I also rode a friends C dale Caffeine 29er, and really like it for some reason. Seemed to clear certain rough sections quite easily and be stiff under foot. I'd buy one for the right price, but I'm kinda cheap. It did handle strange on tight switchbacks, and I had a tendency to tip inside on left hand turns....Seat time would likely fix any cornering issues.
I would have cared when I was 25 years old and competing in Colorado, but at 43 riding a couple times a week in North TX. I really don't care. I ride what I've got (Jamis Dragon Team 26) and will switch to something else if a deal comes along and/or something breaks. I was on a 95 Mantis Pro-floater for 6 years but it got pretty flexy from all the use over the years. Rode a friends basic Stumpjumper fsr 26 2010 model and thought it rode nice enough. Prob. would go a bit faster on it.
I think it depends on the rider, i love my hardtail 29er, but if i got a full suspension bike, i would get a 26er, because i feel like i lose some handling ability with the 29er
If he would use a 69er he can benefit from the fast acceleration of the 26 rear wheel and on the other hand has the advantage of the 29 front wheel which improves the smooth ride over the bumps.
i ran both and i think it's dependes of your biking style and how do you feel confortable riding in a trail.the i feel that the26'er has a sharp response in narrow turns and trails.and to pass over a obstacle it's quite similar.the 29'er rolls a few inches foward than 26'er. and in a flat terrain 29'er has a little vantage.
Seeing as Specialized has just committed its entire Epic and Stumpjumper models to 29er then i'm not surprised that a Specialized produced video found the 29er to be faster!! :P
@KristinaModra he had also just completed the first run on the 26" so he would have had to have maintained a higher heat rate to hold the same power. However power info vs. speed would be nice
2. 10 plus second different is really not significant.. most of the weekends i go to the same trail uphill and downhill.. every time the time is different.. very hard to get exact time.. so this 10plus second is really meaningless.
3. whichever cheaper and lighter, i get that one...
pros - very fast and efficient both on trails and paved. definitely faster than previous bikes i'v ridden. comfortable ride despite being a HT. rewarded me well whenever i decide to really power pedal the bike.
cons - difficult on sharp turns specially on very tight/narrow single track. more difficult to pedal through thick mud unless u carry higher/faster momentum. off camber moments are scarier. u will feel penalized for slowing down.. so dont
I would take 29er, just because it can absorb roots and rocks better than a 26er could. Im not saying that 26ers can't but just to be safe I would take the 29er.
its really down to preference. you heard him. he chooses the 26er because of his riding style, even though he was faster in this test on the 29er. it really is just a choice that someone buying a bike needs to figure out for themselves.
I own both a 29 and 26. And to be honest I really prefer my 26 by far. Every time I jump back on 26 I am amazed the difference in acceleration, and its also more entertaining on the trail. And since I put a 120mm travel fork on the front of my 26, the only significant advantages of the 29 is momentum and ride comfort.
A 29er may be quick but at the end of the day the destroy the fun of riding small wheels. I ride a Specialized Big Hit I with a 24 inch rear wheel. Great handling - great fun.
29er is faster when he was using more watts to push his bike. I want to see this test with both bikes and the same amount of energy (in watts with a powermeter). With the pulsometer, seems that he used more power in the 29er
@msrx08 mi sa che non gliene sbatte un cazzo a questi idioti di perdere clienti in Italia. Cazzo e' assurdo,per il 2012 hanno tolto tutte le Epic 26 salvo la comp....che idioti.
@Vanquish73 Vedremo se il mercato riescono a pilotarlo. Io spero si becchino solo mazzate nelle vendite. Oltretutto tutte le Specy quest'anno sono bruttissime, anche le 26,con delle grafiche orripilanti duttate giù, fatte con i piedi. Bah, se ne vadano affanculo. Leggi i commenti, non sono entusiasti neanche all'estero di ste 29, sono solo una presa per il culo. Sono 10 anni che le spingono ma nulla, non sfondano sul mercato e adesso ce le vogliono imporre di forza.
@msrx08 L'unica decente 26 che hanno e' la Sworks...forse un po' troppo cattiva con quel rosso e nero eccessivi ma direi molto bella,la preferisco alla colorazione bianco/rossa race della 2011. Piccolo problema : in Italia non la portano. Ma si puo' ?? Eccomi qui finalmente pronto a comprarla e quei dementi non la portano ?? Io vado spesso in USA dove la vendono ma mi ci vedi a sbattermi con uno scatolone in giro per gli aereoporti ?? Che imbecilli...
