As a beginner to intermediate mountain biker buying a new bike can be a daunting process, especially as a female rider. Thankfully Specialized has a female specific line to choose from which includes a 29-er and a handful of bikes that won’t break the bank. The Myka Expert HT 29er was made with the female rider in mind.

Some companies make smaller versions of men’s bikes. Other companies simply change the frame color. But Specialized focuses on real rider needs, using anthropometric research and feedback from female riders to create mountain bikes that improve fit, efficiency, and confidence.

Review:

29er’s aren’t just for the guys – ladies can ride them too and Specialized made one that fits just right. At 5’5” and about 130 I was on the fence, but after the first ride I was sold. Living in Tahoe there’s a plethora of trails to enjoy from beginner to advanced. During the first ride I noticed the right shifter for the  Shimano hydraulic brakes was defective. The next day I took the bike back to  Sports LTD and they took care of it.  Within 24 hours I was back on the trail.

After riding a few trails near the house  it was time for a true test, off to the  Flume Trail I went. The first four miles are up hill with varying pitches. I quickly noticed how much faster and easier it was climbing with a 29er compared to 26-inch bike.  Initially the integrated headset’s super-low stack height, combined with the 80-millimeter-travel fork and flat handlebar, would kept the front end low while  grounding the front wheel, but during steeper sections of the climb it felt a bit poppy. This could be user error. The wheelbase is in line with what you would find on a 26-inch bike making the bike very agile. A short wheelbase allows ample stand over for those concerned without compromising the handling. With confidence in both handling and control  there wasn’t any concern heading downhill. However, this hardtail was made more for x-country riding than downhill.

What goes up must come down. The flume trail is sandy, rocky and firm. With that said, the Myka was stable on the downhill. Feeling confidant in the bike I picked up some speed right as I hit soft sand — the bike got a bit squirrelly, but after shifting weight it road out like a champ. Again the bike felt agile and the front shock worked shockingly well for a lower end fork.

MSRP: $1,250

Features:

• Fully butted, smooth-welded M4 alloy 29er frame with women’s recreational XC geometry delivers a confident and lightweight ride, with integrated headset for precision handling
• RockShox Tora 80mm-travel 29″ fork with rebound/preload adjustment, lockout, and custom women’s-specific spring weights delivers more versatility and tunability over varying terrain
• Light and durable double-walled 29″ alloy rims are tough enough to handle the rough stuff
• All-terrain 29″ Captain Control tires are 2Bliss ready and built for speed on the trail
• Shimano crankset with forged alloy arms and Octalink-splined BB interface means greater durability and better shifting performance
• Shimano dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes/levers assure solid, worry-free braking performance under any conditions
• Body Geometry Women’s Riva MTB saddle combines generous padding and durable scuff guards for all-day performance and comfort

Conclusion:

The bike felt great from the first ride. There were aspects of the Myka I wasn’t sure about at first, but ended up liking. I enjoyed being up a little higher in the saddle, the bigger wheels resulting in faster climbing and the stability downhill. Plus the larger wheels aren’t very noticeable expect when you start clearing objects that were difficult  with 26-inch wheels.

Women can now ride  a gender specific bike and be confident  it was made for them. The Myka Expert HT 29er was designed for the recreational, beginner or intermediate mountain biker looking to push their limits without a high price tag.  Yes, I would recommend this bike to any friend starting out or looking to upgrade.  This is a bike that you can grow into and ride for awhile.

Get out there and ride!

More Info: Visit Specialized.com

I just got the following news announcement from Niner Bikes. Pretty cool that Steve Domahidy and Chris Sugai would personally deliver a Niner Jet9 to the former Commander in Chief. Like him or hate him, I think it’s cool to have a President who is also a mountain biker–not sure Obama cares so much for mountain biking, but I hear he has a mean jumper.

Looks like Bush enjoyed the benefits of the big wheels by knocking 3 minutes off his previous best time! Details below:

Niner Bikes co-founders Chris Sugai and Steve Domahidy spent Thursday morning of this week delivering and fitting a Niner Jet 9 full suspension bike for Former President George W. Bush, with assistance from local Niner dealer Kennebunkport Bicycle Company.

