29er Questions From Readers #2

Meet JW – he is looking for a new bike. He is 62 years old, does not race, and enjoys up & down rides in the Las Vegas area. The climbs are not really ultra long – twisty hard pack with a sandy top layer. He wants to be efficient for going uphill.

Right now he rides an old Trek Y-11 full suspension that weighs about 26 lbs. and he would like his new bike to be something that light or lighter. He also rides a Redline single speed, rigid fork, hard tail which he finds quite rough when going over rocks and the occasional 1-2 ft drops. Given his $3,000 budget, and preference for a light bike, he is leaning towards a hard tail.

In our last Questions from Readers, we were looking at heavy duty trail bikes that could handle big drops, rooty trails and generally and stand up to lots of abuse. Here, the emphasis shifts to keeping the weight down but staying within the budget.

It would be hard to do full suspension and stay within JW’s weight and cost parameters. Luckily, his trails seem well suited to a hard tail. There are a number of good options worth considering within his budget. A carbon fiber frame is very light and great for damping vibrations, so either a carbon Specialized Stumpjumper or a Jamis Dakota D29 Pro would do a great job helping smooth out the ride. Carbon is extremely strong but in the game of rock versus carbon, rock wins most of the time. Best case, it ends up being a tie. JW’s rides have some rocks, but not fields of baby heads that are getting kicked up into his bike, so carbon seems like a safe option in this regard. Steel tends to be cheaper, and is also good for damping vibrations. The Niner MCR is a great steel frame worth JW’s consideration.

The Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon Comp lists for $2,900. This bike from Specialized is a great value and a great price. The 2x gearing with a 38 tooth chain ring and a 36 rear cog is actually easy to pedal. It’s not for everyone, but for most strong riders it will work well. The 26 tooth front chain ring is super low with a 36 rear. Super low; as in hikers will pass you and laugh at you slow. Super low; as in maybe go up a vertical wall. The Reba fork is also a strong selling point combined with an SRAM X7 and X9 blend of components that is really good for the money. It’s hard to justify spending more.

The Jamis Dakota D29 Pro lists for $3,000. It comes with a solid component mix of SRAM X9 shifters/ derailleurs and Avid Elixar 3 brakes, to name a few. 29eronline does not have direct experience with this bike, but it matches up well in geometry and components.

29eronline does not have a ton of experience with carbon frames – plenty of experience with carbon fiber components and parts, just not frames. We are open minded, and would like some questions answered definitively through ride experience. We hope to be able to answer these questions with future tests. All that said, keep this perspective in mind as we give the next, and final, recommendation.

To get the most for his money we would lean towards steel for JW. The Niner MCR9 is really nice and a great value – a hair under $800 for the frame. It will give him a decade of good service if he treats it well, especially in his dry climate. It has a lively ride, but absorbs trail chatter beautifully, and it definitely handles quickly. The Reynolds 853 steel front end is what steel is all about. It is stiff, but has a particular feel that is hard to understand unless you have ridden it. It is more comfortable then most aluminium frames but it is still stiff when you mash on the pedals.

JW is 5 8” and worried about stand-over on the MCR, but this should not be an issue, proving 29ers work for all different sizes. Overall then, there are few downsides and, for $3,000, JW can get a ton of bike with the MCR.

Let’s look at how to build it up. The fork will smooth things out compared to the ride on JW’s Redline – look at a Reba RLT or, for money savings, buy an RL model from your Niner dealer. Invest in wheels and make sure they can be run tubeless with a sealant. Next, get a carbon fiber handle bar and/ or one of these seat posts; Easton Ec70 or Easton Ec70 Zero Offset This is not for looks. In these spots you can add lots of comfort through the vibration damping abilities of carbon fiber.

If JW is going to save money on the bike, he should do it in a modest drive train. The new X7 10 speed stuff is really nice, and functions very well. Invest in suspension and wheels. Click here for the complete build we recommended to get JW on an MCR within his budget.

In the end, all three bikes would probably be great for JW. Personal preference on the differences in geometry and the feel between steel and carbon fiber will play a big role in the decision. With the Jamis and Specialized, he gets some value benefit by getting a complete bike, since package deals tend to be cheaper. Also, he gets a cutting edge, latest and greatest frame. Conversely, going with the Niner let’s JW pick and choose his components to his exact liking and gets him a time-proven and safe frame material in steel. Finally, on a less rational note, does JW see himself as a high-tech, carbon fiber kind of guy or does it seem cooler to be on old-school steel.

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