29 incher - all hype?

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Dave W
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Joined: 18 Jul 2012, 4:17pm

29 incher - all hype?

Post by Dave W »

I bought a 29 incher last Autumn and whilst it's a very capable bike (Whyte) I can't help but feel that the 29 inch wheel on a mountain bike is total marketing hype.
Ok it rolls slightly better on the rough but everything else is compromised in my opinion. The frame is a mess to look at - extra bends to squeeze the back wheel in, flattened sections to make more room and dreadful tyre clearance. The ride feels a little dead to me due to the massive wheels, all the crud flies up in your face because the front wheel is so far out in front. Lastly as a cross country machine it's impossible to lob it on your shoulder.

What do the rest of you think?
A step forwards?
Aikon
Posts: 183
Joined: 4 Jan 2011, 11:00pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by Aikon »

I borrowed a 29er for a month a couple of years ago & for mostly the reasons you mention I found the compromises outweighed the benefits, this year I borrowed a 650b/27.5 and found this strikes a much better balance so have invested in one.
firedfromthecircus
Posts: 310
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 7:50pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by firedfromthecircus »

Sounds to me like the problem is with the specific bike rather than 29ers in general.

I can put all of my 29ers on my shoulder (not all at once though :P ), and the ride feels lively on all of them.

Remember all bikes are just a different set of compromises and it's up to you to choose the compromises that fit your terrain and riding style the best. For me, if I am off road then that is likely to be a big wheeler (29er or fatbike).

Yes, they are harder to accelerate, and decelerate and steer than a smaller wheeled bike, but the comfort, the roll and the momentum pays off in my mind on anything that is not lovely and smooth.

You pays your money.......
flash
Posts: 588
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 11:34am

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by flash »

Yes a lot depends on which 29er. I have a Surly, it's spot on, had a Jones, couldn't get on with it, try a few.....
mrjemm
Posts: 2933
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 4:33pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by mrjemm »

flash wrote:...had a Jones, couldn't get on with it, try a few.....


Oooh, a rather pricey experiment to not succeed! Especially if the all-singing, all dancing Ti beastie.
Galloper
Posts: 217
Joined: 6 Dec 2012, 2:21pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by Galloper »

I have both 26 and 29er hardtails, I enjoy riding them both but when the 26/29 arguments were in full flow several years ago, I decided to do my own comparitive test. Both bikes weigh roughly the same - 13kg. I took them out on a 19 mile local route which includes a bit of everything, some road, some cyclepath, some fire road and some singletrack. I rode on different days and in identical weather and track conditions. I rode at a normal (for me) pace throughout. The end result was that the 29er completed the route some 6 minutes quicker and at an average .5 mph higher speed. It might not sound much but, effectively, the 29er would have been nearly a mile in front.

That said, as I mentioned at the beginning, I enjoy both bikes and when planning a ride will decide which bike is best suited to the route. The 26er is more nimble and accelerates faster. The 29er is more stable and seems to float effortlessly over steps and small ramps. When descending a fast trail, the 26er is better in the twisty stuff and turns quicker to avoid rocks and other trail debris, the 29er handles rocks, yumps and bumps better.

As to stuff flying up from the front wheel, may I recommend a neo guard, a really useful bit of kit. Or make something similar with a section of old inner tube and some zip ties.

All that said, I'd love to try a 27.5.
hamster
Posts: 4131
Joined: 2 Feb 2007, 12:42pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by hamster »

A lot also depends on your height - if you are over 6' then there will be few compromises on frame sizing. I'm 5'7" and on a road bike I get tyre overlap on 700c - a 29er MTB will be worse or have some odd geometry to get the wheels to fit.
flash
Posts: 588
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 11:34am

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by flash »

Unless it's well designed like a Karate Monkey or Canfield.....
Dave W
Posts: 1483
Joined: 18 Jul 2012, 4:17pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by Dave W »

Thanks for the tip for the Neoguard - just fitted one this morning.
ernycb
Posts: 58
Joined: 22 Oct 2012, 1:21pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by ernycb »

It will take you more rides than you think to fully conveince you, but :
- If you are not too short
- You do not ride 100% very techy, tight course

Then you will love them in the end !
tenbikes
Posts: 463
Joined: 11 Jan 2009, 6:41pm

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by tenbikes »

I've had a few: hated the first [a Genesis first generation]. Then I built a single speed based on a Gary Fisher Rig and it rode superbly! It quickly became the bike of choice [out of a selection of 10!]. Now I have a Salsa Fargo custom build for touring, but often pull it off the rack for local rides.

I still have 26ers and use them, but 29er are hard to beat when used for single speed or touring.
Wesh-Laurence
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Joined: 10 May 2009, 8:00am

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by Wesh-Laurence »

Virtually all of the new MTBs have 650b ie 27.5" wheels!! This means that the 29er was in fashion for 3 years.

In order to keep selling bikes year after year the manufacturers keep re inventing the wheel.

It's very annoying that manufacturers are producing products that have built in obsolescence of only 3-4 years. It is the same as regards parts, it is now very difficult to buy new suspension forks that don't have tapered steerer tubes which makes a huge number of perfectly good frames obsolete.
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al_yrpal
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Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by al_yrpal »

26 to 29 is quite a big step. Bigger wheels roll easier especially over potholes and imperfections.

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Andy_M
Posts: 113
Joined: 9 Jan 2008, 11:43pm
Location: Warrington

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by Andy_M »

Wesh-Laurence wrote:Virtually all of the new MTBs have 650b ie 27.5" wheels!! This means that the 29er was in fashion for 3 years.

In order to keep selling bikes year after year the manufacturers keep re inventing the wheel.

It's very annoying that manufacturers are producing products that have built in obsolescence of only 3-4 years. It is the same as regards parts, it is now very difficult to buy new suspension forks that don't have tapered steerer tubes which makes a huge number of perfectly good frames obsolete.


Not quite as faddish as you describe, of the 288 2015 mountain bikes that Evans sell 132 are 650b and 123 are 29ers, narrow that down to hardtails and the ratio is 58 vs. 82.
wahoofish
Posts: 91
Joined: 20 May 2015, 10:41am

Re: 29 incher - all hype?

Post by wahoofish »

For XCM the 29'er is the overwhelming favorite. If you look at the bikes of the recent ABSA Cape Epic, the 29er is the overwhelming favorite. Having owned and ridden all three sizes fairly extensively, I personally don't see the purpose of the 650b.
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