A friend is recovering from back surgery but is allowed to undertake light cycling duties such as road and canal paths leading to firetrack in a few months, building up to some serious road miles to get fit. Her usual bike is a a big full suss FOX 36s on Heckler which will be over kill.
A road bike is out due to position and she will need some comfort, so what is better a lightweight full sus with race tyres or a 29er?

In terms of back injury, it’ll make no difference on those kind of trails. A properly fitted 29er would be my choice. I’ve a slipped disc in my lower back and ride both, but choose the 29er if I’m not heading for big rocks.

How about a cheap mountain bike circa £300 and save alot of cash? You dont need an expensive bike for riding canal paths!

Fair point re price but she wants something she can rack up miles to get fitness back so wants to cover the miles comfortably and fairly quickly and she wants something decent/proper…….like most mountain bikers.