29er

198′S TOP PICKS FOR 2008

Rock Shox – With the release of the 20mm 120mm travel Reba, SRAM has given the 29er crowd exactly what they have been wanting…a true competitor to the White Brothers fork.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many full suspension 29er riders that I have heard say…”this fork would be incredible with a little bit more travel and a thru axle.”  Rock Shox is going to do very well with this lineup.

Trek – The new Session 88 line looks incredible.  Trek seemed to hit a slump over the past couple of years, but they have come back with a vengeance for 08/09.  It will be very exciting to see what else they have in the pipeline.

Fox – As much as I think the 15mm TA is just a go around to the 20mm Maxle, it is still a great thing that the industry is getting away from QR’s and moving towards lightweight thru axles.

650B – Everyone is jumping on the 650B bandwagon much faster than the 29er one from a couple of years back.  I don’t know if they don’t want to be the last ones to the party like some were for 29er’s, but there are a lot of products hitting the shelves this year for the 650B market.  This will be the fastest growing market in mountain biking over the next two years.

Amoung the great product releases and races…there were a couple of things that didn’t go over too well…

198′S MISSES FOR 2008

Mark Reynolds – The industry lost a great rider over the weekend.  Mark, the owner of Wicked Racin, passed away during a dh run due to a heart attack.  He was a great man that was extremely passionate about the sport of mountain biking, and he will be missed.

Avid Elixir – Honestly, I wasn’t really moved by the new brake from Avid.  The bland grey looks and what seems to be the same old brakes just aren’t cutting it.  As the hydraulic brake market continues to step up, Avid is going to need to look at where they are going as a line.  Their brakes are ok, but they still do not have one that is on par with the Hope and Formula offerings.

CONCLUSION

I think we have some great things to look forward to over the next year. These releases should make Interbike very interesting. I expect to see even more 650B offerings along with complete lineup changes from the major fork manufacturers. For instance…what happens to the Rock Shox Pike now that the Revelation has a TA and 140mm? I guess we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, ride it like you stole it and try to nurse your UGI because there is no cure.

Guitar Ted at TwentyNineInches.com wrote an article on the 13th attempting to define the long travel 29er market. Here are my thoughts…

Ted’s Article on Long Travel 29ers

There is often much debate in the comments section whenever I post about “long travel” 29″ers. Do we really need them? What is “long travel” on a 29″er, and will it even work? These are the sort of things that have been brought up and all are legitimate questions concerning full suspension and 29″ers. This post will attempt to take the concept apart and see if we can find out just where this whole 29″er full suspension thing is going to.

The Roll Over Effect: First of all, one of 29 inch wheels defining attributes is the ability to roll up and over trail obstacles with an ease that smaller wheels can not match. This has been one of the reasons many have caught the big wheeled fever and have never looked back. Some have argued that a smaller amount, or no suspension at at all is necessary on a 29″er for their local trails and riding styles. Whatever the case may be for you, it is probably a universally agreed upon idea that 29″ers are smoother over the trails than smaller wheeled rigs. Is this a quantifiable thing? How much does a 29 inch wheel erase the need for suspension? Or should we be looking at this in a whole different way?

The Comparison Factor: It was inevitable that when the first 29″ers appeared that they would be compared to 26 inch wheeled bikes. Everything a 26 inch wheeled bike did, 29″ers were expected to do as well. This has been a dominant factor not only in suspension, but in the handling department for 29″ers. I think this isn’t a good way to evaluate what a 29″er is really all about. Sure, it is a bicycle and when it is designed for off road usage, it is going to have some parallels to 26 inch mountain bikes, but 29″ers do have their own set of defining characteristics. Added to this are the physical attributes and limitations of a 29″er wheel and the frames designed around them and you can see it is a whole different enchilada than what we are used to seeing with smaller wheeled mountain bikes. Comparing what is “long travel” for a 26 inch wheeled bike to a 29″er is then a flawed comparison from the start.

