[galpinos]

Having had my trusty Genesis Altitude stolen, I’m in the market for a new steel hardtail. I’m a one bike man (somehow, my wife is allowed two bikes but I only get one…) so I need something that’ll do everything, rides in the Peak and further afield, trail centres and commuting to work.

I was all set to look at new 26ers but then my head was turned by the idea of 29ers. Discussing it with a couple of bike-savvy chaps at work I was informed 26” is now obsolete and 27.5” will be all the rage. I was confused.

So after a lot of googling, I’ve ended up thinking along the lines of an On One Inbred 29er, http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOIN29DEO/on_one_inbred_29er_shimano_deore_mountain_bike I will happily roll over every obstacle in my way, I’m not exactly speedy up or down so this will plod along with me and I’ve always been rubbish at switchbacks so now I can blame the bike,

Am I mental, does this seem a good idea?

[mrconners]

I have heard they are excellent.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-on-one-inbred-29er-12-45966


Seems the bike radar folk think so as well.

[Fj]

i think the main advantage of 29er's is they're more appropriate for tall people, so i guess the question is, how tall are you?

as a rough guide someone suggested over 6 footers should consider a 29er and below that 26 will probably be fine.
27.5 has muddied the water and may well find its place, but i dont think 26ers will disappear in the near future.

saying that this is probably the biggest  in biking at the moment, so i'd get several opinions from others on here first.

[tomtom]

*disclaimer - I dont ride very often*

This might or might not help.. My bike is a Trek4500 (2001 model) - which i like..

Last Summer, in Washington state I ended up hiring a 29 - as the 26 full suss I rented wouldnt fit the roof rack or something daft like that. The guys in the rental shop were raving about 29's - and said that as I was fairly tall - this would work better too..

So I gave it a blast. At first it feels like you're riding a penny farthing - much higher up - and it takes a little more to get em moving - and a little more to hold em back. Not as twitchy as a 26 - but still manouverable enough. That little extra in diameter makes quite a difference rolling over obstacles. A couple of times I tensed right up as I planted the front wheel heavily on drop offs etc.. preparing to superman over the handlebars, but all times it just rolled it out...

I liked - but wasn't convinced... but I dont ride often... despite being tall I like the (almost) BMX feel of having a smaller wheeled/framed bike beneath me that I can throw around.. the 29 felt quite different.. not bad different just different!

Why not go to a MTB centre and hire one? see how it feels?

[galpinos]

I’m 6ft so neither tall nor small.

I’m going to phone On-One up to try one as I’d have thought the frame geometry would have as much an effect of handling as the wheel size. One 29er may ride like a pig when the next rides like a dream…

The issue is time. I want it sorted for the end of the month as I’m up in Glentress for my birthday and would like to be astride my new steel steed for then, but weekends are filling/filled up; I’ve got the Saunders this weekend then two weekends of family/social commitments. Look like I’ll be missing some of those to test some bikes.

So, if I decide 29ers are whack, do I look at 26ers or do I have to start trawling the internet for reviews of 27.5”ers to compile a shortlist?

[webbo]

I'm sure I've had conversation with someone recently about this but I may have just dreamt it. However what I remember 29ers are fine for the trails in the states but not much use over here and 27ers were invented becauase the 29ers were not selling.
I have just remembered who told me this, it was one of the We love Mountains down hill team.

[ianv]

29 ers look shit. 27.5 makes little discernible difference (1 sec over a 2.5 min run for voullioz). 26 wheels are stronger, the bikes look better and should be better value now the lemmings have a new wheel size to spend their money on.

Personally I would stick to 26 inch and buy a nice one second hand off one of the fashionistas on the singletrack website.

[sidewinder]

If you like the inbred, it also comes in 26 flavour
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBOOINX526/on_one_inbred_26er_x5_mountain_bike

[fatdoc]

I'm with IanV.. I ain't changing anytime soon from 26..

