Post by superbman on Nov 24, 2014 10:09:59 GMT -7
Peak skier Folks!
Looks like some real snow will hit us mid week, and my home hill has been making snow (and with just about everywhere else already open in the East), the Biking season will wind down by next weekend and skiing begins in earnest.
With that said, I have had a great year on the bike and have had the opportunity to ride and sample a lot of product this year (the combined results of a great relationship with my local shop, sampling a lot of DEMOS as Bike-fests, and Borrowing a lot of bikes from buds….). And, if anyone is interested I have some thoughts to share, particularly on wheel size:
Primaruly, I just want to say that The New 27.5 Enduro style bikes Kick ass and solve the most nettlesome of engineering issues surrounding bigger wheels and bigger travel. 'Enduro' is for real. Unlike the pure marketing tag-lines of All-mountain or Freeride, Enduro has risen to a very specific design based on competition. And these new, long travel, incredibly versatile Dual suspension wonder-bikes are really the perfect evolution of engineering, experiment, real-world riding and racing.
I read an article on Nicholas Vouilloz (ten time DH World Champion, most dominant racer in that sport's history) on riding today's enduro bikes (he compete at the World Cup level, coming out of retirement after 10 years of Rally Car racing), which are 10-15 pounds lighter with better suspension (and bigger wheels) than his World Cup DH race bikes. They had him run one of the courses he won a WC DH Gold on 14 years ago on his current enduro set up…and he blew away his old winning time. That's all bike induced. The kicker is, unlike in 2000, Niko was riding a bike that was not only faster down hill, but that he could actually ride to the top of the DH course. Believe the hype, these bikes are fine for a long xc single track ride and can still keep you smiling for a day of lift served…lot's of bike designs have promised that universalism in the past…but today's bikes can actually deliver on that promise.
Honestly, if you haven't ridden one of these bikes and you are looking for something new…you owe it to yourself to take a spin on one of these rides before obeying anything else. I've spent good, real-trail time on: Kona Process 153DL, Giant Trance SX, Giant Reign (2015), Cannondale Jekyl, Norco Range, Norco Sight, Cannondale Trigger 27.5. I know, a lot of folks say 'But I'm not a down hiller or Red Bull rampage athlete, I'm just an xc cruiser'….Your thinking about what bikes can do well and what you can do on them will change….for the better.
According to Strava, I am faster..way faster on these bikes than on my 29er Hard tails and even 29er duallies I've ridden on the same trails. I'm climbing about the same, and my times on downhills, twisty trails and technical trails are outrageously faster.
Until I got on these new school 27.5 bikes, I hadn't realized how much I missed real bike handling. I know people think 29ers are great at cornering, they're not. I had forgotten what it was like to really dive into a series of high speed turns, or easily wheelie drop off of rocks and ledges, or turn just about any terrain feature into a jump. I had been content to plod along on my big-wheels, celebrating straight line stability and impressive traction and momentum while slowly forgetting the sensations that really make mountain biking fun. Now, I find myself repeating long climbs just to redo a long technical downhill, pushing hard through chunder-filled sections that I used to balk at (and only cleaned by approaching them like a jigsaw puzzle).
I have some additional buying advice that goes with this genre of bike:
1. Don't just ride one around a parking lot at a shop…they feel like shit until you get them on an actually mountain biking trail. I remember the first few times spinning around on bikes like these I thought they were awful until I finally hit real dirt and rocks.
2. You want more travel. There are no drawbacks to having more travel, and there are many benefits to an extra 20-30mm of front and rear squish. Bikes are so stiff and light now that you really can have it all. Besides, the real advantage and reason to go 27.5 from a 29er is that you can get real, big suspension while maintaining excellent stiffness, great bike handling and stronger wheels (yet still roll better and get better traction than 26ers). So, I'd always opt for the 'longer-stronger' enduro bike over the 'trail' bike in a 27.5: The Jekyll over Trigger, the Range over the Sight, the 153dl Konal over the 134, etc.. Tough, slack, bikes with 150-165mm of modern suspension and 27.5 wheels are a match made in heaven. Go shorter than that, you'll still like the bike but you'll be missing the real point of these rides.
