I just saw this. It may be old news, but it looked interesting. a 26/29 frame. No real info on price, etc yet

http://www.bikeman.com/carverbikes/96er.htm

I read Cloxxi advocating this set up once I think.

This may also belong on the single speed board as the frame as an EBB.

Does anyone continue to run this set up after trying it, or is it just a way to buy time until you go all the way to dual 29s?

Happy riding,

GF

I think there's a similar posting one page down. My PC acted up, I didn't get to respond, and then forgot.

29/26, IMO, is nice if you :
-like having silly bikes
-have some parts left to try it out before you go all the way
-are married and signed to have only a $100 bike budget per year
-are totally torn between being a WW and a big wheel fan. Yes, it saves ~130g over 29/29!

If you test the 96er vs a good 29"er, the 96er wills till lose out on pure speed, climbing, braking and comfort. The 130g will have a hard time making up for that, along with any (arguable) advantage with tight handling.

Cannondale tried the 26/24 concept once, and guess what riders over the whole preferred? A bigger rear wheel.

The rear of my 26"er seemed much harsher when mated to a 29" fork, so I went all the way, bought a Fisher, and never looked back.

Funny, suppose you already have a 96er. all you need for bike nirvana will be a frame and a rear wheel :-)

I'm not dissing the 96er, it makes more sense to me than most 26"ers. Too bad the 29"er is ok to be used in UCI racing, the 96er not.

so, you do not like it?

Dirt Rag!

http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=119

More than a 26"er :-)

Even in the DH-FR scene the 26/24 combo did not survive.

Same wheelsize front a rear offers some sort of balance It hink.

Also, the 96er might well be the first "regular" mtb to end up oversteering. XR front tire, light 26" rear tire, whacky tail!

I dunno, I should ride one first to give a less prejediced opinion. I never rode a 29/26 with front suspension, although I did run that bike mostly rigid anyway.

Dirt Rag!

http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=119


I was reading that article as you posted the thread. Seems like M Browne likes the idea. There was a parallel posting of the 96er on the SS board shortly after I posted this here. It seems like a lot of us are having a slow day at work.

Dirt Rag!

http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=119
That's cool!
Looks like he came up with that by himself, everyone's re-inventing the gunpowder one-by-one :-)
He liked the handling, despite the greatly increased trail. His 1x1 fork obviously doesn't have sag, and even raises the front, while just the wheel alone already increases the trail figure.

Typical how he admitted not to like the 29" wheel, despite the obvious advantages. Having just one big wheel is only half the evil, I guess?