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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Who really rides a 27.5" ? (Read 2532 times)
MatthewR
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Who really rides a 27.5" ?
11/23/15 at 7:41pm
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I'm not finding a lot of folks locally that's riding a 27.5, seems like most are 29ers. I've got a LBS pushing me towards their clearance 27.5 but I've been looking at the 29ers for the biking I do around here. 

So, with wanting to upgrade I've been personally looking at the 29ers, but from what I'm being told on a 27.5 there's not much difference between the 2 but 3" from a 26" is a big deal for going over things around here with Beatty's root extravaganza and for some good speed at Sherman and Anne Springs with the 29ers

Thanks

  
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TrillWill
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #1 - 11/23/15 at 8:06pm
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I was at a Super D and Enduro race in the Upstate of SC last weekend and almost all of the bikes were 27.5".  27.5 is good stuff (I've ridden one for two years now), but then again all of the new bikes coming out these days are good regardless of travel, wheel size etc.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #2 - 11/23/15 at 8:09pm
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Are you comparing hard tail to hard tail, FS to FS?

I have a hard tail 29 and a FS 27.5. I find the 27.5 a bit more responsive in the quick turns while the 29 rolls the roots at ASC a bit easier. I'm currently faster on the 29 but since I've only been riding the 27.5 for a few rides now I still feel I'm learning to trust it   and haven't pushed it yet.

However again that's hard tail to FS comparison, so your experience may vary.

What I found out this past week though is that tire selection is kinda slim locally for 27.5. LOTS of 26 and a growing selection of 29, but only one or two options at best in a 27.5 locally.

  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #3 - 11/23/15 at 8:14pm
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I've got a Fuel EX 29er and a Santa Cruz Bronson 27.5. I like the Bronson a lot for Sherman, most of the WWC, BYT, Beatty. My Fuel is fun too on those, but not as playful. Fuel is much better at RRT. I have much more fun on my Bronson, but am faster in most cases on my Fuel.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #4 - 11/23/15 at 8:21pm
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I just bought a 29er, but strongly considered a 27.5.  I demoed a Santa Cruz 5010 and a Trek Remedy, both of which are 27.5.  I rode both at Sherman and Beatty and they were very different.  Had the 5010 not been out of what I could spend I would have bought it in a minute.  I thought it was very quick handling and the wheels did a good job of rolling over roots, rocks, etc.  The Remedy was much less impressive and I didn't think it handled nearly as good.  In the end I got a Santa Cruz Tallboy and it handles very much like the 5010 but not quite as quick.  That all may be more of a testament to Santa Cruz than 27.5 versus 29, but the end result for me was that a good 27.5 would make me not regret choosing that over a 29er.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #5 - 11/23/15 at 10:09pm
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asuprice wrote on 11/23/15 at 8:14pm:
I've got a Fuel EX 29er and a Santa Cruz Bronson 27.5. I like the Bronson a lot for Sherman, most of the WWC, BYT, Beatty. My Fuel is fun too on those, but not as playful. Fuel is much better at RRT. I have much more fun on my Bronson, but am faster in most cases on my Fuel.


I would have said the exact opposite. I prefer my EX to my Remedy on pretty much everything around here, and if anything I have more fun at RRT on the Remedy and more fun at sherman or WWC on the 29. 

I think it comes down to your riding style and what you ride. If you only ride in the Charlotte area with the odd trip to DuPont go 29 if your going to play a bunch and shred Pisgah get a 650b
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #6 - 11/24/15 at 12:44am
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My single speed is 27.5...Soma B-side....and it's what I primary ride these days. I really like the wheel size but I am 5'-2" so most 29s just feel clownish-ly big to me. I find that the 27.5" rolls better but you don't really feel the noticeable difference in the wheel size like you do on a 29. But again I think my height (or lack thereof) plays a part there.   


My other bike is a 26" full suspension but I almost never ride it anymore. Really only when I am on some really long dumb death march kind of ride.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #7 - 11/24/15 at 12:46am
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Is Santa Cruz really bringing back the Tallboy LT for 2016? I heard they were just out of stock for 2015 because the bike was in such high demand. But they took it off the website too...
  
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MatthewR
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #8 - 11/24/15 at 1:40am
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I'll be riding a hardtail and found a few bikes that I've narrowed down to. Just moved here and new to the mountain biking so I'm not looking at spending thousands although I do have that "champagne taste on a beer budget" thing going.

I don't know it just seems most folks I've talked to on the trails (great friendly people too by the way) are big 29er fans. 

Appreciate the feedback and insight!
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #9 - 11/24/15 at 1:44am
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My opinion, you can't go wrong with either. As long as you get out and ride, you're doing it right.

