I am not yet convinced that '29 is a must. For mfrs, I have raced XTERRA on a Titus Ti FS (old one called a Cyborg) and an Intense Spider XVP. Both fabulous, high-quality FS bikes. The Spider even carried me through the Leadville 100, so you know its good on long events. If the XTERRA is roadie-friendly (smooth, fast course) like XTERRA Last Stand, ride a hard tail. If it is like XTERRA EX2 Rocky Gap or XTERRA Richmond, ride the FS. If I can get to Nationals next year, I'm taking the Spider.

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“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” - Thomas Edison, Inventor

My understanding is that you have to be fairly tall (>6') to really get the best use from a 29er, and for those of us under maybe 5'8, it ceases to be merely "suboptimal" and becomes "a bad idea". I could be wrong, but that's what I've heard.

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<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

I am 5'8 hardtail all the way whether Xterra or anything else. I just did a 6 hour race this weekend on my hard tail and loved every minute of it. Good tubeless tires and saddle and you will be flossing and flying. I had FS for a few years before switching to a hard tail, I have never regretted it.

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http://talesofthemissing.wordpress.com/

I worry my input is too limited to be of great value but there will at least be another fan of hard tail 26er to check off.

I've never ridden full suspension beyond a Specialized S-Works for about 2 hours during a photo shoot. You can't really get to know a bike riding the same 20 meters over and over again. I've only ridden a hard tail and only 26 and I've ridden it long (off road ironman in Park City with what was a competitive bike split of .....wait for it....10 hours and 49 minutes) and I've ridden short & fast (top 3 AG at a few XTERRAs and a decent day in Maui). I can't see myself changing to an FS bike. With attention to tire pressure it feels good on all courses and lets me run off too.

Ian

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Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com
I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan

Sweet. Finally a ST question up my alley. (I'm an XTERRA specialist, regional champion, pro mtber, and tri coach. I'm also a mecahnical engineer with experience in bike suspension.)

You're too short to 29er--the geometry will limit you and the whole 29er thing is not as easy as "a 26 FS is just like a 29er HT."

I rode both FS and HT for a very long time and for a few seasons had both FS and HT bikes (including the Titus Racer X and ti HTs). My take is (and my own and my atheltes TTs prove it) an efficient, short travel FS is faster than HT in almost all situations. HT let you feel fast; FS feel slower but in reality they are faster. The rougher and rockier the trail, the more the advantage. Now, XTERRA tend to be easier trails, but still FS are faster than HTs--again, I've had both bikes on courses (same mfr, same components, etc) and FS are almost always faster even though I've felt slower. Add to that that your legs are fresher froma smoother ride (even micro-bumps induce fatigue from muscles trying to stabilize) and you have 2 reasons to go FS.

I dropped the Titus and went to a Cannondale Scalpel and love it. The short travel rear end is the best I've ridden. I'm on my third Scalpel and use it for all racing--the only time I wish I had a HT is in short track!

[By the way, I'm selling last year's Scalpel under the ST calsssifieds if you're looking...'07 frame and wheels, new /08 everything else.]

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Brian Grasky
Grasky Endurance: World Championship Triathlon Coaching; Professional Training Camps
RETUL fitter, Biomechanist, USAT Level 3 Coach, USAC Level 2 Coach

I am also coming in as a mountain bike racer, I raced semi pro on the NMBS circuit last year. 29'ers are more of a US phenomenon, barely a blink in Europe. I have tried a 29'er hardtail, and liked some of the way it rode, but at 5'6" I had issues with the front end height of the bike. It is also not a substitute for suspension. If you look at the world cup racing, 29'ers are rarely seen, and never on the podium. I can see their point for taller riders, I remember watching Ryan Trebon at Nationals he is 6'6" and just looked wrong on a 26" bike.
I also raced last year on a Scalpel, although for doing some longer races this year I will probably ride a Cannondale Rush as its a little more forgiving and pedals well without having to use a load of compression damping. Brian is right,6+ years ago when first contemplating racing FS I used a powertap wheel swapping between a Titus Racer X FS and Titus FCR Ti hardtail on laps of the Nationals course at Fountain Hills. (this was in the days of v-brakes where you only needed an axle swap to convert the powertap). The FCR felt faster, but on the Racer X I was using less watts to ride the same speed.

Kevin

 
Cannondale Scalpel. It climbs, it corners, it accelerates, it rules.
(Mine is a 2003 model, I don't know if it has changed.)

