Hey hermano.
Wrong. Always.
Hey hermano.
Wrong. Always.
For XC, yes. For DJ, no
What about for all mountain?
;)
:P
Wrong. Always.
I dunno about dead, but they've been a inferior tool for AM since the 90's
Discuss. Like the wind.
I can only speak from own experiences
after years of riding 26" wheel bikes (mainly FS in the 100mm-200mm range and also hardtails), I wanted a new hardtail for the first time in some years
I could not see the attraction of swapping my 150mm all-mtn for a 26" wheel hardtail with 140-150mm fork, it would not have made enough difference really? just a lack of rear suspension…
the 29er hardtail was much more interesting, as it seemed to bring a different riding experience, which is what I was looking for
since getting mine (2012 Stumpy Evo 29er HT) I have been very impressed, it a fantastic trail riding bike, and seems to be much more capable in terms of grip / control than previous 26" HT I have owned
However, I don't currently see the merits of a 29er FS for more technical riding (I would always choose a 150-160mm 26" FS) so don't count me as a 29er evangelist!
I've talked to a number of industry contacts here in the UK and whilst they have agendas to push, the general consensus seems to be that the 26" hardtail will become a "niche" product within a season or two, with 29er hardtail the norm
Specialized UK certainly are moving this way with a demo fleet of only 29ers and a huge push into the UK with the 29er platforms
only if you are insecure and buy into the hype/need for the biggest and bestest. if you enjoy the ride of your 26" wheel hardtail keep on keeping on i say, and enjoy the barely used and heavily discounted bits you pick up on the cheap from sheeple what can't help chasing the joneses
pretty sure i'll be replacing mine in the fall with a 29er, tho :)
"Nobody really gives a shit that you don't like the thing that you have no firsthand experience with." Dave
Ah, but is steel still real?
:lol:
(I'm mocking my own thread.)
Wrong. Always.
only if you are insecure and buy into the hype/need for the biggest and bestest. if you enjoy the ride of your 26" wheel hardtail keep on keeping on i say, and enjoy the barely used and heavily discounted bits you pick up on the cheap from sheeple what can't help chasing the joneses
pretty sure i'll be replacing mine in the fall with a 29er, tho :)
I'm coming from the angle of someone who has no bike and doesn't want a full suspension bike, but wants to ride our technical bc-style xc/trail. It seems to be almost "common knowledge" that in 90% of cases you're better off with a 29er hardtail than a 26er.
What about a steel 26er hardtail vs a 29er alluminum hardtail? (Assuming each's geometry is to your preferred angles-ie the 26er would have a slacker head angle since the 29er doesn't need as slack an angle to have equal comfort descending.)
Wrong. Always.
Only the finesse to ride them is dead.
the general consensus seems to be that the 26" hardtail will become a "niche" product within a season or two, with 29er hardtail the norm
this, Chromag and others will still sell them for the knarly dudes.8)
I'm never giving up my Stylus… but I probably won't ever buy another hardtail.
Only the finesse to ride them is dead.
After riding a hardtail 26er all winter, I can't believe how much easier EVERYTHING is on an AM fully. You learn some good skills on a hardtail.
I'm never giving up my Stylus… but I probably won't ever buy another hardtail.
quoted to save me typing exactly the same thing. But I may buy another stylus if it makes sense when i need to upgrade all the parts…
not dead, mine is still my daily go to bike. frame is 11yo this year, steel is real :P
will try and post a pic later
If I still owned my old 26" hardtail, I would probably be on the 26er side just because I loved that bike to death. Its a different riding style, and I think that things are definitely shifting over to the 29er side. While after riding a few 29ers, I do miss the "flickability" of a 26er hardtail, I think that for anything from all mountain down to XC, a 29er hardtail makes a whole lot more sense.
I convinced my dad to buy a Banshee Paradox because he refused to buy a 26er hardtail. His buddy had a 29er, and he swore it made him faster. I didn't believe him because the early Intense Spyder29 and some other (forgettable) hardtail I rode were just flat out uncomfortable to ride at speed. I saw the numbers on the Banshee and figured, hey, short stays and slack HA for a 29er, why not give it a shot.
6 months later, I like the bike more than his Intense Tracer. It reminds me of the hardtails I grew up riding with the responsive and stiff back end, but the riding position is far more upright and comfortable and the 29er's ability to roll over gnar is great. Cornering requires a slightly different approach and a little more upper body language, but the bike responds well to counter steering and once you get it leaned over, there is traction for days.
Do I think that long travel 29ers will ever be a load of fun? Not necessarily for me, but a 4" travel 29er with a low BB and slack head angle will be able to handle much of the same that a 5-6" bike with a similar spec would be capable of. The big hoops do have more flex, and random jabs at the pedals don't give you the same acceleration that a 26er does. That doesn't mean that you can't wheelie, hop and flick a 29er hardtail around a trail. Try a Paradox or bike with similar geo and you'll see what I mean.
All in all, yes, I would love to own a 29er hardtail for trail and all mountain duties (set up with a single ring). My priorities have changed since I first started riding, and now full suspension bikes are more viable than hardtails as main, everyday rides. I would never, ever replace my Nomad Carbon with a 29er, but I would certainly add a 29er hardtail to my arsenal.
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