All,
I queried for a little advice down below. After some more consideration, I just can't bring myself to spending $5000 for a new bike. It's the "thrifty" New Englander in me perhaps. And I know d@mn well that it won't be the "last bike ever."

So, here's my deal. I've got a 1X9 Sofa King that I like a lot. Steel hardtail with a Reba on the front. Putting the Reba on the front is kinda what got me into this mess to begin with. Once I tried a modern-day fork I realized my SS needed a Reba. I sold my rigid 29 SS and here I am.

I figure to get the next bike with a der hanger and build up the rear wheel with the ENO hub. I have one on my Yo Eddy, and I think it is the best.

The new bike will start life as a SS. But I will at some point switch the SS drive train to the Sofa King. I will then decide which stays SS and which stays geared.

So, that being the case, it pretty much eliminated steel hardtails...I don't want 2 exactly the same.

I realize the Niner will never be a geared bike, so the above plan is a little flawed for that particular bike. I think that the niner is the best value of the above selection though.

For me, the SS has done the duty of the weeknight fast-but-shortish ride. The geared bike does the duty of the long weekend ride, the snow and crappy slippery conditions ride, and the early season not-in-the-best shape ride. So, the bike that is the most comfortable ends up being the geared bike.

Honestly, these are my impressions:

Slingshot: I'm leaning this way, but I'm put off by the weight of the frame.
Niner: great value, but it's the SS no matter what
Black Sheep: I haven't even contacted James yet, but the frames that I have seen are simply beautiful, and his price seems reasonable...though definetely the most $$$$ in this list
Spicer: the cruiser frame is cool. If the curved tubes give some vertical compliance, then it'd be worth it. I'm not a style for style's sake kind of fella. Nor am I a tall fella, so the curved TT could be a standover issue.

I'd like to hear the collective's thoughts on this.

B

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I had a Dean built for what I thought was a quite reasonable price. You just have to know going in that you double whatever build time they tell you ie., 6 weeks becomes 12. The workmanship is absolutely beautiful, and the only beef I have with the bike is the clearance issue with my WB fork. It's not a huge deal (I've had 26" bikes with the same problem), and I'm going to switch to a Cane Creek HS in the near future. I spec'ed the Dean with Breezer dropouts, removeable derailleur hanger, disc and canti provisions, and an EBB. I can build this frame out anyway my heart desires. Right now it's running a Rohloff. You can see some so-so pics here: http://twentyniner.net/forum/album_personal.php?user_id=47

I'd had thoughts in my head for a while about turning my Rig into the geared squishy forked bike by means of a Rohloff when I get the nice steel custom SS. That was only validated the other day after seeing the Niner set up with a Rohloff. After experiencing the smooth quietness and hassle free nature of SS, I can't see myself going back to chain slap, chain suck, noise and general hassles of derailleurs for an MTB. However I can see myself wanting/needing gears, and the Rohloff seems the perfect answer.

I guess what I'm suggesting is a Niner (or maybe a Spicer?) with a Rohloff - what do you think - any reason for the attachment to derailleurs?

Sam

I guess what I'm suggesting is a ...Rohloff - what do you think - any reason for the attachment to derailleurs?

Sam

I don't think this question was directed to me, but since I retained the ability to run ders on my last build, I guess I'll take a swing at it. I wanted to leave my options open. I'd like to say I'll never go back to gears, but my commuter has a gear drivetrain right now simply due to lack of funds. I druther have a Rohloff. Anyway, no telling what the future holds, and with a custom bike you can have a removeable hanger, so why not?

All,
I queried for a little advice down below. After some more consideration, I just can't bring myself to spending $5000 for a new bike. It's the "thrifty" New Englander in me perhaps. And I know d@mn well that it won't be the "last bike ever."

B

I have the same thing going on! I also live in NE.

My buddy is a gunnar distributor and those are nice, and a nice value. He has a 29er SS (no der hanger) with EBB frame and fork in a nice blue in a 17. I fondled it!

you might consider ( and convince your family ) to try a "budget" 29er to see if it's what you want in the end-all bike. like a Rig or a Niner or something.

And like the others, I would love to try a Rohloff.

I will be due for "The Bike" soon, and I will use the opportunity to get fitted for a custom bike. That's my advice whatever you do: GET FITTED and have the shop set up the bike for you, down to the cleat position on your shoes.

from the list in your post, I would go with Black SHeep. personally, I would go to a new england builder and get fitted, though. the bigger custom places require you to go through a dealer (IF and Seven), so I would do that only if I had a great local dealer. some of these mighty not have recognition here on this board, but here is the list i would contact:
hot tubes
antbike
circleA

OR have as part of the Bday present a trip out west to get fitted by
Desalvo
Black Sheep
Kish
Kirk
Curtlo

either way, you win!

although unconventionally. Check out latte hardtail's post about his Niner build. Put gears on it (14 of them) using a Rohloff Speedhub. Not exactly fitting with your budget theme though.

James rocks. You will not be disappointed.

