Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

I bought this bike on a recommendation from a friend who is very knowledgeable on cycling. I hadn't really cycled that much since I was a kid. I'm 29 now. That said, i'm not an avid rider, nor do I claim to know a great deal about modern bicycles. The friend who helped me pick the bike out, however, has a lifetime of experience riding, working on, and generally being involved in the world of cycling. The general idea he tried to convey to me when looking at this bike was: 'For the money, you aren't going to do much better than this'. He informed me that there are basically only three major manufacturers of frames, so the name on the frame isn't nearly as important as who made the thing. That, plus the fact that the components are what you would normally find on a bike twice the money, pretty much sold me on this bike. After riding it around four or five separate times, putting around 50 miles on it, the last 13 being through some of the more grueling trails in the Sandia Mountain foothills, i've decided the money spent on this bike was *well* worth it. If you're concerned about a name like "Specialized" being on your bike, then maybe a Novara isn't for you. But if you're more concerned with performace, and getting what you pay for, strongly consider going with the Ponderosa 29er. Going through REI did influence my decision to go with this bike, but the most important thing was how solid the bike felt when I test rode it, and the quality of the components. Bottom line, I love this thing, and look forward to beating it up, fixing it, and beating it up some more. Great Bike!!!

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

I am 6'2" 230 lbs. I needed a new...bigger mountain bike so I looked for about a year and for the price I found this two months ago to be the best value. I always look for upgraded components...Sram X-7 works well for me. REI sold me with their return policy, although I don't see this as a concern so far. If Cannondale Caffeine had higher end components I would have bought USA. Ponderosa seems to have same frame as Specialized and I believe this would be "Giant Bikes" of Taiwan. So far I am very happy with this purchase.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

This bike is the best buy for the money. It handles extremely well for a 29er, and the adjustable travel on the front Dart 3 shocks makes it an all terrain bike. The components are very easy to tune and configure to your riding preference. This bike is a great deal for anyone looking for a mid-level mountain bike.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

I just purchased this bike over the weekend. I had an 06 Gary Fisher Tassahara and it was stolen in early December. I started to look online and was introduced to the concept of the 29er. Now, i'm 6'3" 220lbs. Everything I read stated that this type of bike was better for my size. I cannot agree more. Now, I was a bit out of shape, being off a bike for almost two months, so I was a bit saddle sore after my first ride, which went well, but I kept it to the streets. It climbed a steep hill rather easily and I never really tired much. Not sure if it was the bike or me, but it just felt more comfortable. I rode for a good hour and a half and my back did not hurt, nor did my knees, which usually at least start to talk to me. I rode in traffic fairly well and it easily got up to speed with no problems from the trigger shifters at all. Went right in to gear. The mechanical disk brakes worked well, but I might just go ahead and replace them with hydralic after my bonus this year. Anyway, I had my first ride, and the next day I had to go and ride in some dirt, despite being a little sore. The saddle did not make me as sore as I thought I would be. So, I rode a moderate dirt trail near my house. It did great and just continued to feel like it was made for me. I can't wait for weather to turn so I can really take it out, but I have no doubts that I will be satisfied after my first few rides, so far. I honestly think this is a great bike for the money and it feels great. I test rode another 29er that REI had in the shop, but it just did not feel right, even though it cost a bit more. I purchased this one just from what I had read on two reviews and the specs on this site. I know it seems a bit tough to spend $1000 on a bike you had not even seen up close, but I had a feeling and it worked out great. [...]

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

I test rode this bike over the weekend and was underwhelmed by the performance.For one thousand dollars, it is quite a good value, until you look at the Cannondale 29er 4 (more on this bike later).First, it will be difficult to match the component spec on this bike given the price. However, it seems that the the Novara boys really skimped on the tubing for the frame and the heavy rotating parts as the bike weighs almost 33 lbs. for a 16.5" frame (small)! That is just ridiculous for a hardtail at one thousand dollars.The handling is noticeably on the slow side and you can feel the weight.If you are looking for a good deal for [$]bucks, please do yourself a favor and check out the Cannondale 29er 4. It comes in at 30 lbs for their 16" (medium) frame, has hydraulic disc brakes, and has a livelier feel which is most likely due to the lighter overall package and smart choice of wheels and tires.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

Used for commuting and trails

Pros:
Its a fun bike and I'm sure after a few months upgrading a few things here and there (not needed but wanted) the bike will feel at home. Allot of people telling me its a nice bike. The larger wheels do help with ruts and holes on and off road.

Cons:
Really only one major was after the third commute home the chain fell apart. Might have been my riding style and the multiply hills.
Minor is that a few brake lines are held in place with zip ties. Its not bad just something I noticed. It can be a rough ride but only on pavement, but thats not really whats its best at as its a moutain bike.

I've also have had issues using bike parkers as the 29' wheels are too big for some. Just use the sides or prop the wheel over the top bar. Not really a big issue.

Overall its a cool bike and its fun to ride besides the chain issue I haven't had any other issues.

Make sure you have a REI bike guys help you as there are a few different sizes.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

Preliminary review today as I just brought this bike home.

