[cannondalerugby5]

Thanks for reading

As I live in UK and we are years behind on access to up to date 29ers(never even seen a 29er in my region!) I would like some advice from those far better informed please.

I am 6 feet 7 inches,225 pounds and ride an XL size or 63cm Super Six.

Here is my problem:

I have been riding my Cannondale Taurine Carbon Team Edition for a couple of years very happily.

Last summer tried a cheap aluminium On One 29er with no suspension 9 gears and mechanical brakes.

I was blown away with the ride,so quick,comfortable and confident.

Kept trying the Taurine but if felt far too small and did not give the same confident feel.

So I put together a Bianchi 29er aluminium frame ,ridgid carbon forks,9 speed good spec bits and feel that I can go faster on 90% of terrains than on the Taurine.

The only place it struggles is on black runs with hard packed bricks were your wrists and hands are reduced to pulp.Lack of suspension.

Should I get riser bars for the Taurine and give it another try ?

Or

Should I look for a 29er frame and swop the Taurine bits over?

If so Carbon or Aluminium?

Should I put my Lefty carbon on the frame.

Should I look for a full suspension 29er?

If so which one?

Sorry for all the questions but I am sure the readers will have experience of many 29 er bikes.


Thanks

Steve

 

[CB2]

I would try putting a suspension fork on your 29'er. From my experience it makes a huge difference, but this is coming from a guy who usually rides rigid.

 

[LyNx]

OK, not familiar enough with Lefty's to know for sure, but I think your solution lies in swapping the Lefty over to the 29er and doing the necessaries to it to work with a 29er wheel. I think with the 110mm Lefty you'd end up with an 80mm travel fork, but not sure what the A to C would be, but would have to guess it should be in the ballpark as the Bianchi is designed either around an 80mm or 100mm fork (depends on what model).

This would be a cheap test and solution to your problem to find out IF all you need is front suspension OR do you want Full Squish - all you'd need to do is build a new front wheel and do the travel limit on the Lefty. I'd be guessing that if you've been happy with the HT Cdale, then you should be ecstatic with the HT29er using a Lefty.

 

[Fix the Spade]

In the UK I think buying any 29er that isn't an On One is something of a daft move.

It's not that On Ones are better, or that you can't get a vrey nice 29er from other brands. It's that the other brands that sell 29ers in the UK are taking the piss royally when it comes to pricing.

It's hard to justify spending £800 plus for an Alu niner or £1600+ for a Carbon Niner or Santa Cruz when you can have a carbon or Ti On One for your £800, an Alu on for £240 or a steel one for £160. Anything else and you're just ripping yourself off.

If so Carbon or Aluminium?
If so which one?

Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel! (ahem)

A steel frame will be cheap-ish, comfortable and durable. Carbon more pricey and less crash resistant but a little more comfy. A Steel Inbred 29er with a suitable fork (say a Reba 29) would fit your wants pretty well and fairly cheaply.

Or possibly. This may require a bit of saving (or patience) on your part.

On One do (or did until very recently it seems) a Ti-29er that is fantastic. They also have a 29er carbon frame coming out in the next couple of months and another sligthly cheaper carbon 29er coming out soon after.

More than that, they have a 29er 465 type frame on the way and the 29er Inbred is getting updated with replaceable dropouts. Not sure if either of those are official yet but the protos have been thumping round here for a few months now.

So... if you want a new frame, On One. Otherwise, fitting a decent suspension fork should give you a big boost. If you've been riding rigid for a while a Reba 29 will make your bike suddenly feel like heaven.

Or mod the lefty as said by Lynx, you'd have to ask Cannondale about how.

 

[TooTallUK]

There are other 29ers that come up cheap now and then - Rigs and Units have been available at daft cheap prices. Singular Cycles are well rated too. Saying that, I'm 6'7" and have ridden a 29er ScandAL for 4 years and love it - if that was the 'cheap On One alu' you rode, it is far more of a frame than you pay for.
Just buy some sus forks and put them on the Bianchi - you'll love it. I don't know where you are, but if you are near Bristol I have 2 x 29ers you could try that would both fit you.
Oh - read singletrackworld - more and more 29er talk in the UK on there.

 

[eliflap]

For my tip , please refer to Cannondale forum thread

 

[gravedoja]

I have an on one inbred 29er and a niner air9, they are both great bikes to ride, the on one frame is about £160 and the niner frame is £800 at the mo i think. Bit of a no brainer really.
I also had a scandal, but i sold it, the inbred beats you up a little bit less on longer rides.
I would love to try a singular though, and those steel jones' are tempting if a little pricy. good luck choosing and enjoy.

UK rider here btw.

 

[finch2]

what tyre and pressure are you running? First and cheapest option is to run low pressure on high volume. It's just chatter you are talking about right? Not large bumps?

 

[gfs69]

I am just curious here. 800 GBP is roughly $1300! Who is making the additional $500? Is it Niner or the importers/government? Someone has to be the middle man here. Sorry, I am just not sure how importing/duties and all of that work. I love my Niner's, but I would never pay a 60% premium for them! For that price, couldn't you have a really nice custom frame made? At 6'7" you are a prime candidate! (I am 6'6", and the XL's work well enough for me).

 

[Hugor]

Look up a bloke called Cavegiant. He frequents this place regularly and lives in York. I believe he has similar dimensions to yourself. He rides an XL Niner WFO.
I ride a RIP9 and think its fantastic for UK trail centres. I live in Wales. There are times that I would prefer a WFO.
PM Mr Giant. I believe he may be able to help you.

