Originally Posted by
TacomaSailor
Do those bigger wheels soak up a lot of the shock and jarring while riding rocky technical stuff?
No.
I DO NOT want to debate 26-vs-29 - I want to know how much additional comfort an aluminum 29 hardtail offers compared to my older 26 hard tail.
None.
I do not like the weight of my Trance on long uphills and am considering a much lighter 29 hard tail for rides where I don't need the rear suspension.
Don't laugh too much, but my two lightest weight bikes are actually 26ers. One is a 26er rigid that I built on a whim from old parts and an old frame. The other is a 26er with front suspension.
I have 29ers too. Nothing wrong w/them. Just don't expect bigger wheels to replace suspension. IMHO, that' a misleading idea that gets spread around way too much.