I purchased the Ponderosa 29'er while the 20% off deal was going on so a good deal got even better.

Put 12 miles on it (country road with some slight grades) and was very happy with the entire drive train. Shifts are easy and positive--no strange noises or fussing about whatsoever--just smooth gear changes. So, the X-7 drive train and Trvativ crankset gets two thumbs up:-)

The brakes are fine but not spectacular. I think they are fair stock gear considering the price. I am also 250 lbs so maybe a lighter rider would get some more power out of these mechanical disk brakes; no annoying noises from these stoppers either. I am happy with them.

The Rock Shock 3 gets the job done but the lock-out is not all that effective; most noticeable when standing and dumping lots of power while wedging bike for leverage. However, I do feel that fork set-up is more than ample and fits in well with package.

Have not had a chance to put the tires to any real challenges yet. The saddle is surprisingly comfortable.

I did some serious research when shopping for a front suspension bike. I test rode a handful of "bigger" name brand bikes at a few shops here in Bellingham, Wa. REI has come up with a package that works quite well for my purposes.

I give this preliminary review 5 stars since this bike gives you allot of quality components for the money (would have bought it even if there was not a 20% off sale). The forks could be better--like Tora SL-- but then the Ponderosa would break $1000 for sure. I am totally satisfied.
Cpt.Caveman

Service and delivery comments:

REI bellingham store was slammed as the 20% sale was ending the day I bought my bike. The fellas who helped me out from start to finish were calm, collected, knowledgeable, and dealt with the customer/traffic as well as anyone could.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

This is my first mountain bike and would definitely recommend it as someone else's first or as an inexpensive 29er with great components.Crucial to beginners: Price: Unbeatable for what it is. I waited for a [$] off coupon for REI that happened to apply to Novaras and the bike cost me about 700 bucks.Components: amazing for the price. the only thing im planning on replacing is the fork. The dart 3 is kinda a piece of junk, but for starting out, it gets you out there and doesnt break. But eventually id recommend upgrading one or two levels in the rock shox forks (from dart to tora or reba). That is the ONLY thing i want to change on this bike. (besides, any bike in this price range has a fork you want to replace eventually)the x-7 derailers work great. The avid bb7 breaks are pretty much the best mechanical disc brakes on the market, they are ridiculously responsive. I saw someones review that suggested the cannondale 29er partly because of its hydraulic brakes but honestly, id rather have really high end mechanical disc brakes that stop on a dime but i can easily work on myself (they are so easy to adjust) than low end hydraulics that will require trip to the shop to service.Ride: Great (to me). Its a 29er. Its heavy. Its wont turn on a dime. Thats it. Thats not really what a 29er was designed for. Its not as maneuverable as some of the other bikes i tried out (its kinda huge) but its not supposed to be. you just ride right over obstacles instead of going around them. plus its a bit heavy. Things i havent really noticed because ive been having too much fun riding. Plus, with the huge wheels and tires, you can fly on pavement, i can outdo a few of my avid biker friends on flats just because of my wheels.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

I test rode several well known 29er brands in the $1,000 range. I focused on 29ers because I knew I didn't want/need full suspension, and from what I read, it sounded like a 29er would be a good way to stay on a hard tail, but get a bit of a smoother ride too.

In the end I felt that the Ponderosa had the highest end components and was the best value for the money. The geometry of the Medium size also seemed a good fit for me (6', 190 lbs).

I use it on local roads (25%), dirt roads (50%), and single track (25%).

The bike has done everything I've wanted it to do. It's a very smooth ride on all surfaces. The components work well - shifting with the Sram is a bit different than the Shimanos on my old bike, but the Sram is smooth, and easy to maneuver. I also enjoy having gear indicators on the handle bars so I don't have to look at the sprockets. It has disc brakes which work great - very good stopping power. I also really like the lockout on the front shock.

I can't say that I notice a huge difference in the ride itself (from my old 26"), but I do feel a bit more confident traversing rougher terrain, and that helps a great deal.

The only possible negative is that it does feel a bit heavy. However, I ride primarily for exercise and have never considered bike weight a high priority.

All in all, I think it's a fantastic product.

Comments about Novara Ponderosa 29er Bike - 2009:

This 29er is a good fit for a tall guy (I'm 6'4"), and it's comfortable on a long ride. Great overall components for the price, solid quality.

Unless you are going to be using this bike on really rough terrain on a regular basis (in which case you would be better off with a full suspension) you are going to be really happy with it.

Hard core riders should probably go another route, but for someone looking to get a lot for thier money (without being cheap or sacrificing quality) it's an all-around great bike and I'd highly recommend it.

When picking out a bike, it's really important to be honest with yourself about the kind of rider you are and what you intend to use it for. Unless you have a lot of money to burn, it is pointless to pay for what you are not going to need. You don't need to be an extreme competetitive rider to appreciate a quality bike or notice/care about the difference to a cheap one, but there is such a thing as overkill. This bike was clearly aimed at riders who know and appreciate (and expect) quality and capability in their bike, and want something great for regular use on typical terrain.