Bicycle Mechanics - Narrow tires on a 29er?

OK, I realize my title question is somewhat contradictory.

I'm considering buying a Marin Muirwoods 29er. I don't particularly want a 29er. What I actually want is a 700c urban bike with disc brakes, but the Muirwoods 29er looks like it fits the bill pretty well. It comes with "29x1.6" tires, which from what I've been able to gather barely qualifies it (if at all) as a 29er.

My question is what kind of tires I'd be able to put on this if I replace the stock tires (Continental Town Rides). I don't want mountain bike tires. The specs say it comes with Alex TD-20 rims, but I don't know how to translate that into an actual rim width. Is the 20 the width? Would I be able to put 700x35 tires on these wheels?

Second question, keeping the stock tires, what kind of fenders would I be able to match with them? Planet Bike's 29er fenders are listed as 130 mm, which seems like it would be way to wide for 1.6s, but the hybrids are listed as 45mm, which seems like it would be pushing it for 1.6s.

A 1.6" is a "nominal 40-41MM.
35 should be no problem at all. Even 32 should be OK.
My MB wheels are a 20MM and I run 1.5" on them and could go to 1.25". That would be too harsh for me though.

Thanks for the response. What about fenders? I just put a pair fo the hybrid Planet Bike Cascadias on my wife's bike, which has 700x35s. If I keep the 29x1.6 it doesn't seem like these would work. Can anyone recommend?

OK, I realize my title question is somewhat contradictory.

I'm considering buying a Marin Muirwoods 29er. I don't particularly want a 29er. What I actually want is a 700c urban bike with disc brakes, but the Muirwoods 29er looks like it fits the bill pretty well. It comes with "29x1.6" tires, which from what I've been able to gather barely qualifies it (if at all) as a 29er.

My question is what kind of tires I'd be able to put on this if I replace the stock tires (Continental Town Rides). I don't want mountain bike tires. The specs say it comes with Alex TD-20 rims, but I don't know how to translate that into an actual rim width. Is the 20 the width? Would I be able to put 700x35 tires on these wheels?

Second question, keeping the stock tires, what kind of fenders would I be able to match with them? Planet Bike's 29er fenders are listed as 130 mm, which seems like it would be way to wide for 1.6s, but the hybrids are listed as 45mm, which seems like it would be pushing it for 1.6s.

I agree, calling a wheel with a 1.6" wide tire a 29er really clouds the whole "what is a 29er?" thing. I've discussed this a few times with folks who've been riding 29er mountain bikes for quite a long time, they say to be a "29er" the wheel must have a tire at least 2" wide, and I agree.

With all that said, you should have no problem at all running the tires you propose on your "29er" rims. I've got a friend with a real 29er mountain bike that came with 29"x 2.2" tires on it. In addition to riding it off road with the fat tires, she's ridden thousands of road miles with 700 x 28c Continental Ultra Gatorskins on the same rims. No problems at all-

Planet Bike's 29er fenders are listed as 130 mm, which seems like it would be way to wide for 1.6s, but the hybrids are listed as 45mm, which seems like it would be pushing it for 1.6s.

130mm is the mudflap (the rubber fender extension) length. 65mm (or 2.5") is the width of the fender, which are good for tires up to about 2" (edit, PB says 2.3"): http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7029.html

If you stick with the stock 1.6" tires, the 29er fenders would probably work best. The 29er/65mm fenders will also work fine for 35mm tires, but it would be overkill; the hybrid/45mm fenders would be perfect: http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7026_5.html

130mm is the mudflap

Oops. I should've known that. Now I just feel dumb. :o

I agree, calling a wheel with a 1.6" wide tire a 29er really clouds the whole "what is a 29er?" thing. I've discussed this a few times with folks who've been riding 29er mountain bikes for quite a long time, they say to be a "29er" the wheel must have a tire at least 2" wide, and I agree.

With all that said, you should have no problem at all running the tires you propose on your "29er" rims. I've got a friend with a real 29er mountain bike that came with 29"x 2.2" tires on it. In addition to riding it off road with the fat tires, she's ridden thousands of road miles with 700 x 28c Continental Ultra Gatorskins on the same rims. No problems at all-

You got it right...you wouldn't want to go much less than a 28c on a 29er rim. Some companies such as Mavic and DT Swiss make a rim for touring...that may have been the first 29er rim that Bruce Gordon used for the 29er (His development) or he may have gone with an Open Pro 36H rim...I will ask him at the next NAHMBS.
If you want to see how the rim is measured I think that DT Swiss may have an explaination on their site.

I have the WTB Vulpine on my "street" 29er (karate monkey fixed gear). It's nice because it will work on the trails as well as concrete. I think it is a 2.1.