To all you 29er's out there!

Folks, my 29er currently has On-One rigid carbon forks and I've been taken by some of the special offers on suspension forks that have been hitting my inbox this last week. Thing is I've never had a bike with suspension so, apart from knowing to get the right steerer tube size, I'm clueless.

It's the travel bit that I don't get, I'm guessing the numbers referred to are the amount the fork will compress, or the maximum it can compress. My frame was designed with the On-One fork in mind but also the potential for future suspension. Should I only be looking at the shorter travel suspension forks?

Which frame?

What frame is it?

Some frame are designed for a certain amount of 'travel', too much 'travel' (says 120mm) can change the frame geometry, a 29ers generally have between 85-100mm of travel (travel is the length of the suspension).

Find out what's the recommended travel of your frame and get a fork with similar travel.

I'll have to check, it's a custom ti frame from Burls, though I have all the CAD drawings etc, none of it mentions travel suitability and I don't know how to work it back from the drawings. I've sent a mail to Justin anyway to check.

Wait, Justin build the frame to fit the 29ers on-one fork did he?

Wait, Justin build the frame to fit the 29ers on-one fork did he?

:) Nope, it means that I specified a build around a rigid fork with scope to switch to suspension in the future. As I knew bugger all about suspension I left the decision on that bit down to Justin. I know it will be in my massive amount of e-mails somewhere and I would guess it's up to 100mm. I just wondered if there was a way of working it out from knowing all the other dimensions.

I suppose the above, apart from showing me as a bit of a forgetful numpty at times, could seem excessively trusting. But it's my second frame from him and I was happy to trust him to do the right thing based on his experience. I couldn't exactly weigh in as I haven't ridden suspension.

Most suspension corrected 29er frames untill recently, were designed for 80mm travel forks. The idea being to keep the front end from getting too high. Also with bigger tyres you need less travel. This has changed recently, with slacker head tubes, and more travel, seeping into the XC world. So a newer 29er frame is more likely to be 100m travel corrected. If you buy a 100/120mm travel 29er fork. You can usually limit them to 80mm anyway. Leaving the option for more travel and a slacker front end, if you want it (might handle poorly like that though, it difficult to predict).

You should be able to track down the hub-to-crown length, and rake, of you current fork, and compare it.

if you want suspension then get a proper mtb, 700c fake mtb's have the same leverage as a long travel hardtail but you can only fit 100mm of travel in there, you also have to beef up the headtube/down tube to take into account this extra leverage so you end up with a heavier bike. the big manufacturers like trek are now doing lo-end 29'ers that weigh 3-4lb more than an equivalent mtb, don't forget those 2 large gyroscopes you have wizzing around either(with their extra rotating weight too)
my mtb LBS owner was talking to keith bontrager the other day and he hates the marketing driven 29'er especially as the mtb has now pretty much evolved with tubeless and good air suspension. seems mad to then offer a ponderous handling heavier bike as the next big thing.
proof that suckers will believe everything they are told.
i guess if you can't ride for shit and like towpaths a 29'er has a certain appeal.

How did you find 29ers compared to your typical MTB Smythy?

My soma was made for 80mm

Lynskey made for 100-120 mm travel

Which fits exactly with fuzzballs description

if you want suspension then get a proper mtb, 700c fake mtb's have the same leverage as a long travel hardtail but you can only fit 100mm of travel in there, you also have to beef up the headtube/down tube to take into account this extra leverage so you end up with a heavier bike. the big manufacturers like trek are now doing lo-end 29'ers that weigh 3-4lb more than an equivalent mtb, don't forget those 2 large gyroscopes you have wizzing around either(with their extra rotating weight too)
my mtb LBS owner was talking to keith bontrager the other day and he hates the marketing driven 29'er especially as the mtb has now pretty much evolved with tubeless and good air suspension. seems mad to then offer a ponderous handling heavier bike as the next big thing.
proof that suckers will believe everything they are told.
i guess if you can't ride for shit and like towpaths a 29'er has a certain appeal.

