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hardtail 29ers vs dual suspension 26ers
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi guys
At the moment i have a Giant anthem x2 2011 26 inch, and ill be looking for a new bike soon
I am quite keen on the 29er idea but im not sure if a hardtail would suit WA conditions?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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I wondered the same as I'm now getting on a bit & a lap of the Kalamunda trail was a bit much like hard work on my 26 Ht especially when I was tired and as you ARE the rear suspension every fist sized rock meant out of the saddle.
After building a reasonably light 29er HT (11kg) I can report that it's not bad. The big wheel format especially when tallied up with fatter tyres (2.25+) effectively smoothes out a lot of the smaller stuff & seems to float over the loose stuff far better also the light weight & slacker attack angle means that hills are steamrollered thereby making a 29erHT a real "one bike for everything" option for some.
I think that the best idea is try it yourself as I did when Specialized/Wembley cycles had their open day and I took the carbon HT 29er out & it blew me away.
Have fun
T
another thing to keep in mind that giant make a 29er soft ail/dual suspension aswell, personally i prefer the 26 but still worth a look.
There's some really nice new carbon duallie 29ers coming out from Giant later this year - might be worth waiting for one of those...
http://www.bikemag.com/gear/giant-launches-carbo...
i think the carbon option mentioned above would be just slightly expensive, considering generally any carbon bike is about 5g, anyway...
The RRP of the Carbon Anthem 29er 0 in Australia is $7,500, and the lower spec Carbon 29er 1 $4,000, but it looks like the cheapest carbon model that sells for $3000 in the US won't be available here
All still out of my budget - guess I'll be riding a tin can for a while longer...
Details are already on the Giant Australia web site
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/...
Geez, I feel like a Giant salesman - do you think they'd give me one cheap for all this free advertising
it looks heaps sick
But my price range is around $2000
You could try the Chinese carbon framed 29er and build your own. Seem many have and there have been some good reports. Think there was a couple of threads on here about them. Also search on "chinese carbon mtb frame" or similar to get some info and dealers. The last time I checked they were about $800 for a full carbon frame. You may be able to use some of the stuff off your 26r like cranks, cassettes, bars, brakes etc. FWIW.
My 2c's
I have a trancex2 that i upgraded with xtr and light wheels etc. This is now a fun bike with 5inchs and reasonably light to climb. but
I got a fuji 29er (HT) as a cheap 2nd bike to lend to mates and family when they visit.
Well i dont ride the trance any more. the 29ht is soo much faster overall with the riding I do (Kal circuit, JFNP, forsyth mill etc) yes in the really fast rocky stuf its slower but every where else its just rolls better.
But i recon a dully 29er would be the ducks nutts.
JUST RIDE IT THOUGH
Oh here's a nice one. Get two. One for the missus
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/cervel...
What's with the black plastic!
OK, I've nothing against carbon fibre in the right environment or if it's designed for purpose but for thrashing about over the rocky stuff in the hills for a couple of hours & generally having a good time on a budget it's about the furthest material from my mind. When you can get a 1.5kg* ali frame for about $300 and a steel one for about $210 even the Chinese carbon looks expensive, and it'll be a pig to repair if you damage it.
This is more what I was thinking of:
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...
Mine is the lighter Scandal
T
IMHO full suspension 29ers are not all that.. while I'm lucky and have the option of riding a few bikes; I can't stop riding my 29 HT, I'm not so keen on the 29 FS, and personally I much prefer to ride a 26 FS bike for the fun stuff.
if you can do without rear suspension, get the hardtail.
With FS I've had total lockout for the last couple of bikes, and while I appreciate the locked out rear end at times, what is interesting is it never stays on. I've even gone out with the express idea of riding a hardtail , but the little lever always gets the better of me after 30minutes and the first bumpy climb. The weight penalty for FS is really quite low these days.
perhaps the advantage of a hardtail is new bike syndrome - so you are super keen for a month or so and ride it all the time. That gives you a chance to change your riding style. I find i always ride crap for the first few rides of any new bike - it takes time to adjust to differences then appreciate them.
Yeah, cheers guys. 29er HT sounds like the way to go. That sounds like an idea of building up ur own 29er, but i dont have the time though
Any thoughts on this bike?
http://perthmtb.asn.au/node/33145
defo 29er HT
But borrowed a flash 29er for the mont and it was awesome!
Btw,with my new wheels, my dually will probably be less than that flash without pedals!
It it's still available, it would be a rocket.
However, Cannondale warranty applies only to the original owner, so being carbon I'd be wanting a much steeper discount to be taking on the risk of no cover for a frame breakage, as their CF bikes don't have the best reputation for longevity.
I am a current Cannondale owner x 4, and love their bikes ... but aluminium only.
Throw him an offer for $2K mentioning the warranty (or lack thereof) on the frame, and see what he says.
My next bike will be a 29er dually or sure.
whatcha got Gazza?-C'Dale still?
went from 26 HT, to 29r HT then 29r FS. Would not go back to HT unless was only doing short XC races (for which I'm too old and slow
). However some of the newer HT 29r carbons have flex built into the rear stays so they absorb some hits. Not sure any of the ally frames are able to do that. Question for the informed "does a 29r need less travel than a 26r for the same terrain to be as capable and 'smooth'".
Re the lefty linked below - think Midland cycles have a new one on special for $2,?00 - not sure about price but well below 3k.
Yep, Scalpel 1 with a few mods.
Should be around 9.5 without pedals when I get the new race wheelset on.
It rides like an absolute dream, I know it's a bit of new bike syndrome but the thing is completely awesome!
That cannondale 29er is a serious machine. High end spec bike, I imagine it to climb like a mountain goat! If its still for sale would be worth a test drive. Happy riding...
cheers, yeah im gonna think about it