How Long is “Long”?: This leaves us with the question: Just what is “long travel” for a 29″er? Well, I believe it is very different from what it is for a 26 inch wheeled bike. I believe we already have long travel 29″ers in our midst, but let me take you to one specific example that is still out on the horizon: The W.F.O. 9 from Niner. This is a prototype that takes the 29″er wheel format into uncharted waters. With an estimated 165mm of usable rear wheel cush, this bike redefines long travel and will certainly push technology to the limits. Considering that there is currently no tire, rim, or front fork combination available that would even live up to the capabilities of this platform, you might say it is a “mad scientist” experiment. Well, that’s a different story, but what I want to point out is that this bike is probably the definition of what “max travel” in a 29″er platform for all mountain/down hill riding is. What I also want to point out is that this bike, if and when it becomes available, will more than likely show why 29″ers should be classified as a whole different animal when it comes to “long travel” all mountain bikes. I say this because Niner will more than likely get this bike out to a wider audience than currently available “long travel” 29″ers such as Lenz Sport’s Lunchbox. Physically, these two bikes show why “more” travel isn’t probably practical in a 29″er format, but more importantly, I think they show why it isn’t necessary.

For his conclusions, visit TwentyNineInches.com…

My Thoughts on Long Travel 29er’s

I am in the process of looking at a 29er rigid bike, and I am really excited about the project.

That said…

I see no place for a long travel 29er. I ride a 36 lbs 6″ bike as my regular ride, and to get a 29er to fit the same bill…the geometry would not work. To get the slack angles required by 6″ + bikes, a 29ers wheelbase would have to be so long that it wouldn’t be turnable in tight dh situations. In dh/fr, quality travel is a requirement that wheel size can not make up for. You can’t tell me that a 5″ 29er is going to perform the same as a 6-7″ 26er off a 5′ drop to flat or higher.

Another note…

The amount of leverage that will be put on long travel 29er forks will require a much stiffer suspension fork to keep the same ride as a 26er. This, in my eyes, can only be accomplished with wider hub spacing and larger axles.

I have a feeling that the same people that are making an argument for a long travel 29er…are the same people that wouldn’t use the full potential of a long travel 26er.

29ers have their place. I see their positives in short travel xc/am rigs and ht/rigids, but the long travel market is a place for 26″ bikes.

TwentyNineInches.com reported this weekend about a possible long travel 29′er fork that is in development by Rock Shox (SRAM).

Is Rock Shox testing a long travel 29″er fork? Rumors have been whispered that the fork maker would be introducing some sort of long travel 29″er fork for at least two years now. Now there is some evidence that this perhaps is true.

Here is a photo from a thread on mtbr.com showing a Lenz Behemoth fitted with what looks to be a Rock Shox type fork. Note the through axle which looks like a Maxle which would be a dead giveaway that this is a Rock Shox fork. There also appears to be a bulge in the middle of the lowers that is reminiscent of the new SID design and has been seen on the new version of the Reba as well.

No word yet on the internals as the principals involved with the testing are not talking. Typically companies do not develope new damping technologies for their 29″er forks, so it would be fair to assume that the guts are based off some current Rock Shox platform. We are hoping to see some new 29″er product at Sea Otter next week and my feeling is that we will be hearing more about this fork at that time. We are also hearing rumors of a 29 inch version of the SID, as well, so Sea Otter could be chock full of springy news!

Looks like Sea Otter is going to be a launching point for a lot of new products again this year. There is the possibility that this is the new Reba platform that gets the updates that the SID saw earlier this year with a little bit of added travel. I guess we will have to wait and see…

My thoughts on the long travel 29er fork…

We’ll have to see…the jury is still a little bit out for me, but if Rock Shox comes to the plate like they have been lately…then it should be great. The stiffness of the fork at that length is what worries me about the handling, but if they take the design off of the Lyrik/New SID lowers and crown, then that should help tremendously. The only other thing we are going to have to wait and see about is how high the front end of the bike is going to be with that kind of axle to crown. There is going to have to be some frame geometry shifting to make the bike still handle like it is supposed to.

I, for one, can not wait to hear about all of the exciting news that is going to hit with Sea Otter this year…stay tuned for more…

On 5.16.08, we took at tour of the Industry Nine facilities. Industry Nine Tour

If you haven’t seen a set of Industry Nine wheels…you are missing out. Named one of Bike Magazines top 15 Editors Choice products in 2008, these wheelsets have hit the industry by storm over the past couple of years. Their precision machining and stunning good looks have put them at the top of the most wanted list for most cycling enthusiasts. Industry Nine’s goal was to produce the best wheels that money could buy. They have achieved their goal and surpassed most of our expectations.

