Thread: Coming out of the closet

I just rode a 29er and it was fun as hell. From the outside, it looked awkward; as though it just wouldn't fit. Once I was mounted it was smooth riding and good times. Do I have to tell my parents?

It may have had something to do with the $6K build kit and carbon wheels.

Don't worry, I've been struggling with the same thing. I demoed an $8000 SC Tallboy LT Carbon 29er a couple weeks ago. It was amazing. I've been so confused ever since.

demo at the Duthie anniversary?

awesome choice of words! well done.

Originally Posted by VTsession

Don't worry, I've been struggling with the same thing. I demoed an $8000 SC Tallboy LT Carbon 29er a couple weeks ago. It was amazing. I've been so confused ever since.

Hahahaha it was exactly that bike. It's a nice ride. Very playful and fun for such big wheels. Not to mention fast as hell. I think that the $3,000 Enve carbon wheels helped a bit.

Originally Posted by bfree

demo at the Duthie anniversary?

Actually it was at the Black Diamond demo today. It was a lot quieter than Duthie on Saturday!

I guess I'm gonna swing both ways with the 650b...

Originally Posted by Dromond

I think that the $3,000 Enve carbon wheels helped a bit.

I remember reading a review for Enve wheels somewhere that came with a warning not to try them unless you've got the coin to buy because nothing else will ever compare.

Thank God! When I first read the title, I thought you were getting into road biking.

Originally Posted by yooper

Thank God! When I first read the title, I thought you were getting into road biking.

He is.


654564

Originally Posted by rideit

I guess I'm gonna swing both ways with the 650b...

or actually...




hehe!!

Just call me Goldilocks.

Originally Posted by rideit

I guess I'm gonna swing both ways with the 650b...

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I'll always have a better chance of getting my rocks off when the bar closes.

It sounds like you guys are just gay, rr, like carbon.

Dromond,

I saw you are hunting up a TRc on emptybeer. Curious that you are going that direction after getting tight pants from the TBLT.

Originally Posted by PeachesN'Cream

Dromond,

I saw you are hunting up a TRc on emptybeer. Curious that you are going that direction after getting tight pants from the TBLT.

Hahaha yeah it's true. The demo TBLT I rode was sick no doubt. It still felt light and fun despite the larger wheel size. However, even with the $3,000 carbon wheels which I will not be purchasing, the bike has longer chainstays and less pop than an equivalent 26er. Really, I ride for the fun factor more than overall speed. I think that SC did a really nice job on the TBLT and after riding it I am unsurprised that people are winning super D races and whatnot on that type of bike. They are fast as hell and move efficiently over terrain with loads of traction. It seems like it takes a lot (i.e. an insanely light build) to make them not feel like a truck, and even then you are more glued to the ground than a 26er. My summary after ride all two of them: 29ers can be really fast and efficient, they can also be a ton of fun, 26ers still have an edge in the fun department.

I have a sweet Giant xc bike which I love but is just too steep for the fast descents. I also have an Enduro SL which is also really sweet. I like that for descending gnarly trails. I'm sick of the two bike thing and really just want to be on something in between those all the time. The TBLT fit me perfectly and the Blur TRc is the same fit. The TRc is light and efficient with slack angles and lower than my Enduro. Perfect.

Nice input dude, thanks.

In the end I simply need to get a demo on a good AM 29er and see how it works for me. Being Yeti sized I wonder if the wagon wheels aren't going to feel as out of place under me. One Banshie Prime proto and one Bandit 29 in the crew. The bros riding those bikes on big Tiger nights kinda remind me of when buddies first got S7s — ripping and crushing it leaving everybody on standard flat pow skis in their roost.

Oh yeah I think the size of the rider makes a difference. I have a short friend who is all into the big wheels and honestly I think that they get in the way for him. The Bandit 29 looks sweet and I rode with a guy who crushed it on one of those. Spinning it around the parking lot it seemed like it would be fun to ride as the TBLT was. Especially if the wheels are lighter (heavy 29er wheels are heavy) I don't think the bigger wheel is going to feel that big to a tall guy.

So you also rode a Blur LTc? Back to back? I am going the other way, and think I am gonna replace my nomad with two bikes, and don't want my xc to be to XC-Racey angles. The LTc sounds like the ticket, but I should try and demo a TBLT to see if I should switch teams.

Originally Posted by PeachesN'Cream

The bros riding those bikes on big Tiger nights kinda remind me of when buddies first got S7s — ripping and crushing it leaving everybody on standard flat pow skis in their roost.

This has me intrigued. I'm liking how all the new AM wagon wheelers look in the geo dept - Kona Satori, Banshee Prime, Bandit 29, Yeti SB95.

Originally Posted by Dromond

My summary after ride all two of them: 29ers can be really fast and efficient, they can also be a ton of fun, 26ers still have an edge in the fun department.

This is exactly how I've felt on the couple 29'er rides I've had.

26'er is still more funner.

Originally Posted by macdadmorgan

So you also rode a Blur LTc? Back to back? I am going the other way, and think I am gonna replace my nomad with two bikes, and don't want my xc to be to XC-Racey angles. The LTc sounds like the ticket, but I should try and demo a TBLT to see if I should switch teams.

No, it was a Tallboy LTc. I also rode a Blur TRc which is a slack, low bb, 125mm travel 26er. I haven't ridden a Blur LTc.

In western MA having a DH bike and a full on xc bike worked great for me. I would thrash the big bike on lift-served, rocky DH runs. The xc bike was awesome for the super tight and twisty short up/down trails. Out here it's a bit different. The "xc" rides are kind of a blend up both with longer climbs and descents that can be smooth and flowy or pretty rooty and gnarly. I'm kind of over lift-served bike riding so I want something that climbs pretty well.

I hear you, I got my ass handed to me at Bacholor St. the other night on my Nomad, it might have been a bad night but... The week before I killed Earls... I am confused on what to do. I have good legs under me right now, and would like to stick to a fun 26er for XC, but just don't know.

Originally Posted by macdadmorgan

I hear you, I got my ass handed to me at Bacholor St. the other night on my Nomad, it might have been a bad night but... The week before I killed Earls... I am confused on what to do. I have good legs under me right now, and would like to stick to a fun 26er for XC, but just don't know.

Just do what is most fun. A lot of my friend's ride Nomads or bikes just like it as their only ride and love it. I enjoy something a little more responsive, especially when climbing.

Originally Posted by Particle

This has me intrigued. I'm liking how all the new AM wagon wheelers look in the geo dept - Kona Satori, Banshee Prime, Bandit 29, Yeti SB95.

The Prime kinda gets my pants tight. Of all of them it seems the most burly of the bunch, like Nomad territory.
Diamondback will have a horse in the race too, but not exactly sure when we'll see it running.