Anyone else gone to the dark side? Confession: I’ve just bought a 29er..

[benjabbi]

I rode this for the first time in ages this morning. They definitely roll over stuff better, it takes a bit more effort to get up to speed but that could just be that the tyres are considerably heavier than my 26" bikes. Most of them have 5-600g tyres, these are just under a kilo. I've had a 29er in the fleet since about 2010, I don't think they're better or worse than 26", different sure, but it's still just a bike.

 

[ibbz]

my nephews Merida with LRS suspension FS from back in 2006 I think went through terrain like a knife through butter effortlessly
Take away all the marketing and promotional reviews and it’ll boil down to geometry suspension tyres etc

 

[Wizbit2]

my nephews Merida with LRS suspension FS from back in 2006 I think went through terrain like a knife through butter effortlessly
Take away all the marketing and promotional reviews and it’ll boil down to geometry suspension tyres etc

Do you still have your LRS 1 the Minty one?

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

My experience of this subject is almost identical to classic cars...

My classics were used on high days and holidays, taken out and given a gentle beasting, then cleaned and put away again ready for the next special occasion...Same as my retro bikes are.

My 2 29er's (a carbon stumpy HT and a carbon epic FSR) are used for shredding and generally hard riding and enable me to keep up with my pals on their 29ers...There isn't the emotional attachment to them like I have for the retros, they're more seen as tools to do a job, however they are a lot more resilient to punishment than the retro bikes, with those always needing something doing after a ride, whether that be a wheel true, nut and bolt session or just a mech readjustment...I can never seem to just pop one away and be sure that I can drag it straight out the next time and put it in the car ready to go!

With all that said, I can keep up with guys on their HT 29ers when out riding 26", I just have to work a lot harder and end up blowing out of my arse sooner!!!

There is also the attention the older bikes get...The 29ers just get walked by when getting them out of the car or stood up after a ride whilst getting a coffee...My Retro's always get some great comments and usually a couple of guys stood around them asking about them and reminiscing!!!

Ultimately, as with everything...the modern stuff becomes the workhorses and the retro stuff becomes the treasured pieces...

 

[al-onestare]

Meet Bee

In my limited modern experience, she is absolutely insane. It takes mountain biking to another dimension, one that's equally terrifying and wonderful. For sure, the 26ers are brilliant and will be ridden, but like classic cars, when the time is right. For "proper" mountain biking, embrace modern geometry and some (not all) of the best design features and components available: dropper posts, suspension that works, brakes with proper modulation, etc.

Someone said they are boring to ride. You're riding the wrong trails. These are designed for knarl, not our bread and butter 26er single track. The more you throw at it, or the faster you ride your trails, the better it gets.

One year on, this bike is still immense. It's made be a better rider overall, including when I ride the old fleet. I've got HONC coming up and I'll be using her; my back is already thanking me

 

[grahame]

If the "dark side" is 29er, is 1 27.5" wheeled bike a grey area?
If so, then I suppose I've slipped into a grey area with my Ibis Mojo HD4. Which I love. It is different to my 26" wheeled bikes, but great in a new (to me) way.

 

[trailstar82]

I hired a 29er last week, what’s worse it was a trek with a grumbling bottom bracket. I had fun over the 7+ miles I rode it for before getting too knackered whilst on a “family” day out.

Do I want to run out and buy a trek? No
Do I want to run out and buy a 29er? No

 

[93hero]

My modern bikes are soooooooo modern that if I posted pics here some of the more ‘purist’ members would go blind.

They are without doubt the most capable, fun bikes that I’ve ever ridden.

Doesn’t stop me appreciating and owning Retrobikes though….. which is nice.

 

[greencat]

My modern bikes are soooooooo modern that if I posted pics here some of the more ‘purist’ members would go blind.

I tend to think it's more likely that the over £1K grouptests in back issues of MBUK that make members here go blind.

 

[Hotwheels.]

One year on, this bike is still immense. It's made be a better rider overall, including when I ride the old fleet. I've got HONC coming up and I'll be using her; my back is already thanking me

Nice saddle.