I'm looking at getting a full sus 29er I all ready have a 29er XTC composite HT rig for xc racing etc.
I'm hitting a few trails over in scotland and whales and I'm wondering what the best trail bike is...
I'm looking at different models like the Giant Trance, Giant Anthem, specialized camber comp 29er or the Niner RIP 9 keeping in mind that I want a bike that's not a dog on climbs.
There is a Niner dealer in Ireland. Nuxie, I will have the full range of Giant 29'er Machines in the Giant Store by next week. I'd be happy to talk you through the whole 29'er thing and give you a shot around the car park on a couple of 29" machines..Next month we will be having a Demo Day where folks can have a blast on a 29'er demo bike.
Having ridden most bikes and brands, so far the 26" Giant Anthem is the most amazing bike I have ever ridden.
Richie
there is no such thing as a bike that climbs and descends well. You can read all the mags, websites and forums you want but a bike that descends brilliant is designed solely for that..the same with the Hartail XC bike, its designed to be better at climbing. Never buy a bike that you think will do both well.
Theres no machine that will do that, its a great marketing tagline.
What drives me all the time is seeing people ride their bikes. You won't ride it if you think its not doing the job you bought it for.
What people need to do is ride there bikes and get some tips from experts like me.Buy a bike that does the job you want it to to, XC, Gravity Enduro, Downhill and work on your weaknesses, not the weaknesses you perceive the bike to have.
There are riders out there than ride a 100mm as quick as most people up and down and riders who can ride a 150mm machine the same way.
The bikes are there to make you enjoy the whole thing more but at the end of the day its the pilot that counts.
I think 29'ers are a great addition to the MTB pantheon..but as Hardtails... I did ride a Giant Anthem 29'er for a month and while I thought it was brilliant, it was nothing compared to the 26" version.
Theres always going to be divisions between 26 and 29'er.. I am very old school, probably because I am here right since the beginning and I think my issue with 29'es is that I think they make it easier to ride the really tough stuff..
they are no harder than 26" wheels going up hill, in fact and it might be all in the mind,but once you get going they feel way faster.
Nobody as yet can keep up with Robin or Alfie on their 26ers , when that happens then I will surrender !!
I think my issue with 29'ers is that I think they make it easier to ride the really tough stuff..they are no harder than 26" wheels going up hill, in fact and it might be all in the mind,but once you get going they feel way faster.
They sure do make it easier to climb, espiecially up and over the rough stuff and just floats over rooty or rocky trails, the level of grip is amazing...
They sure do make it easier to climb, espiecially up and over the rough stuff and just floats over rooty or rocky trails, the level of grip is amazing...
Richie, I'll definetly tip over to ye and have a look at the new range, just put a post on FB when the demo day is on please... I think Ray O'Shaughnessy on his 29er would give Robin or Alfie a run for their money on their 26ers . I'm thorn between the Trance and the Anthem so hopefully you'll be able to set me straight.
I also have to agree with Graham I find that my 29er climbs alot better that my 26er but hey that's just me...
Nice wheelset Graham I have the same crest rims on dt swiss 240's there super light however I find them a bit to be a bit bendy in the corners sometimes so I use them just for racing. My normal day to day wheelset it stan's arch ex on hope hubs up front and stans flow on hope hubs for the rear and there bullet proof...
Richie, I'll definetly tip over to ye and have a look at the new range, just put a post on FB when the demo day is on please... I think Ray O'Shaughnessy on his 29er would give Robin or Alfie a run for their money on their 26ers . I'm thorn between the Trance and the Anthem so hopefully you'll be able to set me straight.
I also have to agree with Graham I find that my 29er climbs alot better that my 26er but hey that's just me. Nice wheelset Graham I have the same crest rims on dt swiss 240's there super light however I find them a bit to be a bit bendy in the corners sometimes so I use them just for racing. My normal day to day wheelset it stan's arch ex on hope hubs up front and stans flow on hope hubs for the rear and there bullet proof...
Don't bother waiting for the demo day, just order the Trance 29er now! You have your HT 29er for racing etc.. And there is a waiting list for the TX0 I believe...
I'm not the heaviest or roughest of rider so the Crests should be perfect... Though if I was to buy a TX i'd get the Flows...
7 yrs on the same anthem, ridden all but the most gnarly DH stuff on it ( although there was that one time in maritzburgh) can't fault it, when I need a new xc/ marathon bike it'll likely be another anthem. Also looking for an enduro bike to compliment it for next year ( if my knee ever cops on to itself) and no matter how far I look Giant trance comes up trumps( along with that french lemon peel one) but the 29er just feels awkward for me ( short and heavy, me, not the bike) now if there was a 650b trance:)
I'm looking at getting a full sus 29er I all ready have a 29er XTC composite HT rig for xc racing etc.