3. GEARING MATTERS: Be wary of bikes with too steep of a set up-like a single ring 34T set up. Single Ring set ups are the bomb, but you'll want a 30t up front, and, if possible a 42T cog in back. They do not sprint up climbs like steeper 29er hard tails (the dominant xc bike of the last 6 years). You'll want a spinning gear to pace the climbs and make up time on the downhills and technical trails and any trail with turns. I've been pushing a bike with a 34T up front and an 11-34 cassette…which is a bit of a work out on longer hillier rides. I'll switch to a 30T up front and 10-42 cassette in the spring. 30T single rings seem to gaining traction as OEM specs on these sort of bikes…I hope to see more.
4. Wider Rims and Wider Tires: It's a fact, all things being equal, 29er tires have more straight-line traction than other tires ('cept fat bike tires…we're coming to that in a bit). However, the movement right now is ever wider and stronger rims (28-40mm becoming common) than make for a great wide and secure foot print with today's wider tires. You'll want a chunky, durable, wider (preferably tubeless ready or known to be easy to convert) modern rubber compound tire on a wider rim. My favorites so far (and ones that are commonly seen); 1. Maxxis High Roller II 2.3/2.4 with the exoskin and 3c treads, Schwalbe Hans Dampf 2.35 (great tires, too expensive though), Continental Trail King 2.4 Black Chili Compound-Protection (unlike the schwalbe these are actually MADE IN GERMANY, and They're 30 dollars cheaper…and just as good if not better). Bikes that come with under spec'ed tires ought to be avoided (like 27.5 maxis ardent 2.25 or the Schwalbe Nobby Nic…fine tires for xc racing on fast courses…not on a big enduro bike…you'll miss the traction).
So, who still wants a 29er? Plenty of folks of course!:
1. Single Speeds! You all remember it was the Single Speeder revolution that got the 29er grassroots revolution rolling in the first place, and for good reason-It's a match made in Heaven. Serious single speeders, especially those that like to log long, long, adventure miles will continue to love their 29ers, until they finally want gears…Then they'll get a Fat Bike.
2. Long Mile Adventure Riders: At endurance races (not Enduro) like the Wilderness 101 or VT50 or Leadville etc, I suspect 29ers will continue to rule, makes sense as their best attributes are all about dependable, really long xc miles (especially with pronounced dirt road sections). Pro's will still ride 29er duallies and Privateer racers will still be on Steel Hard Tail rigs.
3. What about those smart, rugged, mid-travel, dual suspension 29ers? They're still a great option for a lot of folks (though, I can tell you, they are already becoming a rarity: Giant and Norco have already phased theirs out, Cannondale is doing the same…The big companies and more importantly, their engineers have fallen in love with the 27.5 in a way they never did with 29ers --in fact, most came to that marriage as reluctant, resentful grooms). But, Having spent time on the C-Dale Trigger 29er and the Kona Process 111, I can say those are great bikes, and the taller, aggressive xc rider would still love those bikes. Personally, I'd opt for the longer travel version of each at the 27.5 wheel size, but I get their continued appeal.
What else:
Fucking Fat Bikes are everywhere. I like them, but I haven't bought one yet. I'm no authority on them at all, but I know that I led a group social ride about a week ago, and out of 60 people, over 20 were on fat bikes. Though I know a number of folks who have proudly made these ever-widening rubber monsters their one and only bike, I can't take that plunge.
Is it a fad?? Well, yeah, but it's a fad that has way more traction (ha ha) than similar bike fads of the past (such as the aforementioned Single Speed fad…..Fat Bikes are more popular and way more big companies are throwing real R&D weight and product distribution behind them).
However, when paired with a new-school 27.5 enduro-long travel dually, a fat bike makes for an incredible addition to an all-conditions two bike quiver.
Ok, that's all I got on bikes, post questions or comments if you like, I never tire of talking bikes, or skis, or gear and gear use in general. Let it snow, I'm ready.
