I love 29ers!

[24pouces]

The problem with 29" and other, it will be difficult to find quality part (rims or tires…) in 26" (I've got some old 24" wheel bikes and it's impossible today to find lightweight and fine parts in this diameter.)

But we have to be patient : in 10 years, Marketing will say that the better way for mountain biking is to ride 26" wheels !

 

[Stodgy]

They'll be retro cool in 20 years time - maybe as sought after as the e-stay, the flexstem, the disc wheel, etc. it's actually good to see innovation keeping the cying business going, even if it is driven by marketing. But, wasn't it always? Who really needed u-brakes? Who really needed the freewheel?

I remember a road cycling school friend mocking me and saying mtbs were just a passing fad back in 1987. Still passing, I guess...

 

[reanimation]

I'd like one in the fleet, fast rolling business is appealing (mostly for XC/SS and commute maybe) and I'm fairly tall, but last year I bought and built a Cotic Bfe (26), 1. cos Its what I wanted after years of experimentation, I wanted something versatile, chuckable, familiar and fun, and 2. cos buying new forks, wheels, frame and all other 'bits' was going to be loads more expensive, and pointless considering point 1!

Are parts really cheaper? there is a 29er tax I have noticed...

 

[Stodgy]

there is a 29er tax I noticed...

Only if they are served warm.

 

[MADB]

Well I like mine and I’m in no way a fashion follower, I ended up with it after looking for a new bike on a budget and after trying a few the bikes out, the one that rode the nicest and with the best mix of components ended up being a 29er.

But I do look a bit like a 12 year old on his Dads bike, better that than a gorilla on a girls bike.

 

[Loki]

They are fine, but that "sitting in instead of on " nonsense because of greater BB drop argument is a laugh. It's like driving a bus IMO. You may have a lower center of gravity in relationship to your axle's but you still are sitting higher......perhaps it's a non issue if you ride them all the time?

 

[sylus]

I have a reasonable make 29er and quite like it, doesn't give me that warm grin I get of my retros but still a nice and easy bike to ride. Being 6ft 3 also means I don't look like I've stolen the kids bike which is always good as the cops have guns here

 

[13]

coz everything in the used 26" market is now much cheaper.

True that! I bought a set of 26" mavic/XT wheels from velomine for pretty much chump change.
Bit suprised by their roll-ability too, guess thats just something 29" riders seem to struggle with.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Funny that the 'kid on his Dads bike' argument keeps being used, because that's the exact opposite of what my brother (a confirmed Roadie) said of me BiTD when I got my first decent MTB (a Marin)...

...'You look like you just nicked that off a kid while he was doing his paper round'