[Closed] Anybody tried a 29er and gone back to 26"?

Demoed a Solaris extensively (thanks Cy!). I found it blisteringly quick downhill, fast on the road/smooth climbs, and in certain circumstances outhandled anything else I've ever ridden.

But it just wasn't playful enough. It didn't need much input from me other than "point and hang on" to go really fast and I found it all a bit sterile compared to my Soda or my BFe, both of which I actually have to work at to make them go quick.

I also struggled with the sheer length of it in tight technical situations.

I've not written off ever owning a 29er, but it's not an itch I feel a desperate need to scratch whilst the Soda is intact. If I ever break that, I may think again...

Scienceofficer - how are the chainstays on the sultan? You always hear about how long they are. What size are you riding? I'm considering selling my xl dw 5 spot and getting a sultan. Any noticeable difference in flex from the back end?

I had a whyte 829 training bike and a whyte 29c race bike, the latter had full xtr group etc I rode/raced these for this year but now I'm back on a 26" I much prefer 26". oil beck doesn't seem to have a problem winning national elite xc races on a 26"

Yep I tried a Bandit 29er, thought it was pants, I'm not even going to look at a Covert 29er even though every one seems to be going mental for it, it's just wrong, 29ers are wrong The End.

Anyone waiting for one I think they're in by the way, oh and what's wrong with you? 😉

Not owned a 26" bike for personal use in over 10 years... I wouldn't give up mountain biking if I had to go back, but I'd consider it...

I switched to a 29er six months ago and ended up selling my beloved ASR 5C as it wasnt getting any use at all. I could not see myself going back to a 26er. A 29er (Cannondale Flash) is simply better in every department.

Its a large. I'm 6ft. I don't seem to have noticed the stays being long, but then I'm a middling rider in terms of cockpit set up. I think that it's more important at the extremes of cockpit setup - clink from here for example runs a short cockpit and always climbs standing up and as a result he's pretty fixated on short chainstays For getting the back wheel under him.

Compared to my old Horst link 5spot, the wheelbase in only about half and inch longer, and I rode that for six and a half years without complaint. Interestingly, it's suspension action is more compliant than the DW 5spot, feeling similar to my older HL version, but without the squat under power. To make room for the rear travel, the rear sub-frame is missing the seat stay brace that the 5spot has, and this added flexibility is perhaps what makes it feel more compliant. I've noticed that the shock linkages and chainstays are beefier though, probably to add stiffness back into the system.

I've ridden bikes with long and short stays over the years and its not something I seem to be particularly sensitive to, perhaps because I'm a 'ride the fork' kind of rider, so lead from the front and drag the rear round more than some others perhaps.

It's clearly a big bike. Bigger than the comparable size 5 spot althought its cockpit dimensions are pretty much the same. Despite this, I've actually brought the saddle forwards 10mm to shorten the cockpit and make it a little easier to move about on the bike. This is a direct reflection of it needing more input, as I talked about above.

It's not a bike that will make trail centres fun - it will flatten them. Although I will doubtless take it to a few to see how it goes, I expect I'll take the Solaris more frequently to trail centres. I didn't buy it for trail centres though. I bought it as my 'big days in the hills' bike and for this, although its a bit heavier than I would like at 29.5lbs,, it's pretty much perfect.
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Yes, & went straight back to 29er.

What amazes me is how many folk decide a 29er is not for them on the basis of a quick car park spin, or a few rides on a hastily built old entry level 29er HT.

For me is started with an Inbred. It was a great introduction & opened my mind to try something better, so I went for a SIR.9. Its just lovely. I built up my mates Ventana El-Ciclon over the summer. Managed two rides & missed my Niner for every second of them.

OP...if your near the middlelands I have some spare 29" wheels & tyres you can loan to try this big wheel mullarkey.

Cheers S.O., cracking info

Spent a weekend testing a Tallboy, I can see why it appeals to people, but 29" is not for me. Seems far too grown up.

After much deliberation I went and bought a Cotic Rocket, fantastic fun. It's like riding a BMX, in comparison.

takisawa2 cheers for the offer but your a bit far away.

jo_h, you missed a [b]VERY[/b] wet and cold ride, maybe a night ride round Kentmere was not such a good idea given the weather. It turned out ok though. The Pie,chips and beer at the watermill afterwards was as usual superb. not to mention the sticky toffee pudding. 😉

Cheers for the offer of the test ride, may take you up on the Giant just to see what it's like.

Hope your 'girl flu' gets better soon.

There is certainly a split as far as opinions go on this subject/thread, thats for sure.

Yeah me,constantly & then back again.Rode the Anthem 29er Tuesday but will be riding a 26" wheeled one today,Saturday I'll ride something else, maybe the SS.. Could never see myself riding just one type of bike,I'd get bored to death & probably stop riding...

Variety is the spice of life....

What amazes me is how many folk decide a 29er is not for them on the basis of a quick car park spin, or a few rides on a hastily built old entry level 29er HT.

Agree with this...

...although I also ride with one guy who has decided a 29er is definitely for him based on a 5min spin on my 29er. It works both ways.

As with all mountain bikes, some are more fun to ride than others, and some just feel 'right' for certain people. Basing your opinion on one experience of one bike is never rational.

It could well be 26 v 650 v 29 debate by next Xmas anyway, although I doubt all three can survive in the long term.

Personally I can't see myself getting a 650b, i'll be sticking with my 29er and my 26er (partly built but will rise again soon) 😀

As he said ^^^ ... variety is the spice of life.

I note the smiley, but if on the same bit of road, I can get my 26er up to around 32km/h with the same heartrate, how is the 26er not better?

It could well be 26 v 650 v 29 debate by next Xmas anyway

I don't see it as any kind of vs anyway. Its just another choice, in the same way that we can chose different travel forks, or FS or hard tail.

Well the frame arrived and it's very nice. and a bit lighter then I expected at 5.3lbs.

Ordered the wheels as they had a special offer on at Wiggle (as they always do 🙄 ) so they should be here in a day or so. Might still go for the Merlin wheels to try out first.

The Wiggles ones are OK for 365 days as a return, as long as I don't use them.

Just need to try and source a Black 29er Salsa Cromoto fork now of which nobody seems to have stock at the moment.

It could well be 26 v 650 v 29 debate by next Xmas anyway

I don't see it as any kind of vs anyway. Its just another choice, in the same way that we can chose different travel forks, or FS or hard tail.

Completely agree with you ScienceOfficer. Unfortunately I don't think many riders out there agree with us though based on some views in the forum.

yes......done it twice infact. 29er is defo more fun but for racing i do prefer 26" (i'm about 5'9 in height), i'm planning to try 27.5" this year though! 😉

i'm planning to try 27.5" this year though!

another option for the 26" Kona that I have been thinking about

choices,choices choices. aarrgghhh 🙄

I love my 29er (Singular Swift). I also still love my 26" bikes and the idea of restricting myself to one size is horrible to me. I have several bikes and one of the things I love is how they're different. I like the slight extra bmx-ness my 26ers have. I also like the confidence that my 29er gives which makes me do sillier things on it. I wouldn't want to give up either of those things.

ymmv but I don't get narrowing choices unless you either have to (because you only have one bike for example) or because you're racing (in which case speed is all)