[Closed] who has actually tried a 29er then?

lots of threads of loverz

Im guessing that all the loverz are all the ones that have tried it.

Stoner - Member

lots of threads of loverz

Im guessing that all the loverz are all the ones that have tried it.

not necessarily, like i said i thought it took time to get used to and not everyone will like the ride

they do take some getting used to and a change of riding style (for me anyway)

but after now owning one for 2 years i'd never go back to a smaller wheeled bike

You got used to it, therefore its very hard to make an opinion unless you have both. you wont go back to a smaller wheeled bike because again - you've changed your riding style and your used to it.

The bike companys have set this up perfectly.

I jumped on one and was instantly at home on it - it felt right, from the word go

I have had 4 but always seem to go back to 26"
A GT peace
Scandal
Voodoo
Kona

Great for my local stuff, but they didn't seem to suit my style of riding
That's not to say I wouldn't have another, I would, just not now

I jumped on one and was instantly at home on it - it felt right, from the word go

same thing with me , been riding 4 yrs now and tried a 29er a year ago and bought one straight away , got my second one arriving today 😀
i feel far more confidant on the 29er and just enjoy it more .

For the guys who felt at home straight away - what were you on before, and what did you jump onto?

I did a lot of back-to-back testing of my Soul vs Solaris prototype on repetitive loops to get my head around exactly this subject. Basically both wheel sizes have their advantages, and it's possible to design a 29er these days that is great all round, so it's a preference thing. The two massively obvious things I found were:

- On certain size bumps (DH run with lots of 2 fist size roundish boulders) that are just big enough and widely enough spaced to batter 26" wheels, the 29er flew down at nearly FS speeds. It was quite shocking. That said, the Soul was reall fun, popping over sections and from rock to rock, just not as fast. 29er was way faster, but not as interactive as the BB drop seemed to make it harder to move around. The thing was, I didn't need to move it around.
- Tight, steep, technical DH or climbs, the Soul is better simply because you can make tighter turns and there's less bike around you.
- 29ers are super-naturally good across roots. You end up riding across them with impunety just because you can.
- On fast sweeping singletrack, there's not a lot to choose.
- Spec-for-spec, my Soul is about 3/4lb lighter than my 29er.

I think the major issue here is bike fit and weight distribution. I'm ft 3in and even with a 110mm head tube on the first prototype I struggled to get the bars low enough for my liking, and even with 15mm risers I couldn't get the front 'switched on'. Flat bars were the only option, and granted I do like a low front for my height, but if I struggled then the bike fit and handling issues for shorter people are very real. This is why we're not doing a small size to start with. Although we're going to try out a small to see if we can make it work as there's demand, the way I see things right now, if you're under 5ft 10in, then stick with 26" wheels. You'll be able to ride the thing proprly.

I'm ft 3in

you're really tiny!!!!

test rode a kona at a demo day. liked the big wheels but don't like 'canadian'

6 months later swapped my inbred for a scandal 29er. by far my nicest bike. i'm slowly putting together a geared version.

still got a 26" bike although i have slowly ruined the ride over the last year. trying to rectify it at the moment.

different bikes for different things imo. i might get rid of the 26" as i just don't ride it enough....

I've ridden a few. They're OK. Not better, not worse, just different. And not being lanky I don't need one. But mostly I can't be arsed to start again with wheels and tubes and tyres and frames and forks when I've got a garage full of 26in stuff.

Plus there aren't really 29in versions of my preferred bikes anyway.
When there's a 29in version of my 456 & Pitch, I might look at it agin though. 🙂

what were you on before, and what did you jump onto?

PeterPoddy
pitch - niner W.F.O 9
456- banshee paradox or canfield yelli scream

Nope. Don't see any reason to. I like my bikes just the way they are.
If I want bigger wheels I'll go on my road bike, but I don't get a lot of pleasure from that.
Not a "haterz", just not interested.

With PP on this one, I have too much 26" stuff to want the hassle of changing over...

6ft 3in. Stupid fingers.

