Skankingbiker

Last year I attempted an offroad double century in early spring. I did not finish due to health issues and poor equipment choice. I have signed up again this year and I am already thinking about equipment. The route is pretty much all peagravel rail-to-trail with short pavement stretches, but a very long chunky ATV trail thrown in the middle for good measure. Ride goes on regardless of weather, so there is potential for lot of mud. Last year, I rode my 26 mountain bike, but I used too wide of tires and killed myself. Right now, I am torn between the following bikes:

1. Rigid 26 in MTB; MTB gearing; 1.75 WTB all terain tires; plastic fenders; and soma sparrow handlebar.
2. Rigid 29er MTB; single speed 2:1 gearing; 700 x 42 continental cyclocross tires; plastic fenders; mustache bar.

While this is not a "race" per se; the group travels at a pretty good clip, as there is a lot of ground to cover.

Any ideas/comments/suggestions as to which of the two bikes about would be better suited for this venture?

Thanks.

[edit]: The course is almost all flat. The 26 is alum; the 29 is cromo

Barrettscv 

What event? I'm planning on attending the Almanzo. I've been told that a Cyclocross bike with 700x32 tires should be the best bike for the event.

The Almanzo is a 100 mile dirt road event in Minnesota. Nothing technical and no real hills to speak of, but the surface will punish a smaller tire with a 210 lbs cyclist like me to carry.

Tell us more about the route and event, please.

Skankingbiker

https://ballsride.blogspot.com/

Barrettscv 

Route map: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1500895 & https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1500901

Looks flat for the most part. It looks like it could be done on a CX bike.

I would want this: https://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya/ or this: https://salsacycles.com/bikes/mamasita/ with a rigid fork.

Skankingbiker

No need for a suspension fork. It is all flat. I do not have a cross bike. I have a road bike, a 26 mtb, and a 29 mtb--both rigid. I am mostly interested in whether the larger wheel size will give me any advantage over the 26.

Barrettscv 

AHHHhhhh.

Assuming that both bikes fit & function well, I would go with the 29er, especially with a rigid fork. You should have a smoother ride & less rolling resistance w/ the 29er.

What kinds of bikes were used by the other riders last year?

Skankingbiker

Mix of everything. Some CX; some 29ers; some 26 rigids; some 26 suspended. The cx guys seem to have a hard time on the larger rock ATV trail portion....

Barrettscv 

Where was that? I know the roads between Mineral Point & Verona, but none of the trails.

The Impossipede

I like the 29" wheels, but am leary of the single speed. Can you gear the 29er?

buelito

go with the single speed... I have an on-one 26" single speed that I am hoping to do an offroad century on in September (Shenendoah Mountain 100). It is a blast to ride. I like the idea of a 29er single speed- my buddy rides one, and it is definitely different from mine-- much smoother, but at the moment, I have the 26er, so that is what I will use.

train safde-

OneIsAllYouNeed

Dude, that sounds like fun. I'd take the SS rigid 29er - probably with a bigger gear. If I were you, I'd estimate how fast the group is going to cruise, then make my gearing match that speed at a comfortable cadence.

Skankingbiker

I think I have decided to take the 29er. Due to the weather and terrain, my draintrain on my 26 hardtail was shot last year, so a single speed seems to make sense, esp. with the flat terrain. Also, I have the 29er set up as a dingle speed, so I have a nice easy gear for singletrack, and then the standard 2:1 for flat trails, so I don't need to switch out the gearing. The 29er will probably be more stable, it will maintain momentum better, and I think the bigger wheels will help on loose rocks on the ATV trail section. Plus, the triangle is bigger, so I can fit a bigger frame bag. Just need to get some skinnier tires and mount a rear fender and I should be good to go.

truman

Yeah, take the Vassago, but consider narrower cross tires for an advantage in rolling resistance. Gravel roads are easily run on 32-35mm tires and you'll drop a lot or rotating weight over a fat 29er shoe.

FOr gravel grinding, I run IRC Mythos 44's on rough stuff, and Schwalbe Marathon Cross 35's on everything else.

If you're not sure about your gearing, take a lockring tool and a different cog to leave with your support guy, or keep in your pack, if you're rolling solo, and change the cog if you need to.

5 minutes spent making your spin right for the terrain is better than than hours in the saddle wishing you had brought something else.

electrik

Thinking of doing a imperial off-road this summer... singletrack and double... but i have no 29r! There will be some hills, so no single-speeds.

What sort of training do you do?

Mordecai

Hey dude, looks like a fine tool. However, keep in mind that when you throw smaller tires on there its going to lessen you gear inches... Check this out: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

Have fun,

M

bmike

why no single speeds?

electrik

I don't have one... plus, i have a feeling this is going to be a sandy course where a high gear will be good.

Anybody done one of these and say a triple metric? How do they compare...?