It's not fake just because the GoPro is there sometimes. and then sometimes it's not. Sauser did the initial time trial run. Then after that, they went back and filmed clips for the video. After all the time trial runs were over, that is.
I don't understand why he was faster with the 29er and will still use the 26" for racing. The test course looks similar to the conditions you get in XCO. Something is wrong, oh I know what is it, is called marketing!
This guy made an objective test and 26" are faster:
How come at some points he goes really slow, like he's on the moon? and some parts he goes really fast like he's in a Charlie Chaplin movie? Also, I don't see any loudspeakers on the course, but there's some crappy 'metal' band playing in the background? And how come he's got two different maximum heart rates? Has he got two hearts?
Interesting video... but to really convince people of an advantage, a proper test needs to be done with multiple riders over multiple runs. Increase the sample size and then show me the results.
@joobfa796 We have. All the pro riders are now jumping on 29ers and winning the biggest races in the world Sea Otter last year just to name one off the top of my head
@trenttyre I would think that too, but why would it be faster? If a 29'er is already going as fast as a 26'er, climbs just as well and rolls over terrain better, and from what tests have proven it's only slightly slower from a start sprint then a 26'er. 27.5 wheels would only be marginally quicker then that and might not perform as well as a 29'er in other areas.
@BoyYummers 29rs dont climb as well as 26rs do but if you go get the new Mountain Bike Action issue that is on stands now they have an article explaining why 27.5 (aka 650b) is a better choice. they climb almost as well as a 26, descend almost as well as a 29 and can be pumped and hucked like a 26 without the disadvantages of the 29r and better rolling resistance than the 26r. check it out its a great article.
@122chucknorris and what's fake about that? he did his run and for some filming material he did some parts again. that's called producing a promo video.
what about 890er or 950088745426er o.O you can drive straight on in New York
rulfryder17290 16 hours ago
But what did pro's race with?
tillman40 1 day ago
with a 29er you gain 11 second in descent, but you will lose all that time and more in ascent! :)
alesailing84 5 days ago
how aboutt a big hit with 29 in front and 26 in back?
NYMPHETAMINE1236 5 days ago
The engine is what matters.
SkullLikeASecret 1 week ago
29 is dead !
27.5 is coming and after 26 will be back.
Big Marketing is watching you.
diztill 1 week ago
The rims of a 29er arent as rigid/strong
Sumacpipecarver 1 week ago
what they proved is it doesn't matter is it 26 or 29er.
S-works still sucks!
PPAD1990 2 weeks ago
650B FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Derlicte 3 weeks ago
Im surprised he has those tree grabers on his bars.... (bar ends)
potatomanjr 3 weeks ago
I also rode a friends C dale Caffeine 29er, and really like it for some reason. Seemed to clear certain rough sections quite easily and be stiff under foot. I'd buy one for the right price, but I'm kinda cheap. It did handle strange on tight switchbacks, and I had a tendency to tip inside on left hand turns....Seat time would likely fix any cornering issues.
conrman 1 month ago
I would have cared when I was 25 years old and competing in Colorado, but at 43 riding a couple times a week in North TX. I really don't care. I ride what I've got (Jamis Dragon Team 26) and will switch to something else if a deal comes along and/or something breaks. I was on a 95 Mantis Pro-floater for 6 years but it got pretty flexy from all the use over the years. Rode a friends basic Stumpjumper fsr 26 2010 model and thought it rode nice enough. Prob. would go a bit faster on it.
conrman 1 month ago
I think it depends on the rider, i love my hardtail 29er, but if i got a full suspension bike, i would get a 26er, because i feel like i lose some handling ability with the 29er
ZorkzoProductions 1 month ago
If he would use a 69er he can benefit from the fast acceleration of the 26 rear wheel and on the other hand has the advantage of the 29 front wheel which improves the smooth ride over the bumps.
walsmachinist1 1 month ago
the s works looks like a camber
TMTBRider 1 month ago
@TMTBRider dan r u serius
theyamaharider4life 1 month ago
i ran both and i think it's dependes of your biking style and how do you feel confortable riding in a trail.the i feel that the26'er has a sharp response in narrow turns and trails.and to pass over a obstacle it's quite similar.the 29'er rolls a few inches foward than 26'er. and in a flat terrain 29'er has a little vantage.