I'm about 5ft 9 and tried a Giant Anthem X in medium at Bas Ass Bikes - only a car park spin but was impressed and I fitted fine. Maybe I was impressed as it is a £3k bike I don't know. I am trying to build a 29er Scandal to see though. Just wheels and tyres etc (spent too much this month) that are holding me up now.

6ft 3in. Stupid fingers.

They sure are. Must be a nightmare trying to find gloves.

Don't like the look but I'm curious how they ride, they're not on my most wanted list though. Mind you now enigma could be doing a 29er ego I might be persuaded.

I'm not that bothered about them really. I'm not that bothered about hybrids or cyclocross bikes either. What gets me is that some people who like them seem to be too eager and desperate to fight the 29er corner for some reason. Why not just have the confidence to ride what you like instead of banging on about it all the time trying to convince people that just aren't that bothered?

Don't like the look but I'm curious how they ride,

I love the way they look, Finally I have a bike that looks normal rather than huge frame and little wheels.

I've been riding 29ers for a few years and can't say i'll look back.

Currently have a Pace and a Swift. Looking at a full-sus one next.

What gets me is that some people who like them seem to be too eager and desperate to fight the 29er corner for some reason

Mainly because there isn't a day goes by without someone preaching how crap they are, wheels will explode, have no benefits etc...

More than any other of genre of cycling.

Rickos - Member
I'm not that bothered about them really. I'm not that bothered about hybrids or cyclocross bikes either.

Same here, if it wasn't for the "love ins" here I wouldn't even have guessed that there was a hybrid revival !
Never seen one & don't know anyone who rides one, not relevant to me...

You'll get used to whatever bike you're riding over time. The only fair comparison would be from riders who regularly ride both 26ers and 29ers.

I quite fancy trying a 29er but i'm going to wait until the technology / geometry etc settles down a bit and used 29er kit becomes more affordable.

The SC Tallboy looks great IMO but out of my price range at the moment.

I still VERY rarely see any 29ers though out on my local trails - South Downs and Surrey Hills.

I have had three goes at the 29er bikes over the last 3-4 years:
1 ss
1 alfine
1 normal gears
all have been ridden both with rigid and suspension forks. I only owned one at any given time, gave up on it then had another go at a later date. I have just sold the third attempt, 26 it is for me. I just can't get on with the 29ers at all.

I'm in the market for one (it'll be a Swift, no suspension, probably geared) as my second bike is the utility bike - tows children, commutes over byways and shocking road surfaces, winter bike for when the weather is truly vile) although I'm probably a little short for one (5' 10ish). Would have been a present to myself for my 40th but for some untimely bills landing on the mat.

The better rolling of big wheels just suits how I ride and what I'll use the bike for.

My main bike will almost certainly remain a 26" full suss.. but who knows. Can't say for sure till I've got a year in on big wheels, but I don't see any advantage for when I'm going out specifically for a mtb ride (singletrack, ruts, trail centers) for me yet.

The only fair comparison would be from riders who regularly ride both 26ers and 29ers.

I have 2 26ers and 2 29ers, although they are all set up differently so still not a very fair comparison.

I still VERY rarely see any 29ers though out on my local trails - South Downs and Surrey Hills.

They are just bikes with slightly bigger wheels, it's easy not to notice them.

I'd really like to try one.

Can I just ask: is there anyone under 6' who likes them? I'm not a shortarse as such (5'11"), I just have the physical attributes of a gibbon. As such I always like smaller frames. More compact feeling with low standover, so the bike feels 'chuckable'.

That's just not going to work on a 29er is it?

They are just bikes with slightly bigger wheels, it's easy not to notice them.

but I thought they all looked like this:

[img] [/img]

Never ridden a 26er. Went straight from a FS 20er to a rigid single speed 29er. More people notice my 20er to be honest.

EDIT: I'm 5' 10.5" and felt instantly at home on an 18" Kona Unit. As far as I can see the debate is really about an accident of history.

6ft 4" so 29 is far better fit for me.

