[chumpmann]

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

Hey chumpmann, I was just wondering what you finally decided to do or are you still pondering?

I want to thank everyone for their input, It has really helped a lot.
Maybe this thread can help others who are trying to decide...

I have decided to stick with a 26".
I talked to Mad Duck Cylcery in Grapevine, Tx He had a lot
of info also, and riders there that had experience on all kinds of bikes.
They did mention about the Geometry on a 29er putting more stress on the frame and having more breakage with them than a 26". Also the maneuverability of the bike.


I had it narrowed down to a Santa Cruz bike. Mad Duck cyclery help me
decide which Santa Cruz bike was best for me....

I ended up going with the Superlight from Santa Cruz....

[AlterCow]

Originally Posted by chumpmann

I want to thank everyone for their input, It has really helped a lot.
Maybe this thread can help others who are trying to decide...

I have decided to stick with a 26".
I talked to Mad Duck Cylcery in Grapevine, Tx He had a lot
of info also, and riders there that had experience on all kinds of bikes.
They did mention about the Geometry on a 29er putting more stress on the frame and having more breakage with them than a 26". Also the maneuverability of the bike.


I had it narrowed down to a Santa Cruz bike. Mad Duck cyclery help me
decide which Santa Cruz bike was best for me....

I ended up going with the Superlight from Santa Cruz....

Bravo! We await pics!

[vassago]

Originally Posted by AlterCow

I have a 29er hardtail and I have to echo the sentiments here:

1- not as maneuverable on twisty trails or downhill
2- more of a cross country bike

I love riding the thing, but for the forementioned reasons I am looking to get a full suspension 26er for the downhills. It is great for going distances and I have little trouble working a 29er for my 5'10" build on a 15" frame, but if I want to be more agressive I need to update my quiver of bikes and include a smaller wheel set.

not true, my rigid 29er handles 100 times better than any bike i've ever owned.

and it's more stable down hill than my old 4" travel bike.

[AlterCow]

Originally Posted by vassago

not true, my rigid 29er handles 100 times better than any bike i've ever owned.

and it's more stable down hill than my old 4" travel bike.

Then it could be you are a better rider or I have a crappy bike.

As far as what I said, it is 100% true from my experience. I cannot attest to what you have been riding in comparisson, but even if you gave me a list it would mean nothing to my own experience with a 29er compared to anything I have ever ridden.

I still stand by what I have said: that it is not as maneuverable as a smaller wheeled bike.

[vassago]

Originally Posted by AlterCow

Then it could be you are a better rider or I have a crappy bike.

As far as what I said, it is 100% true from my experience. I cannot attest to what you have been riding in comparisson, but even if you gave me a list it would mean nothing to my own experience with a 29er compared to anything I have ever ridden.

I still stand by what I have said: that it is not as maneuverable as a smaller wheeled bike.

still can't agree, take your turns wider, you'll go faster, and you'll want more grip, i rode 26 for years and i rode GF demo x-cal i few years back and didn't liek the 29er, went back to 26 and rode with a few guys with 29ers and i couldn't keep up with them.

i rode one of their bikes and i was hooked

also as a comparison, the chainstay length is what everyone bitches about messing with handling on the 29ers, my GF Rig has a shorter chainstay length than my Trek fuel ex9. go figure.

[brickisred]

I got a 29er because I moved away from the mtns and did not need a 5" trail bike anymore. Wanted something I could swap road tires on and ride the streets occasionally. Works great. I'll agree that it is a little slower to build momentum on climbs, but it's nothing you don't get used to. FWIW, I am 5' 6" and ride a small frame. No toe overlap problems with 170mm cranks.

Next bike however, will be the Superlight. Always wanted one of those...

[CTD50]

I build bike-shaped objects for the big bad retailer, W-M; yesterday, we got a couple in that we'd never seen before. They were 29er's, hardtails with front disc, 21-speed, OS bar/stem. So, naturally, when the first one was finished, we tested it in the back room.

It's actually a nice ride! Only trouble is, the need to upgrade some shoddy parts would make it just as financially feasible to just buy a good one. But the ride was pretty sweet.

Made me think again about the Santa Cruz Tallboy, which I'd just dismissed cuz I didn't feel the need for a 29er. I looked again, but I'm sticking with my original plan -- my next bike will be the SC Nomad. A few years from now.

I can't disqualify 29er's anymore for myself (6'1", 240, long-legged), but they still don't jump out at me.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by CTD50

I build bike-shaped objects for the big bad retailer, W-M;

Like this?

[Radjin]

I used to exclusively ride road bikes, then stopped riding altogether wile a foot problem healed and sold my road bike. Last week, years after riding, I tried a Santa Cruz Tallboy. I was amazed how easy it rolled over any terrain. It was full suspension. The price is my only obstacle to buying one. Any comparable bikes of that nature?

[chumpmann]

Update: Ok, SO I entered a race series here, and everyone had a 29er.
I finished 5th, 5th, and 4th the first 3 races.
Went to my local bike shop and decided to rent a 29er.
Next 2 races I finished 2nd and got 1st the last race.

Looking at my stats on runkeeper, I was averaging 8-8.5 mph on my 26er.
Bumped up to 10.5-11 mph on the 29er.

It did take a few rides to get used to the turning, but I got the hang of it pretty quick.

I love this 29er and I am ordering a Santa Cruz Highballer.

I will keep my 26er for more downhill stuff and when I want to take it easy on the full suspension...