In the grand scheme of things, they're just another flavor of the MTB world. Some people like this flavor, some don't. You'll have to ride to decide. Is vanilla better than chocolate?

Right now they're selling very well, even in a down economy, so the hype is at an all time high. No one in the bicycle industry wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, so it's rare you'll hear anything bad about 29ers in the mags or on the web, and people who dislike them are often scorned and mocked.

Truth be told, a 700c MTB isn't a new idea. They first appeared (and died) around 1992, but it took an industry giant and their nearly bottomless marketing budget to bring the idea back to life as we know it today.


From the 1992 Diamond Back catalog:



"700c wheels and tires roll over, not into off-road obstacles"

Sound familiar?