Had a few over the last 2-3 yrs, GT Peace, Kona Unit, Scandal, Inbred to name but a few. Got two on the go at the moment, one geared , one SS.
Wouldnt go back, simply because I can go everywhere others go on 26" wheels HT or Sus. Far better fit so whats the point !

[i]Can I just ask: is there anyone under 6' who likes them?[/i]

I'm 5'10"ish and I'm liking my [url= http://singletrackmag.com/reviews/longtermers-daves-santa-cruz-highball/ ]Highball Longtermer[/url].

I picked up a secondhand 29er last year as a cheap way of giving one a go (at the time getting a test was difficult). I'm 6'3" and I instantly felt at home on the bike, I love the stabilty and the fact I'm in not on the bike. It's hard to compare it though as it's been run as SS with 80mm forks or rigid which is different from the 130mm Price Albert I had before and the Zesty I still have.
I'm hoping to get a new longer travel 29er hardtail soon which may then challange the Zesty on more technical rides.
I did try someones Turner Sultan and it just didn't work for me, it was very fast at straighlining everything but I struggled with corners. It may have just been the setup though as the owner is 4" taller than me so the bars were very high.
I'd just say that 29ers are different (it's not just marketing) not better and that difference may suit you (especially if you are 6ft+

Me! I've got a couple now and no 26ers, I'm 6'2" and find they fit me and my style of riding well.

I like them if you haven't guessed ^ 🙄 , but I don't expect or care particularly if anybody else does/doesn't. I'm not pushing them or asking anyone to buy one, but am happy to let 29er curious mates a have go

that is all 🙂

I had a 29er (old fisher X-Caliber)for about a year and a half. Moved from a 26er hardtail and a Cannondale Prophet, with the idea being that a 29er would be a great commuter bike, bung on offroad tyres, bung on cx tyres, bung on road tyres, very versatile.

What I found was that once I got used to spinning the wheels up it was great. Held an impressive amount of speed, light enough to tackle the hills without too much bother and very very nice on the downhills. So much so that I got rid of the prophet.

What changed my mind was looking back, possibly down to the bikes age and old school design.

I bought a 26" kona as a hack bike. The immediate turn of speed and acceleration through singletrack reminded me of what I love about riding. Going as fast as I can through twisty turns. Yeah the 29er made things smooth and rolled through everything, but the agility of a 26er had me hooked again.

so here I am now, having returned to 26ers for the last 3 years wondering whether a new design 29er is something I should reconsider?

😉

I'm 6'2" and went from a 26" Giant Anthem to a 29" Giant Anthem and it felt completely natural from the 1st ride. Doubt I'll ever go back to 26" now.

The again, I spend as much time on my road bikes as I do on my MTB, so maybe the switch was helped by this.

I should add that I rode plenty of 29ers pre Highball which left me cold.

Not tried one and therefore wouldn't put myself in either camp really, I can see the theoretical benefits and drawbacks and would like to try one but I won't go out of my way to do so, I did come close to buying a Diamond back mojito, but instead opted to build up a cheap SS 26er as I had the spares...

The early adopters have been quite vocal about the benefits and not really highlighted that many problems, this may well be the case, but I can't help thinking that for those like me who like Descending more than Climbing the handling characteristics of a 26er may still edge it, for XC, Distance and Enduro focused riding/racing I can see serious benefits to a bike which rolls better and smooths out the bumps a bit more hence I think 29ers have alot in their favour...

But as yesterdays thread illustraited it is a largely uniformed debate with lots of heavily biased shouter proponents/detractors... no doubt there will in due course be reasoned and sensible study (from a University sports science/engineering dept' perhaps?)...

PeterPoddy
pitch - niner W.F.O 9
456- banshee paradox or canfield yelli scream

Can the Niner be had for about £1500 complete bike and the other two for under £1300?

I still VERY rarely see any 29ers though out on my local trails - South Downs and Surrey Hills.

They are just bikes with slightly bigger wheels, it's easy not to notice them.

