Niners - bicycles with large wheels

Bicycle with big wheels

The development of cycling culture in Ukraine has recently been gaining momentum. Every year the number of cyclists is growing. This can be evidenced by the mass gathering of cyclists at the "Velodnya" in large cities. Among the many categories of bicycles, standard 26 inch wheels are especially popular. But marketers of various bicycle companies do not stand still and try to please cyclists with their innovations. Recently, a new generation of bicycles has appeared. They were called "niners" (niner 29'er).

Rigid forks for Niner Rigid

They are rarely called two-niner, which means the dimension of the wheel. Namely two - two and nine - nine. I think you have already guessed what are the features of this type of bicycle. Their wheel radius is 29 inches, the size of the tires ranges from 2.0 to 2.4 (the width must be at least 50 mm). In addition, the niners have a fairly high frame. They have more elongated chainstays compared to 26" frames and 80mm front suspension forks. For this category of bicycles, there are also. There should be no problems with the choice.

The idea of creating niners was submitted by Gary Fisher in the near 2004. But its main boom falls on 2010 due to the great demand of world racers who decided to try this category in combat conditions and their choice was justified. Riders and their bikes with 29 inch wheels began to take one of the leading positions.

However, in Ukraine, niners are only gaining their popularity. But they have already managed to win the hearts of a few categories of cyclists, as they go through the stage of their formation and gradually take root. Such global bicycle manufacturers as Scott, Cube and others try to follow the trend of cycling life and release their series of niners every year.

For comparison, below is a photo where you can see the difference between a standard 26 inch wheel and a 29 inch wheel.

26 or 29 inches

Niners - for and against

Many are wondering what is better a bike with regular wheels or a niner? As you can see from the picture above, the difference is insignificant, but obvious. Therefore, consider the advantages and disadvantages of niners. To the benefits can be attributed:

Versatility of application - something between MTB and, as an ideal choice for dirt roads and asphalt.
Smoother overcoming of various obstacles, for example, small pits, stones. The result is a smooth and confident movement due to the large size of the wheels, which absorb small shocks.
A bike with 29" wheels has good grip and confidence due to the wide rim and the area of contact with the surface of any surface.
Gives confidence when descending due to the good roll that gives the larger wheels.
Stable speed and high torque in various areas due to the high profile of the rim.
Harmoniously combined and ideal for people with height above average (usually from 180 cm).

Having considered the advantages of the niners, it is clear that they are better in comparison with their smaller counterparts. However, this does not mean that they are superior to them. Therefore, consider their shortcomings:

Higher wheel weight due to wider rims and;
niners have a slight increase in weight. This is due to the higher frame, larger wheels and heavy tires;
Complexity, it would even be more correct to say limitedness, of the choice of the appropriate components. Applies to tires, rims, forks. This paragraph does not apply to all other components and accessories. Therefore, there is no limitation with the selection of transmission and other trifles;
Acceleration dynamics is lower than 26-inch wheels. Since you have to make more efforts during acceleration due to more weight and inertia;
Niner's maneuverability is lower, which is explained by its massive dimensions.

Summing up under Niner bikes, we can say that every point of their advantages and disadvantages can be considered controversial or erroneous. Therefore, in order to feel all the pros and cons, you need to transfer to 29 wheels and then you can definitely understand what the difference is. The only thing that can be said with certainty is that size does matter.

Sixty Niner (69'er)

If you want to change your MTB wheels to higher 29 inch wheels, then none of this will work. Since they are not frame compatible. Since each frame is designed for a certain size of wheels. Therefore, it is worth mentioning the existence Sixty Niner (69'er), which is an alternative to choosing between 26 and 29 wheels.

The main feature is one of the wheels 29-inch (front) and 26-inch (rear). In this way, maximum efficiency was achieved. Since the 26 wheel in this case provides good acceleration, and 29 - the smoothness and softness of the front wheel, excellent grip and stability. But that didn't solve all the problems either. Therefore, it is worth waiting for new developments and alternatives from global bicycle manufacturers. Well, let's wish them good luck and look forward to something new.

When driving off-road, reinforced tires may come in handy, and in the case of niners.

