I’ve been riding 26er hardtails with semi-slicks for years as a sort of gravel bike but have finally bitten the bullet and moved the kit across to a 29er frame (with slightly narrower tyres). Obviously I need to get used to the new bike and not set out at full tilt on the first ride, but is there anything specific to be mindful of when moving to a larger wheel size?

trails become boringly smooth…obviously

You know about the firey exploding wheel doom right?

Your current tyres will not fit.

as above Wheels are bigger

You smile more

You smile less.

It’s like having 20mm of extra suspension.

you need a 29er saddle.

It will make your bum look big.

Obviously I need to get used to the new bike and not set out at full tilt on the first ride pin it

29er wheels really open up the soundstage.

You’ll never want to ride a 26er again

When I switched I found the front wheel directed muddy puddles straight into my face. Front wheel arch mudguard thing fitted quickly after that.

Climbing traction on those very steep, slippery/loose trails improves hell of a lot.

Depends, have you bought this:

Or this?

More more braaaping or slapping turns for you sunshine

if you are 6ft 4” you no longer look like this bloke

yeh I found climbing is much better.
&
Semi slicks?? do you have another bike you use for muddy trails?

If you are under 5’10 you look like this

I had to tilt the 29er more to get my leg over than I did with the 26er

Plan corners approx 3 turns in advance. Steering will be so slow you must think ahead.

No one on a 26er gets a leg over these days.

I had to tilt the 29er more to get my leg over than I did with the 26er

The ladies are less impressed by the bigger rubber?

^^^ 😆

Harder to fit in the car!

They should make a size halfway between the two and get the best of both worlds. And then, once they’ve done that, they can halve it again and it’ll be even better! Infinite scope for infinite improvement

They should make a size halfway between the two and get the best of both worlds

Shirley,they would bring the trail alive?

You will go over the bars a whole lot less.

FWIW – I love my 26″ bikes. Probably for sentimental reasons, I could never part with them willingly. One drawback was/is they are rim brake on the rear and even though SS, they are painful to ride in the slop and mud.

I finally upgraded to a 27.5+/29″ bike last year (as above, PJay…) and I love it, different feel for sure and some drawbacks over the 26″ bikes but enjoy it. More confidence over descents, decent climbs, maybe bit slow to wind up but rideable for hours. Still love my 26″ bikes for quick grab of a spin for an hour or so, in narrower twisty stuff though.

They should make a size halfway between the two and get the best worst of both worlds.

Welcome to the club!

Your wheels have magically become heavier, weaker and floppier all at once!

Other changes to look forward to….

You will no longer have access to the “my wheels are too small – I have no grip” excuse…and will have to think of a load of new ones for riding like a fanny.

You will develop an unjustified superiority complex and feel the need to bore everyone continuously about how amazing your daft looking road wheels are.

Enjoy 🙂

My 26″ BFe makes me smile LOADS more than my 29″ Ramin.

Scotroutes has it (and thanks, the front mech. works perfectly).

I’m 50 next month and fancied something new; I hope that I won’t regret it (my old bike was great).

Essentially it’s a new frame and wheels/tyres; to keep costs down everything else has come across from the 26er. It’ll probably weigh as much, if not a bit more, than my old bike but first impressions are good. I’m not convinced about the narrower tyres but we’ll see.

Sorry, rubbish photo (and I know about the lawn!).

Perhaps they’re be a new drivetrain when funds allow (currently it’s an ancient 3×9 Octalink set up).

Why not the lovely Swift forks?

They’re a fantastic bike on singletrack, and the ride is very ‘steel’.

The carbon forks came off of the 26er along with everything else. It’s 465mm a-c so fitted a 26er hardtail quoted for up to 130mm sus. forks pretty well and is pretty close to the 470mm Swift forks; it seems to work.

When they need replacing I’ll get the Swift forks but in the first instance it was £100 I didn’t need to spend.

Your spare tubes no longer fit.

You will become a monumental bore.

Your spare tubes no longer fit.

They’re fiiine, the schwalbe 27.5 and 29 tube is the same thing, 26 is only a wee bit smaller.