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I will say this though: When he got the Epic, and got much closer to my butt on the climbs, I started to look at my bike a WHOLE BUNCH closer, as I don't have the scratch laying around to go buy a new bike.
So I started buying new components, and selling my old. I dropped over 6 (from 33 down to 26.6) pounds off my bike by:
New wheel set (HUGE IMPROVEMENT!);
Fox fork;
Carbon handlebars,
Carbon seat post,
Specialized Toupe' seat;
Carbon cranks; and
Lightweight cassette in the back.
Fast-forward to the present, and my oldest lives in prime MB'ing territory along the river. It would be worth the hour commute, to spend time with him and do some riding.
I'm looking at new bikes, and, well, I'm intrigued by this 29" wheel trend. The advantages over rough terrain seem obvious. So why hasn't the 26" wheel gone away? What is the downside to the 29?
(That was for Peelout)
Most all manufacturers are building 26 and 29" bikes, and you will likely find a great bike in EITHER configuration.
As you probably realize, the 29'er is able to roll over obstacles much smoother, and technological gains in the past 10 years have brought down their weight and mass, so they are not NEARLY as cumbersome as they first were.
26'ers can be a little quicker turning and accelerating, so that is their benefit. And if you are going for an "All Mountain" or "Downhill" bike with 5+ inches of suspension travel, you will be looking at a 26" wheeled bike.
Now my single speed 650b (or 27.5'er) is the best of both worlds! Accellerates and turns quick, like the 26'er, yet rolls over the obstacles much smoother, like the 29'er.
Ha ha! We all have our preferences, and won't budge an inch, much like the 2 stroke vs 4 stroke debate.
Throw a leg over both wheelsets, and see which one you like better. You won't really go wrong with either, though, in my opinion.
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If you are going to buy new, it certainly doesn't hurt to go to a local bike shop and sign up for some demos of as many different bikes as possible. That way you'll be able to go on the trail and see which style you really like.
My three bikes are 26" and I don't really have a need or budget to want to change to something different for the time being.
I love my old Racer X.
I've ridden just about all of them and love going with others so just PM when you're in the area.
Loved my Gemini that I had. Very simple, light, dependable bike.
How's it ride on the 27s instead of the 26s? that's the aluminum frame version right?
Pit Row
I also have a really nice 23 lb. Niner Air9 hardtail and an couple of sweet IF 26" hardtails.
My riding time was limited in 2011, but this year I'll definitely get out a couple times a week.
*Simplicity. Check air in the tires, and ride.
*Speed. Going up hills will be MUCH FASTER than you were on a geared bike.
*Fitness. Riding this style of bike FORCES you to work harder going up hill.
*Momentum. Because you cannot pedal all that fast (my bike is about 14 mph tops), you cannot surrender any momentum, so you ride much faster and smoother.
*Different. After you have ridden the same trails over and over and over, riding a bike that forces you to look/approach the trails differently makes the trails almost seem new again.
There are a billion more reasons, but after you ride on a SS for a while, and incorporate these skills into your riding "toolbox", when you go back to your fully suspended and geared bike, you will be LOADS faster, so much so that you almost feel like you are cheating.
I have upgraded the wheels to Mavic CrossMaxs Easton EC90 Carbon Bars, Easton EC70 Carbon seat post and all Shimano XTR components.
Here is a picture of my ride.
edit: Why is it so small?
Me and a buddy are heading out there this afternoon.
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