Depends on the tire size you neeed. a 29'er is the same as a 700c rim, I can go anywhere here and get them up to about 40mm.

I actually rode it the other day, I don't really like deraileurs. I've been a single-speed rider my whole life, and internal hubs are more my style of ride. I don't need 21 or 27, 8 or 9 is plenty, they're contained, and they keep the look clean!

I picked up the Hamilton for $367, what a deal. My plan is to invest now in a new wheelset with the Alfine hub, slowly upgrade parts as I can afford to, and then get the Karate Monkey frameset sometime next year and swap all the parts over and return the Hamilton to a stock fixie.

Thanks everyone for your feedback, it's been very helpful.

Checking back in as promised. Very happy with the Marin Hamilton so far, although the components are a bit cheaper than I'd like (as expected). I was planning to replace them anyway. Ride is smooth, fast, and very comfortable.

After riding a 29er for over a year, riding a 26" on the street seamed almost unbearable. Unless your street commute involves taking a lot of really sharp switchbacks at speed and/or tight, technical rock gardens, you may find the added momentum and shock absorption qualities of the admittedly heavier wheels and tires to have an overall advantage over the 26" for commuting over streets and roads.

Several years ago as I gradually moved away from trail riding to primarily road cycling I also transitioned over to bikes with 700/29er wheels and I don't think i'll go back to a bike with 26" wheels by choice.

I'm looking at purchasing a Surly Karate Monkey with 29rs laced to a 9 speed SRAM and a SRAM dynohub...Paul levers...I THINK disc brakes, but am not sure. Asking price is $600, which seems reasonable.