With all respect to Brian G. how tall you are makes not difference on how you will perform on a 29er. I know quite a few guys that are smaller 5-6 to 5-10 that ride HT 29ers and rock them. If 29ers they weren't made for smaller riders they wouldn't make small frames for them. There are are advantages and disadvantage to both FS and 29er so that is left for you to decide, I would love to own both a HT 29er and a FS 26 if I could
Just like on a road bike you need to choose a bike that fits and feels correct underneath you. I would say that it is more important that it feels right and handles how you expect it and want it to than a road bike because the handling is that much more important. The courses can vary in the Xterra from the tame to some fairly technical and difficult courses, nothing is to crazy though.

I have been riding the Orbea Oiz for the last year and it rocks, the full suspension is just enough to take the edge off, with the propedal you don't feel any pedal bob but still soaks up everything nicely and keeps the rubber side down. I know a few guys that are riding the Alma 29er as well and love it, only complaint is that they can't ride that wide of a rear tire, 2.0 max. A friend loves his Felt 29er and lays the miles down on it during the winter, before he hits the road full time for the rest of the season.
If you are looking at FS I highly recomend looking at the new Trek Top Fuel, it is a great bike, I got to demo one and it really rides very smooth, and climbs very well. The technology behind the new rear suspension is great, the ABP and floater shock are what are advertized.

Branden

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"Here's to the finely tuned athlete on the verge of greatness"-Romeo, Tin Cup

No intent to hijack...

Kevin--what races this year? MBAA? Norba? XTERRA? I'm up for 24OP solo, select MBAA marathons, and XTERRA Deuces Wild, Snow Valley, 4 Corners, and West Cup. See you there?

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Brian Grasky
Grasky Endurance: World Championship Triathlon Coaching; Professional Training Camps
RETUL fitter, Biomechanist, USAT Level 3 Coach, USAC Level 2 Coach

I can echo what Brian said...even on so called 'hardtail' courses a FS bike is faster and here's why. When putting power to the pedals on a continual basis on a 'smooth' XC course you are going to be able to obtain quite respectable speeds (in the neighborhood of 20mph). Most people consider this hardtail terrain, but sit on a hardtail's seat while putting out constant power and you'll feel the undulations in the ground ejecting you from your seat continually which ruins your rythm and causes you to stop pedalling nearly continually.
A FS bike on the other hand could/should let you sit and continue your pedalling rythm while absorbing these undulations.

I'm more tempted to ride my hardtail on a 'technical' course because you're out of the saddle so often anyway.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll try and get out to ride both styles, hopefully during the same ride to get some idea. Trails were hardpack snow just a couple of days ago but now everything is slick as snot since the pineapple express just arrived.

I'm holding an XTERRA training camp in warm and sunny Tucson March 8-13. The Cannondale demo fleet will be here so athletes can try out their entire line. Might not be a bad idea for you.

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Brian Grasky
Grasky Endurance: World Championship Triathlon Coaching; Professional Training Camps
RETUL fitter, Biomechanist, USAT Level 3 Coach, USAC Level 2 Coach

Here's my take, FWIW. FS is potentially a faster bike, provided you know how to ride it right. Even then, it does take away your ability to stand up and grind it hard when you want to, which is a definite possibility when racing. Also, being 5'6", I imagine you ride a 50cm bike? That is pretty much the bare minimum to even run a 700c wheel on a road bike. You're probably best off with a 26 HT, unless you have the money for a Scott Genius, which can lock out the rear suspension, or give you 80mm or 150mm rear wheel travel, on the fly. The only 29 I could see you on is the Trek 69er which is a FS bike with 29 front and 26 rear, which I still have yet to see the benefits of. Next time I race an Xterra, I will probably steal my wife's Kona blast (26 HT) and leave my Jamis Dakar Comp @ home.

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Lead, follow, or get out of the way...

I think it takes more to know how to ride a hardtail 'right' then a full suspension bike.

I also see that most rear shocks have an easily accessible lockout switch you can flip just under your seat with some having a cable up to a handlebar switch.
Properly tuning the rear shock allows you to get up and grind hard without much problem....yet the best racing has you pacing yourself better and not getting up for 'attacks' in the middle of the race...in MTB racing 'attacks' are done up steep climbs anyway where you will probably be out of the saddle on either type of bike.

Many FS bikes these days climb better than HT bikes in some situations (ie. rear wheel up over a rock/root without losing traction).

Any of you XTERRA-type folks see anyone riding a single speed MTB during a race? I have never done an XTERRA before, but that will change this summer. There are three races here in Michigan, so the plan is to do at least a couple. I was half considering riding my SS in one of them. Just for kicks.

