Seeing as Specialized has just committed its entire Epic and Stumpjumper models to 29er then i'm not surprised that a Specialized produced video found the 29er to be faster!! :P
26 inch wheels were actually a bit of an accidental choice in the first place, due to the lack of availability of wheels and tyres in the early days. They plumped for what Schwinn had in stock for their cruiser bikes. I've always thought 26 inches was too small, especially over rocky sections. On large frame bikes they look ridiculous. I've just swapped to a 29er and man, the difference is amazing. Much better over gnarly rocky, rooty sections and uphills are easier too. You do have to watch for a bit more front wheel washout on downhill bends, but overall, my times are faster and being a senior age rider, the additional feeling of stability is welcome. Works for me!
After riding MTB for over 20 years, have just gone from a trek 26" hard tail to a camber evo 29" full suss. Unbelievable difference. I'm not the tallest - 172cm, but the bike handles trails and climbs so much better than my 26" x country bike. Jumps better, corners better, climbs better. Really has been quite a revelation.
they dont jump better. im 15 i ride a 29er and i have my 26inch dj bike for jumping the 29er is the best for xc you dont have to pedal your face off. 29er is better for a taller person with more mass too throw around.
Ah yes, old BMX bikes - don't get me started on those - I'll start rambling on about my Eric Rupe signature edition mongoose....yikes, here I go again...Happy trails too.
Christoph Sauser sums it up great. Strength in your legs is important. He chooses wisely the 26. Traction of the 29 may be better on climbs but cost more energy. Jesus, the same stupid discussions are going on in road racing about the weight of the wheels. The best rider in the tour the France can also win that competition on my Madone 3.5. What this Sauser is saying is more important than some lab-tests. Of course the 29 is ten or twenty seconds faster on a smooth 1 hour xc track where you can make speed. But who gives a shit. The same guys who pass me on their 29 bikes would also pass me on a 26er. Ride what you have and accept the limits of your legs/knees/age. Keep upgrading what is broke. And just enjoy.
personally i defiantly prefer the greater movement of suspended carbon 26. Its a quick and nimble bike. however I've nothing against any other sort of rider. The only thing I don't like is being told my personal preference is wrong.
of course no many years later I ride only 29ers. They roll faster and modern geometry means they turn better too. Oh boost is the ONLY way to go for 29! I absolutely love my pivot and trek
@@ltendler3 thanks for update. old guy here getting back into MTB now that my kids are old enough to bee effective at it. Got to catching up to do on the tech. Think I'll keep riding my 1996 rig for now until the kids start beating me lol.
I use to be a staunch 26er. Then, I bought my first 29er. The bigger wheel size is not just an improvement, but completely energizes my riding to a new level. A smoother power transfer is the most critical advantage of the bigger wheel. I'm coming back on all the videos on Google's TH-cam to retract my previous comments against the 29er.
So was I when I switched from a 26 mtb to a 29 gravel bike but now that I bought a 29 mtb I feel like I've made a mistake, those wheels are too large coupled with the bigger tires, I can barely steer this garbage around obstacles and tight turns.
I think it depends on the rider, i love my hardtail 29er, but if i got a full suspension bike, i would get a 26er, because i feel like i lose some handling ability with the 29er
i ran both and i think it's dependes of your biking style and how do you feel confortable riding in a trail.the i feel that the26'er has a sharp response in narrow turns and trails.and to pass over a obstacle it's quite similar.the 29'er rolls a few inches foward than 26'er. and in a flat terrain 29'er has a little vantage.
I also rode a friends C dale Caffeine 29er, and really like it for some reason. Seemed to clear certain rough sections quite easily and be stiff under foot. I'd buy one for the right price, but I'm kinda cheap. It did handle strange on tight switchbacks, and I had a tendency to tip inside on left hand turns....Seat time would likely fix any cornering issues.
When approaching downhill corners at speed - I definatly find I can brake later and harder with the 29er - maybe this is because you get more rubber on the track with the larger diameter, mixed with a little more stability? Then through the bend I find it more stable. This stable feel gives you confidence to let it go harder and faster than I would on any of my 26" wheels.
I think is all marketing. I prefer 26. But if you like 29 or 27.5 is your choice. Remember, the most important part in the cycling is the rider, the bike is only a tool, if you are not a good cyclist with a 26, don't expect a miracle with a 29 or 27.5.