INDUSTRY NINE

Industry Nine is located in Asheville, NC where they make each one of their components in house. I had the pleasure of getting the $5 tour from Jeff during a visit I had there last year. The parent company of Industry Nine produces fixtures for robotics and high end manufacturing, so anything you would need to build high end wheels…is already in place. The owner, a mountain biking enthusiast, set out to use his knowledge to build the best wheels that money could buy. His result was Industry Nine and his success has led to a long wait for the precious wheels. Trust me, the wait is worth it.

More company information can be found at IndustryNine.net.

THE WHEELS

Throughout my tour of the plant, I could see the amount of care that goes into every component for these wheels. For example, each spoke is machined out of 7075-T6 aluminum. The machining process take 2 minutes per spoke and is done all at once on machines that use to produce medical products. Long rods of aluminum are fed into these machines and complete spokes come out the other end. It is pretty impressive to see in person.

For specific details on the rest of the components visit IndustryNine.net.

THE RIDE

So, why did I semi rush through the background information? Because how the wheels ride on the trail is really the most important part anyway right? With 120 points of engagement through a 6 pawl system, there is no delay in power transfer. This actually takes some getting used to, but is extremely important. After getting off I9′s (Industry Nine’s), you really notice the gap in power transfer in your other hubs. It really turns into one of those “I didn’t know what I was missing until I had it” situations. Where I noticed it the most was in double clutch situations on the single speed. This is where the I9′s truly shine and I would be hard pressed to have any other wheel on my single speeds from now on. The engagement is instant and you don’t waste any energy waiting on the hub. This is what Industry Nine was setting to accomplish with their drive, instant engagement, and there is no one else on the market that does it this well (I have a set of King hubs for those that were wondering). The wheel is also incredibly stiff. I personally find this very appealing because my favorite riding is in really rough terrain where wheel deflection can become dangerous. The last thing I want to worry about is a wheel coming apart or coming loose causing wrecks and tight situations. I like my components to work correctly on every ride…and these wheels deliver that in spades.

THE LOOKS

No one can argue that these wheels are absolutely stunning. They are probably the first component that I have ever put on a bike that actually looks better than the frame. While they are the best looking wheels on the planet, that is probably the smallest feature of the wheels, and that is saying a lot. There are dozens of combinations that you can choose from to make your wheels unlike anyone else’s. For the right price, you can even fade the spokes into different colors. Mine were the green and black singlespeed set that you see to the left and there will be another set in the works soon. Below is a gallery of some of my personal favorites that I have seen over the past couple of years. If you want yours included…shoot me a link or email.

CONCLUSION

These are the best wheels that money can buy, and they are worth every penny. You might have to wait a little while to get your set in, but it is worth the wait. Also check out their road wheels and regular flanged style hubs. In 2007, I9 released the regular flanged style for riders who wanted traditional pull spokes.

The Good News on Industry Nine Wheels

• 120 point engagement is an industry leader
• Multiple color combination’s allow for infinite customization
• Interchangeable end caps allow for multiple axle sizes
• Lightweight stiff wheel when built correctly

The Bad News on Industry Nine Wheels

• Long wait time – sometimes up to 9 months depending on color choices
• Have to mortgage your house for custom color combos off pallet (on pallet is red, black, silver)
• Proprietary spokes on straight pull models – Can’t pick up at your LBS
• Re-tensioning of spokes recommended after several rides

THE GALLERY

So, which set is your favorite?

Steve Stickel is a name that many of you probably don’t know…but should. His custom frames are hand made out of Asheville, NC and have incredible craftsmanship. For those of you local to the Atlanta area, you can see Lonestar’s white 26″ singlespeed made by Steve at the local trial head. LS will be the first to tell you how great the frame really is. Custom touches, like brake rotors used as gusseting, really set his frames apart from others I have seen.

Steve Stickel is also not afraid to get away from “conventional” geometry to get your desired ride characteristics. The brown frame above is his “all mountain” hard tail set up for a 140mm fork. This is a set up that I have been dreaming up for some time now…and as it turns out, I am not the only one with that idea!

