Mountain Biking - 26 in or 29er???

Same exact bike except for wheel size. I realize this isn't actually possible but, which would you choose the 26 in or 29 er.

26" for me.

69er is pretty sweet

you could have the best of both worlds and get a 55er.

i like the 26 er. if you are tall, perhaps you might like a 29er instead.

I'd need to spend some time riding both bikes on my local terrain before making a decision.

No love for 24"?

Got to like 24's for certain aspects. If I was to build a full on skatepark type of mtb, I would build it around 24" wheels.

Never ridden a 29 so cant say for sure, but prefer 26. 29s to me *look* to big and heavy, would take too long to spin up.

29er is the new standard. At least, that's what I heard around BF.

29er is the new standard. At least, that's what I heard around BF.

i thought SS was the new standard??

No one could decide that until it was ridden. Not too sure of those 29'ers quite yet.

Ive ridden on, and own, both, and I can't remember the last time I've even looked at my 26er. The 29er is smoother in every aspect, and can go over much larger obstacles. They keep momentum longer, and they have a much clearer ride, because you can lower the tire pressure. Potholes become less of a problem, for those of you who use the road too. The first thing you do when you get a 29er, which you will, ;), you are gonna buy a set of bontrager xr1 tires, which I absolutely love. Accelerating is something you have to get used to, but they jump amazingly. Riding a 29er isnt riding a new kind of bike, its completely changing youself, and they way you ride. Ask me any questions, and I got the answers.

Ive ridden on, and own, both, and I can't remember the last time I've even looked at my 26er. The 29er is smoother in every aspect, and can go over much larger obstacles. They keep momentum longer, and they have a much clearer ride, because you can lower the tire pressure. Potholes become less of a problem, for those of you who use the road too. The first thing you do when you get a 29er, which you will, ;), you are gonna buy a set of bontrager xr1 tires, which I absolutely love. Accelerating is something you have to get used to, but they jump amazingly. Riding a 29er isnt riding a new kind of bike, its completely changing youself, and they way you ride. Ask me any questions, and I got the answers.

I agree with your points but please explain the part about lowering tire pressure as a benefit. I lower the pressure in my 26 wheeled bike too so what's the advantage there?

i thought SS was the new standard??

That would be a steel SS 29er.

The first thing you do when you get a 29er, which you will, ;), you are gonna buy a set of bontrager xr1 tires, which I absolutely love. Accelerating is something you have to get used to, but they jump amazingly. Riding a 29er isnt riding a new kind of bike, its completely changing youself, and they way you ride. Ask me any questions, and I got the answers.

Wow.....you are the most amazing rider on the forums. I surely hope you will hold an autograph session soon. Where can I find these magic tires you speak of? If you love them, I know I will too.

26er. .

lol, you said 26er..:lol:

26 for me; I like the acceleration and quick handling that come with that wheel size. Also, am not sure how well the larger wheels work with the 15" or smaller frames that I ride.

I agree with your points but please explain the part about lowering tire pressure as a benefit. I lower the pressure in my 26 wheeled bike too so what's the advantage there?
Lowering your tire pressure allows to have much more traction in tricky situations. And you could, with a bigger wheel, lower it even further, giving you amazing traction

Wow.....you are the most amazing rider on the forums. I surely hope you will hold an autograph session soon. Where can I find these magic tires you speak of? If you love them, I know I will too.
If youre not bein sarcastic, any reputable bike shop. What I did, was that i went to a gary fisher dealer, and asked them to take them off of a superfly for me

Awesome!!!! Thanks, I'll go out and find some. What if all I have is bikes with 26" tires? Will these magic tires still give me the amazing traction that you love soooo much?

Awesome!!!! Thanks, I'll go out and find some. What if all I have is bikes with 26" tires? Will these magic tires still give me the amazing traction that you love soooo much?
i dont think they have it for 26 in.

Bummer!!!!!! What would you suggest that I run on my 26" bike?

here,
http://bontrager.com/model/07798

Oh wow! I think it's really awesome how you can suggest a tire just becuse you like it. You have no clue where I ride or how I ride. Are the trails hard pack,sandy, rocky, rooty, muddy, flat terrain or steep? I can tell you right now that that tire is pretty much worthless to me and where I ride. Before you make across the board suggestions on what is "best" you should really get a clue.

179939

You got told!

Wow. Those 29er Bonty tires would suck balls for much of where I like to ride.

Try both, buy whichever you end up liking more. Anyhow, this thread will go just like all the prior 26 vs. 29 threads...

Gave a 29er with several setups for gearing, suspension/rigid, and geometry a good try and hated it. Yes, it rolls over stuff very well, and once up to speed just steamrolls right along. I very much disliked it for every other aspect of what and how I like to ride, however.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=491856

Still open to the idea. If I were to get a test spin on a bike that felt as good to me on some of my usual trails as my 26" wheeled rides do, I'd likely buy one.

I'm giving your my opin. on what is my favorite tire. If you dont like it, dont buy it, and most certainly dont ***** about, becasue this a friggin bike forum, not a sandbox. Its your problem to see if the tire fits your needs.

Who's *****in'? I was pointing out the sillyness of saying that "this tire is best 'cuse I like it".

Looks like there's a 26" version: http://bontrager.com/model/07797

If you're really concerned about lowering tire pressure, going tubeless will help you a lot more than the wheel size (which shouldn't effect how much pressure you can run).

I'll accept your point that they keep momentum longer and acceleration is something you have to get used to, but I'm going to contest your point that they jump well. How well a bike jumps is dependent on its geometry and its responsiveness. Beyond that, little wheels generally jump better since the bike is smaller and easier to throw around (if you need proof, watch what the guys on 20" BMX bikes can do). That's also why some jump bikes are 24" (and while some are 26", you pretty much never see a 29", other than the huge BMX bikes SE has out).

