Gary Fisher rolls out the 29er crew

In 2001, Gary Fisher played around with the notion of a 29" wheeled mountain bike. Six years later, the company is sponsoring a 29er team. The The inaugural 29er Crew is a mix of half a dozen cross country racers, single-speeders, and endurance junkies.

Brothers Jesse and Mark LaLonde head up the team. They have been testing, abusing, and winning on their single speed Fishers for several years. Graphic designer Jesse won the Single Speed World Championships Race in 2005 in Pennsylvania, but lost the overall title in a go-kart showdown. Younger brother Mark can be found at cross country races and regional cyclo-cross events. Mark will be rolling a new Ferrous 29 this season starting with the Wisconsin Off Road Series opener.

They will be joined by Breckenridge native Tim Faia, who has been racing on the cross country and cyclo-cross scenes in Colorado for the past 12 years.

"Desert Dan" Cain is an endurance specialist that rides a Fisher hardtail with a rigid Bontrager Switchblade. The 49-year old Borrego Springs, California, resident has been a regular presence on the podium at SoCal endurance races, both in solo and team relay categories since 2003. He has won the 12 Hours of Temecula and 8 Hours of Idyllwild multiple times.

Travis Saeler will tackle the races in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series, Ohio's OMBC Series, and a few endurance events while his fellow eastern teammate TJ Platt will challenge at endurance events like the Michaux Monster Series and those in West Virginia's WVMBA series.