Yea that true i know someone with a 2008 bike 26er not carbon frame and he is better than some others with 7000€ carbon 29ers but i think its not marketing because i had a 26er bike a giant xtc allux sl i dont sell it because the frame is legend for his years and o switch to a 29er carbon bike and the only things i se its you can be a little faster and it roll over from everything but i still love my old bike 💞😍
Wow magic....Old video here 1:37 no GoPro on the handle bars during the same run 1:42 a GoPro appears on the bars🤨. This happens on the 26 and the 29er ride. Something doesn't add up here.
I agree with this, the 29er will be faster over that time that they tested, but a 29er pushes your heart rate quite a bit higher - NOW, how will this affect you after a 5 hour race? Thats what i want to know...
Try Walnut creek in Austin Texas. See if a 29 is easier in twisty single track. Of course you need to do this soon as lots of saplings, which give 26 an obvious advantage, are being steadily whittled down and will eventually be removed to make trails "safe" and wide for bigger bikes. This is happening to trails everywhere as bikes get bigger, longer and "faster". Also the decreasing topsoil exposes rocks, roots which help make a 29 an advantage. See ya on the freeway. Enjoy the ride.
I have been on a 26 Dual for many years now and rode a 29er for the first time this week.....I thought my GPS was broken becasue I had a 21 minute improvement on my best 50km loop.. That's BIG. I also took it into some pretty technical single track and it felt like it tracked allot better than my 26er. When it came to climbing it felt allot more grounded and held its momentum. IM SOLD..
I am unsure it is that simple. I am 5ft3 but feel comfortable on a 29er. Is it more that the bikes are more suitable for different types of course terrain?
It's not fake just because the GoPro is there sometimes. and then sometimes it's not. Sauser did the initial time trial run. Then after that, they went back and filmed clips for the video. After all the time trial runs were over, that is.
Can someone please take me through the decision process when choosing between a Fuel EX, a Superfly, and a Rumblefish. It would be most appreciated if someone could think aloud how they would define their anticipated use, and use this to then assess each bike model's pros and cons thereby leading to an informed choice. Where does each bike design excel? Which bike design offers the most versatility? What is each bike design's weakest attribute? Thanks!!!
Not necessarily. For example, in the Olympics this year, the racers fastest laps on the course were towards the end, even though they rode hard the entire time. Athletes in that condition don't get burned out in a 20 minute climb, it's almost more of a warm-up.
types of bikes are down to preference, 26 inches tend to steer better and have more response and 29 ers have better traction, keep their momentum for longer and roll over obstacles better, or that show i understand it, I have a 26er but I am getting a 29er, cube acid 29er if your interested
26 vs 29,ground clearance is 1 1/2 inches higher, the difference in wheel size on top and bottom from the hub. As for higher top speed on the 29er,whats the bike weight, gear ratio on both bikes,crank arm length,are the tires the same? These things make a huge difference along with frame design.Side by side tire prints reveal less than a 1/2 inch difference in the amount of tire touching the trail. So do what you like ,buy the 29er if your looking for something new,i dont believe its better.IMO
If you are riding on a straight paved road then would a 29er be faster or does the advantage only come from being able to move over rocky terrain better?
wouldn't you have to do the rides on 2 different days? or at least a few hours in between. it seems to me the 2nd ride would be slower just cause the rider was fresh on the 1st ride
its really down to preference. you heard him. he chooses the 26er because of his riding style, even though he was faster in this test on the 29er. it really is just a choice that someone buying a bike needs to figure out for themselves.
I own both a 29 and 26. And to be honest I really prefer my 26 by far. Every time I jump back on 26 I am amazed the difference in acceleration, and its also more entertaining on the trail. And since I put a 120mm travel fork on the front of my 26, the only significant advantages of the 29 is momentum and ride comfort.
All right, First of all 26'' was the birth of mountain bikes. Why did it start with 26 inch wheel size I don't know. MOST of the 26 vs 29 videos I've seen are absolute BS. just to point out when he started going DOWN the hill on the 29er he didn't have a GoPro on the handle bars. and a few cuts later one magically appears on his bars. one of MY theories on this is because most bike companies EG. Trek, Giant, Specialized may have put extensive waste of money and resources towards this so called innovative wheel size. and they need to lie about it being better so it sells. I have ridden a 29er off-road on some very technical and tight trails. In my opinion it required more effort around corners and through some very tight technical sections, BUT it did however roll smoother and faster on some of the flatter and more open trails. Its PERSONAL preference to what wheel size you chose and the best way to do that is to ride one for yourself. it all depends on what type of riding you do.