The gang I ride with are seriously bike-obsessed so no chance of not noticing a big wheeler.

We just don't see them very often despite doing epic rides every weekend and some weeknights all year round.

i have tried a few in the past............14 now.
they are crap 8)

I like them if you haven't guessed ^ , but I don't expect or care particularly if anybody else does/doesn't. I'm not pushing them or asking anyone to buy one, but am happy to let 29er curious mates a have go

It's pitiful really, from an innovation standpoint.

Actually come to think of it, I don't see [i]any[/i] niche bikes when out riding. Obviously niche bikering is more of an online phenomenon than a real life activity or it wouldn't be niche 😉
but I've not even seen a mong-one 'in the flesh' let alone the more exotic brands (and this is coming from a PA rider so I'm not a big-brand snob).
Just goes to prove the skewed idea you'd get if you took bike forums (especially stw) as in any way representative - when actually most cyclists are normal people, on normal bikes who probably don't even know what compound their tyres are or what their gear ratios are 😯

So will 29ers ever be relevant to more than the self-chosen few ?
I doubt it, well not until Messers Trek, Giant & Specialized tell 'us' they are........

At 6'4" I thought 29ers would suit me but when I demoed a SC Tallboy I was completely underwhelmed. I noticed all of the disadvantages and none of the advantages with a 29er.

That surprised me from such a highly rated, high-end machine. There may be better 29ers out there but I can't be bothered with them now. My four 26ers suit all my purposes.

I am a towering 5'7" and have a 16" geared and rigid Scandal I'm gradually learning to love. I got it to replace a Tricross that got nicked as I thought it would be more versatile. To be honest, despite it being my 'second bike,' it's getting way more use than my F/S as the riding from my front door suits it better. The biggest adjustment is riding rigid offroad for the first time since 1997. 🙂

Nope. Don't see any reason to. I like my bikes just the way they are

(This isn't meant as a dig btw) I felt the same way about my bike in the late 80s. I could still be happy riding that bike in some ways.

Try anything you can if you can, but there's a lot to be said for being happy with what you have. A healthy dose of anti-consumerism is a good thing, there's always someone trying to sell us 'new! better!'. Sometimes it's cos it really is better, mostly not.

On the other hand, I think riding is so good, it brings me so much pleasure and is so important in my life, that to miss something that may let me enjoy it more would be a shame.

I rode a rigid ss 29er on some trails that were my fave kind of riding, and I loved it. It wasn't necessarily faster or 'better' but I enjoyed it more, the wheel's characteristics added to a type of simple bike that I really like. Involving, simple, durable, fun to ride.

I'm not convinced a 29er should try to be good at what a 26" does well, if your 26 is good then why change it. But 26 and 29 bikes have natural strengths if designed well and it may be that those strengths suit you or your most-often ridden loops better.
One thing i found is that a 29er works better on my local loops, so instead of buying a bike for the places I wish I did ride or terrain that's only 5% of my riding, I now have bikes that suit what I ride 90% of the time. The value in getting the best out of your doorstep riding is immeasurable.

despite it being my 'second bike,' it's getting way more use than my F/S as the riding from my front door suits it better.

Exactly, and this is why i think 29ers do have a future in the UK.

I've tried one...still own it, tho it's just a naked frame waiting to be built/sold, can't decide which...it was different, can def see why some like them, not for me tho. I guess it's all in what/where/how one rides I'd reckon...

Erm.. tried one or own one (or have had two/three..)

I've a Gunnar, bought it off a mate who was growoing a beard and convinced me that 29ers were the way to go, I was sceptical for offroad stuff, but could see the advantage for the riding I/we do. So coming froma roadie background, and riding on fast trails with a mix of wood/forect.singletrack I bit the bullet after a long ride home on day a few summers ago where me and whippetmate swapped bikes. I rode from Alton back tot he Hamble on it, all over the south downs and forest trails we have and was convinced byt he time I'd hit the River.

I bought it off him the following day, took my lefty off the trails for a full referb, and two years later got the lefty back on the trails and now mix between the 26 and 29er, love them both, enjoy them both and ride them both on the same trails/area.

