Anyone ride one of these yet? MSRP $399...not bad.

http://www.carverbikes.com/

Wow, they're actually going through with this? Or would it just be a tease to score orders before going to production? I'd invest my investment money in a 29/29 project 10 times before I throw it towards 29/26.

Look, sizes 13" to 23".
And a mini 26/24" frame.

One thing is guaranteed : none of these bikes will even end up on the results list of big race. UCI won't allow differently sized wheels.

Wow, they're actually going through with this? Or would it just be a tease to score orders before going to production? I'd invest my investment money in a 29/29 project 10 times before I throw it towards 29/26.

Look, sizes 13" to 23".
And a mini 26/24" frame.

One thing is guaranteed : none of these bikes will even end up on the results list of big race. UCI won't allow differently sized wheels.

I finally understand your avatar. I'm slow.
Has a 29er won big at a UCI event?
I know you used to ride a 96er, but you don't think that this concept will work for anyone, esp. shorter folks? It seems you have a lot of h8 (http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?p=1067320&postcount=21) towards it.

with their 24 rear, 26 front for very long ('80's flachback).
Hell if you want one buy and try it. To each his own.

I finally understand your avatar. I'm slow.
Has a 29er won big at a UCI event?
I know you used to ride a 96er, but you don't think that this concept will work for anyone, esp. shorter folks? It seems you have a lot of h8 (http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?p=1067320&postcount=21) towards it.


I doubt he hates it, just trying to save ppl from wasting their time and money. I wouldn't recommend anyone BUY a 96er either. I can see the logic in converting a 26er frame to try, but actually buying this instead of a full 29er? What's the point? I just got a 29er three weeks ago, and EVERY ride it blows me away by how great it is. I feel there are no drawbacks to having a 29 inch rear wheel.

Edit: Drevil, I also just realised that this is at least the seond time I have disagreed/contradicted a post of yours. I just wanted to say that its not personal! I am only ever trying to add to the knowledge pool here - hope you haven't felt that I have been raining on your parade!

Peace and let's ride!

Chris

Anyone ride one of these yet? MSRP $399...not bad.

http://www.carverbikes.com/

I wouldn't waste my time or money. MAYBE if it was designed around a lower rigid front fork of 410-420mm.

-t

Edit: Drevil, I also just realised that this is at least the seond time I have disagreed/contradicted a post of yours. I just wanted to say that its not personal! I am only ever trying to add to the knowledge pool here - hope you haven't felt that I have been raining on your parade!

Peace and let's ride!

Chris
Not at all. I'm just curious, much like I was before I tried the 29er. I don't really want a 96er either. I'm completely sold on 29ers and that's all I ride now.

I had the opportunity to play with a Carver 96er a couple of months ago during a big race, but I didn't take it. I wish I did just to see if I liked or it or not. However the guy that had it (and was testing it for a mag) said that he enjoyed riding it, and was wondering where all the animosity was coming from. Same here.

h8's such a big word...
It's not better for small riders. The front is still huge.
Tall riders don't get the climbing traction and 2-wheels-on-ground climbing stability.
In terms of weight, it's closer to a 29" than a 26", but differences are hardly worth it. Rolling resistance is closer to a 26". So you have a relatively high weight increase for little gain.
The "I-don't-need-suspension-on-a-29incher"-effect doesn't come with the 96, the rear is harsh as any 26"er.
If you don't want to mess with mismatching tubes, you'll need to carry two different ones.

I bet, that, being a 26"only rider, after a week on the 96er, the 29/29 will feel like more than a softtail. The harsh 26" rear of the 96 is much more pronounced by the plush 29" front.
I don't mind short chainstays anymore. A 5" travel Lenz Behemoth is reported to handle switchbacks better than any other bike, and I've personally found 26" much harder to clean them with.

The only thing the 96er offers is the 29's high front-end grip, downhill capability, shortened brake distance and reduced endo factor.
The only thing is brings from 26" is the strong and light rear wheels.
Sounds like a complete package, till you hear how much you get for the 150g extra of a 29"rear wheel...
-60% of the flatland rolling resistance advantage
-80/90% of the steep climb rolling resistance
-climbing traction, you make it up steeper and looser climbs
-climbing where the front stays put better, you ride steeper hills up, seated
-balanced front and rear wheel paths over obstacles, the rear rolls over as easily as the front

H8 is such a big word. But it's true I don't reall see why one would buy one. Oh yeah, if you first convert, you only need to buy one wheel.

It would be interesting to see how a 29/26 vs. a 26/29 would compare over a race lap, let's say each with a little motor mounted for fair comparison. Automatic variable gearbox seems handy for the job.
Big rear : rolls (flats) and climbs better
Big front : corners and downhills better
As climbs take about 3x longer than downhill, and flats come on top of that, my money is on the bigger rear wheel. The big rear wheel could be a heavy FR-type build with the added weight to be abused on the descends, and it still would be faster.
The little motor of course could not test explosive climbing traction a factor.

with their 24 rear, 26 front for very long ('80's flachback).
Hell if you want one buy and try it. To each his own.

you mean these????