“Most of Peloton 1, Mr. Bushʼs regular mountain bike crew, is on 29 inch wheels and he wanted to check them out. He asked Brandon Gillard, owner of the Kennebunkport Bicycle Company and Peloton 1 rider, if he could try a Niner. Brandon called us and of course we were stoked for the opportunity” said Sugai “ It is really hard to believe that just a few years ago we were showing our first frame at Sea Otter and now we are riding with a former President of the United States”

Bush, Sugai, Domahidy and the rest of the Peloton 1 crew (as well as a full complement of Secret Service people) went for a ride on the crewʼs usual morning loop. “Mr. Bush is really fast” said Domahidy, ”and a very good technical rider, too. He was flying on the Jet 9 and at the end of the ride said he dropped 3 minutes off of his fastest time!”

Post ride, there was ample opportunity to chat, and the groupʼs conversation covered everything from trails, trail access and trail building to entrepreneurship in the USA. Said Sugai, “I found that he was very interested in the challenges of being a small business in the current economic atmosphere. This has been an amazing opportunity and we really have Niner owners to thank – their support over the years has gotten our little company to this point”.

Photo Credit: CasmithPhotography.com

More Info: Visit NinerBikes.com

While Utah’s glorious Wasatch Mountains got pounded this week with over 3-feet of powder in 24 hours, I sat in my office staring at the handful of mountain bikes that have seen little dirt so far this year. The first one on the list is a top-shelf scandium-framed 29er from Kona: the King Kahuna 29er.

The frame is identical to last year’s, but with a much sexier bronze paintjob (I think) and a few other changes. The overall spec is very trailworthy with Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain and the new Easton XC Two 29 wheels mated to Maxxis Aspen 2.1 tires. Another noteworthy upgrade from last year is the 15QR front axle on the Fox 32 F29 fork (still 80mm) which helps the front end track better and provides more confidence-inspiring handling.

I’m looking forward to putting the King Kahuna through its paces over the coming months–trails are just now starting to thaw, so real-world testing is just around the corner. My rides thus far have been great, so stay tuned.

2010 Kona King Kahuna Features:

• Frame: Kona race light scandium butted
• Fork: 80mm Fox 32 F29 with 15QR
• Wheels: Easton XC Two 29
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT/SLX
• Brakes: Shimano SLX
• MSRP: $2799

More Info: Visit KonaWorld.com

After riding the original Niner Jet 9 a little over a year ago (and completely loving it), Niner had a bit of an engineering snafu. It turns out that the Jet had some unforseen manufacturing defects that began to surface. Instead of trying to hide the problem, Niner stood out in front and was 100% honest with their customers about the issue–offering them replacement frames of their choice, discounts galore and everything you’d expect from an honest, forthright company. For everyone’s sake, lets move on…

2010 marks a new dawn for the killer Niner Jet 9 XC 29er trail-gobbling machine. This beast is really an all-mountain slayer in big-hooped 29er XC clothing. While Niner says it is race-worthy (which it is), I’d call it one of the finest all-mountain 29ers available today.

The changes made to the 2010 model are astounding and are the results of all the work done on the new RIP and WFO models. You’ll find tapered head tubes, gussets and a completely re-engineered well, everything!

The 2010 Niner Jet 9 will hit dealers in April. You can pre-order one now from your local Niner retailer.

More Info: Visit NinerBikes.com

My annual trip to Las Vegas for Interbike was a bit compressed this year. I could only squeeze in one day–thank goodness flights from Salt Lake City are quick and plentiful! First flight in and last flight out got me a full 8 hours of riding the latest and greatest mountain bikes. I’ve got a knack for riding my favorite bike of the day as the last bike. Lucky for me, as I was rapping with the crew at Santa Cruz Bikes a Large Santa Cruz Tallboy arrived with a giddy rider onboard. After a quick change to my Crank Brothers Smarty pedals, I was off on my last test loop for the day.

Upon initial fit, the stem felt a bit long-ish. I’d opt for about a 70mm stem instead of the 100mm stem provided, but that didn’t affect the overall ride one bit.

For those of you who have yet to ride a 29er mountain bike… you don’t know what your missing. For trail riding, there’s nothing smoother than a well-executed 29er full-suspension bike. My favorites have typically been from Niner Bikes, but this new Santa Cruz Tallboy is now on par with the best designs from 29er makers.