Not going to give an opinion on which it best, they both offer a fab ride, but I do ride the 29er harder/faster and longer, which kinda says something.

I've not grown a beard, I ride in baggies over lycra..hahahahaha

I went from a zesty to a c456 to my present chumba HX2, I now have the bike I need. It takes a couple of rides to alter your style but once there........
My riding is a mix of trail centres and natural stuff/xc, it does all of that very very well. The other advantage is I only need one bike for everything 🙂

tried a scandal, thought it was ok in a racey HT way - not really my sort of bike tbh. Thought it was a bit like somewhere between my cx bike and my 26 ht - just not something I needed / wanted

I like my Mountain bike to be jumpy / agile / a big bmx - everytime I go for stability over agility I end up being disappointed.

It would be interesting to hear what kind of riding people mean when they say "around here" - mine's mostly flat or steep (does that make sense) / tech / woodland with jumps & roots. CX bike gets used for bridleway bashing / exploration

Having read Cy's and jameso's points (2 guys who actually design bikes not just ride them), I've got to say I wholeheartedly agree.

First time I rode my old On One Inbred 29er offroad, I was amazed just how it flew over roots, bumps and the like that would have had me working very hard on my 26" hardtail. As a machine for just blasting along it was pretty damned effective. But I definitely noticed it was not quite as nimble on the very technical descents or climbs. Whilst I could ride over stuff as if I was on a full sus bike, yet with probably even more traction, it left me a bit cold (probably not helped by it's 30lb weight to be fair) on the slower stuff.

I concluded that whilst I enjoyed it immensely, for the places I like to ride locally, or travel to, it's the kind of twisty technical riding that I love that suits a 26" wheeled bike better that I'd prefer to be setup for. For me anyway... But that said, if I had the space and the money, I'd have another 29er tomorrow, just this time it'd be much lighter and it would be my bike for all day rides and probably endurance races, where bigger wheels still definitely make much more sense.

Oh and jameso's point about having bikes to suit your local terrain is spot on. I like DH, I used to own a DH bike. It got ridden maybe twice a year! My lightweight Ti 26" hardtail suits my local terrain a whole lot better and I ride a lot more because of this!

Actually come to think of it, I don't see any niche bikes when out riding. Obviously niche bikering is more of an online phenomenon than a real life activity or it wouldn't be niche
but I've not even seen a mong-one 'in the flesh' let alone the more exotic brands (and this is coming from a PA rider so I'm not a big-brand snob).

Where do you normally ride? In the peaks I see a fair few 29ers and you can barely move for on-ones...

At what tyre width does a 700c Hybrid become a 29er?

It's just that I've toyed with the idea of putting some fatter knobbly tyres on my commuter bike and giving it a blast round somewhere easy like Swinley, but I don't think the frame and fork will take anything over a 1.75" tyre maximum really.

pypdjl - Member

Where do you normally ride? In the peaks I see a fair few 29ers and you can barely move for on-ones...

Surrey Hills & Surrey Heath for regular rides, various parts of Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and basically anywhere SW Trains goes to for longer days out, do tend to avoid the hot-spots though and ride at 'off peak' times.
Can't remember last time I rode off-road North of the Thames let alone North of Watford 😀

@acjim - By 'around here', I mean southern woodland singletrack.

I like 2 kinds of riding. One is fast, flowing, relatively smooth or just rooty trails in the woods. Usually longer-distance and less tech overall, often with longer bridleway stretches linking the twistier sections. I used to use a CX bike like the Croix de Fer or a Day One here in winter, better on the bridleways, not so good in singletrack and beat me up after a few hours. A 29er is a better option on the fun stuff.
The other is slo-mo, techy, steep, hike-a-bike '10 miles takes hours' stuff, where I prefer a 26" HT or FS still, but at the moment I rarely ride that compared to my near-daily doorstep trail rides.

