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