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29er vs 26er what's the verdict
Has this been raised before on NOBMOB? I searched but couldn't find a 29 vs 26 topic - so apologies if its been done. Does anyone own a 26er and gone to a 29er and can give an opinion of the pros and cons. I have scoured the web to get a definitive opinion on which is better but found "it depends". I thought (just like 3d tv) 29ers would come and go but every mag is full of them so should you join the 29ers?
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It has bigger wheels goes faster ,rolls over everything easier to hop up stuff , good for drop downs too , climbs hills u couldn't make up before ... I love my 29er . the only reason to go back too a 26'' if I had more travel too make the bike plush & launch off stuff
I've recently gone from a Cannondale Prophet to a Niner Jet and would never go back to the 26'er. I took the Prophet out for a spin last week for the first time for ages and it felt small, sloppy, unstable.
I'm nearly 200cm and 110kg. The Niner feels like the bike fit I've never been able to get, even with XL 26'ers. The Niner is slightly higher specc'd and new, so there's a bit of a disadvantage for the 5 yr old Prophet, but the Niner feels like it soaks up bumps better with less travel in the suspension, gives more confidence on step ups and drop offs, is a more comfortable riding position (which could have only been obtained with a stupid-long-high stem on the Prophet) and just seems to want to be ridden fast. The CVA rear suspension seems to keep good contact even when off the seat mashing - maybe the bigger contact patch helps, but I run pretty high pressures, especially in the rear. Just getting off the seat and back down is easier because of the better riding position. It gives the sense of rolling through stuff that other bikes roll over.
It looks like a properly proportioned big bike, and makes me feel less like donkey-kong than sitting on a 26'er.....
Only minor negative so far is an occasional feeling that the rear wheel (Stan's Flow rims with Kenda Small Block 8's) has a little flex. May be solved by a stiffer rear rim, but other than that the rim has stood up fine to my usual clydesdale type riding.
Don't know how much of this flows across to a smaller, lighter rider, but for me it's the duck's guts, bee's knees, ant's pants etc.
You already know my next bike will be a 29er....
get both!
29er = more stability, etc gliding terrain (BB lower than hubs, longer wheelbase, etc)..
26er = more stability, etc when in air..
(shorter chainstays, lighter, etc)..
The obvious conclusion - yes, get both! =)
I've only played with a singlespeeder 29er for a few weeks, but these are my impressions:
1: +1 to all of Smiley's comments.
2: There's significantly more flex in the front end for the same fork spec (eg, 9mm QR, same size fork stanchions). My recommendation would be to only buy one with a through-axle in the front and beefier (32mm?) stanchions.
3: For normal size-riders, the stock stem and bar placement a lot of these bikes are shipped with is too high, and put you in a "sit up and beg" position. Ridiculous. You'll feel unsteady in techy tight and slow bits, like you're trying to steer the bike on stilts. Flip the stem and get a wide low or flat bar to get your position back to normal, and your steering confidence will come back.
I like them.
A lot.
I never really pay attention but in the top 10 of races what would be the mix between 26 and 29 ?
29er good for open flowy trails and long stretches of fire road.. I still think they are a ploy by the UCI to turn traditional xc into a soft from of cyclecross. (Shorter, more open TV friendly trails already in the works for Olymipics.. Anyone remember XC trails where even the pros had to get off and run occasionally, where skill was equally important as fittness?.)
Bigger wheels roll over bumps easier but I find them harder to accelerate. An obvious disadvantage up hills and in and out of tight corners.
Both have their place and areas where they will be better and you really should have 1 of each anyway
Not sure about the hills?... I found 29ers were less likely to break traction, and when they did you'd often get it back. On the 26er, when the rear spun if you were out of the saddle, it was all over and you had to stop. On the Spot 29er you'd just feel a partial lose and then you'd keep going - which I admit surprised me.
Or is that the belt drive singlespeed thang?
Just to add to above . My Yeti 575 got stolen (&^%$#@) and the insurance co was brilliant to replace the bike. I opted for a Pivot 429. On a ride round the dam I thought i got a glimpse of what I thought may be the stolen yeti , my instinct was to chase and check it out but then thought "do I really want it back, answer NO" My point is the 29 dualie is an awesome machine and even the Techy bits of the Dam are ok. That said I still love the yeti.....but not enough money for both
I have both, but i must say the 29er really does feel great compared to the 26
similarly to Lach i am almost 200cm but a little fatter at 120kg and i have the XXL stumpy 29er and wow oh wow, i just love it
i still keep my hardtail 26 for mess about stuff and when i feel energetic..
personal preference is what its all about.. you can take all the positive comments about 29ers you like, if in the end you don't like em then its not the bike for you.
At 200cm Tall I can understand why a 29er feels right.
I am 176cm tall and am wondering if I would think the same thing or I would come to a different opinion.
Horses for courses
every rider will have a different opinion. The only one that counts is yours. I'm a 29er rider, i got ride of all my 26 inch stuff, have no intention of going back. there are pro's and cons to 29er riding, but for me and how i ride, there are more pro's than cons. Only thing to do is to go and ride a 29er and see for yourself. You may love it, you may hate it, end of the day, doesn't really matter. ride what you brung and have fun
this wheelbase is the same length as my Trance I had
Have a single speed hard tail and now just purchased a Trek FS 29er too after selling my last 26". Every time I got back on the 26er it just felt too small and unstable. I know it is not and many many people could have ridden that bike much better than me, but I'm 186cm and 85 kg and the 29er sizing just felt better for me.
Both have their place and you won't know until you ride one, but I'm sold on them. Another reason I went all 29er was to save money rather than running two sets of components - wheels, tires etc......