Time will tell if my new bike is the one that lets me do both with equal enjoyment. The new breed of AM HT 29ers has a lot of potential and there are other 29er bikes that have unusual use-duality (if that makes sense).

All this talk of riding on a sunny day makes me want to get out there!

I reckon if I still lived where I first started riding (Winchester area) a 29er would be ideal bike, lots of long distance bridleways with some fun bits in between. Where I live now (Mendips) you can do that kind of riding but i like the techy bits (that just didn't exist in Hampshire).

bought a scandal big wheel last year - also got a fuel ex. i like riding them both, the 29er is great on fast mornings out where nothings too punishing, i love it. however for rougher stuff i still prefer the trek. whether thats just down to hardtail vs full suspension is another arguement entirely

Elfinsafety - Member
At what tyre width does a 700c Hybrid become a 29er?

It's just that I've toyed with the idea of putting some fatter knobbly tyres on my commuter bike and giving it a blast round somewhere easy like Swinley, but I don't think the frame and fork will take anything over

Sure I read something about that Cy fellow doing an MTB race on a fat-tyred Roadrat.

I wonder if he'd warranty my one if I broke it doing the same... 🙂

Been riding them for the past 3.5 years and got rid of my final 26" bike this year.

Had 9 in total and number 10 is due in a couple of weeks when my Yelli Screamy arrives, so feel nearly as qualified as Ton to comment 😳

Why no-one is answer my question? 😡

One of the lads I ride with put some 1.75's on his Jake and still rides it offroad in SS mode. It's lasted well, ok it's a bit flexie around the rear stays but it's still going well and fast.

At what tyre width does a 700c Hybrid become a 29er?

i don't know if it does.

I do the opposite, put 35mm cx tyres on my swift for some "roughstuffing" great fun and certainly helps learn some handling skills

Only a flat car park test on a cheap trek 29er. Noticed the extra rolling momentum immediately; it felt like my road commuter. Cornering seemed to take bit more planning, but I'm sure I'd get used to it. Not planning to get one yet...

It's just that I've toyed with the idea of putting some fatter knobbly tyres on my commuter bike and giving it a blast round somewhere easy like Swinley, but I don't think the frame and fork will take anything over a 1.75" tyre maximum really

The rim will also be a limiting factor, as to the width it'll support. I'm sort of trying the other angle, 29er wheelset fitting some cross tyres to it as the mixed surface commute should make it a decent compromise.. 34mm so I think I'll get away with it, else you'll hear the pop in London town.

ridden plenty, hate them (for me) they inspire boring riding and aren't any good for the type of riding I like, same with Fatbikes, bromptons and unicycles, I find my road bike much more fun than any of those style of bikes could ever be but each to their own.

At what tyre width does a 700c Hybrid become a 29er?

I don't think tyre width is relevant. A 29er is a mountain bike, a hybrid is a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike.

I have a GF Paragon (with a 120mm fork / short stem) and a Trek (GF) Rumblefish and enjoy them both. I still have a nice collection of 26er bikes as well though.
29ers are great for blasting over rock gardens, roots, etc
Technical climbs are easier as they have more grip and roll over those steps that would stall a 26" wheel.
The 29 hardtail gives a much more comfortable ride than a 26, probably mainly due to the bigger tyres and lower tyre pressures you can use.
Downhill confidence is greater as they feel very stable and you sit 'in' the bike between the wheels so it's more difficult to go over the front.
Most of the time you feel you're 'cheating' as everything seems easier and you ride faster.
Downsides are few. I guess they do take a bit longer to get up to speed but I'm running them both tubeless which helps. On really tight singletrack they feel a bit unwieldy and less responsive. It's more difficult to get the wheels out of narrow ruts or gaps between rocks, etc.
Look out for them on ebay as they can be very cheap since the UK has little interest in them at the moment. I paid about £500 for the Paragon so I figured if I didn't like it I'd probably get my money back anyway.
Don't knock em till you've tried them though but unfortunately this is often the way in the UK.

