[ncj01]

I noted something interesting on the trail last night. Yes, I do ride occasionally, simmer down H-men. Anyway, I noted another rider, on a Fisher 29er HT, and not being able to tell which model it was, I struck up a friendly conversation.

Basically, I was like "hey, that's a good looking 29er, what is that, a X-cal??"...

He was like "I don't know, I just bought it a few weeks ago and I just ride it".

He apparently didn't know what model it was, he didn't know it was a 29er, he didn't know what a 29er is...but he was getting his ride-on. Disturbingly, he also didn't see how cool my fork was at the trailhead. I had a miserable ride on it with it's poor quality and didn't even get the "rad-dude respect" I was looking for....dammit!!

So the reason that I posit that this is a sign of the times, is that when the average-Joe consumer starts to not even distinguish or realize if they're buying a 29er or not, ie they're just buying a good mountain bike, then that is a significant marker in the steady and apparently unstoppable march of the 29er into the mainstream.

The guy said he had changed his diet, been riding nearly every night, was loving life and had already lost 20 pounds. We agreed to meet again tonight at 630 for another ride. This guy can be a good influence on me...

I was also not certain which exact Fish HT he was riding. It was burnt-orange colored, with a White REBA, bonty parts. Bone stock.

I just checked fisherbikes.com and it looks like it is probably the 2006 X-cal, but I note that on the fishy-site, it shows a silver REBA, whereas this guy had a WHITE REBA. Also, he had octagonal-shaped rotors, whereas the Fish-site shows a round rotor. Anyway, I am assuming it's a X-cal. I'll try to confirm tonight.

Here's the pic from Fish-site:

 

[29Colossus]

That is pretty cool. I would like to meet the guy that sold him the bike just to see what the motivation might have been.

 

[DeeZee]

Interesting

I noted something interesting on the trail last night. Yes, I do ride occasionally, simmer down H-men. Anyway, I noted another rider, on a Fisher 29er HT, and not being able to tell which model it was, I struck up a friendly conversation.

Basically, I was like "hey, that's a good looking 29er, what is that, a X-cal??"...

He was like "I don't know, I just bought it a few weeks ago and I just ride it".

He apparently didn't know what model it was, he didn't know it was a 29er, he didn't know what a 29er is...but he was getting his ride-on. Disturbingly, he also didn't see how cool my fork was at the trailhead. I had a miserable ride on it with it's poor quality and didn't even get the "rad-dude respect" I was looking for....dammit!!

So the reason that I posit that this is a sign of the times, is that when the average-Joe consumer starts to not even distinguish or realize if they're buying a 29er or not, ie they're just buying a good mountain bike, then that is a significant marker in the steady and apparently unstoppable march of the 29er into the mainstream.

The guy said he had changed his diet, been riding nearly every night, was loving life and had already lost 20 pounds. We agreed to meet again tonight at 630 for another ride. This guy can be a good influence on me...

I was also not certain which exact Fish HT he was riding. It was burnt-orange colored, with a White REBA, bonty parts. Bone stock.

I just checked fisherbikes.com and it looks like it is probably the 2006 X-cal, but I note that on the fishy-site, it shows a silver REBA, whereas this guy had a WHITE REBA. Also, he had octagonal-shaped rotors, whereas the Fish-site shows a round rotor. Anyway, I am assuming it's a X-cal. I'll try to confirm tonight.

Here's the pic from Fish-site:

I would like to hear his story. First how tall is he?

It would be great to know what happened at the shop he purchased it at.

 

[ncj01]

I would like to hear his story. First how tall is he?

It would be great to know what happened at the shop he purchased it at.

He appeared to be about 6' tall - nearly same as me. I would have guessed the bike as a Large size..

We're in NW Arkansas. He said he bought it from a friend of his who owns a bike shop in Hot Springs, which is the South/Central/slightly-eastern part of the state. I beleive that shop is Parkside Cycles in Hot Springs, AR.

I'll try to learn more tonight during our ride.

 

[shiggy]

That is pretty cool. I would like to meet the guy that sold him the bike just to see what the motivation might have been.

