Ok, I've done a lot of searching on and off of BF and I have not gotten a good sampling of individual perspectives about who likes which size better and why. Please share your opinion on whether you prefer a 26 or a 29. Please keep in mind the type of riding you do with your post. Obviously they have their advantages and disadvantages based on terrain and style of riding.

I prefer a 26" wheeled bike. Not a xc rider.

I like 29" because 29 is the new 26.. plus its more new school, in a old school kind of way.

650b.

Just another 3" higher for me to fall...

I've only ever owned 26"ers, but I've demo'ed a couple of 29"ers. One of my favorite trails can actually be rocked quite nicer with a 29"er than with a regular MTB. If I don't buy a new road bike this year, I will probably build up a light rigid-forked, fat-tired, geared 29er. No way would I get rid of my 26" Stumpy hardtail. My other favorite trails are twisty and technical and I'm way too used doing them on 26' wheels. Old habits die hard.

Unless you're standing on top of the wheel itself...then I'd suspect you mean 1 1/2" to fall.

ummm...both of you know that the bike frame itself isn't any higher up right?

The wheels are bigger but the seat isn't any higher than a 26'' bike. It isn't a panny farthing

That's Panty farthing.

29. Was riding a cheap 26 full suspension, got rid of it for a hardtail 29 and am riding much better - due to higher quality bike I'm sure. Downhill hiking trails, blazing new trails thru the woods and uphill climbs is what I've been doing so far. Next weekend is a trip to the downhill course at 7springs, should be interesting.

doh, just checked 7springs website - course doesn't open til May 23rd. So I have more time to practice locally before I go make a fool of myself in front of crowds....

+1 Prejudiced poll!

700c.

No love for 24's?

Oh, yes:

You're kidding, right? You have not found any discussion on this issue?

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.

Apparently your perception of the English language is lacking. I said I hadn't found a satisfactory amount about a certain aspect of the issue. To be honest so far this thread isn't really helping either. I'm not looking for this one or that one, I want honest perspectives on WHY you like one better than the other and for what types of conditions. I've read a few articles and I can certainly appreciate a pros perspective, but to be quite frank I'm not a pro and neither are 99.999% of people who own mountain bikes. I want a retail customers opinion on what they enjoy riding more and why. If you can't understand that from my original post than you should get checked for a cognitive disability.

I'm sorry, I'd love to hear about your love for 24s or any other size wheel. Please share why you like them best.

I was joking actually. I ride a 26. I've never ridden a 29er...too short to stand over it comfortably, but even if I was taller, I doubt I'd change over. I'd take having a nimble bike with shorter stays and a shorter wheelbase over being able to ride over things any day.

24's do have their merits for DJ's and cruisers though...

28er is my choice. That's a 700cx35 cyclocross set up with 29er suspension fork, really cool.

How tall are you? I rode a 16" 29er yesterday for kicks and had TONS of clearance on the compact frame and I'm only 5' 9".

Got any pics?

29er hardtails work well for our local trails. They are largely flowy singletrack with very long multi-thousand foot climbs and accordingly long and fast descents with smallish rock gardens, etc. Very little (read: not enough ) low speed tech stuff. Some people prefer 29ers for this sort of thing as well, but I am not one of them.

I feel like the larger wheel size is better for higher speed riding with small obstacles. Up to a certain level, the larger wheels will certainly help with technical riding by allowing the rider to hold a line well. I absolutely like them for technical climbs with lots of small ledges and rocks. Also, the larger rear wheel holds traction much more easily when standing and climbing, given otherwise identical tire width and tread.

I don’t notice much extra difficulty hopping/jumping the bike at speed.

I do not like the larger wheel for lower speed maneuvers due to the slightly increased input necessary to accelerate the bike, and it is much harder to manual the bike. There are lots of riders more skilled than me who do not find this an issue, but if this sort of riding is a top priority for you, and you aren’t very tall, I would think a 26er would be more appropriate.

Finally, of course, wheel size is just one factor when considering a bike. Even if a model has the “right” wheel size, it may be entirely wrong for your riding in other ways

5'3

Quick question, by manual, do you mean true manual, or a shorter (8-10 foot) manual required for a drop? No matter what I do, I cant hold a manual. I can get up to the point required for a manual, but I cant hold it. Guess I just need more practice.