147faq 1 month ago
29er just looks wrong
p3x197 1 month ago 3
Seeing as Specialized has just committed its entire Epic and Stumpjumper models to 29er then i'm not surprised that a Specialized produced video found the 29er to be faster!! :P
coeus1990 1 month ago 2
Nothing finer could have come out of the Special Ed marketing dept.
yamin19771 2 months ago 3
it's just wrong!
eteokles3 2 months ago 2
There is something called 69er .. 29" front and 26" back.. perfect.
enyceckk1o11 2 months ago
He´s got higher heart rate on 29er in both uphil and downhill than on 26". He was faster on 29er but gave bigger effort and spent more energy.
KristinaModra 2 months ago 3
@KristinaModra he had also just completed the first run on the 26" so he would have had to have maintained a higher heat rate to hold the same power. However power info vs. speed would be nice
MrNewboy13 2 months ago
1. 26 or 29 i'm still slower than them.
2. 10 plus second different is really not significant.. most of the weekends i go to the same trail uphill and downhill.. every time the time is different.. very hard to get exact time.. so this 10plus second is really meaningless.
3. whichever cheaper and lighter, i get that one...
lyclycsms 3 months ago
why dont you just get a 29er and put a 26er front wheel on it ..
wombatmountain1000 3 months ago
Meh this sucks. Stuck between the 26 or 29 rockhopper or 26 hardrock... All of them feel great just now it's on to deciding which one
ScreaminGreenMachine 4 months ago
29er
pros - very fast and efficient both on trails and paved. definitely faster than previous bikes i'v ridden. comfortable ride despite being a HT. rewarded me well whenever i decide to really power pedal the bike.
cons - difficult on sharp turns specially on very tight/narrow single track. more difficult to pedal through thick mud unless u carry higher/faster momentum. off camber moments are scarier. u will feel penalized for slowing down.. so dont
tebonginc 4 months ago
so i think if u ride on trails that are 60%++ consisting of situations described in cons. you should go with a 26 inch full sus.
otherwise i would recommend 29er.
tebonginc 4 months ago
I would take 29er, just because it can absorb roots and rocks better than a 26er could. Im not saying that 26ers can't but just to be safe I would take the 29er.
CrankbrosLewis 5 months ago
its really down to preference. you heard him. he chooses the 26er because of his riding style, even though he was faster in this test on the 29er. it really is just a choice that someone buying a bike needs to figure out for themselves.
MattWaller04 5 months ago
I own both a 29 and 26. And to be honest I really prefer my 26 by far. Every time I jump back on 26 I am amazed the difference in acceleration, and its also more entertaining on the trail. And since I put a 120mm travel fork on the front of my 26, the only significant advantages of the 29 is momentum and ride comfort.
blackdubsociety 5 months ago
Comment removed
blackdubsociety 5 months ago
I would choose the 29er. My neighbor also has that 29er
mrcyclist55 5 months ago
This video ?? Marketing. On thing for sure 29'' are better that the 26'' : they are better ate being absolutely UGLY.
Vanquish73 5 months ago
A 29er may be quick but at the end of the day the destroy the fun of riding small wheels. I ride a Specialized Big Hit I with a 24 inch rear wheel. Great handling - great fun.
MrSupermuck 5 months ago
29er is faster when he was using more watts to push his bike. I want to see this test with both bikes and the same amount of energy (in watts with a powermeter). With the pulsometer, seems that he used more power in the 29er
ansjol1 6 months ago
I don't believe in this video.
Anyway 11 seconds are not enough to buy a Chernobyl abort bike with big wheels.
Ehi Specy you are loosing a lot of customers here in Italy.
Bye bye.
Max
msrx08 6 months ago
@msrx08 mi sa che non gliene sbatte un cazzo a questi idioti di perdere clienti in Italia. Cazzo e' assurdo,per il 2012 hanno tolto tutte le Epic 26 salvo la comp....che idioti.
