29ers ruling the roost at Sand Creek??

those aree good results

sprocketjockey9 said:

Well?? Looks like they are at the front of the pack.

Irmiger wins the STXC on a 29er
Wells wins STXC, JHK in 2nd on 29er

3 of top 6 men in xc race on 29ers, Irminger would've been top 5 if it wasnt for double flats.

Looks to me like 29ers are truly breaking through, don't think it'll be too long before we see one in the top 5 at a world cup :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

but the same could be said about the spec epic, 1st and 3rd in the xc. Like a good spec soldier, max P gives a lot of credit to the bike for his win because he could gap jhk on the decent (cyclingdirt interview).

And the debate continues...

sprocketjockey9 said:

Well?? Looks like they are at the front of the pack.

Irmiger wins the STXC on a 29er
Wells wins STXC, JHK in 2nd on 29er

3 of top 6 men in xc race on 29ers, Irminger would've been top 5 if it wasnt for double flats.

Looks to me like 29ers are truly breaking through, don't think it'll be too long before we see one in the top 5 at a world cup :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

Three out of the top 6 in mens? I am pretty sure Tod came to his senses and raced a 26er.

Let me change your statement just a bit, there was one 29er on the podium in Mens and in the Womens XC.

Heather would have been in the top 5 or perhaps better if she had been on her 26er. Instead she suffered from the flat problem that plaguing the 29er peleton.

Has anybody else noticed that JHK has not been able to win a Norba/US-cup since switching to 29er? Or that Mr. Wells is not racing as well at world cups as he did last year? Probably just a considence.

What impressed me was Heather Irmiger is 5'4".
Watching the video of the short track, she looked like one of the smallest riders there.
https://www.cyclingdirt.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

I was actually thinking on a similar subject today, as a roadie friend will make his MTB debut in a couple of weeks.
I think MTB racing is 70% motor, 20% technical skills and 5% bike. Might have to fine tune the percentages a bit, but fast is fast no matter what the ride.

CB2 said:

I think MTB racing is 70% motor, 20% technical skills and 5% bike. Might have to fine tune the percentages a bit, but fast is fast no matter what the ride.

Click to expand...

Yep, and I'd argue that for bike it's 60% weight, 38% tire choice and 2% wheels size as far as what makes a difference.

CB2 said:

What impressed me was Heather Irmiger is 5'4".
Watching the video of the short track, she looked like one of the smallest riders there.
https://www.cyclingdirt.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

I was actually thinking on a similar subject today, as a roadie friend will make his MTB debut in a couple of weeks.
I think MTB racing is 70% motor, 20% technical skills and 5% bike. Might have to fine tune the percentages a bit, but fast is fast no matter what the ride.

Click to expand...

Where is the other 5%.

I think it is more like 60% motor, 20% technical skills, 9.5% technical skills, and .5% bike and 10% luck.

The bike really doesn't make that big a difference, but it sure is fun to debate about.

LMN said:

Where is the other 5%.

I think it is more like 60% motor, 20% technical skills, 9.5% technical skills, and .5% bike.

The bike really doesn't make that big a difference, but it sure is fun to debate about.

Click to expand...

Nice win by Katherine in the XC. And I thought you send earlier in the year that she was not a sprinter? She is on fire!:madmax:

Manicmtbr said:

Nice win by Katherine in the XC. And I thought you send earlier in the year that she was not a sprinter? She is on fire!:madmax:

Click to expand...

Yeah things are going well. Sorting about how to win those battles at the end of race has been a big goal. Last year if there was a battle at the end of the race she lost it every single time.

LMN said:

Three out of the top 6 in mens? I am pretty sure Tod came to his senses and raced a 26er.

Let me change your statement just a bit, there was one 29er on the podium in Mens and in the Womens XC.

Heather would have been in the top 5 or perhaps better if she had been on her 26er. Instead she suffered from the flat problem that plaguing the 29er peleton.

Has anybody else noticed that JHK has not been able to win a Norba/US-cup since switching to 29er? Or that Mr. Wells is not racing as well at world cups as he did last year? Probably just a considence.

Click to expand...

Ok, but Todd did race the 29er in the shorttrack. I think JHK is pretty confident with 2 2nd place finishes this past weekend and a win at the Teva Games. His luck this year hasn't been great, mostly due to crazy starts and crashing in the world cups. Flats are flats (FWIW, I think Stan's quality of their sealant has serious declined).

BTW, I think this post is 27.856% about if 29er's are coming of age, 47.903% trying to rile up LMN, 19.03% declaring bigfoot really does exist. :thumbsup:

Also, great job to Catherine! She is really killing it!!

Only 47.903% about riling up me. I was hoping for more.

I have been really behaving lately. The energy required to take on the fanatical 29er crowd is extensive.

I don't think 29ers will truely come of age (as a race bike) until we see them being raced throughout the world.

LMN said:

Only 47.903% about riling up me. I was hoping for more.

I have been really behaving lately. The energy required to take on the fanatical 29er crowd is extensive.

I don't think 29ers will truely come of age (as a race bike) until we see them being raced throughout the world.

Click to expand...

I agree, they are hard pressed to sell them in Europe (and other places), they still want superlight 26er hardtails. :madman: Try selling a few of those in N. America and you'll go broke. It'll really take someone like Giant embracing the 29er (they do make most everybody's bike anyways) and/or a big name Euro-dog stepping up to the plate and drinking the 29er cool-aid.

Though full suspension bikes didnt come of age for a bit either, who woulda raced a bike that weighed a few more pounds to go faster, that's crazy talk :skep:

Yah, those 29er people, buncha fruitcakes, hell I don't even step foot in the 29er boards :eekster:

Giant is making 29rs for the 2010 year.

sprocketjockey9 said:

Well?? Looks like they are at the front of the pack.

Irmiger wins the STXC on a 29er
Wells wins STXC, JHK in 2nd on 29er

3 of top 6 men in xc race on 29ers, Irminger would've been top 5 if it wasnt for double flats.

Looks to me like 29ers are truly breaking through, don't think it'll be too long before we see one in the top 5 at a world cup :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

Before declaring this weekend's results as proof of the 29er breakthrough, keep in mind that the course in C Springs was absolutely, positively perfectly suited for a 29er. For large portions of the loop you may have even been better off on a 'cross bike.

LMN said:

Where is the other 5%.

Click to expand...

Mojo?