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I feel like freaking Goldilocks!!
Last Post 04/23/2014 06:54 PM by Dale Dale. 15 Replies.
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Dale

Posts:1767

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04/22/2014 02:25 PM
I was a late adopter to the 29'er mountain bike size and played around on one for most of a year but it just never felt right-- too cumbersome in the tight twisties, the front wheel felt heavy going up rock ledges and the bike just felt "big" in spite of it being the right size for me.

I sold it a week or two ago and replaced it with an identical size, same brand, same model 27.5" bike and it is spot on for me. I can clean areas on this bike that I struggled with on the 29'er, it's much more nimble in tight sections and going over obstacles I can unweight the front much easier.

26"… too small
29"… too big
650b.. just right!


(plus it's more aerodynamic due to the shorter wheels)
longslowdistance

Posts:2886

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04/22/2014 03:36 PM
What kind of terrain do you ride on?
Dale

Posts:1767

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04/22/2014 03:58 PM
Short climbs, chunky busted up rocks, lots of tight sections, nothing with big drop-offs or highly technical sections. Punchy little climbs that are over in a minute or two.


http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/great-plains-ok-ks-ne-sd-nd/301041d1192055635-south-sac-river-trail-little-sac-ride.jpg

I'm not serious enough to drop coin on a full suspension bike


Here's Saturdays race course. Stupid me is jumping in the 3 hour race…. I'm gonna get smeared

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/482267233
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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04/22/2014 04:04 PM
i've heard this a lot lately. i'm holding out for the 28.25er.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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04/22/2014 04:25 PM
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Dale

Posts:1767

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04/22/2014 04:54 PM
I barely learned how to post pics on the old forum and you want me to upgrade to computerskliz v2.0?
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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04/22/2014 05:05 PM
{img} URL of picture {/img}

Replace {} with [ ]. Easier than the old forum.

Welcome to the 00's. We won't rush you into this decade just yet.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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04/22/2014 05:17 PM
not to pick the webmaster but isn't there a way to drag and drop pictures? all those brackets and { things are last decade.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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04/22/2014 05:40 PM
Apparently not....I tried it and it only dragged the URL for the image.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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04/22/2014 06:44 PM
you may feel like goldilocks but the last pic i saw you didn't look like goldilocks

but your look is more aero :-)
Dale

Posts:1767

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04/22/2014 09:35 PM
Let's give this a shot… you know, the old dog/ new trick thingy
Bike
Me on bike
Result of me falling off of bike
Hey, I never claimed to be graceful






Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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04/22/2014 10:28 PM
Well, you got the pic of the bike right. That was all we really cared about anyway.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
jrt1045

Posts:363

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04/23/2014 09:36 AM
Like tires, I think wheel size has a lot to do with where you live. In PA a 26" was miserable to ride and 29ers are quite the set up, especially in the rock scree that they call trails around here. I rode a 650b for about a week last year and it was good, forgot how much I missed being able to flick a bike around - definitely some potential there.

The best thing about the 29er can also be the worst thing, the weight of the wheels. Once you get momentum up, you can roll just about anything - but you sometimes feel as if you're dragging the wheels around. Going tubeless gets the weight down and allows you to receive the full benefit package as far as traction and low air pressure. The geometry of a particular bike (some are like a plow) and your riding style do affect your experience on a 29er. I ride quite a bit of technical stuff and I've had to adjust, it doesn't bother me. You have to realize that you're going to be more naturally upright and you need to stay more neutral on the bike thru obstacles. I set up a little different for turns too and pay attention to where the rear wheel is going to track.

Just my opinions/observations, glad you found something that works for you

FWIW: I am currently on a Niner MCR, I will see if I can get a pic up
jacques_anquetil

Posts:245

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04/23/2014 09:54 AM
well done, Dale. who was it that said 'compromise' needs to be a dirty word?
Master50

Posts:340

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04/23/2014 12:34 PM
Glad you found your right mix. I have gone full evangelical 29er. My first ride on a 29er was a 2012 stump jumper and it was not the right bike. Very slow in the turns and I just could not find a sweet spot. the wheel size was the only improvement. My second test ride was on a 2013 Trek Superfly 100, a full suspension XC racer and that was the mix that changed my MTB experience and perspective on wheel size. The local trails are a fair mix and some of the newer trails are getting wider turning radiuses as tight switchbacks are easier for bikes with smaller wheels. That said a downhill bike with 26 inch wheels does not cope with tight switchbacks either. Even within the wheel size the bikes range in single track ability with XC bikes probably the best adapted to tight turns. The 29er really shines on long steep climbs which given my talents is daunting as I can't blame the bike for the many stops I make on long steep climbs
I also tend to ride 10 KM of road to get to the trails as I don't like to drive to a ride. The 29 inch wheels are slower to run up to speed but are fine once you get there and even feel they roll a lot easier on the road or on the trails. That translates to lower energy costs overall.
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