I quess my real problem is, Why if 29ers are so popular, that none of my local bike shops have a selection?
Do any of the guys at your local shop ride??
How about their buyer or owner?
I actully came late to the 29" party myself. One of the guys who works at our shop has had a Karate Monkey since Surly came out with it. He is a sort of weird bird so the 29" thing ran right along with his persona.
If anyone who was at the bike show in vegas missed the 29" thing they must have been blindfolded.
Nearly every bike company has a 29er this year. Some companies just made one because of customer demands, while some companies had bike designers who were very tall..
The guy who designed the Mary (or at least had a lot to do with it) is like 6'-5" so the 29er thing was a no branier.
When I first saw the 29er thing I thought it would always be a fringe thing. Now (as I finally build one for myself) I am pretty sure that it is here to stay.
No one thought that suspension or clipless pedals whold catch on either..
j