 

[CB2]

I am just curious here. 800 GBP is roughly $1300! Who is making the additional $500? Is it Niner or the importers/government? Someone has to be the middle man here. Sorry, I am just not sure how importing/duties and all of that work. I love my Niner's, but I would never pay a 60% premium for them! For that price, couldn't you have a really nice custom frame made? At 6'7" you are a prime candidate! (I am 6'6", and the XL's work well enough for me).

There is a VAT in the UK.
A Singular Swift frameset in England cost would cost the equivalent to $715 whereas it's $590 in the US.

 

[BruceBrown]

As I live in UK and we are years behind on access to up to date 29ers(never even seen a 29er in my region!) I would like some advice from those far better informed please.

I am 6 feet 7 inches,225 pounds and ride an XL size or 63cm Super Six.

Should I look for a 29er frame and swop the Taurine bits over

Steve you are a tall drink of water. Read this thread to get an idea of somebody who is similar in size to you did.

 

[Dr Feelygood !]

Try the classified ads on here .

A nice example of an xxl frame here :- http://classifieds.mtbr.com/showproduct.php?product=60925&cat=all

Most of the USA guys will ship to the UK if you ask nicely

Ebay is worth a look too.

Cheers,
Dr FG (Uk 29er rider)

 

[gfs69]

There is a VAT in the UK.
A Singular Swift frameset in England cost would cost the equivalent to $715 whereas it's $590 in the US.

The government then, got it!

 

[Fix the Spade]

There is a VAT in the UK.
A Singular Swift frameset in England cost would cost the equivalent to $715 whereas it's $590 in the US.

VAT doesn't account for the price hike a lot of US brands give to us Englishmen.

A certain well known Cali based brand, even if they were selling to UK shops at the US retail price and then adding the import/value added tax onto that, then adding a twenty percent mark up on top of that, you're still £450 ($730) short of that company's UK retail price and £300 short of what you'll pay if you're a good blagger. I know what the importer pays for them and they aren't making any more per frame than they make on Euro brands that they sell for £500-1000 less.

The idea that shipping/tax somehow accounts for that is a joke, the frames are made in Taiwan and never see the US on their way here, so they aren't going any further. How are they shipping them to Europe, Mafia smugglers?

Basically we get hosed.

Sorry, I'll climb down off my box now...

 

[CB2]

VAT doesn't account for the price hike a lot of US brands give to us Englishmen.

A certain well known Cali based brand, even if they were selling to UK shops at the US retail price and then adding the import/value added tax onto that, then adding a twenty percent mark up on top of that, you're still £450 ($730) short of that company's UK retail price and £300 short of what you'll pay if you're a good blagger. I know what the importer pays for them and they aren't making any more per frame than they make on Euro brands that they sell for £500-1000 less.

The idea that shipping/tax somehow accounts for that is a joke, the frames are made in Taiwan and never see the US on their way here, so they aren't going any further. How are they shipping them to Europe, Mafia smugglers?

Basically we get hosed.

Sorry, I'll climb down off my box now...

You're not the only ones.
I was out riding last Spring and ran into a guy from France who flew him and his wife to Bristol, Connecticut to buy a high end carbon Cannondale, because even with air and accommodations was less expensive than buying it in France.

 

[finch2]

yes, very common. Same thing with Lynskey here now. Expect to pay $600 more minimum after all the usual taxes and shipping, just because there is a dealer here now. Also, no loft deals for anyone. Many other examples of really cheap prices int he US that get expensive here in Australia. Most companies have deals with the US retailers so that they are not permitted to ship outside the US. Yes, there are middle men. I don't have a problem with that when it adds value to the consumer, but do have a problem when it doesn't. Especially when previously a company was already doing business on one level previously (dealing, shipping etc), and refuses to do so anymore but still makes it more expensive. Not as if the labour/servoce cost is tranferred.

 

[cannondalerugby5]

There are other 29ers that come up cheap now and then - Rigs and Units have been available at daft cheap prices. Singular Cycles are well rated too. Saying that, I'm 6'7" and have ridden a 29er ScandAL for 4 years and love it - if that was the 'cheap On One alu' you rode, it is far more of a frame than you pay for.
Just buy some sus forks and put them on the Bianchi - you'll love it. I don't know where you are, but if you are near Bristol I have 2 x 29ers you could try that would both fit you.
Oh - read singletrackworld - more and more 29er talk in the UK on there.

Thanks TooTallUK

It was a Scandel I rode.Great bike but I am erring towards a Carbon either Flash or On One.
Lynskey TI Lefty is also a consideraation.
Thaks for the kind offer ref Bristol but i am in Durham

Thanks Again

Steve

 

[gravedoja]

Its true we do get ripped off on bike prices here in the uk, i got my air9 when they were £575, just before the prices shot up, i dont think i would pay £800 for it, i really like the air9 carbon but its £1600 over here i think, i am not sure who gets the extra money thats made.

 

[thasingletrackmastah]

In the UK I think buying any 29er that isn't an On One is something of a daft move.

It's not that On Ones are better, or that you can't get a vrey nice 29er from other brands. It's that the other brands that sell 29ers in the UK are taking the piss royally when it comes to pricing.

It's hard to justify spending £800 plus for an Alu niner or £1600+ for a Carbon Niner or Santa Cruz when you can have a carbon or Ti On One for your £800, an Alu on for £240 or a steel one for £160. Anything else and you're just ripping yourself off.

I agree.
I have two 29" Inbreds, one geared, one singlespeed.
Very nice ride.
The steel Inbred is "a bit" heavier then the Niner Air (or hte EMD), but the ride is great.
Somehow I don't notice the extra weight, out on the trail.