In this week’s Singletrack Poll, we ask a question that you may recall we’ve actually asked before. It’s about 29in wheels, and we want to know whether you’re into them or not. We first asked this question seven years ago, when 29ers were the hottest thing since melted cheese. Since then however, the standards for mountain bike wheelsizes have been about as stable as British currency. Fat bikes have emerged as a thing, and semi-fat, or ‘plus’ bikes have also rooted into the market, though with a little more tenacity that suggests we’ll be seeing a lot more chubby bikes in the near future. And of course, there has been the rapid takeup of the 27.5in wheel that has well and truly destroyed the 26in wheel in the new bike market. So, in 2016, are 29ers as exciting and divisive as they were back in 2009?
It’s worth noting that significant evolution has occurred over the past few years, which many argue has helped to unleash the true potential of the bigger 29in hoops. Components have come a long way, with bigger stanchions helping to stiffen up long-travel 29in forks, and burlier wheels assisting with handling and acceleration. Geometry has also progressed enormously since the early days of super-steep big wheelers, as bike manufacturers look to adopt more progressive numbers with modern 29ers getting slacker, lower to the ground and better equipped for short stems and wide bars. One of the biggest innovations in the 29er world was the introduction of the BOOST 148 standard, which relies on a 148mm wide hub and an offset drivetrain to help shorten up chainstays. A shorter back end brings a welcome degree of nimbleness to a bike with 29in wheels, and it helps to avoid that ‘stretch limousine’ feeling when you’re threading through tight and twisty singletrack.
Although 27.5in wheels have been well and truly lapped up since their introduction several years ago, the 29in wheel continues its steady evolution. It may have slowed down somewhat while manufacturers rushed to the 27.5 camp, but if bikes such as the 2017 Trek Slash and the new Pivot Switchblade are anything to go by, we can expect to see plenty more in the future.
With that in mind, we’d like to revisit that poll we posted back in 2009. When we asked that question, 28% of you said “I’ve never tried one and don’t want to“, while 8% stated “29ers are the future!“. The most popular response was “I’d like to try one and see what the fuss is about“, which landed 36% of the vote. So, what’s your response now? Register your vote below and tell us what you think!
[poll id=”647”]
Can’t see the poll? Click here.
But while there has undoubtedly been significant progression for the modern 29in mountain bike, there are some who had thought more of us would be on them in 2016. One of those individuals is Chris Sugai of Niner Bikes, who made quite the gamble when he originally named his bike company after the 29in wheelsize. Of course those of you who are up to date with all things Niner will know that the latest JET9 and RIP9 will actually be coming in complete bike options with 27.5+ wheels, as well as the standard 29in wheel options. And that is clearly a sign of the times. But here’s an interesting factoid for you: back in 2013, Chris made a bet with our very Chipps Chippendale. The bet stated that at Interbike 2017 (that’s next year), 27.5in bikes would make up fewer than 5% of knobby tyred mountain bikes (so, including fat bikes, but excluding cross bikes and such). How’s that for a big call??
So, what do you think about the future of 29in mountain bikes? Do you think they’ve reached their full potential? Are we going to see further progression? But most importantly, will Chipps win his bet against Chris Sugai? Let us know your thoughts below!
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where’s the 29+ button?
I’m always amazed at how little press the Transition smuggler gets, it’s a great bike!
Not sure whether I voted in the “don’t see the point” or the “like to try one” (or at all!) camp in the old poll. But I’ve since bought one sold it, bought a better one and love it.
My next full sus is more likely to be a 29er than a 27.5.
I can’t remember exactly what year it was when i was doing an early morning lap at the red bull 24hr, half dead, and some chap who looked a bit like Gary Fisher rumbled past me on a Gary Fisher that seemed to have massive wheels. I was left wondering if it actually was Gary Fisher on a prototype or if i was just losing my marbles.
Always been curious about these large wheels but haven’t got round to trying them still!
Large wheels are faster as have tested 2 on my loop but went 27.5 as more fun to ride. Grin factor is my choice.
Faster, comfier and better traction.
The fun is added or taken away by frame geometry rather than wheel size.
Took a long time to be embraced by more aggressive riders as frame and tyre designers wrongly pigeon-holed it as XC only.
Same is happening to an extent with 650+. As soon as some stiffer sidewalled 650+ tyres with a decent edge are available, 650+ will make sense to a broader range of riders.
If you are tall 29ers make perfect sense. Now days they steer very much like any other bike and as an owner of both wheel sizes (29 full suss and 650b hardtail) one is for short sharp fun (the Orange Crush hardtail in case you were wondering) and the other, a carbon Stumpy FSR is for going large.
29ers are….well logical….and fast…..and we all like speed don’t we?
Over that time period I’ve gone from no interest to only riding a 29’er. It took just ten minutes to convince me of their value when I unexpectedly got one as a hire bike in Colorado and it felt amazing on the super tech of Palmer Park and the epic descent off Pikes Peak. Since then I’ve gone through a Nomad cc and Mojo HD3 but am now settled on my Ragley Bigwig. The geometry advances have made 29’ers a hell of a lot more fun than the early efforts. Not sure that Boost will make that much difference but bendy seat tubes and 1x have made shorter chain stays a reality and for me fitting carbon rims was a total revelation for stiffness and tracking. However, having said all this, they do still definitely just lack a slight playfulness and so I may drop back to 27 next year for the grin factor. I’m intrigued to see what 27+ feels like though!
I’ve ridden a 29er for the past 5 years – love it – keep developing the concept i say.
Ive voted that Id like to try one but frankly my 27.5 seems big to me!
Went straight from 26 to 29er late last year. Gone for the newer geo and the biggest compliment I can give is that it feels like a 26er but with all the rolling advantages of the bigger wheels. I’m faster in just about every trail situation and that includes crashing!.
Course they haven’t reached their full progression, they’re getting better all the time, same as all bikes. Big 29ers have finally got away from the own goal of “trying to be like 26ers” and are getting on with being the best 29ers they can be, and all 29ers benefit more than smaller wheels from better tyres and wheels…
I had a 2012 Yeti BigTop 29r. Loved it at the time. But when I got my current bike – which just happened to be 650b – I sold it. I would happily buy another 29r again if I liked it on the test ride. There are some great big wheel bikes around – the Smuggler is one that looks particularly appealing but I’d look at a Yeti SB4.5 if I was going out to specifically buy a 29er. But I don’t think I could be bothered to do that.
Canfield Bros Riot – and certainly it is…
Paradoxically, although the main bike I ride (for the last three years in fact) is a 29er, I still really resent them. I am clearly very confused!!
I love 26.. I love 29…
Both significantly different, both brilliant.