The 24" rear wheel will beat you to death!!!!!!

Cool to see one!
But no shortened chainstays?

Cool to see one!
But no shortened chainstays?

Yes, it has shortened chainstays. That was Cannondales sales pitch back then. The shorter stays were supposed to help in climbing and overall stiffnes. That was probably true, but the bike was noticably rougher on the decents. It would toss me around on the long decents and scare me to death.

Strangely enough, I quit riding soon after buying this bike and picked it back up about eight years ago. For some reason this bike is still around after dozens have come and gone. I have thought about getting a pink IF 29er to take its place.

Does this mean we need a 96er forum on here now?

Does this mean we need a 96er forum on here now?


A mismatched wheel forum!!!

If you were able to fit a 29" rear wheel in the 96er, it would seem to be pretty good deal. Their mini (24/26) bike says it fits 26" rear, so does that mean that the 26/29 can fit a 29" in the rear? I don't know how this might funk up the angles, but it is a thought. Anyone care to chime in?
-Sean

Puh-leeze...! This sort of ride is such borrowed interest!

http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/histepside.JPG

Hardly novel, is it.

That'd be like ordering a diet coke and then throwing in a load of sugar. Yes, sparkling...but the same as the real thing...?

Puh-leeze...! This sort of ride is such borrowed interest!

http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/histepside.JPG

Hardly novel, is it.
Is that a titanium fork on there?

Puh-leeze...! This sort of ride is such borrowed interest!

http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/histepside.JPG

Hardly novel, is it.


What's the head angle on that thing??? :rolleyes:

Yes, it has shortened chainstays. That was Cannondales sales pitch back then. The shorter stays were supposed to help in climbing and overall stiffnes. That was probably true, but the bike was noticably rougher on the decents. It would toss me around on the long decents and scare me to death.

Strangely enough, I quit riding soon after buying this bike and picked it back up about eight years ago. For some reason this bike is still around after dozens have come and gone. I have thought about getting a pink IF 29er to take its place.
Don't sell that Cannondale; it's a classic. Might post it on the retro board to see if it gets much interest.

What's the head angle on that thing??? :rolleyes:

It's all about trail, they had it down even back then...

Tried to give you some paint action myself but the picture wouldn't upload - try it yourself, trail looks to be in probably the 80mm range (very rough guess).

Sam

The claim at the time was they could not have "short" stays using both aluminum and a 26" rear wheel. The 24" wheel let them have the stays about the same length as steel frames of the time.

What's the head angle on that thing??? :rolleyes:
More importantly, what's the horn angle on that thing?

Crazy Maine-ahz!

What will the Maine-iacs think of next?

Specialized offered a Big Hit with a 26 front/ 24 rear this year.

That'd be like ordering a diet coke and then throwing in a load of sugar. Yes, sparkling...but the same as the real thing...?

Ha! Like Coke C2. Which I guess didn't sell well enough either.

Calling it a 69er would of at least increased interest :eek:
I suppose it depends on if you picture it front to back or back to front - (the tires i mean)

Changing to 69er would for sure add some spice to the situation. I too am surprised that they would extend all their effort into such a venture. But hey, it is the bike business and anything goes. Well comes and goes actually. :rolleyes:

Here's a photoshopped approximation of what a 96er would look like in full 29" mode. I e-mailed Carver for all the pertinent info (angles, bb height, etc.), so we'll see if the full-on 29er convert will fly. It looks pretty cool... if it works.
-Sean

I'll not try to say it nicely this time.

Waste of Taiwan welding capacity as well as aluminium resources.

:-D

Funny how in the bike industry, if you weally, WEALLY want someone, collectively, you can't get it because there's no market. But each year many will try to market stuff no-one ever asked for, and will probably not want to be see on.

So... a 29" wont fit on the back. One use for it would be a dedicated 26er with a long travel fork. The design is based around a 29er with an 80mm Reba. If you put a 120-130mm 26" fork and wheel, it would balance out. Not a bad deal ($399) for an ebb, longer travel 26er. I wont be buying one, but I just hate to see an innovative (if unneeded) idea fail completely.
-Sean

Hmmm, if you must have a 26" rear wheel, I guess a 5" fork isn't a bad idea. My only 26" bike I have left is on a 4" fork, but it really needs more (Banshee Morphine) for anything other than 4x racing.

A nice light 26/26 jump frame for those into that :-)

I am not a fan, but I must chime in and say this:

I know of at least 3 dudes riding rigid SS's with the 26/29 configuration and they are all bada$$es on the trail. In fact, one of these cat's, Little E, won the SS and rigid class and was definitely in the top 30 (out of at least 260) at the ORAMM this past weekend on his Giant carbon 26/29. He is of smaller stature and knows the trails really well, but it's still quite an accomplishment. That is some serious proof of the design working for him. Of course, he is fast on any bike, I would imagine...

Just ride what feels good and be happy. So far, I love having that big hoop under me at the rear of my Waltworks...

OGG