Message #19466

[Svend]

Hey Byron -- great that you're rediscovering cycling.  I'm guessing it's been a while since you've spent any time on a bike(?)  Since you were a young 'un, perhaps? It's just a great sport, no matter what wheels you're riding on.  Good on ya!

I can't imagine BW calling a 29er a tweener bike.  I suppose there are some inexpensive 29ers that aren't kitted out to be proper mountain bikes, but are branded as 29ers just to capitalize on their popularity.  But a good 29er is by no means a so-so performance ride.  They are real mountain bikes in every sense of the term, and are being raced at the amateur and world cup level. 

If you are still considering a bike for 80% road / 20% gravel trail use, by all means look at the cyclocross bikes.  They would suit your needs much better than either a 29er or a pure road bike would.  Here is an example of a good one, at a decent price point:  http://www.konaworld.com/cx.cfm?content=jake_the_snake

Keep us posted on your demos.....