29'er Frames recomendations

[jitterjepp]

The supercal is now 4 years old and getting pretty beat up. I'm looking for suggestions for a 29er frame I can build into a fast and light hard tail for x-crounty single track and endurance racing.

I'm going to build it slowly so I can spend a bit more money.

[soupboy]

Ventana El Padrino
http://www.ventanausa.com/frame_elpadrino.html

Astrix Rook
http://www.astrixsports.com/images/rook-enlarge.gif

The GF HTs - I have no clue as to names

Niner - 3 different models, here's one
http://www.ninerbikes.com/emd9complete.jpg

Titus - Ti and Exogrid options

Any number of custom steel and Ti builders...Waltworks, Black Sheep, Spicer, Hunter, Curtlo, etc., etc.

So many more options than when you bought your Supercal. 'Tis a good time to be a 29er fan.

The supercal is now 4 years old and getting pretty beat up. I'm looking for suggestions for a 29er frame I can build into a fast and light hard tail for x-crounty single track and endurance racing.

I'm going to build it slowly so I can spend a bit more money.

[hockeynut]

Sean didn't miss too much... add the Asylum OCD and maybe the Lenz Leviathon to the FS offerings.

My next bike will probably be a Fisher Caliber (I'm not that huge of a dude, but would want to see how it holds up before throwing down money), or a Salsa Dos Niner. This would be purchased with endurance racing/long rides in mind.

Right now I'm riding a steel Waltworks hardtail (rigid at the moment) and couldn't be happier. If you wanted a hardtail, I'd for sure go light steel or ti and go with whatever custom builder gave you the best vibe. The new Salsa El Mariachi looks awesome too if you don't want to wait. As do the Niners.

Isaac

[LightWeight]

My Inbred SS with portly wheels and tires weighs in at a not-too-shabby 24 lbs. Throw a carbon fork on there and some lighter wheels/tires and you could save significant pounds. Another On-One option, the Scandal (http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=163).

[crux]

Have almost ridden every thing under the sun and currently considering a winter project myself. My top picks are Independent Fabrication, Black Sheep, Desalvo, Vulture, Kish, or Jones in no paticular order. Know that each of these builders is top notch it is just a slow process for me to pull the trigger basically because I'm waiting on a guy to pick up one of my old rides to thin the herd a bit.

[transplant]

Exogrid...ooooooooooooo! Beautiful, light and PRICEY! The owner of the LBS I frequented in Mesa, AZ had built an SS around an Exogrid frame. SID fork, XTR wheelset, Avid BB7s, chi-chi stuff. About 19 lbs. Crazy light. And it was a looker. I'm guessing it clocked in at about $3000.00 or more. I don't know why there aren't more of these bikes out there. :crazy2:

[soupboy]

Yep. If you're going to consider FS bikes you can add the Ventana El Patron (or Capitan) to the list. Or the Astrix Monk. Or Turner Flux 29er. Or the GF Race Day. Or....damn it's good to be a 29er fan.

Oh yeah, Salsa - El Mariachi (turgid SS) or Dos Niner (softail)

Sean didn't miss too much... add the Asylum OCD and maybe the Lenz Leviathon to the FS offerings.

[Weeder]

Orbea now has 29er, and its not too badly priced either.
http://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?mId=m26&layout=viewproduct&taxId=239

[ibismojo2001]

Shawn:

How tall are you and how big of a frame do you need? I think I can get my hands on last year's Orbea 29er frame.

Let me know.

later,

Gary

[stoneage]

You want something really special?
Check the blog out for pics and description of bike below.
Mo!! (http://www.bobbrowncycles.com/gallery_singles.htm)

[Aaroneous]

You want something really special?

Yes, yes I do.

Wow.

[jitterjepp]

Shawn:

How tall are you and how big of a frame do you need? I think I can get my hands on last year's Orbea 29er frame.

Gary I'm 5' 6" but I ride a larger frame than I should. Right now my main bike is a large fisher 29'er which is a 19.

[ibismojo2001]

Just talk to my buddies at Grand Performance and that frame was sold. Sorry. He also just received his 29" Alma (carbon) but is going to keep his one-off aluminum 29" Orbea frame as well. He did tell me that if you are interested he could get a new Orbea aluminum frame for just over 600.00. Or they have a new 29er Alma ($5000) built up with XO, FSA cranks and Avid Carbon Juicy Sevens in the front of the shop. Wink Wink!!;)

I was going to purchase it myself but decided to build a Moots instead. I am still not sold on the 29er thing yet. Seems too bulky for me in the tight single track. May get a Redline 29" SS to give it a try first.

Let me know and good luck

Gary

[soupboy]

Bob builds some beautiful stuff. It's so fancy I'd almost be afraid to ride it. On par with the stuff Vanilla and JJ are pumping out.

Makes all the others mentioned so far relatively pedestrian...

You want something really special?
Check the blog out for pics and description of bike below.
Mo!! (http://www.bobbrowncycles.com/gallery_singles.htm)

[gopherhockey]

If Iwer to go 29er....

http://www.mbaction.com/archive/spider29.jpg


"The 29er is no longer a secret -- it's reality, a reality to which the big guys that work at Intense have been lusting to apply their VPP suspension technology. With the introduction of the Spider 29er, the silky ride of the 29er, just got smoother.

The Intense Spider 29er is by many accounts the most precision-engineered, most technologically evolved 29er to date. Using Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) technology, the Spider 29er provides 4" of travel, but instead of doing so with a single main pivot, Intense uses a dual pivot coupling at its main pivot point. This coupling allows two adjoining pivots to rotate around each other as the suspension compresses, which causes the rear axle to follow a backwards S-path distinctly dissimilar to the vertical path taken by a traditional 4-bar linkage. This helps give a VPP bike the same level of "activeness" as a 4-bar, but it does so while causing pedaling forces to drive the rear wheel downward rather than up. The resulting traction makes the Spider 29er a superior climber and breathtakingly stable in corners."

[soupboy]

Of course you would ;). It has the same sloppy bushings to go with its VPPness! Kidding, but only protos have received ride reports. Very "racy" with crazy steep HTAs (look at it!). Light too.

John, you wouldnt dare go 29er, would ya?

If I were to go 29er....

"The 29er is no longer a secret -- it's reality, a reality to which the big guys that work at Intense have been lusting to apply their VPP suspension technology. With the introduction of the Spider 29er, the silky ride of the 29er, just got smoother.

[gopherhockey]

John, you would dare go 29er, would ya?

I dunno... will have to see what kind of real reports come in on this one. Might be interesting to try one out and see.

[soupboy]

I dunno... will have to see what kind of real reports come in on this one. Might be interesting to try one out and see.

Looks "racier" than your Blur given the angles. Might be worth considering a different machine like the Niner RIP 9 with the DW Link.

[gopherhockey]

Looks "racier" than your Blur given the angles. Might be worth considering a different machine like the Niner RIP 9 with the DW Link.

Yea, the look of the Intense doesn't seem to fit with what I'm used too. The Niner looks interesting as well although the first pic I saw looked almost like a trials bike. (I think the seat was way too low)