He liked the color! :thumbsup:

 

[Cloxxki]

If I had a bike to move off the floor, and a friend needed a ride to get fit, and it was a fit, I might not complicate things and just tell him to accept the deal on the bike in questions. Ride first, ask questions later. It's just a bike.
In case of a noob walking into the store for a bike at MSRP, the shop rat might try to just offer the 29"er as a fitting bike, have customer ride it around the block, promote some of the nice features of the frame design and parts, sign the deal.
Some normally conservative riders might not even be able to tell the difference after a small lapse from the sport.
There's a Dutch saying that goes "Which not knows, that not cares". It also doesn't make grammatical sense in Dutch.

It'd be interested to know how this specimen would appreciate a nice X-Cal level 26" if he tried it. You don't get a chance for a test like that very often.

 

[ncj01]

There's a Dutch saying that goes "Which not knows, that not cares". It also doesn't make grammatical sense in Dutch.

In the US we say: "what you don't know won't kill you"....

It'd be interested to know how this specimen would appreciate a nice X-Cal level 26" if he tried it. You don't get a chance for a test like that very often.

I think he's new enough that he wouldn't be able to tell the difference....but naturally if anyone who's getting along well with thier 29er goes back to a 26", they can probably tell the difference, and characterize that difference in regretted terms (my buddy MWard being the excecption - we're tight that way)...hahah.a..

 

[burner]

we also say... Ignorance is bliss

 

[jkish]

The bike shop did him right.

Its logical that taller riders need bigger wheels. If I was a salesman anyone over 6' would be directed to a 29er. I think as time progresses we will see a lot more of this proper fitting of bike/wheel size to rider size.

 

[29Colossus]

Its logical that taller riders need bigger wheels. If I was a salesman anyone over 6' would be directed to a 29er. I think as time progresses we will see a lot more of this proper fitting of bike/wheel size to rider size.

I agree. The only problem I see is when he goes to buy some new tires! That will be a head scratcher when he gets home after the purchase and goes to install the tires without the knowledge.

I think the salesman should at least school someone on the two sizes, and let the consumer ride and decide. I still love the idea of just selling the 29er without a word about it though. Just a bit sinister!

 

[AOK]

I agree. The only problem I see is when he goes to buy some new tires! That will be a head scratcher when he gets home after the purchase and goes to install the tires without the knowledge.

I don't totally disagree with your post, but buying tires is not exactly rocket science. I think he will figure it out when the time comes.

I'm not an expert on car tires, but I am able to read a sidewall to get the proper size for my car.... or ask someone at the shop which size I need.

 

[29Colossus]

I don't totally disagree with your post, but buying tires is not exactly rocket science. I think he will figure it out when the time comes.

I'm not an expert on car tires, but I am able to read a sidewall to get the proper size for my car.... or ask someone at the shop which size I need.

lol

Some guy needs bike tires. He goes into a store and says, "I need some mountain bike tires, what kind and size do I need?" He has NO clue he has 29" wheels.

The answer is probably going to be something related to volume like 2.0 or 2.1 or 2.3 or whatever. I can see the kid working at the bike shop right now. He might even ask what kind of bike the guy has, and more than likely he won't have a clue it has 29" wheels just like the owner has no clue. Ask someone at the shop. That is rich.

Not only will it happen, it HAS happened. It happens with all kinds of tires. It happens with 700/650 tires for roadbikes all the time. People have no clue what they have half the time. I can't tell you how many people that have a BigHit FSR and have no clue that the rear wheel is a 24". They buy the wrong tire all the time. If bike shops sell 29" wheeled bikes to people without creating awareness in the form of education about the sizing, you can be sure that it will happen more and more.

So you can disagree if you like, but there is no denying it as it is already a reality. You will see a thread on this forum soon about it. Someone will be banging their head on the wall because they bought the wrong tires, and no one ever bothered to tell them what they had when then bought the bike in the first place. They will be mad at the bike store, and mad at themselves.

 

[Cleve Lansteamer]

Who cares?

 

[willtsmith_nwi]

When I was MTB ignorant ...

lol

Some guy needs bike tires. He goes into a store and says, "I need some mountain bike tires, what kind and size do I need?" He has NO clue he has 29" wheels.