[bigtuboflard]

I've been riding an inbred 26er for years in a singlespeed and had an on one 456 26er too, both great bikes. Heard a lot of good feedback on cotic and ragley bikes too, wouldn't go far wrong with any of those in my opinion. So long as its got 26 inch wheels of course.

[fatkid2000]

All this big wheel shit is really only of use to  the xc racers in Lycra.

[tomtom]

All this big wheel shit is really only of use to  the xc racers in Lycra.

You saying I wear lycra? eh? eh?

[galpinos]

I've been riding an inbred 26er for years in a singlespeed and had an on one 456 26er too, both great bikes. Heard a lot of good feedback on cotic and ragley bikes too, wouldn't go far wrong with any of those in my opinion. So long as its got 26 inch wheels of course.

Cotic and Ragley are out of my price range, I can get a decent spec On One for £900. Do you prefer the inbred to the 456?

[galpinos]

To all those who are down on the 29ers, has anyone actually ridfden one and what kind of riding do you do.]

What hardtails are you all riding?

[Ti_pin_man]

oh shit, who started this thread on a climbing forum... this topic is SO hotly debated on bike forums, this is indeed the ultimate can of biking worms!

If I had your question I would go and test ride some and see what you like.

I did the same while looking for a new XC FS bike last year, rode a mix of 12 or more mountain bikes, my conclusion is that 26 or 29 are, at the end of the day, all JUST BIKES.

Shut up and ride.   

[webbo]

To all those who are down on the 29ers, has anyone actually ridfden one and what kind of riding do you do.]

What hardtails are you all riding?

I have an 17 or 18 year old Raleigh titanium with judy superlights. As for the kind of riding I do, its wedged behind my bouldering wall gathering dust. However it once did the Grand Raid Crystal Alp.

[Fj]

I'm with IanV.. I ain't changing anytime soon from 26..

although from what i hear Orange now dont do the 5 as a 26er, i think most of the Santa Cruz's are 27.5 or 29 and specialized seem set on big wheels.

dont get me wrong, i have a 26er but i'd like to think I'm not a luddite who fears change   

[bigtuboflard]

I've been riding an inbred 26er for years in a singlespeed and had an on one 456 26er too, both great bikes. Heard a lot of good feedback on cotic and ragley bikes too, wouldn't go far wrong with any of those in my opinion. So long as its got 26 inch wheels of course.

Cotic and Ragley are out of my price range, I can get a decent spec On One for £900. Do you prefer the inbred to the 456?

If I had to choose I'd go inbred, more engaging a ride with the narrower tube profile and makes you think more about line choice instead of bulldozing a line. Guess it depends on your preferred style of riding though.

[Luthor]

I've been riding a steel inbred 26 hardtail with 10mm travel forks for the last 9 years or so and rate it as a xc machine.

Recently had opportunity to get a new bike and was also faced with the decision to stick with 26 or go for a 29er hardtail.

Took the new (29er) out last night and am really impressed. Ride seems smoother over rocky ground, which also helps when climbing and once momentum is underway bike seems to fly (not literally, well sometimes a bit). Happy with my choice.

[galpinos]

Luthor, which 29er did you go for?

[Luthor]

Luthor, which 29er did you go for?

Whyte 629 

http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/product.php?xProd=36&xSec=69

[Duma]

unworthy of its own topic, but I just bought a new bike which will look a bit like this once I've built it up:



 

[Palomides]

All this big wheel shit is really only of use to  the xc racers in Lycra.

I think this works in reverse too.

I've just acquired a new 29er (warranty replacement for a cracked Specialized 26er) and I'm now looking at entering a series of XC races.

I already wore lycra though. 

[fatdoc]

All this big wheel shit is really only of use to  the xc racers in Lycra.

 

If you want to travel over easy ( XC ) trails more efficiently and with less trail feedback, but more speed go for it...

For me... Don't see the point... At all... But depends on your wants and desires...