Originally Posted by
dynaryder
I don't know that I'd call the 29er a 'dumb' idea;it does have it's merits. But I think it would've been better to leave it on the higher-end bikes were you've got pros or very experienced riders you can really appreciate the differences and choose which they like best,as opposed to putting them on everything.
As with a lot of things bicycle related, people concentrate on a few merits but ignore a whole lot of problems. Sure, a 29er rolls over obstacles
slightly better than a 26" wheel. But that's about the only thing they do better. If you are shorter than about 5'9", 29er wheels cause very large problems with fit. The large frame is also heavier just because it has to have more material to make the frame. On a positive note, a 29er take all the fit and weight problems that many women have and move them to a larger market so that more people can appreciate those problems.
The larger wheel can be flexy. The larger frame needed causes the frame to be flexy as well. The large wheels have more rotating mass which makes them harder to spin. You
can say that they keep momentum at steady speeds better but when does anyone on a bicycle pedal at a truly constant speed and it's even worse when you are riding off-road. The large diameter also means that they are geared higher. Many people struggle with climbing off-road with a 26" wheel so increasing the mass and gearing them higher is going the wrong way.