Built with 100% high-modulus carbon fiber, the Tallboy is smooth-looking and smooth riding. The combination of large hoops and carbon frame make for one bump-absorbing machine. Not only was the downhill sublime on the Tallboy, but the ascents felt nearly effortless as I pumped enough RPM’s to ascend the technical, rocky terrain of Bootleg Canyon.

This was a quick 1-hour ride, but my first impression has me drooling for this bike when it becomes available. I’ll say this… the Tallboy rides like a great trailbike–it just happens to have 29-inch wheels (a bonus).

Good Tallboy

• Comfortable geometry
• Smart looks
• Smooth climber with excellent hook-up
• Excellent descender with the ability to snake through both tight/technical and open/flowy trails
• Good weight (guessing 28 lbs.)

Bad Tallboy

• Without Propedal engaged on the Fox RP23, rear suspension bobs a bit much on extended climbs
• Not yet available to the public

Buy Now: Search for Santa Cruz Bikes

With Eurobike going strong this week, ’tis the season for new bike gear. It’s always a bit of a letdown when cool stuff leaks out of Eurobike because Interbike is still a couple of weeks out. However, sometimes it’s good because I get a head’s up prior to going as to what to look for at the show.

Hot off the press is the official release of the 2010 Niner AIR9 Carbon in all its sexy goodness. I’m not a 26-inch hardtail fan at all, but a 29er hardtail is a different story and a carbon-fiber 29er hardtail is even better. Look for more details as they come in, but here are a few specs on the all-new Niner AIR9 Carbon.

Niner AIR9 Carbon:

• High modulus carbon fiber
• Bio-Centric EBB bottom bracket for geared or singlespeed use
• Tapered steerer tube
• Built around 80-100mm forks
• Internal cable housing
• Colors: Tang or Vanna White
• MSRP: $TBD

More Info: Visit NinerBikes.com

Unfortunately, no pictures of the bikes are currently available.  Gotta wait until Sea Otter. See any 29er’s in the pic to the right? It almost looks like one right behind the dude… oh well. The crew at Rocky Mountain assures me that pics are on their way, but I’ve got to wait until April 17. So, to whet your appetite, here’s the news release:

Rocky Mountain Bicycles announces its 2010 – 29’er product launch at the Sea Otter Classic, April 17-19th, Monterey California. Rocky Mountain will be exhibiting both of its proven platforms, Vertex and Altitude, both now available in 29’er.

Since 1981 Rocky Mountain bicycles has pioneered and pushed the limits of 26 inch wheel mountain bikes. Now we feel the time is right to launch our B.C. take on the 29er experience

The notoriously technical trails in our Vancouver backyard have always been our testing ground and we’ve used these same trails to test and develop our 29ers. Our new 29ers are just as suited to the treacherous trails at our doorstep as fast, flowy Marin County singletrack, or high alpine Swiss mountain passes.

Our new Altitude 29 puts a big wheel spin on our phenomenally successful Altitude platform. With our patented SmoothLink suspension and first of its kind StraightUp geometry, we have set a new standard for pedaling efficiency and suspension quality. The Altitude 29 with its 120mm of rear wheel travel is about covering big distances efficiently while having enough suspension to soak up everything in its path.

Rocky Mountain’s extensive World Cup racing heritage is immediately apparent in our new Vertex 29 platform. Much of the R&D for our Vertex RSL was also applied to the Vertex 29, resulting in a bike that handles like a race bike, but also showcases the best of the 29er.

Both bikes feature completely redesigned FORM™ tubesets, Shimano Direct Mount front derailleurs, and both represent the evolution of Rocky Mountain’s legendary ride quality.

UPDATE: I just got a first picture of the Altitude 29er… check it out to the right.

More Info: Visit www.Bikes.com

It hasn’t taken me long to realize that the crew at Niner Bikes is onto something. In only a little more than a year’s time, I’ve gone from a 29er rookie to a 29er lover and mostly due to the crew at Niner. At Interbike 2007, Niner Bikes had a Kool-aid theme going on. Well, I drank the stuff and now I’m a true believer.