Here's the best Spicer I've seen...owed by Ben of Milltown Cycles. You might drop him a line, pick his brain about his choices and experiences...it's not everyday you see a spicer ultra-blinged... benwitt11@hotmail.com

<img border=1 img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/85792842-29s001.jpg">

<img border=1 img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/49711684-29s003.jpg">

..ewwww...that's an ugly frame..:( I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I really don't like tubes that bend upwards on a bike like those do.

Anyways, to the original poster.. Chris told me he was bringing out a One Niner with gears.

Not sure when, but if you can't wait, then the Rohloff conversion is a very good alternative.


R.

All,
I queried for a little advice down below. After some more consideration, I just can't bring myself to spending $5000 for a new bike. It's the "thrifty" New Englander in me perhaps. And I know d@mn well that it won't be the "last bike ever."

So, here's my deal. I've got a 1X9 Sofa King that I like a lot. Steel hardtail with a Reba on the front. Putting the Reba on the front is kinda what got me into this mess to begin with. Once I tried a modern-day fork I realized my SS needed a Reba. I sold my rigid 29 SS and here I am.

I figure to get the next bike with a der hanger and build up the rear wheel with the ENO hub. I have one on my Yo Eddy, and I think it is the best.

The new bike will start life as a SS. But I will at some point switch the SS drive train to the Sofa King. I will then decide which stays SS and which stays geared.

So, that being the case, it pretty much eliminated steel hardtails...I don't want 2 exactly the same.

I realize the Niner will never be a geared bike, so the above plan is a little flawed for that particular bike. I think that the niner is the best value of the above selection though.

For me, the SS has done the duty of the weeknight fast-but-shortish ride. The geared bike does the duty of the long weekend ride, the snow and crappy slippery conditions ride, and the early season not-in-the-best shape ride. So, the bike that is the most comfortable ends up being the geared bike.

Honestly, these are my impressions:

Slingshot: I'm leaning this way, but I'm put off by the weight of the frame.
Niner: great value, but it's the SS no matter what
Black Sheep: I haven't even contacted James yet, but the frames that I have seen are simply beautiful, and his price seems reasonable...though definetely the most $$$$ in this list
Spicer: the cruiser frame is cool. If the curved tubes give some vertical compliance, then it'd be worth it. I'm not a style for style's sake kind of fella. Nor am I a tall fella, so the curved TT could be a standover issue.

I'd like to hear the collective's thoughts on this.

B

Depends on how much you like to compromise. If you're going to the trouble of having two bikes, they may as well be use specific. Having said that, a titanium frame with a replacable derailleur hanger and a Bushnell is an example of a very versatile bike, especially when you consider it would be a) Cheaper than two bikes, and B) Be better quality than either. The fact that Bushnells are 60g lighter than they used to be is a big plus, too.

That's the core decidion in my mind. Either a bike that you can easily convert to either, or a dedicated singlespeed AND a dedicated gearie.

JH,
Don't need to go budget 29 to figure out if I like it...this will be my third big wheel bike...I'm sold.

As a matter of fact, I rode my 26 SS Yo Eddy last night after almost a year off of the little wheels. While the Yo is a spectacular handing bike, the little wheels are..."differently abled".

They don't roll. They don't hold momentum. The bike feels skittish. There is a noticable decrease in traction...on both ends.

But they accelerate. Good thing too, because of the aforementioned momentum issue.

I think that I've made the decision. Riding last night gave me some time to mull it over, as I was off the back anyway.

Slingshot: just too many questions in my head to invest.

Spicer cruiser: the curved TT would be problematic standover-wise with my stumpy legs.

Custom Ti: I fit just fine on stock frames. The durability and legendary Ti ride are huge attractions, but not enough to justify the cost in my head (the aside to this is a new mtb is not the *only* toy I'm wanting: I need some motorized two-wheel conveyance; I need a wood chipper for the tractor; the bulldozer needs some work; etc). The uniqueness of custom Ti is a big attraction too...but how many Niners am I going to see in CT anyway. Hell, I hardly see any other riders, let alone 29er, let alone SS 29ers (aside from my posse...the 29SS is TBOC).

So, Niner it is.

JH, I've been meaning to give you a holler anyway. We travel in the same NE circles: KT, VT50, fairly new Dad, etc. Been wanting to get up to the Cape and ride those AFB trails...figured you'd know. We also do a CT 50 for those that don't get into the VT 50. Not sure the weekend this year, but thought that you might be interested.

Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate it.

B

JH, I've been meaning to give you a holler anyway. We travel in the same NE circles: KT, VT50, fairly new Dad, etc. Been wanting to get up to the Cape and ride those AFB trails...figured you'd know. We also do a CT 50 for those that don't get into the VT 50. Not sure the weekend this year, but thought that you might be interested.

Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate it.

B

send a PM if you want to ride. a good weekend is the NEMBAfest in september. go to www.nemba.org for details. or any time is fine, really. too bad you are shorter than I am. I would like to try a real 29er in my size some day. hence the lurking/posting here.