Originally Posted by
Rob P.
You're not "missing" anything.
29'er's roll over objects easier but not so much easier that it's all that noticeable. 29'er's have more wheel mass so they're harder to get rolling on hills. However, that rotating mass tends to hold your speed once you do get rolling for half-a-heartbeat longer. This isn't as big of a difference as the 29'er crowd would like you to believe.
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This is an argument that is technically true but practically nonsense. I can spin up the front wheel of my 29er to 10mph with a single flick of my finger. Mind you, I run giant tires and Rhynolite rims. The point here is accelerating the wheel to speed compared to the whole bike/body system is pretty insignificant in the big picture.
Larger wheels do however increase the effective gear ratio. This is likely what accounts for folks labeling 29ers as "sluggish" and "slower to accelerate" since you loose about two gears with of lower ratios off the rear cassette. A more recent response to this is the introduction of 11-36 tooth cassettes.
You absolutely CAN get 36H 29er rims. They are harder to find and it is a symptom of the broader cycling market preferring 32H rims and hubs.