29ers

I took a 29er Satori out for a test ride and all I noticed is how shitty 29ers are for cornering.

Love it. One ride, one 29er and that's it eh.

Love it. One ride, one 29er and that's it eh.

All 26'ers are the same….right? So it must be the same for 29ers.

So if I was to get a single speed 29er with a suspension fork of say 80mm or 100mm would it be counter-productive to get something with a slack (for a 29er) head angle?

I've been riding my geared 26er hardtail as a single speed by not shifting (32x20) and am digging the exercise I get and can't help but think it would be more fun without the derailers and shifters etc (ie a real singlespeed) and that it would be even a little more fun with the big hoops so it would be easier to maintain momentum when it's gnarly. Would going with a slack 29er head angle of say 68 or 69 make climbing out of the saddle more a chore? It seems that most (all) single speed 29ers have fairly steep head angles (71 or 72) and all-mountain 29ers with slack head angles aren't single speed.

I've been debating the same thing recently. Been riding a Surly Karate Monkey for the last 9 years and thinking about upgrading to something with a slacker HA. The new Kona that comes in titanium looks about right. 69* HA, short stays, should be perfect. I'm thinking the next bike will be slacker with wider bars for sure, just wish I could find something in steel that fit the price range.

All 26'ers are the same….right? So it must be the same for 29ers.

I've never enjoyed the ride/fit of a Kona so I guess I better give up. :-/

Love it. One ride, one 29er and that's it eh.

I rode a Y-Bike once, I really noticed how shitty 26ers are for… everything. :rolleyes:

So if I was to get a single speed 29er with a suspension fork of say 80mm or 100mm would it be counter-productive to get something with a slack (for a 29er) head angle?

I've been riding my geared 26er hardtail as a single speed by not shifting (32x20) and am digging the exercise I get and can't help but think it would be more fun without the derailers and shifters etc (ie a real singlespeed) and that it would be even a little more fun with the big hoops so it would be easier to maintain momentum when it's gnarly. Would going with a slack 29er head angle of say 68 or 69 make climbing out of the saddle more a chore? It seems that most (all) single speed 29ers have fairly steep head angles (71 or 72) and all-mountain 29ers with slack head angles aren't single speed.

You can't go wrong with a Kona Unit. It's designed around an 80mm fork but it's brilliant with a 100mm fork. SS it, 1x9 it, granny gear if you must. Such a versatile all-rounder. Best of all it's inexpensive.

Love it. One ride, one 29er and that's it eh.

Every 29er on the planet is going to take a corner worse than a 26er.

Every 29er on the planet is going to take a corner worse than a 26er.

It's OK that you suck.

29ers corner different than a 26er. More of a carving thing. It takes awhile to get used to it and I wouldn't say its any slower or worse. More of a technique thing based on my year plus on a Stumpy 29er.

It's OK that you suck.

Hahahahahaha

look at this tough guy

29ers corner different than a 26er. More of a carving thing. It takes awhile to get used to it and I wouldn't say its any slower or worse. More of a technique thing based on my year plus on a Stumpy 29er.

Sounds a lot like the world of skiing when "shaped skis" came out. Seemed to take a few years before people learned a new way to approach skiing by carving….

But what about those tight, snappy corners where you don`t have the room to carve?

Since Jerry-Rig brought up the Stumpjumper 29er, which I've also been riding for a month now, the wheelbase is an astounding 20mm longer for the 29er over the 26er.

Since Jerry-Rig brought up the Stumpjumper 29er, which I've also been riding for a month now, the wheelbase is an astounding 20mm longer for the 29er over the 26er.

loving mine too.

Every 29er on the planet is going to take a corner worse than a 26er.