Looks like some real snow will hit us mid week, and my home hill has been making snow (and with just about everywhere else already open in the East), the Biking season will wind down by next weekend and skiing begins in earnest.
With that said, I have had a great year on the bike and have had the opportunity to ride and sample a lot of product this year (the combined results of a great relationship with my local shop, sampling a lot of DEMOS as Bike-fests, and Borrowing a lot of bikes from buds….). And, if anyone is interested I have some thoughts to share, particularly on wheel size:
Primaruly, I just want to say that The New 27.5 Enduro style bikes Kick ass and solve the most nettlesome of engineering issues surrounding bigger wheels and bigger travel. 'Enduro' is for real. Unlike the pure marketing tag-lines of All-mountain or Freeride, Enduro has risen to a very specific design based on competition. And these new, long travel, incredibly versatile Dual suspension wonder-bikes are really the perfect evolution of engineering, experiment, real-world riding and racing.
I read an article on Nicholas Vouilloz (ten time DH World Champion, most dominant racer in that sport's history) on riding today's enduro bikes (he compete at the World Cup level, coming out of retirement after 10 years of Rally Car racing), which are 10-15 pounds lighter with better suspension (and bigger wheels) than his World Cup DH race bikes. They had him run one of the courses he won a WC DH Gold on 14 years ago on his current enduro set up…and he blew away his old winning time. That's all bike induced. The kicker is, unlike in 2000, Niko was riding a bike that was not only faster down hill, but that he could actually ride to the top of the DH course. Believe the hype, these bikes are fine for a long xc single track ride and can still keep you smiling for a day of lift served…lot's of bike designs have promised that universalism in the past…but today's bikes can actually deliver on that promise.
Honestly, if you haven't ridden one of these bikes and you are looking for something new…you owe it to yourself to take a spin on one of these rides before obeying anything else. I've spent good, real-trail time on: Kona Process 153DL, Giant Trance SX, Giant Reign (2015), Cannondale Jekyl, Norco Range, Norco Sight, Cannondale Trigger 27.5. I know, a lot of folks say 'But I'm not a down hiller or Red Bull rampage athlete, I'm just an xc cruiser'….Your thinking about what bikes can do well and what you can do on them will change….for the better.
According to Strava, I am faster..way faster on these bikes than on my 29er Hard tails and even 29er duallies I've ridden on the same trails. I'm climbing about the same, and my times on downhills, twisty trails and technical trails are outrageously faster.
Until I got on these new school 27.5 bikes, I hadn't realized how much I missed real bike handling. I know people think 29ers are great at cornering, they're not. I had forgotten what it was like to really dive into a series of high speed turns, or easily wheelie drop off of rocks and ledges, or turn just about any terrain feature into a jump. I had been content to plod along on my big-wheels, celebrating straight line stability and impressive traction and momentum while slowly forgetting the sensations that really make mountain biking fun. Now, I find myself repeating long climbs just to redo a long technical downhill, pushing hard through chunder-filled sections that I used to balk at (and only cleaned by approaching them like a jigsaw puzzle).
I have some additional buying advice that goes with this genre of bike:
1. Don't just ride one around a parking lot at a shop…they feel like shit until you get them on an actually mountain biking trail. I remember the first few times spinning around on bikes like these I thought they were awful until I finally hit real dirt and rocks.
2. You want more travel. There are no drawbacks to having more travel, and there are many benefits to an extra 20-30mm of front and rear squish. Bikes are so stiff and light now that you really can have it all. Besides, the real advantage and reason to go 27.5 from a 29er is that you can get real, big suspension while maintaining excellent stiffness, great bike handling and stronger wheels (yet still roll better and get better traction than 26ers). So, I'd always opt for the 'longer-stronger' enduro bike over the 'trail' bike in a 27.5: The Jekyll over Trigger, the Range over the Sight, the 153dl Konal over the 134, etc.. Tough, slack, bikes with 150-165mm of modern suspension and 27.5 wheels are a match made in heaven. Go shorter than that, you'll still like the bike but you'll be missing the real point of these rides.