Plenty of people had this kind of attitude towards suspension and disc brakes 2Oyrs ago...thankfully enough people ignored them and got on with developing the kind of bike you yourself ride now smithy.

This same kind of attitude then turned it's head towards twenty niners about 15yrs ago and again, enough people ignored them and got on with developing better bikes and kit, and now they're more popular than ever and will continue to develop further.

Maybe you're trying to justify your full suspension, disc braked, modern wonder machine...or maybe you're just a bit jealous that it's now the big wheels getting all the attention.
OR....maybe you've never actually put enough time in on a twenty niner to know how well they actually ride? Or ANY time maybe? In which case you're just reeling off internet shit talk by other people who have also never put enough time in on one to give a proper, informed opinion?

Which is it Smithy? :] xxx

i'm not having to justify anything. jealous? of what exactly? if i wanted a 29'er i would have one.

as for shit-talk i trust the opinions of KB a shop owner who rides and sells plenty of MTB's (20 years in the business) and people in the mtb press i know talking off record than some born again fixie prick who thinks riding a mtb is what you do along the thames path and a pump track is what they play in gay bars.

How did you find 29ers compared to your typical MTB Smythy?

shit.

i'm not having to justify anything. jealous? of what exactly? if i wanted a 29'er i would have one.

as for shit-talk i trust the opinions of KB a shop owner who rides and sells plenty of MTB's (20 years in the business) and people in the mtb press i know talking off record than some born again fixie prick who thinks riding a mtb is what you do along the thames path and a pump track is what they play in gay bars.

I could list plenty of people I consider 'proper mtbers' who all now ride big wheels.
There will always be people who disagree, be they Joe public, or Keith Bontrager...It doesn't make their opinion final, or right.
You seem to be of the opinion that you're either not a 'proper mtber' or not doing 'proper mtbing' unless you have a modern, full suspension, disc braked mtb...and that is bollocks. People that were proper mtbers before suspension came along, didn't stop being so when it did.

Would you consider me 'some born again fixie prick who thinks riding a mtb is what you do along the thames path and a pump track is what they play in gay bars' ? :]

where to ride a 29'er

Or here maybe?
Parkin'. on Vimeo

i can understand why you ride one although i'll take a punt on you not getting to ride much mtb now due to lack of any decent trails because of how busy you are and where you live (epping forest is better than nothing but you lived in jockland so know about decent trails)

my beef is with the born again cyclists who own a fixie but then decide they want to ride mtb, their default choice is a rigid 29'er that they think is the bollocks. the reality is they lack the skills and bimble around thinking that's mtb'ing. no idea how to pump the bike and let it do the work for you. a 26in hardtail with suss forks is great to learn on as the mechanical grip helps you trust the front but being a hardtail stops you from going flat out and getting into trouble in the way a susser can. 29'ers are great for rolling double track but why hinder yourself in twisty u.k. singletrack, especially as the bigger wheel makes you lazy and not work the front wheel.
they really are a marketing con.

as for the vid we both know he would ride both of us into a cocked hat on a shopper bike

I'm only pulling your chain smithy. :]
BUT...they may be over marketing them now and cashing in on the popularity...but they aren't here 15yrs later based purely on marketing.

as for the vid we both know he would ride both of us into a cocked hat on a shopper bike

That's me you numpty!

i didn't watch it. do you send it like Bender?

Only when listening to pump tracks in gay bars!

I'd say that those that want to ride SS, are better suited to bigger wheels, for the momentum the hold when you can no long spin the peddles faster.

I'd also say that those wanting to ride fully rigid, are better suited to bigger wheels, as they deal with the terrain better.

Wether or not you should be riding fully rigid SS. Is another question. It certainly is'nt fast or efficient. I do it for shit and giggles.

i didn't watch it.

And here's your problem...selective hearing/viewing!
Free your mind, and your ass will follow! ;]

lack of time is a problem. trolling bike forums and getting work done is a delicate balance