Hi,
I'm having a tough time at the moment choosing between the Anthem X1 (26") or the Giant Anthem X 29er.
I currently ride a 26 inch and have done so for 2 years, it's nothing worth mentioning and it's time I upgrade. I've just been using a demo Anthem 2011 X1 FS 26" for 3 weeks and I loved it, when I took it back to the bike shop last night, we started chatting and I got shown the Anthem X FS 29er. I've heard so many positive things about the 29 inch but my more traditional friends are still saying that I shouldn't even consider a 29'er. They are great riders and far above my ability and have been riding for 15 years (I'm 27 at present) and that's why I've got a concern.
I apologise, I know this has been done to death, but I've read all the reviews, advice, comparisons of 26 vs 29 etc but the main reasons I'm being told to not get the 26 are the following:
The type of riding I do is cross country, but on a Saturday we mostly spend a few hours just doing singletrack. There are a couple of rock gardens, technical sections, drops, obstaces(trees to get over, rocks etc).
I've also been told you can't whip and move the 29er much underneath you to get down technical(or flowing) single track at speed.
HELP! I need and want to buy one soon!
Thanks
I'm having a tough time at the moment choosing between the Anthem X1 (26") or the Giant Anthem X 29er.
I currently ride a 26 inch and have done so for 2 years, it's nothing worth mentioning and it's time I upgrade. I've just been using a demo Anthem 2011 X1 FS 26" for 3 weeks and I loved it, when I took it back to the bike shop last night, we started chatting and I got shown the Anthem X FS 29er. I've heard so many positive things about the 29 inch but my more traditional friends are still saying that I shouldn't even consider a 29'er. They are great riders and far above my ability and have been riding for 15 years (I'm 27 at present) and that's why I've got a concern.
I apologise, I know this has been done to death, but I've read all the reviews, advice, comparisons of 26 vs 29 etc but the main reasons I'm being told to not get the 26 are the following:
- Sluggish, not good with technical stuff on single track? ie small technical sections
- "Big" hit on acceleration on an uphill\
- Current a fad, a "bit of a marketing thing" (fyi after my research I know this is far from the truth)
The type of riding I do is cross country, but on a Saturday we mostly spend a few hours just doing singletrack. There are a couple of rock gardens, technical sections, drops, obstaces(trees to get over, rocks etc).
I've also been told you can't whip and move the 29er much underneath you to get down technical(or flowing) single track at speed.
HELP! I need and want to buy one soon!
Thanks