[chumpmann]

Was wondering what advantages and disadvantages of a 29er are?

I am looking to purchase a different bike in the spring and wanted some more info before I just jump onto a 29er.

I like the idea of having a larger wheel for going over rocks and other obstacles.

But is a 29er intended for other uses?

[Mootsguy]

Having owned a 29er briefly I would suggest that you first borrow one from a buddy and ride it on a longish trail ride that includes a variety of terrain.

The bigger wheels are nice for clearing obstacles and maintaining speed once you get the bike up to speed and, at least for me, the bigger wheels are harder to get up to speed. So when I rode a lot of very tight twisty stuff that required constant braking, turning and accelerating I found myself more tired at the end of the ride than if I were on 26" or 650b wheels.

Just an opinion.

[chumpmann]

So on steep inclines and other hills it would take a lot more work to power the larger wheels up them?

Seems like a 29er would be for more downhill than average Mountain biking....

I will see if there is a way I can use a 29er and check it out before I purchase one.

Thanks for your help.

[Farnsworth]

I'm on a 29er road bike and it takes a little more work I feel but it's worth it. I'm a Tall guy and I think it fits well.

[Mootsguy]

Originally Posted by chumpmann

So on steep inclines and other hills it would take a lot more work to power the larger wheels up them?

Seems like a 29er would be for more downhill than average Mountain biking....

I will see if there is a way I can use a 29er and check it out before I purchase one.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, but the bike will hold the speed better once you get it there.

29ers do not make very good downhillers.

Great plan and if possible get it for a whole days worth of riding.

[Nigal]

I'm still trying to figure out why shocks are so great and what's so wrong with a hardtail.

[chumpmann]

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

Having owned a 29er briefly I would suggest that you first borrow one from a buddy and ride it on a longish trail ride that includes a variety of terrain.

The bigger wheels are nice for clearing obstacles and maintaining speed once you get the bike up to speed and, at least for me, the bigger wheels are harder to get up to speed. So when I rode a lot of very tight twisty stuff that required constant braking, turning and accelerating I found myself more tired at the end of the ride than if I were on 26" or 650b wheels.

Just an opinion.

This is the only thing that concerns me. Although most of my riding is up and down rocky hills(Palo Duro Canyon) There are spots that I can see this being a problem.

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

Yes, but the bike will hold the speed better once you get it there.

29ers do not make very good downhillers.

Great plan and if possible get it for a whole days worth of riding.

Why not good downhillers? seems like it would just roll over everything in your way...

Originally Posted by Nigal

I'm still trying to figure out why shocks are so great and what's so wrong with a hardtail.

Yea me and my friends all have hardtails, and one guy has a full suspension, and he keeps saying that he almost prefers going back to Hardtail, because of weight, and the overall feel....

[Blazerwolf]

Well I bought mine for a whole different reason! I wanted a big bike that would carry a 280 man, 6' tall. After I bought the Monocog 29er I put a set of Schwalbe Big Apples and disc brakes for the sole purpose of using it as a work out bike. Six months later I now weigh 220 lbs and ride 10 miles every other day and feel a 100% better. I have nothing but good things to say about my 29er and like it was pointed out before once you get it to speed it is a great riding bike. Those disc brakes are worth every cent I paid for them as well. They stop that bike on a dime!

[hophead]

Originally Posted by chumpmann

Why get a 29er?

Dunno. I'm still trying to figure that one out myself.

I suppose that the bigger wheels will roll over stuff easier, but if I lost 20 lbs or so, I'd roll over stuff easier on my 26" bike without shelling out any cash.

For me, it's just not worth it. Not to mention, 29er frames seem to break with alarming regularity. I'd say that at least 75% of my friends who ride 29er's have broken at least on frame and/or rigid fork. That's a conservative estimate. Off hand, I can't think of anyone who hasn't broken one. So don't buy one cuz you think bigger is stronger.

[Blazerwolf]

Originally Posted by hophead

Dunno. I'm still trying to figure that one out myself.

I suppose that the bigger wheels will roll over stuff easier, but if I lost 20 lbs or so, I'd roll over stuff easier on my 26" bike without shelling out any cash.

For me, it's just not worth it. Not to mention, 29er frames seem to break with alarming regularity. I'd say that at least 75% of my friends who ride 29er's have broken at least on frame and/or rigid fork. That's a conservative estimate. Off hand, I can't think of anyone who hasn't broken one. So don't buy one cuz you think bigger is stronger.

Anything will break when abused enough! And I would bet I could break mine if I abused it! All I can say is that this was my first new bike in 40 years and I ride it daily and have had no problems with it at all.

I don't ride it down the sides of mountains, I don't jump curbs with it and I don't mistreat the bike. After all it is a machine and when they are taken care of properly, they work properly.

I can't argue the technical points of mountian biking as I am not into mountian biking. But I do know that for the purpose that I bought it for and that was for the excercise and the enjoyment of riding, it has done very well for me.

I believe that Redline has built a very good product and from what I see for sale on Craigslist there are far more Trek's, Specialized, and a whole host of other far more expensive bikes for sale there, and very few Redline bikes for sale. That must speak for the quality of their product.