The larger wheels roll over standard obstacles a little better than a standard 26" wheel, which is smaller and that makes the impact felt higher up on the rim, and 29ers usually have wider tires than a 700cc, so that also cushions the road a bit more. I like them for urban riding because you can ride much more aggressively with less shock to the bike.

While on the pavement I haven't noticed much difference with the handling, but very steep, technical MTB paths can give you some trouble because the height of the tire also raises your center of gravity, and if you are going up a steep incline you have to really lean over the front wheel or else it can have a "trampoline effect" when you hit a bump while climbing (because the incline puts most of your body & weight over the rear wheel, so anything that lifts the front wheel during that time can have a dramatic effect...keep in mind, I'm talking STEEP inclines, definitely not beginner-type stuff). On regular MTB paths, it shouldn't be a problem.

Because the only MTB path close to where I live is considered the most technical in the state, I rarely go off road. But it's one of my preferred bikes for the city, in fact I consider it my little urban assault vehicle. In the city I'd ride it over a 26" MTB any day of the week.

There are some downsides for 29er urban riding: it's a little tougher to find aftermarket parts. Solutions exist, you just have to work harder to find them. And although the 29er rims are about the same diameter as a 700cc rim, the tires have a much higher profile and on some bike racks the wheel won't fit underneath the top of the rack so you have to lock up the bike on the side. So for a daily commuter or a one-bike person a 29er may not be that great, but if you are looking for something to take on a weekend joy ride or you just want to burn off a little steam after 5 pm, I would recommend it.