I like both sizes.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #10 - 11/24/15 at 2:21am
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MatthewR wrote on 11/24/15 at 1:40am:
I'll be riding a hardtail and found a few bikes that I've narrowed down to. Just moved here and new to the mountain biking so I'm not looking at spending thousands although I do have that "champagne taste on a beer budget" thing going.

I don't know it just seems most folks I've talked to on the trails (great friendly people too by the way) are big 29er fans. 

Appreciate the feedback and insight!


I think its more of a style preference. You have to do a self assessment and figure out what would work best for you. I have both and ride both regularly for entirely different reasons. I would say get your demo on and try them out before dropping coin.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #11 - 11/24/15 at 5:32am
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I ride a Santa Cruz 5010 and love it.  Also have a single speed 29er.  Each has there own advantages and disadvantages.  The only thing I would say for sure is, if going 4 inches or greater on a FS go with the 27.5 unless you ride an XL frame. 
« Last Edit: 11/24/15 at 5:32am by bikermedic »  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #12 - 11/24/15 at 1:45pm
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I've got a Hardtail SS 29er, FS29er, and FS27.5.  I'm fastest on the SS 29er, most comfortable on the FS29er, and have the most fun on the FS27.5
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #13 - 11/24/15 at 2:35pm
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Me.

I'm medium height (~5'7") and I care more about having fun and hitting jumps than Strava times. I ride a mid travel FS 27.5 bike these days, which admittedly is overkill for most trails in Charlotte. But I can only afford one "do-it-all" bike at the moment, and for me that includes occasional (and hopefully increasing) trips to Pisgah, Dupont, Beech... I look forward to trying Bailey Mountain soon too.

If I were ever going to get serious about being competitive in the race scene (or just fell into some money allowing me to afford a second bike)  I'd get a short travel FS 29er.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #14 - 11/24/15 at 2:54pm
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I agree, I'm not about times or anything like that. I want fun and to be able to overcome obstacles better and easier to amp up that fun factor. 

Agreed, it's going to come down to preference for sure...
  
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MatthewR
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #15 - 11/24/15 at 6:32pm
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Oh, and the bikes I think I've got it narrowed down to is: Diamondback Apex Trail 29, Diamondback Line 27.5 or the Airborne Guardian.
« Last Edit: 11/24/15 at 6:33pm by MatthewR »  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #16 - 11/28/15 at 10:08pm
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pughjetsound wrote on 11/24/15 at 1:45pm:
I've got a Hardtail SS 29er, FS29er, and FS27.5.  I'm fastest on the SS 29er, most comfortable on the FS29er, and have the most fun on the FS27.5


true

My SS is 29, my trail bike is 27.5 and my DH is 26.

The 27.5 is definitely more fun than the 29er it replaced (came class, same manufacturer, same material)
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #17 - 12/01/15 at 4:57pm
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I ride a 27.5 Hardtail.  I chose a 27.5 because it fit me best--I'm 5'6".  It was a significant improvement over my 26" Hardtail.  

Size specific parts are a little less common but I found that to mostly an issue when trying to get a good deal on a used stuff.

What LBS sells Diamondback and Airborne?  A good LBS should be pushing you to a bike that suites you in fit and function.
  
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #18 - 12/01/15 at 6:32pm
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[quote author=6A787E7B7962686E0B0 link=1448307683/3#3 date=1448309646]I've got a Fuel EX 29er and a Santa Cruz Bronson 27.5. I like the Bronson a lot for Sherman, most of the WWC, BYT, Beatty. My Fuel is fun too on those, but not as playful. Fuel is much better at RRT. I have much more fun on my Bronson, but am faster in most cases on my Fuel.[highlight]

If you are racing or less experienced a 29'er is the tool. Especially if the terrain is pretty mellow (compared to Pisgah or big mountain areas elsewhere in the country). 27.5 is a more playful platform and handles better in tight single track. I prefer the 27.5 wheel best but to each their own! I agree that any high end ride is going to be fun in most conditions.
  
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MatthewR
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Re: Who really rides a 27.5" ?
Reply #19 - 12/01/15 at 9:31pm
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Quote: What LBS sells Diamondback and Airborne?  A good LBS should be pushing you to a bike that suites you in fit and function. 

I've had to do some changing on bike shopping...

Diamondback Line 27.5 (Performance Bicycles)
Jamis Durango Expert or Comp


Airborne Guardian (mail order) is out...

I have been looking on CL at the used bikes, but I like how the LBS offer setup, sizing, maintenance, adjustments... etc. etc.  AND I'd have a warranty as well. 

I can say for the meantime in confidence that the majority of my riding will be Anne Springs, Beatty, Sherman and some of the Carolina Thread trails and hoping as my riding gets better I can the WWC in confidence. But hitting those 4 are my major riding so the 29er is taking a lead as far as rolling over roots and more control but speed on these trails.
« Last Edit: 12/01/15 at 9:41pm by MatthewR »  
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