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The newest cycling trend from America is all about size – mountain bikes with 29” wheels, to be specific. Christoph Sauser of Switzerland already demonstrated the cross-country mobility of these wheels with his victory at CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY 2010. “Whether Europe will also switch to these so-called big-wheelers remains to be seen,” said Siegfried Neuberger, president of the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (Two-Wheeler Industry Association). The EUROBIKE trade show from September 1 to 4, 2010 in Friedrichshafen is an important touchstone for the marketability of many manufacturers’ new products.
At the moment, 29ers are still a niche product in the European market. Even at Steppenwolf, Cube Bikes and Ghost, the classic 26” wheels are still the standard-bearer. They have the advantage of high rigidity, good maneuverability and therefore optimum cornering ability. Since the invention of the mountain bike in 1973 in the mountains of California, 26” wheels have been the benchmark.
Although the newer outsized wheels look unusual at first glance, they offer several advantages, including lower rolling resistance and better shock absorption when riding over smaller obstacles.
At the 4th edition of EUROBIKE Demo Day, trade visitors will have the opportunity to form a first impression. On Tuesday, August 31, manufacturers, retailers and journalists will meet in Argenbühl in the Allgäu region. “This location offers the ideal conditions for testing mountain bikes. And visitors have the advantage of being able to test ride the bikes back-to-back for direct comparison,” explained EUROBIKE Project Manager Stefan Reisinger.
At this year’s CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY in early June, former marathon world champion Christoph Sauser showed off the performance capabilities of 29ers. After four stages and 10,000 meters of vertical height, he scored the world’s first victory in a mountain bike race riding a 29er.
Accessories and component manufacturers are also gearing up for increasing demand. Schwalbe tire customers, for instance, have so far been able to choose between two models of larger tires. “In the US, 29ers have long been popular due to their tracking capability and rolling resistance. Our American retailers are expecting us to offer corresponding models,” said Doris Klytta, public relations manager at Ralf Bohle GmbH, the manufacturer of Schwalbe tires.
EUROBIKE will be open to trade visitor from Wednesday, September 1 to Friday, September 3, 2010, from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. On Saturday, September 4, it will be open to the general public from 9 AM to 6 PM.
