Originally Posted by
max-a-mill
i find 2:1 way too steep for most of the crap i ride.
i rode 34x20 on a 26er and now run a 34x21 on my 29er.
the 38 with a 21 or 22 in the back is what i'd recommend unless your real strong or your trails are pretty flat.
just like fixed; you don't need to push a monster gear if you can spin well.
Just for clarity, it should be noted that 2/1 on a 29er is not the same as 2/1 on a 26er. On a 29er the same gear ratio results in a higher effective gear due to the larger wheel. The standard 2/1 ratio commonly recommended for SSMTBing is for 26ers. The equivalent ratio on a 29er is less than 2/1.