First off, I dont own a 29er (yet) but i plan on getting one with in the next few months. I borrowed a epic 29er test bike and rode some good tracks on it.some that were steep and technical. others smooth, flowly or flat. Since i ride a blur xc carbon which weighs 9kg -having to lug a 12.5kg test bike up a hill it felt slow. but what i did notice is it rolled over those little bumps easier. which makes you a lazier rider. on the flat. it was awesome. i felt it was faster than a 26er. rooty sections is where I liked it most. it went over everything easier which bought the average speed up. down hill. in tracks that dont have continious tight ections i would rate a 29er better as you feel more confident on the bigger wheel which equals higher speed.
so....
pros for 29er
more stability -rolls over everything better and also when climbing
more grip I though
rolls faster.
cons for 29er
being worried about weight then this is an issue for climbing
tight sections, though bermed switchbacks were sill fine
take what you want out of it. it is all my opinion so dont rip into me.
I found the 29ers Boring... 26ers much more fun..
rode the S-works epic 29 and 26 back to back...and then the stumys great bikes...
29 er Boring......
Get out and have fun on a 26er.
Pick one or pick both, buy one or buy both... how can we answer a question only the curious one can answer?
My opinion is...29ers are awesome for huge air as they tend to keep their balance and stay straight without too much battle. 26ers are awesome for skids as they have a smaller circumferance wheels and the wheel locks quicker.
Hi, I started this topic over a year ago and suddenly its back - I must have been contemplating as 12 months on I now have a 29er and love it. http://nobmob.com/node/34035 and I am sure Iwill love my next bike too
For me, My Anthem 29er is a lot more stable than the Anthem26er - less twitchy on the trails which makes it more enjoyable as its not trying to buck you off. Could be the SID's, bigger wheels - just rides better.
My decision was made easier after a ride day where I spent a few hours on a 29er and I felt part of the bike rather than sitting on top - so try one you might like it especially if you're over 6 foot. Also, my 29er is lighter than my 26er too which was the final hurdle as i didn't want a heavier bike.
Trying out the custom 36'er in Rotorua...
This is a custom made 36'er from Kiwi bikes, a local Rotorua based frame builder and overall nice chap!
All part of the amazing bike culture present in Rotorua!
http://www.kiwibikes.co.nz/frames/
I wonder why the handlebar is upside down
Probably because it's riding position is almost sit up & beg mounted up in the air on top of a F**king great wheel & headtube!
BTW. Is Hans a giant or the other bloke a midget?
Call me a freak but I enjoy making things harder for myself and technical trails.
Have been riding a hard tail again for the last year over my 6" dually partly for this reason.
I don't race, I just like challenges. Will the 29ers effectively dumb down the trails resulting in demand for more technical trails to get the challenge back?
If so I guess I win either way. I just personnally don't find the 29ers and descriptions appealing.
What are people's thoughts on the longer term implications for trail design?
Oh, have I got the bike for you
Implications for WA Perth region trails; my crystal ball indicates:
). But maintenance will be a huge issue and cost. My concern is that many new riders and social riders may not take to the rougher stuff and leave.
The trails will get tougher, rougher and harder, especially if not maintained as:
a) the 29r wheels will allow bigger hits and bigger hits mean more track wear - currently there are few logs that I can't just ride into on my 29r and get over them - try that on my 26r and I'd be OTB. Same with holes and ruts.
b) the longer suspension travel will allow people to brake harder, later, hit jumps and holes harder, resulting in deeper holes, rougher tracks, more wear. As evidence ask anyone who rode motoX in the age of short (4") suspension bikes and the changes that ocurred to tracks after the 'monoX' long travel suspension bikes appeared. The old bikes could hardly handle the rougher tracks, larger jumps and stutters created by the long travel suspension.
d) take a look at how the modern modern DH bikes have evolved and how the DH tracks have changed. As the bikes ability increases the tracks appear to get more technical and severe IMO.
e) we'll adapt, the trails, bikes and riders will adjust and trail design will follow the trend, possibly with more artificial features (yuk
So the 29r and long travel suspenders
won't dumb trails down but make the trails rougher.
IMO there is too much focus on 'faster is better' and were losing the 'its just nice to ride the trails' aspect - e.g. the need to list a time for the Camikazi - so person X can go 1 sec faster than person Y - so what? Not suggesting that competition is bad but lets keep some trails for a fun ride.
If timing is wanted should it be kept to the race tracks designed for races?
Is the focus of our MTB magazines on harder, faster, bigger hits, bigger jumps more technical features in the best interests of general MTB riding?
Finally we need more trails open, not necessarily manufactured KC trails with manufactured features, but using existing tracks and the acceptance that single track isn't the only type of trail we can/must ride.
So thems MO and worth every cent you paid for it
depends on the trail builder - if you make a flat rock stepup on an upslope - if its a straight apprach and only 6 inches high, you will make it easiest for a 29 er to carry it just with speed, but if you put a tight turn 2m away, then the 29er cant carry speed and the advantage will go to a 26er who can accelerate faster and also lift front aqnd hop rear easiest, OR you make the step a foot or greater height.
what will go is those little up hill rock gardens with small rocks that unsettle a 26 and require skill to lift and accelerate through - they are too easy for a 29er to plough through with no skill. the other thing that can be addded, is fast bermed corners (those really low berms) - so much harder for a 29er to get low enough - you want the course to be identical for a shorter guy on a 26er as a taller one on a 29er IMO
So the verdict is...
There is no verdict, just lots of opinions. Buy whichever bike you will have most fun on.
I agree. Or ride what you have and enjoy it for what it is Don't get caught up in hype. Just ride. I once came across a guy smashing it on an old malvern star road bike in the bush. It was rusty noisy nasty but hemwas having a great time. It is actually far
Less about the bike than we have all come to believe.