The answer is probably going to be something related to volume like 2.0 or 2.1 or 2.3 or whatever. I can see the kid working at the bike shop right now. He might even ask what kind of bike the guy has, and more than likely he won't have a clue it has 29" wheels just like the owner has no clue. Ask someone at the shop. That is rich.

Not only will it happen, it HAS happened. It happens with all kinds of tires. It happens with 700/650 tires for roadbikes all the time. People have no clue what they have half the time. I can't tell you how many people that have a BigHit FSR and have no clue that the rear wheel is a 24". They buy the wrong tire all the time. If bike shops sell 29" wheeled bikes to people without creating awareness in the form of education about the sizing, you can be sure that it will happen more and more.

So you can disagree if you like, but there is no denying it as it is already a reality. You will see a thread on this forum soon about it. Someone will be banging their head on the wall because they bought the wrong tires, and no one ever bothered to tell them what they had when then bought the bike in the first place. They will be mad at the bike store, and mad at themselves.

When I was MTB ignorant, I would just haul my bike into the shop with me. I would say ... "I need a tube for THIS!!!"

If the guy is THAT ignorant, chances are that if he blows a tire or a wheel, he will just take it back to the shop and ask them to do it.

 

[shiggy]

When I was MTB ignorant, I would just haul my bike into the shop with me. I would say ... "I need a tube for THIS!!!"

If the guy is THAT ignorant, chances are that if he blows a tire or a wheel, he will just take it back to the shop and ask them to do it.

Yup. A good salesman does not confuse the customer with technical info they neither understand or care about. In most cases the difference for the buyer between 26" and 29" wheels is similar to butted vs straight gauge spokes or 32 vs 36 spokes.

As long as the bike fits and works the rider is happy.

 

[mward]

I think he's new enough that he wouldn't be able to tell the difference....but naturally if anyone who's getting along well with thier 29er goes back to a 26", they can probably tell the difference, and characterize that difference in regretted terms (my buddy MWard being the excecption - we're tight that way)...hahah.a..

Wait a second, wait a second... who said I went back to a 26? I got rid of all that crap in our house. 700c only. You bring those little training bikes around here don't expect any help or tubes or anything like that. I might let you sleep in the garden (the smell from having to work extra hard to ride a 26 will scare away the bunnies and deer) but you can't come in the house.

Or did I just not get the joke?

 

[DeeZee]

How true

Yup. A good salesman does not confuse the customer with technical info they neither understand or care about. In most cases the difference for the buyer between 26" and 29" wheels is similar to butted vs straight gauge spokes or 32 vs 36 spokes.

As long as the bike fits and works the rider is happy.

As long as the bike fits and works the rider is happy.:thumbsup:

How true. My first bike was a Diamondback Apex. I walked into the shop and the sales(boy) said WOW you're a big fella. You need this 30lb fully rigid steel bike. Wrote a check for it and was out the door.

That bike was indestructible and gave me many miles'o smiles.

Then I learned about bikes any my next purchase was ti Merlin:eekster:

ps. Not my bike but it was similar

 

[klydesdale]

Who cares?

Obviously someone does or there'd be no replies.

 

[Guitar Ted]

Another possible dynamic

When working retail, the owner always likes it if you can sell inventory that he has payed for, or is responsible to pay for. So, this guy walks in, the owner or employee sees that the X-Cal fits this guy, and the sale is made from there. The owner reduces his inventory by one bike and the customer gets instant gratification.

I'll bet that if the 29"er wasn't on the floor the guy might just as well have ended up on a 26"er by default, if it was the right sized bike and in stock that day.

Of course, if Nate hears the story and finds out that the guy was directed to buy only a 29"er by the owner/ sales staff, then that is a different story. It's just that your first choice as a salesman is to sell what you have on hand, if that doesn't work, go to special order. That's been my experience.

 

[Strap]

I don't know if it makes any difference...

.... but I was talking to a LBS owner in Little Rock a couple of weeks ago and he said that he's selling more 29ers these days than 26" bikes, and that he thinks in 5 years that 29ers will be completely dominant in this local market.