I don't know about the rest of you guys but I remember Julien Absalon kicking some tail on his Orbea hardtail during the Olympics XC event. A bunch of guys on full suspension rigs were left in his dust.

I have raced in over ten Xterra's and have yet to see a single rider on a SS. I say go for it, I give those guys and gals the RESPECT at the mtn bike races, that takes skill and ability.

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http://talesofthemissing.wordpress.com/

I know that there was a woman riding singlespeed at the Schiff Xterra on long Island last year and I think that she was the overall woman's winner. Singlespeeders are usually fast in spite of their equipment not because if it.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

With all respect to the FS supporters, I still believe an HT is faster. Both the male and female Olympic champions were on HT's and that course was not flat nor smooth.

Until I see a comprehensive study of identical riders over identical courses showing the FS advantage, I'll still believe in HT. Yes you have to ride more 'actively' on the HT, so you could be skimming away watts and effort here and there. I just don't think the evidence is in that this tradeoff is not worth the weight and efficiency gains you get on the climbs and flats. Particularly on Xterra length races. The balance certainly tilts to FS on rough and long races, but most Xterras are not rough or long. Long being 3+ hours on the bike.

This last season I did my first cross racing, but I used my HT. The HT was faster on really twisty courses when conditions were bad, but in pretty much all other conditions, I was losing time. I could just feel the drag on the straights. I see much the same thing with FS vs. HT. I know that on rooty fast twisty sections I used to pull away from the HT's on my FS, but I'd lose time again on the straights and climbs. There just weren't enough rooty fast twisty sections. Plus with tubeless and disc on the HT, I regain much of the advantage.

I have a team mate who rocks the SS at XTERRA events. Although after Richmond last year, he said he may be looking to get gears. I've seen a few SS's here and there at races.

I like this line. :-)

I'll give it a go on my SS, it will be fun no matter what.

I am a huge beleiver in FS bikes. I have been riding/racing FS bikes since about 99. The technology has come so far that it really makes no sense to go on a hardtail.

To start looking at professional race results is a lost cause, if you look hard enough you will always find what you want that is the whole idea of paying someone to ride your bike. 2008 mtn. bike World Championships Go Sauser! on a FS.

You can get a FS bike to about 20-22lbs out of the box now so there is no real weight penalty.

You gain control overall wether you are climbing, descending or braking by keeping both wheels well planted on the ground.

Then there is the whole beating up the body and losing watts over a course that is hard to measure but I think we all beleive that you do exert more energy when you are on a hardtail. The debate about how much energy I beleive is an open ended question but there is definately some energy being used up there.

Then there is the ability of the rider. Over the years I have seen lots of people try mtn. biking and some have stuck with it while lots of others have not. If a newbie got a full suspension bike that was properly fitted you could instantly see the difference in how well they would pick up the sport. (Example: shaped skis, you wouldn't ever put a newbie on straight skis anymore it makes no sense! Technology is everywhere in our lives use it.)

Yes there are those that are undbelievable mtn. bikers that usually come from a BMX background that may not need the help of full suspension but I tell you what I still see most of them riding FS b/c they can take better, smoother, faster lines.

Everyone is going to have an opinion when it comes to FS or hardtail the problem is often there opinions are swayed by there pocket book.

Hope you enjoyed my rant about FS bikes and let me leave you with this question if Suspension is so bad how come were not debating Front Suspension?

I was racing FS from '00-'05 and went back to HT. I used to be on the other side of this argument until I started doing much better on the bike vs my competitors when I started taking my HT out. After a full season of HT, I found I liked the HT much better and was riding faster than ever. I have no doubt that beginner riders can take on tougher terrain with an FS, but for the expert level rider, I feel that the HT is still faster.

All of your arguments are perfectly reasonable, but none of them lead to the conclusion that FS is faster. I'm sure it could be faster, I just am not convinced that it definitively is faster. I'm not arguing against front suspension. That's a totally seperate argument, as pointless as my asking why no FS road bikes.

..and mt HT was about $6500 (retail) in parts, so it was definitely not a pocket book choice. I'm certainly not anti-tech. I have disc brakes and tubeless tires. Although my Ti frame would be considered by some to be old school.

For kicks ok, but expect doing some hike a bikes on the courses. Fort custer and torn shirt, lots of single track with hills. If you are a bullit swimmer and good on a ss you will be able to keep the speed up...... but if you are joe average swimmer you will get caught in traffic, no place for a ss

I am faster on my 25 lb FS Titus than I am on my pimpin 20 lb GT Zaskar HT.