Vanquish73 5 months ago
@Vanquish73 Vedremo se il mercato riescono a pilotarlo. Io spero si becchino solo mazzate nelle vendite. Oltretutto tutte le Specy quest'anno sono bruttissime, anche le 26,con delle grafiche orripilanti duttate giù, fatte con i piedi. Bah, se ne vadano affanculo. Leggi i commenti, non sono entusiasti neanche all'estero di ste 29, sono solo una presa per il culo. Sono 10 anni che le spingono ma nulla, non sfondano sul mercato e adesso ce le vogliono imporre di forza.
msrx08 5 months ago
@msrx08 L'unica decente 26 che hanno e' la Sworks...forse un po' troppo cattiva con quel rosso e nero eccessivi ma direi molto bella,la preferisco alla colorazione bianco/rossa race della 2011. Piccolo problema : in Italia non la portano. Ma si puo' ?? Eccomi qui finalmente pronto a comprarla e quei dementi non la portano ?? Io vado spesso in USA dove la vendono ma mi ci vedi a sbattermi con uno scatolone in giro per gli aereoporti ?? Che imbecilli...
Vanquish73 5 months ago
It's not fake just because the GoPro is there sometimes. and then sometimes it's not. Sauser did the initial time trial run. Then after that, they went back and filmed clips for the video. After all the time trial runs were over, that is.
BrinkOfInsanityMusic 7 months ago
I don't understand why he was faster with the 29er and will still use the 26" for racing. The test course looks similar to the conditions you get in XCO. Something is wrong, oh I know what is it, is called marketing!
This guy made an objective test and 26" are faster:
teamhealthfx . com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/category/1032 . aspx
(remove extra spaces)
If the 29er makes me climb slower, 26" is the bike for me, period.
Alexandersvy 8 months ago
okay, so 23 seconds faster... If you are not racing, the price difference does not justify a 29 agains the 26...
HLeandro 8 months ago
Nice promo, nothing more!
MacRebbel 8 months ago
How come at some points he goes really slow, like he's on the moon? and some parts he goes really fast like he's in a Charlie Chaplin movie? Also, I don't see any loudspeakers on the course, but there's some crappy 'metal' band playing in the background? And how come he's got two different maximum heart rates? Has he got two hearts?
neilwheel 8 months ago
This is the best comparison I've seen yet.
Nicool333 8 months ago
why all pro cyclists are bold??? xD
Acara23 8 months ago
Interesting video... but to really convince people of an advantage, a proper test needs to be done with multiple riders over multiple runs. Increase the sample size and then show me the results.
joobfa796 8 months ago 23
@joobfa796 we should just develop the technology to clone you, then he can ride both and give you the best answer.
derenerj 5 months ago
@joobfa796 We have. All the pro riders are now jumping on 29ers and winning the biggest races in the world Sea Otter last year just to name one off the top of my head
MatthewBayard 1 month ago
@joobfa796 its just for him
pro353 1 month ago
When I race in Single Speed class, its almost entirely 29er's
andrewc2768 8 months ago
27.5 would be faster than both of them
trenttyre 8 months ago 30
@trenttyre just a matter of time before they find the perfect wheel size like 28.123882 and then everyone can just get over the 29er phenomena
pro353 1 month ago
@trenttyre Patent it!
ATravis24 1 month ago
@trenttyre I would think that too, but why would it be faster? If a 29'er is already going as fast as a 26'er, climbs just as well and rolls over terrain better, and from what tests have proven it's only slightly slower from a start sprint then a 26'er. 27.5 wheels would only be marginally quicker then that and might not perform as well as a 29'er in other areas.
BoyYummers 1 week ago
@BoyYummers 29rs dont climb as well as 26rs do but if you go get the new Mountain Bike Action issue that is on stands now they have an article explaining why 27.5 (aka 650b) is a better choice. they climb almost as well as a 26, descend almost as well as a 29 and can be pumped and hucked like a 26 without the disadvantages of the 29r and better rolling resistance than the 26r. check it out its a great article.
trenttyre 1 week ago
its all about rider if you leg have power you can win by riding a bmx
shisantai 8 months ago 2
2:31 chain bouncing all over.
BurnabyAlex 8 months ago
this is fake, how come at some points he has a gopro on a handlebar mount, but at other points, he doesn't?
122chucknorris 8 months ago
@122chucknorris and what's fake about that? he did his run and for some filming material he did some parts again. that's called producing a promo video.
Janesch 8 months ago
@Janesch oh, i see. very true.
122chucknorris 8 months ago
@122chucknorris
thats actually a really good point...
Cracklytomcat2527 8 months ago
Specialized, please do a video with the Pitch i am interested in purchasing one but i want more details
zerordie95 8 months ago
@zerordie95 I've got a pitch, awesome bike, does everything!
areyouoffit 8 months ago