I can only afford one bike... should it be a 29er?

[msu2001la]

If 29ers feel better to you, go for it...but they aren't any better or worse than 26", just different.

This part is worth repeating.

[Bikedued]

I just rode for the first time, with someone on a 29er. Me, 44 years old on a 26 inch Specialized P-1 All Mountain(Not a dirt jumper!) and my friend...24 years old on an S-works carbon Epic. He was kicking my butt on the downhills obviously with full supension and age (I'm gonna live forever foolishness) gap. Climbing though we seemed kind of evenly matched. On swooping downhills he positively rolled away though.

I am out of shape since the time change, because I don't ride my road bikes to work anymore. I also hadn't been on the trail since last winter, when I piled up on a wooden bridge(front tire lost traction) The first half of the ride I was spooked about crashing, and by the time I got used to it again, I was losing the ability to keep the front wheel going where I wanted it to(fatigue).

I'd definitely like to try a 29er at least once and see what it's like for myself. There has to be something to it, from pure smoothness factor alone. I've ridden around outside the bike shop on them but never offroad.,,,,BD

[Svr]

I just rode for the first time, with someone on a 29er. Me, 44 years old on a 26 inch Specialized P-1 All Mountain(Not a dirt jumper!) and my friend...24 years old on an S-works carbon Epic. He was kicking my butt on the downhills obviously with full supension and age (I'm gonna live forever foolishness) gap. Climbing though we seemed kind of evenly matched. On swooping downhills he positively rolled away though.

I am out of shape....

So, there's a 20 year age difference, and you admit you're out of shape, but a small change in wheel diameter (roughly 10%) was the deciding factor.



So, when you switched bikes, what was the outcome?

[NCMTBIKER]

29er...nuff said

[Decatur_Tide]

I will die with a 26er in my hands.

[Bikedued]

So, there's a 20 year age difference, and you admit you're out of shape, but a small change in wheel diameter (roughly 10%) was the deciding factor.



So, when you switched bikes, what was the outcome?

We never switched bikes. I wouldn't be caught dead riding carbon crap?? I am building up a steel 94 Team Marin right now, soon I won't even have to ride my aluminum bike, hehe

I looked at a Carve hardtail for a little while, until I realized it cost three times as much as my current bike, and weighs 2-3 pounds more. I though technology was supposed to move forward?
Yeah yeah it's a 29, has hydraulic discs, and a rock shox fork. If it was in the cards I'd probably be riding one. In the next year or so I can probably afford something even better so I'll wait it out. My P-1 isn't all that bad, it's a blast actually. It's also very durable?

My bike survived the day, his went home with a ruined rim. I didn't find out until a few days later