Steve’s personal frame above is actually for sale right now because he built himself up a 29er that he is currently riding. Here are the details….

Like new Bystickel Bicycles All-Mountain hardtail frame. TruTemper steel. Set up for 140mm/5.5″ fork. Beautiful frame. Rootbeer metallic powder coat with minor blemishes. No dents or dings. Ridden less than 10 times (bike was replaced with new 29er). Custom cable routing for full housing. Custom post-mount disk tab. Sterling silver head badge (put a pic of your dog in there). Salsa dropouts.

This bike is meant for pedaling up and bombing back down. It is not a jumping or hucking bike, but is built tough and can handle aggressive riding or heavier riders. It is not a whippy XC race bike. Geometry is neither VO2-max nor DH, but the bike was built for all-around riding in rocky, technical terrain.

Numbers:

• Head Tube Angle – 69 degrees
• Seat Tube Angle – 73 degrees
• 24″ Top Tube (effective)
• 12.5″ BB height
• 17″ Chainstay
• 17″ Seat Tube (to top)
• 5″ Head Tube
• 31.6 Seat Post

Bike could also work with 4″ fork for sharper handling and more race-oriented ride.
Warranty available. Built right here in Pisgah.
Rockshox Pike 454 coil also available in package deal if interested.
Please inquire with any questions you may have. I’ll be happy to answer any additional questions.
Asking $950. New, I’d be selling this for $1800. bystickelbicycles (at) yahoo.com

Another incredible ss 29er. This Independent Fab belongs to Jason up in Asheville, NC. The component list ranges from Phil Wood, Eno, Fox, Brooks and Chris King. Independent Fabrication makes some of the best steel hardtails on the market and this one is no exception. The midnight blue against the white of the Fox F29 is a perfect mix.

After a post 3hr Bent Creek ride, he said this is the one he should have bought originally, which is saying a lot. The new Racing Ralph’s from Schwalbe also show some serious promise.

With all of these great riding 29′ers around, it looks like I might need to jump on the bandwagon sometime soon.

It’s not everyday that you get to ride a bike like this. Hambone insisted that I take his brand new Wolfhound 29er SS out for a spin.

First the spec list:
Wheels: Industry Nine’s on Stan’s Flow rims – Custom black and orange spokes alternating every two
Fork: Custom Marz 20mm rigid
Brakes: Avid Juicy 7′s (these will change) w/custom black powder coated Formula rotors
Cranks: Custom black powder coated Shimano XT’s
Post and Stem: Thomson
Bars: Salsa (I think…they weren’t labeled)
Tires: Prototype WTB Stouts

What a ride! Fred Cuthbert makes a killer ride. By far the best 29er I have ever been on. The geometry is a close resemblance of what you see out of Jeff Jone’s stable. It seems to put you in the perfect stand and hammer climbing position that you are often forced into with rigid single speeding. The bike almost felt like it had suspension with the large volume tires and compliant rear end. Nothing quite beats the feeling of a custom steel ride.

If I had the change…this would be the 29er I would buy. I am still not convinced that a 29er is the best idea for suspension bikes…but this thing rails for a rigid. Even the gully runs in the freeride area of our local trail were a breeze.

His interrupted seat tube design allows you to run 16.5″ chain stays on a 29er and still be able to put your seat all the way down. From what he says..and I agree after riding it…it also stiffens up the bottom bracket. The shorter chain stays allow the bike to have the nimble feeling of a 26″ ride with all of the benefits of 29″ tires. It also makes the front end easier to loft with slacker geometry that up until now, seems to be a foreign idea in the 29er market. The bottom bracket has Phil Wood external BB bearings pressed into it which is another really cool feature.

Internal rear brake line routing
Marz 20mm TA rigid fork w/built in post mounts
Built in posts mounts for rear brake

The list just goes on and on. I’d rather have one of these than a Jone’s any day of the week. And the complete design of the bike looks incredible in person. Fred puts an extreme amount of pride and craftsmanship into every frame that he builds and this can be easily seen in his design.

For the finishing touch…Keith Anderson does the paint work that can only be described as flawless. Traffic stops when this bike is racked on the back of my truck.

Related – Industry Nine Post