The reason: on climbs I have better traction, and on descents, I can bomb the f*cker without even worrying about my line! no tensing up and picking my way through the rocks...just STRAIGHT over everything!

Xterra Buffalo Creek is my first race of the year and I am going to be on the FS for sure.

good point on the FS not having to worry too much about your line, and yeah FS bikes don't have the weight penalty they used to but none of the x races in michigan have any terrain that you would need to worry about that anyway. I'm a transplant from Utah and find MTBing in Michigan more of a XC sport than all mountain. If your going to buy a mountain bike for Michigan races I cant see the advantage of FS. If you already have FS there isn't much of a reason to get a hard tail. I've got a HT here and a FS out west. Going to make the jump to a niner for the costa rica race, still haven't decided FS or HT. If I were to buy another 26 HT the Zaskar would be top of my list though.

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If a tree falls down in the woods and nobody is around, do the other trees laugh?

Right, I ride a 19 pound look ht in mich, it just rips for exterra racing. but for iceman it is hard to beat fs 29 nr

I'm looking at getting a new mtb too.

At first, i thought I would go with a 29er HT. I like the idea of the 29er wheel. After talking to others and looking at designs, I'm leaning towards a 26er FS for all the reasons willrace made. It seems to me that the suspenson in the rear really makes a difference in going down hill. Translation: FREE SPEED. As for up hill, I think it depends on the rider, course, bike fit/geometry, and rear suspension design matching all of the above. In the end, if you get a design that suits you and your most important races, FS is generally going to be a wash compaired to HT, and on some climbs (like the stairs and rocks I see in colorado) faster than a HT.

Fit will play a big role in bikes too.

My team gave me a HT a long time ago. I hated going out with the guys because I could NOT keep the front wheel on the ground climbing. I tried different bars, stems, forks, saddle positions... I tried it all. In the end that bike only made it out on the trails once or twice a month. I just didn't like riding it. A few years later, I picked up a different HT on ebay. It had a totally different geo from my first bike, but was about the same level quality. it made a WORLD of difference! That bike just fit me better and I was firmly planted on the ground on even the super steep climbs.

From what I hear, 29ers can be harder to get rolling on technical climbs, a place where I lack skill, and tend to dab a bit. The larger wheels seem like they are better on the decents, but 4" of travel is hard to beat when bombing down a rocky slope. A light 29er FS would cost way too much for me, so I end up back at a 26" FS.

The real question to me is how much travel do I want? I've ridden with some amazing mtbers, but the fastest guy I've ever seen rode a 30lbs, 6" travel all mtn bike. He was super strong and just rolled over everything on the climbs. Never lost a step to the pro mtbers that would ride with us. On the downhill, forget about it. He was gone. I never saw anyone stay with him going downhill.

So with the advancement of rear travel bikes, my quest for a new ride (for xterra) has boiled down to what bike will fit me best and what design of rear suspension will give me the most travel without being overly heavy. Bikes like the Santa Cruz Heckler, or Blur LT look nice. I'll set it up with a 100m travel lock out fork, and off I go. I personally dont feel that the extra 30mm travel is going to slow me down on the climbs, but on the decents, LOOK OUT! I'll take an extra 10% in speed in downhill over 10% in uphill any day.

The other factor to think about is what a good FS bike can do for your legs on the run. In the one Xterra I did (ht bike) my legs took a beating on bike. I could really feel it when running, espically on the uphill sections. they just felt heavy. Normally I LOVE running uphill and can catch quite a few people... not that day.

In the end, I think if you're a great mtber and have a ton of cash, a FS 29er may be the way to go but you're limited in selection. A FS 26er is a proven winner, has a load of options in fit, style, fork setup ect, and would serve an xterra racer very well. HT would be fine and I'll keep mine to train on so I gain more handling skills that HT bike force you to have (something a lot of riders told me to do) but when buying a new ride to race on, 26FS is my choice.

(I wrote that over 2 hours at work in between helping people, so if it jumps around a bit, sorry)

So at the end of the day buy the bike that fits you and your budget but don't forget the race. For me, the costa rica race goes from sea level to 8000+feet and back down if 4 days. The climbs are brutal and many of the decents are unridable (at least for me.) There is a section of railroad tracks that will beat you silly on a 26 but the 29 will (i think/hope/and my kidneys pray) spread the gap better between the ties, to hopefully make up some of the lost by hiking your bike up a friggin volcano. FS is sweet but not the answer to everybody's needs.