[i]there's a lot to be said for being happy with what you have. A healthy dose of anti-consumerism is a good thing, there's always someone trying to sell us 'new! better!'. [/i]

How could that possibly be considered a dig 🙂

on a serious note i actually love them.
for a big bloke they ride far better than a 26'' bike in the same frame size.
loads more stable, center of gravity is sorted.
they are a bit slower to get up to speed but once they are rolling speed is easier to maintain.
on rougher ground they roll better than a smaller wheel.
the wheel contact are is bigger, so better braking/stopping/cornering.

and any fool who reckons they are flimsy, never rode my ventana.
built with kris holm rims, saint brakes and 120mm forks it was a suitable as most trail bikes out there.
steppy descents are taken much easier with the big wheel size.

and i am on my 10th or 11th at present, and it would take one heck of a 26'' dwarf bike to get me back on one............ 8)

First tried a 29er ss a few years ago, quite liked it but a bit heavy. Got a scandal 29er as thought it was ace, have since gone on to own all sorts of big wheel singlespeeds that get used for enduros and some get moshed around the peak district and big welsh stuff. To be honest I like them becasue there's not much out there that my ellsworth full boinger 26" can't cope with easily, which makes it all a bit easy, even at silly speeds. I personally like a bit more of challenge and a feeling of achievement in my riding. But it's all about having the right tool for the job and sometimes a 26" bike will still be morer suited to certain rides/conditions

I have tried them and love them.

Anyone fancy a Turner 5 Spot - horst link frame and some Pike forks give me a shout!

Now running with a rigid scandal, a Lynskey Ridgeline 29er and a Singular Hummingbird so 2 1/2 29ers in my stable at the moment.

I wouldn't go back.

I have tried riding Trek Cobia 29er which is basically belongs to Gary Fisher collection of bikes. It gives accurate handling at slow speed and controlled ride at high speed. good for XC racing and local xc and cross country. It is a 29er bike but rides like 26inch. I was riding 26inch bike but started loving big wheeled bikes, they cruze on roots and gives pleasure ride in singletrack and climb like a goat.

@dezb, I thought the first sentance may have read as 'you luddite' ..
Even if it did, it'd take one to know one : )

At what tyre width does a 700c Hybrid become a 29er?

At 42c or so it becomes a flat-bar monster-crosser? 700c hybrids and 29ers (should..!) have different geometry, I think tyre size isn't that relevant beyond 1.5" or so?

Never tried one and don't really want to. Wouldn't suit my riding style at all. Suppose it'd be ok for riding at home as all we have are boring bridleways that could probably do with 29" to make it a bit faster with their easier rolling capabilities?

I've never tried one but more because I'm worried I might like it.

At the moment I have five bikes I can roatate parts across when I feel like a change. As soon as I get a 29er I'm stuck on some of the major bits.

I've tried a few of the newer fs 29ers (tallboys, highball, camber, epic) and for some terrain I think they're the way forward but not on other stuff.

I found I really didn't like them on foresty through the trees type stuff with lots of weaving in and out, slow speed direction changes etc. They just felt clumsy.

They were predictably good on the gravelly, hardpack type stuff, really smoothing it out and letting you just keep on rolling.

However I was most impressed on steeper, rockier lake district tracks. I'd always considered this to be the kind of technical terrain where they would fall down but it just wasn't the case. It seems to me that it's technical turns which are the weak point and not technical obstacles as such.

Anyway, given that I don't really ride in foresty type places my next bike will def be a clown bike.

I test rode one of the Giant Anthem 29ers at an Afan demo day earlier this year. Went in with an open mind (I have a mate who has one & thinks it's great (he is very tall), but I'm under average height so wasn't sure it would suit me).

Climbing & descending I did notice how easily it rolled over obstacles & it did have a noticably wider turn on bends. What did surprise me was how fast I could go downhill for a bike with only 100mm travel (well it felt fast) & how it felt at least as capable as some of the other 120mm & 140mm bikes I took out.

It's wasn't enough for me to go out & buy one, but I can see the point of them.

Shortcut - what size Turner?