It’s hard not to be a believer when every Niner I’ve ridden has been absolutely phenomenal. The original Niner RIP 9 was a complete hoot and one of the most fun trailbikes I’ve ever ridden–regardless of hoop size. Then, not satisfied to sit on their laurels, Niner completely re-designed the already-awesome RIP 9 for 2009 to make it even mo’ betta.

Now, the RIP’s little brother, the Niner  Jet 9 has been in my hands for testing and I’m wondering if Niner can do no wrong. Of all the full-suspension 29ers I’ve ridden Niner bikes show the most refinement and consistency in ride quality across the board.

Niner Jet 9 29er Quick Bike Review

The Jet 9 is an XC machine at heart with just 3.1-inches of rear travel. But, because of the 29-inch wheels, that small amount of travel goes a long way. No, you’re not going to soak up everything in sight, but with the larger wheels, you don’t always have to because you can roll through stuff more efficiently.

So far, I’ve found the Jet 9 to climb up anything and descend very capably. I just returned from a local time trail climb (Clark’s Trail), and the Jet 9 propelled me to the top in my typical mid-season time. I’m guessing had I ridden this mid-season, I may have shaved some time off my personal best, but it’s Fall and I’m not quite in my mid-season form.

Like all 29er’s, the middle ring is the sweet spot. Don’t wallow in the granny or you won’t take advantage of all the big hoops have to offer!

I’m not one to use lockouts and, honestly, a good suspension design shouldn’t need them. The Jet doesn’t need the lockout as it powers you to the top of the climb with the rear wheel solidly planted in terra firma. The CVA Suspension is very efficient and smooth.

On the downhills thus far, I’ve been more than pleased with its performance. Once again, the bigger hoops can do wonders for suspension designs when done right. The Jet is smooth, capable and comfortable on the downhill. At 3.1-inches of travel, you’re not going to have a super-squish machine, but with the geometry and suspension setup on this bike, you can confidently power through the rough stuff without flinching. That’s not the case with any other 3-inch travel bike I know of on the market today.

Carving through tight, twisty singletrack, this thing just absolutely shines. I’ve been very impressed with its overall maneuverability–something not all 29ers share.

The Good

• Very capable “no wander” climber (with 100mm Fox F29 even)
• Efficient suspension feels smooth on the downhills
• Arcs through twisty singletrack
• CVA Suspension is the real deal
• Kermit Green color is hot
• Reasonably-priced all things considered

The Bad

• You likely won’t find one at your LBS for a test ride
• Water bottle cage location makes for a tight fit

Buy Now: WrenchScience.com has the Jet 9 on sale for a limited time (as of 11/19/08)

At Interbike Outdoor Demo, I got to ride nine different bikes–three of which were 29ers. Honestly, going into the ride on the Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe, I was thinking it would be a 100% XC machine. With 3.5-inches in the rear and barely over 3-inches up front, this thing sits squarely in the XC crowd, right?  Well, as it turned out, the answer to that was yes and no.

How does the Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe Ride?

Heading up the trail, the Hei Hei climbs like a dream. I pedaled up Bootleg Canyon with pure efficiency. The most surprising part was the downhill capabilities of this bike. I thought it would act like a typical 3.5-inch travel XC machine when I pointed it. I was totally getting ready for the bounce-around as I made my way down the rock gardens and technical descents found in Bootleg, but to my surprise, the Hei Hei 2-9 descended like a well-mannered trailbike.

I was very impressed with how smooth the suspension feel was both up and down. I was able to charge the typical lines without worrying that I’d be getting bounced around like a leg-shaven XC racer on a DH course.

Good

• Capable climber
• Excellent descender… descends like a 5″ trailbike
• 29er wheels roll over everything
• Fox F29 descends beyond it’s 80mm travel
• Very fun and flickable… not your typical 29er
• Great parts spec
• $3599 MSRP is respectable (Hei Hei 2-9 is $2499)

Bad

• Can experience suspension feedback due to single-pivot design
• No quick-release seat collar

More Info: Visit www.KonaWorld.com

I’m a big fan of 29er bikes and I’m also a big fan of the crew at Niner Bikes. They only build 29ers and damn fine ones at that. After riding the Niner RIP 9 for a few months, I had a hard time giving it back, but now I’m all over the new Niner WFO 9 to be introduced formally at Interbike in a few weeks.

