I want to like 29ers. I really do. As a concept it makes a lot of sense to me. BUT, I’ve never rode one that didn’t require a letter of intent posted to it a week before in order to make it turn corners.
Strange, cos my Inbred 29er was actually a little too twitchy for my liking with the Reba’s on it set at 80mm, so I extended them to 100mm to relax it a little. I definitely wouldn’t call it slow to turn corners…
There’s no difference between 650b and 26″ with big tyres.
Actually, 26″ wheels with big tyres would be preferable, cos you’ve got the same rolling diameter but a bigger tyre profile is gonna be more comfortable! If you’re even just considering a 650b, sling some high volume tyres on your current bike and go ride, see if you like it.
650b is a solution looking for a problem IMO. I have several 26″ wheeled bikes that I really like, I have one 29er that I really like. I firmly believe that wheel size is less of an issue than many people would like it to be. I got a 29er as an experiment, after having a go on one of SSStu’s for only a brief while and realising for myself that a well designed bike is a well designed bike, regardless of wheel size.
So, have a go on a few more 29ers, stick some big tyres on your 26″ wheeled bike, but really I think 650b offers no benefits over either one nor the other and it’s too middle of the road to make any difference.
But feel free to disagree, after all if we all liked the same things, wouldn’t life be boring!