Why you can jump on the curbs without fear of ruining the wheel. About it .

Reviews about niners from experts

James Huang, Technical Editor, BikeRadar USA The two niners brought some notable advantages as well as competitiveness when it comes to frame design, forks and other components. The larger diameter comes from increased mass and inertia, increased wheel flex, and longer (and therefore more flexible) frame tubes. But innovations like wider hubs and flanges, stiffer and lighter rims, and thru dropouts even out the odds. Some manufacturers, such as Specialized, have already integrated all three of these finds into their impressive Epic Carbon.

Tires should also be different. The Finnish company Wheel Energy during testing revealed the fact that the contact patch of a 29” is longer and narrower compared to a 26” wheel. Because of this, the effectiveness of the side blocks of the tread can deteriorate, in addition, the 29” tire touches the ground with a large number of central blocks at any given time.
To nominally complete the task, it is enough to apply experience on 26” bikes to the niners, however, to make a breakthrough, you need to have a flexible mindset. We can both mourn the inherent disadvantages of 29” and fully enjoy the benefits. And as soon as we start doing this, the niners will immediately become even more popular.

Mike Hall, Design Engineer As soon as I first heard about 29,” I goggled my eyes and shook my head and thought, “Those crazy hucksters—what else are they up to?” My spontaneous impression of the niners as worthless crafts only intensified when I saw a short athlete in the saddle. “If it’s fashionable now, please,” I thought then. So my point of view was born - 29” looked wrong. Now imagine the depth of my disappointment when they started to win! Guys on niners started kicking my ass. Looking at them with different eyes, I noticed a certain elegance where before there was only an ugly frame with a flattened glass and awkward proportions. But the engineers may have found the right way in their design.

Idea 29” is not so revolutionary. Yes, in theory, bigger wheels roll faster, but the difference is lost in a plethora of other bike characteristics. Some of the benefits are either elusive or can be replicated on 26” bikes. For example, the 29” is perfect for tall riders due to the long chain stays and wheelbase, so the weight is distributed like a mid-sized rider at 26”. But just take and lengthen the chain stays on the 26”! The notion that 29” has a larger contact patch and better grip is due to a misunderstanding of physics. If you and your bike weigh 80 kg (180 lb) and the tires are inflated to 2 atm (30 psi), then the weight is distributed at 40 cm2 (6 in2) per tire, regardless of tire size. Bigger wheels are said to be more stable due to the increased torque. And tests, meanwhile, have shown that torque has a very mediocre effect on stability. Here the topography of the track, the angle of the steering and the lunge of the fork are of greater importance.

Freedom of choice is always great, so if you love your Niner, ride it at your own pace and be happy. But it is not necessary to argue that this is a huge step forward - the results of the races and physics refute this.

I no longer consider myself a serious cross-country racer. If that were the case, then I would ride a niner all the time - no doubt. Instead, I'm torn between three bikes, all of which perform well throughout the season. The first is a 29” hardtail. It is made of aluminum and is race oriented. It weighs less than 11 kilograms, which is quite small, allows you to quickly accelerate and not give in to climbs. After buying (not just testing) this niner over a year ago, I can say with absolute certainty that I have no reason to buy a 26” hardtail for mountain riding, racing or friendly.

My second bike is 100mm. I usually choose it for cross-country racing, not so much because it is faster than 29”, but because it is just fun to ride. It weighs more than a 29” hardtail, and climbs mountains without a twinkle. Depending on how the 2011 season goes, I might consider replacing it with a bike with bigger wheels.

Finally, my third bike is a relatively light 150mm off-road bike designed more for pleasure riding than high-speed cornering. It has 26” wheels with wide tires and is the most enjoyable to ride, you just have to accept that it rolls poorly on climbs. Here I do not see the advantage of large wheels. This would make the bike heavier, and because of the long suspension travel, it would feel less stable and less passable.
The moral of my story is that every bike stable owner needs to add 29” to their stable. For those whose primary goal is cross-country racing, be it friendly or professional, I see the move to 29” as a significant advantage.

If you still don’t want to buy a Niner for yourself, check out the test of this bike.