Though the WFO 9 won’t be available to demo, I’ll hopefully at least be able to check one out in person. More than likely, I’ll get one for testing next year. Until then, check out the pictures of the 2009 Niner WFO 9 and check out the development timeline below courtesy Chris Sugai at Niner Bikes:

For 2009, we are launching the W.F.O. 9 at both Eurobike and Interbike. Many of you have seen this bike in one form or another. This is the story of how we got from there to here… We’d like to open up the Niner archives, and give you the history of a product in the making, from start to finish; to show you how engineering, computer analysis, structural testing, riding, and passion all combined to make aluminum and steel evolve into an amazing bike.

In early 2005, we built the very first rideable samples of the W.F.O. 9. which we showed at Interbike 2005. Our intentions were twofold. First, we used these early prototypes to help develop CVA™ suspension – the first W.F.O. 9 was 6” of travel with relatively short chainstays. Second, we wanted to encourage the component and fork makers to expand their scope of vision in regards to the 29” wheel and to develop products that would make such a bike viable. We wanted to push the limits and change the perception that the big wheel wasn’t just for single speeds. For us, the wheel size has applications across the board, but we couldn’t do it alone.

We knew then the possibilities that the 29” wheel held in regard to longer travel bikes, so
we decided to keep refining our frame. During 06-07 new technologies, and new building methods re-adjusted our thinking, and we took roads previously untraveled.

Additionally, every Niner version-prototype goes through a battery of testing, including actual ride time (there are some perks to being bike designers). We put a lot of trail-hours in on the first versions and incorporated what we learned into the next step.

Interbike 2007 gave us the opportunity to share the results of these new design philosophies and technologies. W.F.O. 9 version 2 features a 1.5” head tube and 150mm spacing in the rear. Concurrent to the Interbike debut, we tested bushings vs. bearings as well as other design elements. The long travel machine generated a lot of interest. The demand was there, our sales staff was inundated by riders eager to know the release date, but we didn’t feel like it was ready. We knew we could make something even better.

Time to ask questions: What worked and what didn’t in the first two versions? What could we do better? As Niner grows, so too does our access to new technology, both in design and construction – how could we best take advantage of this?

More sophisticated computer FEA (Finite Element Analysis) provided answers to some of our questions. FEA is perfect for bicycle development, as it allows us to see in graphic form the actual stresses on a tube as force is applied. FEA enabled us to change the vector and amount of force within the FEA model and conduct computer testing on a number of structures in a day that would take months to build in actual metal. The resulting data helped us to determine the best shapes and structures for the W.F.O 9. The testing and development process also convinced us that hydroformed tubing is the way to go – we can maximize tube shape for strength and stiffness. Additionally, forging helps us to make stronger, sexier and lighter parts. Armed with that information, as well as more hours of riding, we created the third, optimized W.F.O. 9  generation.

On this round of physical, destructive testing, we were able to put our FEA modeling to task, to be sure that our computer generated calculations coincided with the real physical tests before opening expensive tooling for forged and extruded parts.

The W.F.O. 9 is the most tested bike we have ever designed. It meets all current testing standards, including those not required here in the United States. The W.F.O. 9 exceeds all testing parameters set forth by the EU’s CEN standard. This new standard is stricter than the severe testing requirements of the German DIN+ test protocol.

In the time we spent developing the W.F.O. 9, the industry began to change. A noted swing in perception, created the optimum environment for the W.F.O. 9 to spread it’s wings. Component makers stepped up to the plate to make products that better fit this style of riding. Tires appeared with wider profiles, fatter knobs, and stiffer casings. Shimano provided valuable assistance to our project. Our two companies had many conversations regarding front derailleur improvements to resolve clearance issues that plague big wheels and short chainstays, particularly on long travel bikes. The result is a Shimano-redesigned high mount bolt-on derailleur that we can place wherever we need to without regard for the seat tube angle or position, while still giving us critical room behind the derailleur for tire clearance.

