Thinking about a new Spesh Epic, but all the 2012 models are 29in models and they are no longer planning on making any 26in models.
Is this a trend that is likely to continue for short travel XC race bikes. Can't yet get me ahead around those massive wheels.
What should I look out for when I demo one? Are we all going to go through this transition over the next few years? Pretty skeptical at the moment as to whether a 29in is the right ride for me.
What are other peoples experiences?
Thx
Gary
You need to try one, only way you'll know first 29er I tried was a niner sir 9 and I loved it so much I doubt ill own another 26" bike, however not everyone gets on with 29ers
Be prepared for oodles or rear wheel traction- on par with a decent 26 inch full susser I would say- as Ringo says just try one (or more than one) with an open mind
I would be expecting the wheels to explode
You can expect to instantly become more attractive to members of the opposite sex
Sluggish acceleration especially up hill.
They not so nimble.
Apart from the traction slightly smoother rolling, the physics of bigger wheels don't add up to a better bike.
Ridicule surely?
Oh and the inability to ride down little rocky downhills properly because you believed the hype that "big wheels" roll better 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IzVNzpXbjo&feature=youtu.be
drofluf - Member
You can expect to instantly become more attractive to members of the opposite sex
Well I can only hope, I I shall put my deposit down tomorrow 
Prize for mahoosive generalisation goes to kiwijohn there. I have tried/owned half a dozen 29ers and they have all been different- I have had a ti456 and now ride a lynskey pro29er and there is very little difference in the acceleration and the 29er handles brilliantly in tighter stuff - much more hair triggered than my swift.
Please dont write off a whole type of bike on prejudice- would you say a soul handled the same as a blender??
Prize for mahoosive generalisation goes to kiwijohn there. I have tried/owned half a dozen 29ers and they have all been different- I have had a ti456 and now ride a lynskey pro29er and there is very little difference in the acceleration and the 29er handles brilliantly in tighter stuff - much more hair triggered than my swift.Please dont write off a whole type of bike on prejudice- would you say a soul handled the same as a blender??
Kiwijohns right,my mate also rides a Ti Lynslkey 29er,when I was on my 26" Maxlight(both are roughly the same weight,around the low mid 20's)We swopped bikes for a bit & both noticed how much the pick up was much quicker on mine & it just felt quicker & more nimble on the whole....
FWIW I've had a Inbred 29er for over 2 years now, so not just a naysayer....
Sluggish acceleration especially up hill.
bollards,with decent light weight kit the effect is negligible. my silly light selma goes just as quick up as my silly light voodoo with little wheels did. Most of it is down to cheapy heavy wheels on middle of the road 29ers as most folks don't wan't to spunk a lot of cash on something they are not sure that they are going to like, this the re-enforces the 29ers are slow man line that gets trotted out.
Components make a bigger difference than wheel size.
but ride whatever makes you smile, anything else is just unimportant
You never read my post did you Tazzy ?
yeh but gave it a thorough ignoring 'cos ya wrong
C'off !
You can expect not to be able to buy spare tubes, tyres or spokes anywhere so take your own.
GB
Expect to ride a lot of towpaths, it's all they're good for
Emac loves 29ers really and hé éven rides ss on occasion
He said 'sluggish acceleration' - I dont agree- unless its me riding it obviously- I am more than happy to concede they are slightly slower but how much of a ride is taken up by starting off- once upto speed ( 2 pedal strokes) the added momentum for me (not for everyone obviously) more than makes up for that.
So in conclusion youre all wrong and Im right!!
Ringo is a nice enough bloke but a bit clueless at times,he likes to drink other people's Stella too 
Will be riding SS far more than I'll be letting on very soon too 
nothing will be better , but you will make a marketing man cream in his pants,
love my inbred 29er.
rolls faster and feels more stable and will be the muts bits for bike packing.
wouldnt work doing DH routes in the alps though!
enough space in this world for allsorts!
Given there is so much divided opinion I am quite surprised by Specialized's move to drop the 26in Epic. Are they more popular in the US?
Let us know where you live so we can evacuate ourselves from the wheel explosion blast radius.
A genuine question which has probably been covered before but here goes.
People often bang on about the importance of rolling weight and how weight on the wheels is 3 times heavier or something.
If this is true then surely 29 ers are always going to be at a disadvantage compared to 26ers with heavier rims,spokes,tubes and tyres. So how come they roll faster or whatever, as is claimed above? Surely more rolling weight is a bad thing?
IMH and uninformed Opinion they seem like a good idea for giants as my two mates 6ft 2in and 6 ft 4in look and ride in a pretty ungainly manner on regular bikes.
nick1962 - I am 5'8" with short legs!
I always thought I was too small to ride a 29er, but the Specialized geometries do not differ from a 26in in terms of "general fit" As you say I always thought they were only for Giants.
Lots of this
Ignore anything that it said on here until you have tried one.
I have had 5 29ers and love them for local twisty singletrack.
As for slower acceleration, climbing or otherwise, that is total bollards too.
Not so nimble? again I disagree. I find a slight riding style has to be made, but I have not noticed a credible difference.
Mine is reasonably light too at 24lb, but it is a real bike without gears or suspension.
If I could afford one I would probably get a 29er FS, but I can't so will stick to 26" bouncer and 29" SS Rigid
Some like them, some don't. Suck it and see
Bernaard
Was with you then until you said this
Mine is reasonably light too at 24lb, but it is a real bike without gears or suspension.
Mine is reasonably light too at 24lb, but it is a real bike without gears or suspension.
dude is that made out gas pipes?
Back on topic, I have an Epic Evo 2011. Although I’ve put the bike on a diet and it’s more like a normal racy Epic with a 120mm fork. the FSR brain is very good. Better than any other shock - ive tried / had lots but is just my opinion.
It’s a good bike, BUT don’t expect the wheels to last. Rovals are pretty terrible. especially the AL series - I’ve had Control and Traverse, both sets sent back to Spesh as made of poo.
Im sure it will be your first upgrade on the 29er. Flextastic comes to mind.
I was very tempted by a 2011 Epic Evo. They had one in my size on sale but I hesitated for a week or two and it had gone when I went back. Only small ones available now
Janesy, surprised to hear that Traversees have been troublesome on an Epic. They usually handle pretty much anything. Lifetime guarantee though, so shouldn't be a problem really.
Re the 29er thing - I reckon most race-oriented bikes will be 29ers before long, just because they're proven to be quicker in a lot of race circumstances. That doesn't make them necessarily better for trail riding though. Like the man said, there's a lot of difference between 26" bikes and it's the same with 29ers. Try one and see how you get on.
Weight shouldn't really be an issue with an Epic 29 either. My newly built up xl RIP 9 weighs in at just over 25lbs with a fairly average build (according to the bakeshop scales, which I mist admit I'm a little distrusting of).
Roval AL's are flexy and have alu nipples. The controls kept snapping nipples and the traverse snapped at the nipple too.
Moving from 26in to 29in - what to expect?
Abuse.
And envy.
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