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If a tree falls down in the woods and nobody is around, do the other trees laugh?

'' if Suspension is so bad how come were not debating Front Suspension? ''

Well, that debate is currently raging in the world of 29er's. I'll let you know what I think when the 1.25 lb Niner CF fork comes out this spring.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Dude!

Who is bringing that fork out?

Nice

I am so close to pulling the pin on a 29 HT

I am 6-2

tp

The fork is coming from Niner, but they are being very quiet about it.




Here's a link to the article about the fork;
http://bike29.com/ride29er/?p=591

I've only had one ride on my Niner EMD9 on the frozen trails of Long Island but I'm sold

Here's a link to my review of that ride;
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/..._new_Niner_P2159376/

And lastly here's a pic of the new bike;



Give a Niner a try. You won't regret it.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

I have a niner one ss full ridged.................I LOVE THAT BIKE...I heard about the new carbon ridged fork, thanks for the picture, that and a set of stans wheels will make the bike perfect

can you use an xc bike frame for xterra?

You can use anything you want. hard tail, f/s, cross bike, single speed.

Very cool. I have been thinking of trying an xtrerra and this probably put me over the edge for it. I commute on a specialized tricross and I'd like to see how it performs in an xterra race!

''can you use an xc bike frame for xterra?''

Yes, an XC bike is what you want. Anything else is just more weight to drag around the course.

Be careful; Xterra is addictive!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Here's another pic of the fork on one of the Niner race team bikes:



I'll be standing first in line to get one when it comes out.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Let me try that again:

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

I have a Niner Jet 9 - Full Suspension 29r. I love it!! I used to race a Full Suspension 26" XC bike, and have also riden a hard tail.

The reason I chose a FS 29r - 1. It fits my riding style. 2. I am to old for a Hard Tail (i.e. I feel absolutely beat up after riding a hard tail on the trails)

Find a bike shop that rents out bikes and take a BUNCH of different bikes out on the trails - There are so many different frame configurations both in Hard Tail and Full suspension - all of which ride a little different. What is wonderful is there is a bike that is perfect for you. What sucks is that with so many choices, it is hard to find that bike that is perfect for you.

and if you think that is hard - wait till you get to tires!! Width, Tread, Tire Pressure, Tubeless, etc.

I am with you all the way when it comes to the FS 29'er. I bought a Kona Hei Hei in September, right before Nat's in Tahoe and love that thing for the following reasons:
1) I like to do Epic mtn bike rides lasting over 5hrs (when i can) and I do not feel beaten up even a little bit with riding the FS 29'er. I used to ride a HT 26" wheel Cannondale and was tore up from the floor up when I was finished with 2.5-3hr rides.
2) Love to downhill now... no picking the best line and having to turn. Seriously. I choose a line and just hold on. the wheels roll over essentially everything and with the FS so much more comfortable.
3) With a history of lower back 'issues' this bike has been a magic bullet in allowing me to ride the trails and have a blast every week.
4) I feel better getting off of this bike in T2 and have had some great runs... after the "adaptation" period was over (took about 3 months to get used to the different wheels, geometry)

However, to the orginal poster, a 26" wheel HT will climb like no other and is 'snappier' and more responsive when it comes to quick turns and handling capabilities. Those are the ONLY advantages I can honestly say that the HT 26" wheel bike would have over a 29'er. IMHO of course.

Do you have access to rentals in your area? If so, go rent four different bike... one HT 29'er with front suspension, a rigid 29'er and a FS 29'er and then go out on a FS 26" bike. Try them all on for size and go with it.

The editor of Mtn Bike magazine was asked what the single biggest/best recent addition into the mtn biking community was and his reply was "29 inch wheels."

as far as tubeless or tubed tires... I have tubeless and love them as i can now ride as low as 20 PSI without worry of pinch flats. What is great is that all you have to do to make them "tubed" tires is to insert a tube if you get a flat, pump it up and on your way you are. Lower tier pressures have been shown to be faster over rougher terrain but one does run the risk of flatting... go too low on pressure and you will have to change it. Just find a pressure that works for you in most situations and stick with it. You can get as "geeked out" on PSI as much or as little as you wish. Just freakin ride and have fun! ERIK

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"Spectacular achievements are always preceded by spectacular preparation."

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

try the link:


http://www.cyclingnews.com/.../NIN_CarbonForkPaint

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Cyclocross bike's are not allowed. Mountain bikes only.

