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29'er SS V's 26" geared - shotout
I’ve always wondered what is faster the Surly Karate Monkey (29er) SS or the Yeti ASR RC 26inch with 27 gears. I haven’t ridden the Yeti since the Fling but with the SS in for a fork service I had time to find out.
The course was my standard Terrey Hills training loop of the shops to Duck Holes / Waratah / Centre via the sniggle. It’s a distance of 24.85k.
The 29’er SS lap was on 14/12 at 3.30pm and a balmy 23 degrees wind speed 43kph. Total Time 1:33:29 Moving Time 1:31:39 = 1 stop averaging 16.3 kph and a top speed of 52.5 kph. Heart Rate 147bpm (87% of max) with a maximum HR of 179bpm. I spent 35:28 minutes at 95% or above. I wasn’t pushing just trying to keep a good pace going. Felt good at the end.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7323108
The Yeti lap was on 31/1/09 at 4.00pm and a hot 28 degrees, wind speed 41kph. Total Time 1:29:32 Moving Time 1:28:43 = zero stops averaging 16.8 kph and a top speed of 48.8 kph. Heart Rate 159bpm (94% of max) with a maximum HR of 185bpm. I spent 55:04 at 95% or above. At the end I was knackered, with no energy. My back was beginning to get sore.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7539763
There are variable galore, bikes, gears, heat, etc. I loved being able to get in the big dog for the flat sections and I definitely made up time here. Selecting and changing gears I didn’t enjoy but I never went higher than middle and three.
While the Yeti was faster on the smooth flat sections the 29er feels quicker on the rough stuff. The big wheels do let you float more.
The Yeti lap moving time was nearly 3 minutes quicker, but my HR was at 12 bpm more. Maybe it was a heat thing. The Yeti climber slow (on average ascending time), but better descending and flat riding averages. Oddly the 29er had a quicker top end speed, just a slower averag.
At the end of the Yeti run I was nearing the end, I couldn't keep the high HR up for much longer (nearly an hour at 95% plus).
The jury is still out. I'm thinking I need to do a few more laps on the SS pushing it and on the Yeti holding it back a bit.
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Yeti are numbered. I can ease your pain a little and offer you say, $500 for it
It will be interesting to see what happens when you "push" yourself on the Surly
Let there be light
of your age mate, dirtworks was a long time ago and you've got a lot closer to your expiry date since then! Of course you'll be slower. Think of your deteriorating joints and muscles? Come on mate, you're no spring chicken anymore. Stop racing against yourself and grow old gracefully! (spoken from one oxygen thief to another! )
I was very surprised with the results for the Yeti regarding the speed averages and max's compared to the SS.
On the smooth flats I had the Yeti in the big dog and cranked away in the high 30's. The SS top speed on the flats is around 25-27 kph. Given this I thought the Yeti would be seriously faster than the SS and I was curious to get a handle on just how quicker, looking forward to the DW and thinking about possibly upping the gearing because of all the flat road sections.
Overall, the Yeti's average speed was only 0.5 kph faster than the SS. The closeness of the average speeds I put down to the 29er’s big wheels that roll over the rough track easier. I had to work harder on the Yeti and therefore fatigued more. I need a few more runs to test this theory.
I'm now thinking that these big wheels will hold there own on the DW track - I just need to join a train of some geared riders on the flat to pick up the pace . Beware - geared big wheels will do well on DW.
Tyres
I wonder if tyres make a difference. SS = Nevegal front and rear, Yeti = Rendez front and CrossMark rear. (Note to self, I need to re-test when I put Crossmarks on the SS).
did my first SS ride in the bush this morning!! TH Perimeter and Long and I'm very surprised how easy it felt!!
my 26" bike (29" front wheel will be ready soon) went really well.
the only hill I could not manage was the very rocky climb at the Long Trail.
Love it, look forward with 29" front wheel in it!
**the hardtail was 13.5kg with gears at the dirtworks last year.
Today with a 29er Fork, SS and 26" wheels it comes in @ 12kg.
Not bad for a over 10 year old frame....
Bernd
Paul the 29er SS makes for a fast bike it will be fine for the Dirtworks 100km though I wouldn’t go higher than the 32x18 the going is pretty hard from about 75km on and you might even be wanting the 32x19 at about the 80km point onwards. The flats can be a bit tiresome in a spiny gear but I would definitely be gearing the bike for the climbs not the flats.
Bernd that hill is tricky on a SS as you tend to need to climb it out off the saddle and the surface is just too lose I always loose traction there and haven’t made it once on the SS.
Same here Bernd. If you want a decent hill try Heart Break at the Dam it is smooth so no traction problems.
Damien I hear you with 32:19. I'll look around for a cog although I think I will train on the 32:18 just to build up strength to fight off fatigue.
Sounds like a good plan Paul 32x18 will build up your strength and then back it off a tooth to 32x19 for the race. I managed a respectable time two years ago with a decent bit of training but not much MTB experience on my 26inch SS which I ran at 32x18 for the race which is a little easier than a 32x19 on a 29er.
I build up my TN719 rim with a 20mm Suzee carbon downhill hub (a little heavy at about 220g) and DT Alpine 3 spokes.
Will post ride review separately...
Cheers
Nic
today! I will drop the rim and hub of to TWE and hope to have it build this week.
Bernd
... but much quicker to get someone else to do it.
Took me a couple of hours of research to determine spoke length, decide which spokes to buy and where to get them, etc. There are a surprising number of variables and options. Also, most places rip you off (eg $2 each for straight spokes).
I went for DT Swiss Alpine III tripple butted, which cost me $56 for 36 from cyclelink.com.au
A couple of hours to lace up (but I could probably do it again in about 30 min).
About an hour to true up and get the tension right (I have a Parks Tensionmeter)
Cheers
Nic