Everybody and their monkey is riding 29'ers these days. I was riding a local swoopy, smooth, pedaly XC course the other day and noticed some really high dollar 29'ers rigid/suspended/geared/SS...all sorts. I rolled up to talk to one dude on a Badger custom steel rigid SS and it was like snob-city. Not a 29'er thing...just a yuppie punk thing.

So in my mind, I was like "Dude 29'ers are so unnecessary on this trail it's ridiculous." Then I looked down at my 31+lb 6" travel hardtail and giggled at my hypocrisy.

I've ridden Gary Fisher ExCal and Rig. I liked them both and thought for XC with a taller dude...sure man, why not? It's a bit smoother and ya got the momentum thing going for you. I have a hard enough time keeping my 26" wheels true. Maybe when I get older and more trail-timid...but for now 26" is good for me.