Been done to death? I'm really considering one but wondering if it suits my riding, xc and singletrack and my preferences, light and nimble.
Is it wrong to assume they will be less nimble than a 26?
They are not all the same, vary significantly. Cotic Solaris seemed plenty nimble enough for me, Tallboy was superb through rocks and the like but a bit less nimble, still superb fun though.
Ive been riding 29ers for 3 years and I never felt once that the bike stopped me or in any way held me back from riding anything.
I have however felt on many occasions that it made some sitiations easier.
Good point that they're not all the same, quandry is I'm torn between a new light fast 26 ht, and the possibility of trying a 29er
Try some if you can. You could get a light nimble 29er, at a similar weight, for only slightly more. How tall are you? At a leggy 6'2", they suit me far better than a 26.
I've just switched from 26 to 29 (in the last month or so) - i did have a singular humingbird (in 26/26 not 69r fashion), but recently changed to the new Canyon AL 29....
The Canyon 29er is noticeably quicker on most (say 90%) of the trails i ride. It is a bit slower on very technical, tight single track - but i've found that the faster i go the easier it is, where as on the 26" wheel bike i'd quite happily sit down and take it slow.
After only a few rides, i can definatly say im a 29er convert...
how tall are you?
5'11" so not tall, but not short...
if you were xc racing i'd say lovely light weight 26er, if it's dicking around in the woods and general bimbling about i'd say 29gnar
6' here.
total 29" sceptic until i demo'd a nicolai helius ac 29er at length.......
beautiful trail machine - i love mine..........
I went from a 26lb cove handjob with 115mm Reba Races, Hope Hoops & thomson finishing kit to a 25.5lb Chumva HX2 with Hope Hoops, 100mm Reba RL's and Thomson finishing kit.
The 29'er feels more nimble, climbs better, descends better and covers ground a damn site faster.
I'm 5'11" so not exactly tall and the comparison are based on typical woodland XC and some Peaks riding, what I rode the Cove for previously.
Wondered what all the fuss was about, had a ride on
a Whytes 829r , sold my 26" got the 29r .Great bike .
Why don't you demo one?
For 90% of my riding the 29er wins ......just try one then choose
Loving my Surly Karate Monkey 29er, my 26er got a small ride the other day until I realised how much better the KM was so I turned back and got the Monkey instead. Not sure what to do with my 456ti now.
The K M is really brilliant.
I'm with Luke..... My ti456 is gathering dust..... What a waste.....
I'll make it three in the row! I sold my ti456 and now only ride 29er's!
The grip on loose corners that a 29er gives you is surprising and some of them are quite nimble despite the length and perceived overall size. Try one I would.
We have the Solaris to demo in med and large if you are anywhere near brechfa forest?
Ive only been riding one for two days, just collected my new Rocky Mountain Element 950 a few days ago. Been riding black diamond trails here in Whistler for the past two days, there was a couple of sections I had to walk down a few sections on each one, but I think I wouldn't have ridden those parts anyway unless I was on long travel bike with a slack head angle, and knew the trail better.