I'm hitting a few trails over in scotland and whales and I'm wondering what the best trail bike is...
I'm looking at different models like the Giant Trance, Giant Anthem, specialized camber comp 29er or the Niner RIP 9 keeping in mind that I want a bike that's not a dog on climbs.
There is a Niner dealer in Ireland. Nuxie, I will have the full range of Giant 29'er Machines in the Giant Store by next week. I'd be happy to talk you through the whole 29'er thing and give you a shot around the car park on a couple of 29" machines..Next month we will be having a Demo Day where folks can have a blast on a 29'er demo bike.
Having ridden most bikes and brands, so far the 26" Giant Anthem is the most amazing bike I have ever ridden.
Richie
there is no such thing as a bike that climbs and descends well. You can read all the mags, websites and forums you want but a bike that descends brilliant is designed solely for that..the same with the Hartail XC bike, its designed to be better at climbing. Never buy a bike that you think will do both well.
Theres no machine that will do that, its a great marketing tagline.
What drives me all the time is seeing people ride their bikes. You won't ride it if you think its not doing the job you bought it for.
What people need to do is ride there bikes and get some tips from experts like me.Buy a bike that does the job you want it to to, XC, Gravity Enduro, Downhill and work on your weaknesses, not the weaknesses you perceive the bike to have.
There are riders out there than ride a 100mm as quick as most people up and down and riders who can ride a 150mm machine the same way.
The bikes are there to make you enjoy the whole thing more but at the end of the day its the pilot that counts.
I think 29'ers are a great addition to the MTB pantheon..but as Hardtails... I did ride a Giant Anthem 29'er for a month and while I thought it was brilliant, it was nothing compared to the 26" version.
Theres always going to be divisions between 26 and 29'er.. I am very old school, probably because I am here right since the beginning and I think my issue with 29'es is that I think they make it easier to ride the really tough stuff..
they are no harder than 26" wheels going up hill, in fact and it might be all in the mind,but once you get going they feel way faster.
Nobody as yet can keep up with Robin or Alfie on their 26ers , when that happens then I will surrender !!
I think my issue with 29'ers is that I think they make it easier to ride the really tough stuff..they are no harder than 26" wheels going up hill, in fact and it might be all in the mind,but once you get going they feel way faster.
They sure do make it easier to climb, espiecially up and over the rough stuff and just floats over rooty or rocky trails, the level of grip is amazing...
They sure do make it easier to climb, espiecially up and over the rough stuff and just floats over rooty or rocky trails, the level of grip is amazing...
Richie, I'll definetly tip over to ye and have a look at the new range, just put a post on FB when the demo day is on please... I think Ray O'Shaughnessy on his 29er would give Robin or Alfie a run for their money on their 26ers . I'm thorn between the Trance and the Anthem so hopefully you'll be able to set me straight.
I also have to agree with Graham I find that my 29er climbs alot better that my 26er but hey that's just me...
Nice wheelset Graham I have the same crest rims on dt swiss 240's there super light however I find them a bit to be a bit bendy in the corners sometimes so I use them just for racing. My normal day to day wheelset it stan's arch ex on hope hubs up front and stans flow on hope hubs for the rear and there bullet proof...
Richie, I'll definetly tip over to ye and have a look at the new range, just put a post on FB when the demo day is on please... I think Ray O'Shaughnessy on his 29er would give Robin or Alfie a run for their money on their 26ers . I'm thorn between the Trance and the Anthem so hopefully you'll be able to set me straight.
I also have to agree with Graham I find that my 29er climbs alot better that my 26er but hey that's just me. Nice wheelset Graham I have the same crest rims on dt swiss 240's there super light however I find them a bit to be a bit bendy in the corners sometimes so I use them just for racing. My normal day to day wheelset it stan's arch ex on hope hubs up front and stans flow on hope hubs for the rear and there bullet proof...
Don't bother waiting for the demo day, just order the Trance 29er now! You have your HT 29er for racing etc.. And there is a waiting list for the TX0 I believe...
I'm not the heaviest or roughest of rider so the Crests should be perfect... Though if I was to buy a TX i'd get the Flows...
7 yrs on the same anthem, ridden all but the most gnarly DH stuff on it ( although there was that one time in maritzburgh) can't fault it, when I need a new xc/ marathon bike it'll likely be another anthem. Also looking for an enduro bike to compliment it for next year ( if my knee ever cops on to itself) and no matter how far I look Giant trance comes up trumps( along with that french lemon peel one) but the 29er just feels awkward for me ( short and heavy, me, not the bike) now if there was a 650b trance:)
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