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Emotional farewell to the down hill bike today. Along with selling my 26 hardtail frame and sone other bits and bobs ( to be posted), I am making the change to a 29er hardtail for XC and trails.

I am looking at a Kinesis FF29 frame with X-fusion 120 forks and Kinesis's own wheels. Will end up pretty light weight so am going to plan for 1x9 gears which I am transferring from my 26 along with brakes and other bits and bobs.

Anyone any advice for a guy entering the 29er world. I am not really interested in ultra light weight / race machine rather something that feels fast and aggressive out in the trails.

Also what tyres do people recommend? Want a pair that are light and fast rolling, have a bit of time on the roads to get to my routes.

Nigel

Where do i start, i've run 29ers for the last 2 years.
Tyres for a fast all rounder i would go for a X king 2.2 rear 2.4 front
i would say your right going 1x9 or even 1x10 as i find 29er climb sooooo much better and dont need to have such low gearing, i run a 12-36 to give enough spread.

Not sure what else i can advise other than, dont believe the nay sayers about the cant handle rough trails, mine have been everywhere and other than jumping i feel pretty confident on it. and would say afan/coed y brennin and the likes are betyter on a 29er!

Oh and PS
Buy my 29er HT

I imagine this would be quite rag-able mate based on my experience with the BFE

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/solaris

Looking forward to seeing you monster trucking whatever you get.

The charge cooker is meant to be good hardcore HT 29er

Thanks guys

Those two were the other options I was considering (especially the solaris) but I am getting a good price on the frame and fancied a more light weight so thought I would give an Alu frame a go.

An really looking forward to it

I went 29'er HT last year... love the riding experience it gives.. so much faster over ground.. and as Ian says they climb better as well... if I ever part with my full sus KHS then it'll be replaced with a big wheeled full suser for sure 8-)8-)8-)

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Thanks vw (Ian?)

Over rapid auto scrolling meant I missed your initial post. Was thinking of the tyres you mentioned actually. May look to go a bit more light weight and fast rolling as dont mind the slip slide.

Thanks for the encouraging words, I suspect I will end up using it on anything that isn't an uplift. I was chatting to them at the show and they were saying that the frame an wheels are designed to be ridden aggressively and deal with a fair bit of airtime. I look forward to testing that.

Would a carbon seat post make a difference to the shake rattle and roll of an Alu frame?

You running flat bars or risers?

Nigel

I like a riser, a short stem and about 711 bars.
Fast tyres with reasonable grip id still say the x kings, but Crossmarks are faster rolling. Shit in the mud though where x kings hold up reasonabley well.

No carbon post for me but a Joplin and a reverb on the other

I'll look forward to seeing it

So here she is, after a quick 30 min shakedown before hitting the Surrey hills tomorrow. Feels pretty nimble and ready to throw around the trails. Likes a bit of air time.

Need to find a way to attach the reverb cable ( rather than the current Velcro staps) and the front mech is just there as a chain device as I decide if it is needed.

Looks sweet...

Really like that!
i'd be interested to know what you think of the forks, i almost bought a set of them, 120mm?
they have some 14omm coming out this month

Yup 120 but internally adjustable down to 80. I thought keep it 120 bouncy and see how it goes.

Oooh x fusion forks.. nice call

Very nice ride evil... get it sideways tomorrow!

Yeah anything less and will be too steep.

The yanks seem to like them

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Very nice big guy. I just got the ultimate 29er - a cyclocross bike!!