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OPINION

Turning to the dark side

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by Martin Thomas
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 15:37
11
Turning to the dark sideNiner Air 9 carbon

I'm a road cyclist who uses an Apple computer, so why is it that I have fallen in barely controllable lust with two objects that would seem to fly in the face of everything I stand for?

Like any self-respecting MAMIL I spend a little too much time trawling the internet in search of bikes to long for. The Enigma and Cervélo sites get more than their fair share of attention from me and I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit it.

Which makes it all the more curious that the bike that's got my juices flowing more than any other recently is the pictured Niner Air 9 carbon, a 29-inch wheel hardtail mountain bike.

Those beautifully proportioned lines! The detail! That paint job! I want one now!

But it's a mountain bike...

It doesn't end there though. Oh no. Another new MUST HAVE NOW obsession is the HTC Desire phone. But I embraced Apple and everything it stands for few years ago so it would obviously make sense for me to buy an iPhone when the time finally comes to get with the programme and get a smart phone.

But I don't want an iPhone. I desire the Desire in a way that's borderline inappropriate for a mere phone. I played with one in the shop earlier and it was all I could do to stop myself slipping it into my pocket and legging it.

I fear I may be in the throes of some kind of existential crisis. Perhaps a bike ride will help...

Niner
HTC
existential crisis
Martin Thomas

Lifelong lover of most things cycling-related, from Moulton Mini adventures in the 70s to London bike messengering in the 80s, commuting in the 90s, mountain biking in the noughties and road cycling throughout. Editor of Simpson Magazine (www.simpsonmagazine.cc). 

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11 comments

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sponging-machine | 14 years ago
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Chuck some bolt-through Rebas and a 2x10 groupset on that Niner and it'd be smashing.

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simonmb | 14 years ago
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Shows how out of touch I am with mtbs. These single-speed 29ers look like a great way to get up, and down, a hill 4

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Martin Thomas | 14 years ago
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...shame the frame costs £1700 and the fork £375 (http://www.jungleproducts.co.uk/niner/6). My tummy would have to fizz a great deal before I spent £3K+ on a mountain bike.

(why are these posts all in bold? or is that just me?)

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VecchioJo | 14 years ago
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i've been riding a steel 29er singlespeed mountainbike with a carbon fork for several years now and it's really rather nice, but that Niner makes my tummy go all fizzy

my phone is a hand-me-down PAYG though

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dave atkinson | 14 years ago
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I'm writing this from plaza del sol in madrid on my htc desire... i can recommend it. The phone and madrid...,+)

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Simon_MacMichael replied to dave atkinson | 14 years ago
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dave_atkinson wrote:

I'm writing this from plaza del sol in madrid on my htc desire... i can recommend it. The phone and madrid...,+)

Week late to be there? Could've got an HTC Columbia podium shot on your HTC Desire 3

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Martin Thomas | 14 years ago
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I think non-sprung MTBs are all the rage at the moment, specially 29ers. *The* bike to have, according to one of the blokes in my LBS, is a steel single speed On One 29er with rigid carbon forks. I had a go on his and I have to say it was very nice - surprising how much roughness is soaked up by a decent carbon fork and big wheels.

I'd better shut up now - this is no off-road forum after all 1

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simonmb | 14 years ago
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I'm not even sure that in its current non-sprung configuration this is even quite a mountain bike. It looks more like the bastard love-child of Gary Fisher and Ernesto Colnago. Very nice indeed though!

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Stofish | 14 years ago
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Apple was once the choice of the "free thinker" now it is the fashionable must have brand, its only natural that those who once bought Apple computers are now turning to Android phones.
As for the Niner... I've never seen a mountain-bike better designed to appeal to roadies.

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Martin Thomas | 14 years ago
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You can run it with gears if you prefer - or a hub gear. But there's the usual lightness & simplicity arguments for running a single speed. Not sure my knees would thank me but I fell out with them years ago so I don't care what they think.

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jova54 | 14 years ago
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I'm not so sure about the Niner, why would you have a singlespeed mountain bike, but as a fellow MAMIL I'm with you on the HTC Desire Martin.

I've had one for a couple of months and it's fantastic. 16

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