I'd listen to what '66 says, just because you like a certain tire doesn't mean everyone else will like it . I've tried the 26" wheeled version of said tire and found it to be awful. The handling on them isn't as dialed as compared to tires with a similar tread design(Kenda small block eight, Maxxis Larsen TT, DMR moto diggers.) Felt that the XR-1's when cornering felt flimsy. Durability wise, after a single hard session on them, had knobs that were close to being ripped off, only other tire I've managed to do this to were the dual compound Michelins.

As far as 29er's being good at jumping, I am yet to be sold on that, seeing first hand @ the pumptrack how cumbersome they are on there, especially on the jump lines.

Momentum is great if you're traveling in a straight line at a constant speed, but it's your worst enemy if you have to start, stop or change speed and direction frequently. It's the reason 26" bikes will always dominate the technical riding genere of mountain biking - downhill, dual slalom, freeride, obvserved trials and technical singletrack.

From an engineering standpoint, you always want the smallest, lightest and strongest wheel you can get away with. If a 26" wheeled bike isn't holding you back, there's no reason to go bigger.

I'm giving your my opin. on what is my favorite tire. If you dont like it, dont buy it, and most certainly dont ***** about, becasue this a friggin bike forum, not a sandbox. Its your problem to see if the tire fits your needs.

But what he (& most everyone else) is trying to tell you is that giving him advice on what the best tire is for you is completely useless unless you know for a fact that he rides the same kind of terrain the same way as you do.

So please, with your never-ending source of knowledge, tell me what the best tire would be for my style of riding based on the complete lack of information I've given you about myself & the trails I frequent.

Where did he go?

. . . and can go over much larger obstacles.Wow. There's some guys on little wheels who can get over some pretty big stuff. So you're saying 29 inches can get me (proportionately) over even BIGGER stuff? Awesome! Sign me up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj4ucsxJjPQ




Oh wow! I think it's really awesome how you can suggest a tire just becuse you like it.Heck, that's nuthin' - - I can recommend a tire just because a sponsor makes it :D.

Looks like there's a 26" version: http://bontrager.com/model/07797

If you're really concerned about lowering tire pressure, going tubeless will help you a lot more than the wheel size (which shouldn't effect how much pressure you can run).

I'll accept your point that they keep momentum longer and acceleration is something you have to get used to, but I'm going to contest your point that they jump well. How well a bike jumps is dependent on its geometry and its responsiveness. Beyond that, little wheels generally jump better since the bike is smaller and easier to throw around (if you need proof, watch what the guys on 20" BMX bikes can do). That's also why some jump bikes are 24" (and while some are 26", you pretty much never see a 29", other than the huge BMX bikes SE has out).
Sorry let me correct myself, they handle better after the jump, they keep you more stable

Sorry let me correct myself, they handle better after the jump, they keep you more stable

How so?

I understand how tire width can affect stability..but I'm not so sure about tire diameter. Since when are taller objects MORE stable??

you guys are having way to much fun picking that guy apart..

I understand how tire width can affect stability..but I'm not so sure about tire diameter. Since when are taller objects MORE stable??
Assuming that you are moving forward after your jump, you dont know how or where exactly where you will land, therefore the bigger tire will help you in the case that you land closer to a rock or ditch. Imagine jumping a scooter and a bmx. Which one will land better?

Assuming that you are moving forward after your jump, you dont know how or where exactly where you will land, therefore the bigger tire will help you in the case that you land closer to a rock or ditch. Imagine jumping a scooter and a bmx. Which one will land better?

So what you're really saying is that 29ers are for hacks who can't stick a landing with 26" wheels. Gotcha.:thumb:


you guys are having way to much fun picking that guy apart..

It's just the initiation for becoming a true member of the forum. We both still deal with it from select members (66 & 01 mostly).

i thought SS was the new standard??

for some of us...

It's just the initiation for becoming a true member of the forum. We both still deal with it from select members (66 & 01 mostly).


That statement falsely implies you're a true forum member!

We both still deal with [the initiation] from select members

Fixed.

Sorry let me correct myself, they handle better after the jump, they keep you more stable

Classic!!!!!!

It's just the initiation for becoming a true member of the forum. We both still deal with it from select members (66 & 01 mostly).

very true..

False, It's getting called out for posting nonsense. Never and D do it on a regular basis.

But at least nonsense makes the forum entertaining. And everyone posting nonsense is getting off easy without Fagerlin here!

We don't just get it for calling out nonsense. We get nitpicked. If a fellow veteran has a typo in a post or says something without foundation, it's overlooked & accepted as truth. If we do the same, we're called out to explain ourselves.

Here's an example right here:
Flexy metals? Do tell.

Just waiting for an opportunity to call me out of giving advice even though I've only been on a mountain bike since early this year. If I didn't have a video to better explain the terminology I have yet to learn, others likely would have joined in on the fun.

Don't get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with calling out newbs when they start dishing out advice. We have no credibility for our advice to be accepted. I'm just saying a part of gaining credibility is getting called out on your BS, & that's exactly what happened to this guy.

And I agree with never. Without poking fun at people from time to time, we're no better than pre-Fagerlin mtbr.

Everyone who posts something stupid should get called out. It just happens that newbies proportionally post more crap because of the lack of experience.

Everyone who posts something stupid should get called out. It just happens that newbies proportionally post more crap because of the lack of experience.

Wurd! Suck it up Sammy.