Good man!
I've never seen a cross bike in an Xterra. Since I ride 26' FS, I've never had an option, so never had a reason to look up the answer in the Xterra rule book.

Where did you find the answer?
PS: I'm in S. Central Region.

I read it in the rules a few years ago when I started XTERRAs. I double checked the XTERRA Forums and found it there as well.

Kool!
I've done 6 Xterra events including Nationals and there's been a few times that I could have made some serious time with a cross bike, but it seems that there's always at least one section of the (least challenging) course that would make a cross bike cry and go home.

Thanks again!

Yeah, there have a been a few courses that my IF Planet Cross would've tore up, but I'm guess I'm stuck with my IF ti Deluxe...

Not that I'm complaining or anything... ;-)

Mid-Atlantic here.

Did you say "off-road Ironman in Park City"? You must've since I can see it on your post here. Park City—meaning the elevation gain was likely in the neighborhood of 15,000 feet (?).

Wow.

a couppe things to the original poster from a guy who lives for mtn bike racing, and has done so for over 25 years:

1. at 5'7" you will certainly fit on a the right 29er, and enjoy whatever it is that 29er devotees enjoy. the jr rider below is barely 5'4", and judging by the jersey she is wearing she does OK on it:



2. at the grassroots level of racing in many many areas of the country the biggest trend happening is people dumping their 26er FS bikes for 29ers. take that for what you will, but it is real, and it is growing, and it is doing so despite the industry doing everything in its power to stop it.

3. a modern 26er FS bike is a wonderful thing, but a highly specialized product. it requires expert set-up and maintainence, if you are going to even approach the theoretical advantages it offers. are you that sort of person ?? the number of guys sitting on woefully - or essentially non-functioning FS XC race bikes on starting lines is distressing, if you know what these bikes require to work properly. there is little doubt that a race set up HT is better than a crappily set-up and overworn FS bike.

Mike - it was the tale of two courses: the first ~55 miles was all single track and all way up high (at least from the perspective of me who was at home in Malibu up to the day before the race) and all super technical. I was so thrilled that they figured out how to make it a real mountain bike course. I don't know that area all that well but we rode from Jordanelle Res over this butte and then down into "town" and up the face of Deer Valley. Then we were on what I think is called "mid mountain trail" and we traversed Deer Valley, Park City, and Park West (now called The Canyons) and everything in between. There were some sections in the Valley below Park City, over another bump and then the second half of the race kicked in - one of the hottest days in Utah that year and we were on this exposed rail-trail flat and smooth and hotter than hell on a ~65 mile out-n-back. Truly an epic day - starting the marathon after that was something it took me a mile of walking just to get my head around.

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Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com
I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan

I've got an Ellsworth Evolve FS 29er and love it. It took a little time getting the suspension dialed in and the fit set up correctly. But, now I'm laughing through rock gardens.

A couple thoughts on 29ers.

1. You don't crash as often.
2. They are really nice in an FS if you are an old fart and can't take the beatings anymore. Yeah, I know all the World Cup guys are on HT's. Fine, they aren't 53 years old either.
3. I swear I get through stuff I walked on a 26" bike (goes back to point 1).

This sums up why I don't like 29er's for racing. They are easier through the rough stuff, but slower overall. After 10 years of riding I don't fall or hike a bike very often, so for me the big wheels are just slower. If I didn't race quite as much, I'd might consider a 29er. For fun on the trail, it's a better choice ... not so much for raw speed.

I raced all of '08 on a fully rigid 29'r single speed. I used it on all types of courses: Easy, rolling, fast courses. Hard, technical, sufferfest courses. Short "sprint" races. 6 hr, 8 hr, and even a 25 hr race.

I LOVED IT!!!

Specialized Stumpjumper 29 frame
White Bros carbon fork
Hope hubs laced to Bontrager rims
Stans The Crow tires
Truvative Stylo 1.1 crank

Tips the scales at 18.1 with the peddles and bottle cage! That's without spending tons of money too...

I came from a super expensive full carbon high-tech full suspension bike... I am definitely faster on the rigid 29'r SS!

I truly believe that riding a SS makes you faster. You learn how to ride correct lines, maintain your momentum, ride fluidly, position yourself and your bike, and the importance of pedaling correctly. That, and you don't have to think about pesky things like shifting to the "right" gear!



In the end, I think the best thing you can do is ride a bunch of bikes to see what you prefer. Rigid 29'r SS isn't for everyone... Ride what you like, what you are fastest on.

Good luck!

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DING DING!! Artmus speaks the truth!
100 miles a day is the only power meter you need.