He was right on one aspect, they are great to wookie tall folks such as myself. I picked up an XL Yeti Big Top from Go-Ride a few weeks back. It was part of the demo fleet so I expected it to be reasonably beat, but it was in amazing condition. Top props to Go-Ride for getting the bike out asap and sorting the small issues I had in a timely manner.
I've been pretty busy for the last few weeks, so I wasn't able to get the bike fully built and out for a ride until this weekend. I did a quick 13 mile single track ride on Saturday as my first ride, with exception of a 1min around the parking lot to confirm my saddle adjustment. Despite it being 31* when I got to the trailhead and even colder along the creek, it was a great ride. Had the chance to get crazy and loose on brown ice, and see an massive buck elk about 45ft from the trail. But onto the bike...
29'er hype and commentary:
1) It rolls over things more easily
Does it role over terrain more easily? I'm not sure. It's the first time I have been on a hardtail in a long time, so I can't give a clear yes/no.
Does it roll over things better than my 575 with a 36 up front? While climbing, yes. Descending, not sure. I was cranking until I got into the super techy rock sections, where I proceeded to nut myself excessively. Like any other hardtail, it gets sketchy at speed in the super rocky, but it was fast and smooth on the super buff single track.
2) They don't turn well
The ground had a good amount of 'brown ice' (dust covered ice), so I wasn't feeling my luck to keep pushing the corners. I did crank out a few hard corners and it felt great. I am running Schwalbe Racing Ralph's, which were shockingly good considering their profile. I also think a lot of the handling prowess is a direct response to the relatively slack angles that Yeti set it up with.
3) There are no good tires.
I want a little bit of meat. The Racing Ralph's are shockingly nice, but I do prefer a meatier tire.
4) Anybody can ride a 29'er.
This I will argue. Small women ride 650cc road wheels for a reason. An average size person can and should ride a 26" for a reason. Wookie/Yeti tall people should ride 29'ers. For the first time in a very long time, the bike felt to scale for me. I haven't ridden my 575 since my Big Top ride, but just having a bike that scales for me felt great (see below). I guess if you think it to scale, then I need a 32" to get the same effect as a little person on a 29'er.
*for context that's an XL 575*
And pics of the bike:
And I realize the rear wheel is not attached, I was waiting for the axle to arrive.
Bike spec:
Stock Enduro spec with Sram X9 dual-ring crank
Changed:
Thomson post I had lying around.
Changes to be made:
Easton Carbon Bars
Thomson Stem
XT triple ring crank (replacing X9 dual ring)
Swap X9 for X0 on 575
Setup Stan's tubeless
Those bits for the most part are fit, so out of the box it's a dang good setup.
*if anybody wants to swap a good conditition pair of XT triple ring cranks for X9 dual ring, pm me.*
I've been pretty busy for the last few weeks, so I wasn't able to get the bike fully built and out for a ride until this weekend. I did a quick 13 mile single track ride on Saturday as my first ride, with exception of a 1min around the parking lot to confirm my saddle adjustment. Despite it being 31* when I got to the trailhead and even colder along the creek, it was a great ride. Had the chance to get crazy and loose on brown ice, and see an massive buck elk about 45ft from the trail. But onto the bike...
29'er hype and commentary:
1) It rolls over things more easily
Does it role over terrain more easily? I'm not sure. It's the first time I have been on a hardtail in a long time, so I can't give a clear yes/no.
Does it roll over things better than my 575 with a 36 up front? While climbing, yes. Descending, not sure. I was cranking until I got into the super techy rock sections, where I proceeded to nut myself excessively. Like any other hardtail, it gets sketchy at speed in the super rocky, but it was fast and smooth on the super buff single track.
2) They don't turn well
The ground had a good amount of 'brown ice' (dust covered ice), so I wasn't feeling my luck to keep pushing the corners. I did crank out a few hard corners and it felt great. I am running Schwalbe Racing Ralph's, which were shockingly good considering their profile. I also think a lot of the handling prowess is a direct response to the relatively slack angles that Yeti set it up with.
3) There are no good tires.
I want a little bit of meat. The Racing Ralph's are shockingly nice, but I do prefer a meatier tire.
4) Anybody can ride a 29'er.
This I will argue. Small women ride 650cc road wheels for a reason. An average size person can and should ride a 26" for a reason. Wookie/Yeti tall people should ride 29'ers. For the first time in a very long time, the bike felt to scale for me. I haven't ridden my 575 since my Big Top ride, but just having a bike that scales for me felt great (see below). I guess if you think it to scale, then I need a 32" to get the same effect as a little person on a 29'er.
*for context that's an XL 575*
And pics of the bike:
And I realize the rear wheel is not attached, I was waiting for the axle to arrive.
Bike spec:
Stock Enduro spec with Sram X9 dual-ring crank
Changed:
Thomson post I had lying around.
Changes to be made:
Easton Carbon Bars
Thomson Stem
XT triple ring crank (replacing X9 dual ring)
Swap X9 for X0 on 575
Setup Stan's tubeless
Those bits for the most part are fit, so out of the box it's a dang good setup.
*if anybody wants to swap a good conditition pair of XT triple ring cranks for X9 dual ring, pm me.*
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