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Are 29ers any good at rock climbs?
I'm looking at new bikes and thinking of crossing to the dark side.
My question is can 29ers climb rock step ups as easy as easy as a 26" ie: Manly dam steps at the top of the track and Red Hill steps.
I know they take a bit more effort to get up hills like heart break on the dam , but don't really want to miss out on the mountain goat stuff.
I wasn't convinced by the shop salesman answers so real life experiences would be appreciated.
Cheers
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Mine climbs like a mountain goat - makes a very ordinary rider (me) look good up heartbreak hill. Only weighing 11kg helps. Getting the rear up is no problem. Longer rear requires you to start your front wheel lift a little earlier. Still haven't quite mastered it but I've only had it 2 weeks.
Others will chip in their views shortly.
From what I've seen from riding with guys on 29ers they don't seem to have too many problems at all. So much so that I'm on the hunt for a longer travel 29er at the moment also. Just waiting to see what turns up from the major manufacturers in the next month or so. It's an interesting time to be in the market for a new bike. Lots of great stuff being released.
Have a look at this review from Flow on the 29 Stumpy FSR and note it's shot at Red Hill.
http://flowmountainbike.com/tests/specialized-st...
29ers make those rock step ups like the ones at Manly Dam simply easy.
This is the one benefit of a 29er, especially for racing, you can carry so much more momentum through difficult obstacles. It is a slightly different technique, but once you try it you will struggle to go back.
My Yeti 575, unless i am go down (descending trails like the Thredbo Flow Trail), stays on the garage wall these days.
The best way to find out is give one a try !
G'day, oldandslow, been a time. Good to see you're looking at a 29er. As for me, I'm just looking at the tele
I have an Anthem X which is great and now an Avanti Vapour 29 specked up to 140mm front travel with Fox 34s and a 68* Head angle that does tech climbs even better. I mainly ride Red Hill and can get up stuff now I could never on my 26" Reign or Spesh SX Trail. I don't know about the more effort for hill climbs either - my Avanti climbs like an XC rig but bombs down like a DH bike.
29ers derfinately climb well , those big wheels just keep rollin, rollin, rollin.
I have mate who has quite small hands and he reckons the stability of the larger wheels helps make up for this.
I have another mate that owns both and 80% of his rides are on a 26. Oh, and it is..........gc!!!!!!!!!!! YEAAAAAHHHHH BBBBBAAAAABBBBYYYY
Great to hear from you.
It's been lonely on the tandem without you. Missing you at the Maybrook bingo nights also.
Actually looking at the Specialized Enduro 29 150 travel on the front as it's an All Mountain.
Took one for a ride the other day , only on the street but front felt a bit heavy. Total bike weight was 14.7 .
Where is the best Specialized Shop ?
Do you really need an Enduro ?
The stumpy will give you a lot of play fun capability and probably a good couple of kg in weight savings.
The Enduro would be at the extreme end of the 29er all mountain bike range.
I also love the idea of it but the thought of riding it up some of the steeper trails terrifies me. I'm already firmly entrenched in the "autobus" on most group rides. You obviously may not have the same problem.
In reality I think it is overkill for the riding that I do.
Also look at the new Trek Remedy in both 29 and 650B, the Kona Satori, Norco Shinobi, about to be released Giant 650B's and as Dicko has stated have a look at the Stumpy 29er. The Stumpy evo would be amazing if you have deep enough pockets.
Buy an Epic.
It's more fun making your own
Epic, that is.
Rode my Occam 29 in it's first race a couple of weeks ago. I was sooo stoked! Best thing I ever did going to a 29 for XC racing. I prefer a slacker more upright bike that is more fun than race. The higher handle bars etc suit my shortass T-Rex arms as well. Running a 120mm fork on the front, many would say that it's too much for a race bike. But even after only riding the 29er a couple of times (total about 30km) before the race, I knocked off 4 mins off my best lap at Mt annan in the race. My old bike was a Cannondale Carbon Rush with a 120mm fork as well. Weight difference is about 600g heavier with the 29er (my Occam weighs in at 12.1 race ready with pedals, spare tube, pump and XT wheels). The Occam also handled a lot better than the Rush even after years of tweaking the setup on the rush, and the Occam getting a 5 min session on my little test track. The technical riding on this bike was the biggest surprise. I felt bugger all difference (apart from my AM feeling a lot more plush) to my AM 160/150mm bike, popping over rocks, up steps and down rock gardens was a breeze! Not as fast on the downs in the really techy stuff compared to the AM. But I've been riding my AM for years. The chainstays on my AM are 420mm, and the Occam are 445mm. The difference is definately noticable, but in no way does it hold you back. Just needs a little more grunt on the pedal to get the front up.
If I could only have one bike and wanted to do the racing that I do (marathon style XC) and still do the rough techy style riding that I do with my mates, I couldn't go past my Occam.
In the end, bike choice is very personal, and very dependant on how you like your bike to feel and perform.
This is an extreme all mountain 29er, built on the north shore of Canada not Sydney
http://youtu.be/R-NDI3heSGc
This is my 29er HT. Short chain stays, slack head angle and low BB. Sitting in it, not on it.
http://youtu.be/ATUAvWigRwI
I have come off a 6" 26 dually and ride this bike like I am still on a dually over everything.
Do not believe the 26er crowd that a 29er isn't flickable can't de used for All mountain, can't mono.
My 29er is half a wheel short in wheel base that my 26 dually. Mine is built to do it all, 120mm fork, flow rims, Ardent tyres. With the short ribbed chain stays, shorter than most 26ers, this bike goes everwhere.
I prefer to build not buy.
Go to the shop and state that you want to take a demo bike to Manly Dam for the morning, explaining exactly your concerns. If they decline, explain that whereas you do understand the agenda of the salesperson, you'd rather make your own mind up with a simple test ride.
If they don't permit you to do some sort of suitable test ride, wish them luck and walk away.
Asking a shop to take a brand new bike around the dam is a tall ask... Not sure about all shops, but I thought most demo bikes were usually the property of the importer and not the bike shop itself, so availability may be a problem. Just some food for thought.