A 29er may be quick but at the end of the day the destroy the fun of riding small wheels. I ride a Specialized Big Hit I with a 24 inch rear wheel. Great handling - great fun.
hmmm...I'm trying to make sense of what you wrote. In a time trial in any type of race 11 seconds to me is a lot. Same course same person but 2 different bikes. One being a 26er and the other a 29er. I just think if you're racing yourself and you shave off 11 seconds that's pretty impressive. I'm not downing the 26er's either they are both great and both have their own pro's and cons. I'll do some more research and a few riders and see if they agree.
If he would use a 69er he can benefit from the fast acceleration of the 26 rear wheel and on the other hand has the advantage of the 29 front wheel which improves the smooth ride over the bumps.
Well,I am 15 and 185cm(6'1).So far I have ridden only 26er hardtail(since I'm into cycling more seriously).Tomorrow I'm getting a full- suspension allmountain type 29er.Hope it doesn't cut handling performance for the faster climbing and descending.The bike has the second shortest chainstay on a full-suspension 29er on the market.Hope that helps :-)
Remember getting this those sworks shoes he has on and the first 29er epic model and everyone being like “it’s a fad”. A couple models on now and still on the epic.
If the same person does the same track one with 26 and then a 29er. If he consistently is getting better times on the 29er then this is a good thing. I don't see how this cannot be accounted for. he may not win the race but he is beating his own personal score. I just think that 11 seconds is a big improvement and the reason why Christoph has switched.
My experience. Really fast guys with lots of skill will go the 26" because it is more light/nimble and they would not declare a benefit of the 29er. The rest of us, mere mortals who are not the cream will gain heaps from using a 29er, and enjoy the ride a whole lot more as well. 29ers hold speed better in the transition to the climb, less concentration required, lines can be sloppy, the climbing is easier as the toque is sweeter for managing the bumps. I ride the Giant X0 2012, happy as. :)
Well the average heart rate was higher on the 29er on the uphill which means more energy is being used on the 29er than the 26er. 11 seconds difference is not much of a difference but is easily accounted for in the higher energy output that the rider did on the 29er. Any test that shows only a difference of about 10s won't convince me. My rides vary by 10s for the same ride all the time on my bike which is a 26er.
The standover on a 29 is the same as a 26 in most cases. You could argue that a shorter riders would benefit even more due to the lower centre of gravity. Ive yet to find a course where my 29 was slower than my 26.
I have both. 29er for fast up/down hill and over things. 26" a lot more fun for pump track, jumps and switchbacks. On all mountain terrain..not much difference though.
@122chucknorris and what's fake about that? he did his run and for some filming material he did some parts again. that's called producing a promo video.
The 700C wheels mean for on road & packed grit trails, that a 28" x 1.5" touring tyre, will be even faster and more durable than MTB tyres. On road training rides with Marathon Plus anti-puncture tyres, I've actually been invited onto wheel of club racing cyclists, because of the high speed despite missing drop handlebars (but crouching and moving hands in from grips helps aerodynamics).
Not according to physics. Would you go mountain biking with 20" wheels? There are advantages to using taller wheels. Disadvantages to, it isn't all fashion
29er is faster when he was using more watts to push his bike. I want to see this test with both bikes and the same amount of energy (in watts with a powermeter). With the pulsometer, seems that he used more power in the 29er
How come at some points he goes really slow, like he's on the moon? and some parts he goes really fast like he's in a Charlie Chaplin movie? Also, I don't see any loudspeakers on the course, but there's some crappy 'metal' band playing in the background? And how come he's got two different maximum heart rates? Has he got two hearts?
@joobfa796 We have. All the pro riders are now jumping on 29ers and winning the biggest races in the world Sea Otter last year just to name one off the top of my head
I use 26, because the road bike wheel size is keep 700c, same wheel size if you use 26x2.1, if bigger better, why the road bike not use the 29 wheel size? 😂
Better for everyone no.. but a 29er with large frame is the most comfy bike I ever had, smaller wheels are going to suit smaller less powerful riders and allow smaller bike geometry. A 26er would seem like a toy now.. 29er's will be here to stay.