Next, we were approached by Marzocchi to help them re-enter the 29er market, as they too believe in the application of longer travel suspension designs for the 29” wheel. We put our collective heads together and wrote a list of “have to” parameters and then the Marzocchi engineers took over. We couldn’t be more pleased with the product of this collaboration  – a beautiful Marzocchi 44 29er fork with 100-140mm of adjustable ATA travel, an air cartridge, 15mm quick release thru axle, compression, rebound and lockout.

The W.F.O. 9 will feature a first for a 29er: a tapered head tube designed to accommodate a 1.5” lower race with a 1 1/8” upper, and the Marzocchi 44 will feature a steerer tube/crown assembly to match, making the 44 the perfect mate for the W.F.O. 9. We are honored to have worked with Marzocchi and to have played a role in bringing this fork to market. The 2010 Marzocchi 44 will be available OEM exclusively through Niner for 2009, and available aftermarket early 2009.

I’m really warming up to 29er mountain bikes and the new Ellsworth Evolve 29er is one of the best on the market.  Ellsworth doesn’t mess around… they are one of the most high-end bike manufacturers on the market and their designs are proven and dependable. Every Ellsworth I’ve ridden has been a ton of fun and the all-new Evolve is no exception.

I received the Project Pink Ellsworth Evolve about 6 weeks ago and have been flogging it on the local singletrack ever since. Here’s what I like best about the Ellsworth Evolve:

• It handles and rides on par with the best 26ers on the market
• Climbing is super-efficient
• It feels like it has more than just 4-inches of travel
• The build quality is impeccable
• I love the pink color and the cause it supports
• It is made entirely in the USA

But, with such a high-end product, it does have it’s drawbacks like not being able to test ride one before buying and the MSRP is a bit steep for a frame-only at $2400.  However, if you’re looking for one of the best 29er trailbikes on the market, and you’ve got the coin, the Ellsworth Evolve will reward you with solid climbing and capable descending–all in a bump-smoothing 29-inch wheel package.

Another great thing about Ellsworth… they don’t go changing their framesets every year just to make a buck off their loyal customers. Their designs look essentially the same year after year with only minor tweaks in linkages. So, once you buy an Evolve, it’s not going to look outdated in a year or two.

Read my complete Ellsworth Evolve Review on FeedTheHabit.com.

Buy Now: Visit WrenchScience.com to Buy an Ellsworth Evolve

Niner Bikes came on the scene a few years ago building nothing but 29-inch wheel mountain bikes. If you haven’t seen the latest crop of 29er bikes, then you must have been hiding under a rock over the past couple of seasons. What was once only a “fad” adopted by fringe mountain bikers and single-speeds is now becoming mainstream and even adopted by most major manufacturers.

But, some dedicated 29er companies, like Niner Bikes, are flourishing and there’s no wonder why. Niner Bikes are built with passion and experience. The founders have tons of experience and drive in the bike industry and have brought that to the table with their stellar lineup. The superstar of that lineup is definitely the Niner RIP 9 full-suspension 29-er mountain bike.

Unlike most 29ers, the RIP 9 boasts 4.5 inches of travel. This is well beyond what’s offered by most manufacturers. With a carefully designed rear triangle and CVA™ suspension design, the RIP 9 gives new meaning to the word plush as it plows over small bumps without flinching, then climbs and descends with the best all-mountain bikes on the market today.

Niner RIP 9 Quick Review

I had a chance to ride the Niner RIP 9 at Interbike last fall and all I can say is WOW! This bike has won accolades from most of the major publications and I add my approval to the mix as this is truly one of the finest mountain bikes on the market today. It climbs extremely well and descends with smoothness not found on other bikes in its class.

If you are considering a new bike and want something different and mind-blowing, consider getting a Niner RIP 9 frameset and building out the new bike of your dreams. 29ers are for real and Niner doesn’t mess around. These guys know their stuff and their bikes show it.

Read my full review of the Niner RIP 9 at FeedTheHabit.com.

Specs on the Niner RIP 9:

• 4.5 inches of travel
• CVA™ suspension design provides smooth ups and downs
• Sealed cartridge bearings at all pivots
• Sizes: 16, 18, 20 , 22
• Shock: Fox RP23
• Weight: 6.51 lbs
• MSRP: $1649

Buy Now: Buy a Niner RIP 9 at WrenchScience.com