3. GEARING MATTERS: Be wary of bikes with too steep of a set up-like a single ring 34T set up. Single Ring set ups are the bomb, but you'll want a 30t up front, and, if possible a 42T cog in back. They do not sprint up climbs like steeper 29er hard tails (the dominant xc bike of the last 6 years). You'll want a spinning gear to pace the climbs and make up time on the downhills and technical trails and any trail with turns. I've been pushing a bike with a 34T up front and an 11-34 cassette…which is a bit of a work out on longer hillier rides. I'll switch to a 30T up front and 10-42 cassette in the spring. 30T single rings seem to gaining traction as OEM specs on these sort of bikes…I hope to see more.
4. Wider Rims and Wider Tires: It's a fact, all things being equal, 29er tires have more straight-line traction than other tires ('cept fat bike tires…we're coming to that in a bit). However, the movement right now is ever wider and stronger rims (28-40mm becoming common) than make for a great wide and secure foot print with today's wider tires. You'll want a chunky, durable, wider (preferably tubeless ready or known to be easy to convert) modern rubber compound tire on a wider rim. My favorites so far (and ones that are commonly seen); 1. Maxxis High Roller II 2.3/2.4 with the exoskin and 3c treads, Schwalbe Hans Dampf 2.35 (great tires, too expensive though), Continental Trail King 2.4 Black Chili Compound-Protection (unlike the schwalbe these are actually MADE IN GERMANY, and They're 30 dollars cheaper…and just as good if not better). Bikes that come with under spec'ed tires ought to be avoided (like 27.5 maxis ardent 2.25 or the Schwalbe Nobby Nic…fine tires for xc racing on fast courses…not on a big enduro bike…you'll miss the traction).
So, who still wants a 29er? Plenty of folks of course!:
1. Single Speeds! You all remember it was the Single Speeder revolution that got the 29er grassroots revolution rolling in the first place, and for good reason-It's a match made in Heaven. Serious single speeders, especially those that like to log long, long, adventure miles will continue to love their 29ers, until they finally want gears…Then they'll get a Fat Bike.
2. Long Mile Adventure Riders: At endurance races (not Enduro) like the Wilderness 101 or VT50 or Leadville etc, I suspect 29ers will continue to rule, makes sense as their best attributes are all about dependable, really long xc miles (especially with pronounced dirt road sections). Pro's will still ride 29er duallies and Privateer racers will still be on Steel Hard Tail rigs.
3. What about those smart, rugged, mid-travel, dual suspension 29ers? They're still a great option for a lot of folks (though, I can tell you, they are already becoming a rarity: Giant and Norco have already phased theirs out, Cannondale is doing the same…The big companies and more importantly, their engineers have fallen in love with the 27.5 in a way they never did with 29ers --in fact, most came to that marriage as reluctant, resentful grooms). But, Having spent time on the C-Dale Trigger 29er and the Kona Process 111, I can say those are great bikes, and the taller, aggressive xc rider would still love those bikes. Personally, I'd opt for the longer travel version of each at the 27.5 wheel size, but I get their continued appeal.
What else:
Fucking Fat Bikes are everywhere. I like them, but I haven't bought one yet. I'm no authority on them at all, but I know that I led a group social ride about a week ago, and out of 60 people, over 20 were on fat bikes. Though I know a number of folks who have proudly made these ever-widening rubber monsters their one and only bike, I can't take that plunge.
Is it a fad?? Well, yeah, but it's a fad that has way more traction (ha ha) than similar bike fads of the past (such as the aforementioned Single Speed fad…..Fat Bikes are more popular and way more big companies are throwing real R&D weight and product distribution behind them).
However, when paired with a new-school 27.5 enduro-long travel dually, a fat bike makes for an incredible addition to an all-conditions two bike quiver.
Ok, that's all I got on bikes, post questions or comments if you like, I never tire of talking bikes, or skis, or gear and gear use in general. Let it snow, I'm ready.