29er is better in my opinion. Ididnt really enjoy riding mountainbikes. I stuck to my vintage raleights and american bikes. but when I got this marin muriwoods and upgraded it. I rode it around and now its one of my fav bikes. I ride it all the time. not sure if they ever fixed it so theres more clearence for back wheel though. mines one of those not enough clearence ones. lol however that aside. its a great bike. if you can score one cheap. use the unspent money to upgrade it