Forgive me for I have sinned...

[CAS]

So what should be my penance? I throw myself, prostrate, at your mercy.

Twice up the Ventoux on your forthcoming trip??

 

[jango]

it was also a 29er frame - clown wheels, what was I thinking ?

Try it Ed......you just might like it

 

[lumos2000]

whats wrong with being pierced and branded?

 

[Kestonian]

a red sports car and a lithe lovely far too young for me

What's wrong with this?

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

No, it just means you're a secret American. Nothing to be ashamed of really.

humpff.

 

[al]

Superduperubercougar?

It's not just me is it?











Al, The rain's just keeping the dust down!! :roll:

 

[The Ken]

Ed, a 29'ner would probably look like a normal bike with you on it, people would just think you are further away than you actually are...that's got to be an advantage in a race, would throw everyone off their pace.

 

[ededwards]

To think that I was worried for myself.

Now I'm worried for most of the responders who seem to think that it was not unreasonable for me to be drawn to the 29er IF, indeed it appears I should have tried harder (but in reality every time I rode it I would have heard Barbara Streisand singing "Send in the clowns" instead of the other, more usual voices). You say 29er, I say hybid with knobblies :evil:

Oh, and I never have been, and never will be, cool although I may stumble on cool things or people by mistake - the things will rapidly cease to be cool, the people will shun me. Which is what keeps things at equilibrium.

Keeping it Luddite, considering going sundial

Ed

 

[Dr S]

Ok, if you ain't ready for a 29er why not try a 69er?? I've just ordered a 29" front wheel and tyre to try on my Cotic. If its shit i'll flog it to someone cool. Whats the worst that can happen?

Si
Half a Clown

 

[Anthony]

Ok, if you ain't ready for a 29er why not try a 69er?? I've just ordered a 29" front wheel and tyre to try on my Cotic.

With all due respect, I'm not sure that sounds like a very good idea.

Bikes designed as 29ers have very steep head angles, so as to counteract the slower steering inherent in the bigger wheel. By fitting a 29" wheel to a frame not designed for one, you will reduce the head angle by over two degrees when you really need to increase it. Also couldn't it be a bit dangerous if the tyre could snag the crown at maximum travel?

69ers may well be good bikes, but maybe only if the frame and forks were designed to be a 69er.

PS
I had no wish to offend any American with my earlier contribution, but I am intrigued by the fact that 29ers are ten times as popular in the US as here. Is it the kind of wide-open terrain they have to ride on over there that makes the difference?