastings entertainment is testing.

Yeasterday was the last day of a Amarillo to mississippi rive tour. 1000miles using the Katy trail. That was a fun 3 weeks. I am going to tour more. Self stuff in SAmerica next year.

I plan on racing worlds DH when I turn 40,.....on my 29er. Hahah
 

SuspectDevice

Turbo Monkey
Aug 23, 2002
4,157
359
Roanoke, VA
29" wheeled DH bikes are coming, are fast as hell and they will likely stick around after they get here.
True story. They aren't going to replace 26" wheels, but they are certainly fast if you can keep the throttle wide enough open.
 

fluider

Monkey
Jun 25, 2008
440
9
Bratislava, Slovakia
With unstoppable trend of youngs being taller (in average) than previous generations a move to 29" bikes is inevitable IMO. I think the new athletes are gonna be taller and slightly heavier than those today. A 26" bike in M-L size won't be enough for them, it won't match to their bodies.
And it can be seen already now, guys 22-29 yo riding bikes that look like they took it from their younger brothers. Not mentioning that 26" wheels look terribly small when ridden by 6.5+ ft tall man.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
The way that bikes seems to handle from that film (comparing how the riders movies and the bike reacts) is really strange, especialy in the air.


ps. Rotational mass is not important in dh? I may be in a bad mood today but intense marketing will never stop to amaze me.
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
You can compare the whole 26 vs 29 debate to a lot of different things. One of the simplest comparisons could be to 20 vs 26 wheels for street/DJ riding. 10-15 years ago you'd be hard pressed to find a 26" bike at a skate park, DJs or riding street. Many thought the only way to ride those disciplines was on a 20" BMX. Slowly more and more people/companies took note and now both are standards for all types of riding. Did 26s make 20s obsolete? No of course not, they can both be ridden on the same terrain each with their own pros and cons.

I don't think 29ers will ever make 26ers obsolete (especially in DH) but I do think both could be viable options for the same trail, each excelling in different areas.
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
You can compare the whole 26 vs 29 debate to a lot of different things. One of the simplest comparisons could be to 20 vs 26 wheels for street/DJ riding. 10-15 years ago you'd be hard pressed to find a 26" bike at a skate park, DJs or riding street. Many thought the only way to ride those disciplines was on a 20" BMX. Slowly more and more people/companies took note and now both are standards for all types of riding. Did 26s make 20s obsolete? No of course not, they can both be ridden on the same terrain each with their own pros and cons.

I don't think 29ers will ever make 26ers obsolete (especially in DH) but I do think both could be viable options for the same trail, each excelling in different areas.
You are making too much sense to be on this website. :p
 
Dec 7, 2009
197
0
Cloud Kiwi
WHY

Same reason people get wet over so called new bikes made outta carbon recently.

SHEEP!!!!!!!!!

Basically if there is no advantage! other than like the skinsuit debate vs baggy or moto, if everyone is wearing them then no advantage and its bak to bike skills and riding, dev and tech is down to a set of stds to work within, no different from Nascar, Indy, F1 or any other credible sport, only in MTB do we see this F***K up in stds!

Personally I don;t are if people ride big wheels small wheels but in competition ya need a base set of stds, if everyone cheats then they are cheats, and they're is no advantage, same with drugs in road cycling if everyone is taking em then its still the best hardest workers that make it to the top, problem is not all an afford the drugs!

GHEY.. maybe if people concentrated on riding instead of coming up with ways to be faster cause they cant compete/ dominate then the results would come aye USA!!! Just like the good ole days of Tomac and co, they won aus they worked hard not because of flash or BS, JT rode some ****ty bikes and still won!

Big wheels belong on trucks and road bikes, I might get a 29er one day to ride some rail trails but that will be all :D

like skin suits they sucksor & big wheels still not convinced, don't care how it rides its about stds,:thumb: not making new ones cause the old ones don't work for ya jmo from the silent majority lol..
 

spocomptonrider

sportin' the CROCS
Nov 30, 2007
1,412
118
spokanistan
29" wheeled DH bikes are coming, are fast as hell and they will likely stick around after they get here.
True story. They aren't going to replace 26" wheels, but they are certainly fast if you can keep the throttle wide enough open.
I don't doubt that at all, I'm sure on any course that doesn't have really tight corners and super techy stuff they would be an advantage as long as you aren't super short.
 

woodsguy

gets infinity MPG
Mar 18, 2007
1,083
1
Sutton, MA
I would think that you would have to be tall to ride a 29er DH bike. Because with a 29er wheel you esentially lose 3" of travel with the same geo.