Big JD
Wheel size expert
Look the whole 26er vs 29er, pros and cons has been done to death but I wonder if I have been missing out on something since moving exclusively to 29ers.
As a big guy (6.5) 29ers were a given but bigger frame / wheels / forks require additional strength = more weight/length. The 29ers ive owned have not been as flickable/manouvreable/ easy to manual as the 26ers of years ago. Over the last few years there is a growing trend to design 29ers with shorter chain stays and more relaxed angles. Certainly a shorter chainstay improves a 29ers ability to manual/flick and shortens the wheelbase - you can only go so far before you have front end climbing issues and weight distrubution concerns and this is often negated by relaxing the head angle (lengthens the wheelbase). This often improves the feel for more technical riding but many manufacturers are also shortening the top tubes - to encourage a more upright riding position. Example- an XL Yeti 575 or SB66 has an ETT of 25.8 inches yet their FS 29er is just 25. Shorten top tubes is probably another thread only relevent to us giants.
I used to ride with more aggression/flair/fun/flickability on 26ers. Is it just me - I am just getting old? For HTs- 29ers are a given - especially at my size but for FS I wonder if 26er dont make a better allrounder/trail bike (excude XC race). I know I rode 26er FS for over 15 years and loved it - 29er FS are just a different feel with different strengths.
Not looking to start any arguements here rather would like your thoughts/feelings. Especially from those that perhaps have a 26er FS and a 29er. I am aware of the marketting hype - wonder if we have got lost in it to some extent - just like we were told that we all needed to have 6 inches of travel for an allrounder yet for the majority of us - the trails/manner we ride dont require any. Many will tell me that their 4 -5 inch 29er FS is very capable, and I know that they are but has it changed the way you ride? When you are talking XXL FS 29ers (like I need) then a XL 26er with same size top tube is definately more agile/flickable/finese. Maybe it is because my bikes are so bloody big. Have 29ers sanitised some of the fun as now we roll over everything in our path with our big 29er wheels.
End woffle now.
Cheers
John
In a nutshell-
a discussion as to whether FS 29ers have changed/sanitised the way you ride or the MTBing experience
As a big guy (6.5) 29ers were a given but bigger frame / wheels / forks require additional strength = more weight/length. The 29ers ive owned have not been as flickable/manouvreable/ easy to manual as the 26ers of years ago. Over the last few years there is a growing trend to design 29ers with shorter chain stays and more relaxed angles. Certainly a shorter chainstay improves a 29ers ability to manual/flick and shortens the wheelbase - you can only go so far before you have front end climbing issues and weight distrubution concerns and this is often negated by relaxing the head angle (lengthens the wheelbase). This often improves the feel for more technical riding but many manufacturers are also shortening the top tubes - to encourage a more upright riding position. Example- an XL Yeti 575 or SB66 has an ETT of 25.8 inches yet their FS 29er is just 25. Shorten top tubes is probably another thread only relevent to us giants.
I used to ride with more aggression/flair/fun/flickability on 26ers. Is it just me - I am just getting old? For HTs- 29ers are a given - especially at my size but for FS I wonder if 26er dont make a better allrounder/trail bike (excude XC race). I know I rode 26er FS for over 15 years and loved it - 29er FS are just a different feel with different strengths.
Not looking to start any arguements here rather would like your thoughts/feelings. Especially from those that perhaps have a 26er FS and a 29er. I am aware of the marketting hype - wonder if we have got lost in it to some extent - just like we were told that we all needed to have 6 inches of travel for an allrounder yet for the majority of us - the trails/manner we ride dont require any. Many will tell me that their 4 -5 inch 29er FS is very capable, and I know that they are but has it changed the way you ride? When you are talking XXL FS 29ers (like I need) then a XL 26er with same size top tube is definately more agile/flickable/finese. Maybe it is because my bikes are so bloody big. Have 29ers sanitised some of the fun as now we roll over everything in our path with our big 29er wheels.
End woffle now.
Cheers
John
In a nutshell-
a discussion as to whether FS 29ers have changed/sanitised the way you ride or the MTBing experience
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