29er pros - very fast and efficient both on trails and paved. definitely faster than previous bikes i'v ridden. comfortable ride despite being a HT. rewarded me well whenever i decide to really power pedal the bike. cons - difficult on sharp turns specially on very tight/narrow single track. more difficult to pedal through thick mud unless u carry higher/faster momentum. off camber moments are scarier. u will feel penalized for slowing down.. so dont
I don't think the wheel size makes much of a difference but the size of the rider should be considered when looking at wheel size. Tall riders will be better suited for 29ers.
so i think if u ride on trails that are 60%++ consisting of situations described in cons. you should go with a 26 inch full sus. otherwise i would recommend 29er.
Most people aren't full on mountain bike racers.. that said, I preferred the 29er cause of a higher top speed, smoother ride, and I can still go off road without breaking stuff, (well less likely cause its smoother right... Slightly higher ground clearance too?. I'm not racing, just for fun. 26ers are lighter, quicker acceleration, and more agile.. I don't know what the debate is... Seems pretty obvious to me. I assume racers will use both bikes according to what's needed. Or lose. Haha
why does he discount his test results? He races a 26" so it's easier to accelerate; the results show that a 29" rolls better and carries more momentum so that you don't have to accelerate as frequently, leading to a faster overall time.
Seeing as Specialized has just committed its entire Epic and Stumpjumper models to 29er then i'm not surprised that a Specialized produced video found the 29er to be faster!! :P
He said he chose the 26" over the 29".what do you think he rides now?
He rides a Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29.
26 inch wheels were actually a bit of an accidental choice in the first place, due to the lack of availability of wheels and tyres in the early days. They plumped for what Schwinn had in stock for their cruiser bikes. I've always thought 26 inches was too small, especially over rocky sections. On large frame bikes they look ridiculous. I've just swapped to a 29er and man, the difference is amazing. Much better over gnarly rocky, rooty sections and uphills are easier too. You do have to watch for a bit more front wheel washout on downhill bends, but overall, my times are faster and being a senior age rider, the additional feeling of stability is welcome. Works for me!
After riding MTB for over 20 years, have just gone from a trek 26" hard tail to a camber evo 29" full suss. Unbelievable difference. I'm not the tallest - 172cm, but the bike handles trails and climbs so much better than my 26" x country bike. Jumps better, corners better, climbs better. Really has been quite a revelation.
That's an interesting perspective. Naive, but interesting.
they dont jump better. im 15 i ride a 29er and i have my 26inch dj bike for jumping the 29er is the best for xc you dont have to pedal your face off. 29er is better for a taller person with more mass too throw around.
I guess riding is different for everyone. Great to hear your perspective, too.
at the end of the day it comes down too what you are comfortable on. :) I have both wheel sizes still need a 650b bike
Ah yes, old BMX bikes - don't get me started on those - I'll start rambling on about my Eric Rupe signature edition mongoose....yikes, here I go again...Happy trails too.
Christoph Sauser sums it up great. Strength in your legs is important. He chooses wisely the 26. Traction of the 29 may be better on climbs but cost more energy. Jesus, the same stupid discussions are going on in road racing about the weight of the wheels. The best rider in the tour the France can also win that competition on my Madone 3.5. What this Sauser is saying is more important than some lab-tests. Of course the 29 is ten or twenty seconds faster on a smooth 1 hour xc track where you can make speed. But who gives a shit. The same guys who pass me on their 29 bikes would also pass me on a 26er. Ride what you have and accept the limits of your legs/knees/age. Keep upgrading what is broke. And just enjoy.
First bike documentary with decent music on background! CHEERS
That was actually very interesting. Would love to see him test a Stumpy 29er hardtail against both.
This is the best comparison I've seen yet.
It’s good to see there are many more choices out there. Hopefully tires are easily available too if I ever get a 29r.
i'm sticking to 26". ;-) thanks for the video.
eu continuo usando uma 26er com v-brakes e tenho bons resultados!!
I'm still using a 26er with v-brakes and I have good results!!
personally i defiantly prefer the greater movement of suspended carbon 26. Its a quick and nimble bike. however I've nothing against any other sort of rider. The only thing I don't like is being told my personal preference is wrong.
of course no many years later I ride only 29ers.
They roll faster and modern geometry means they turn better too. Oh boost is the ONLY way to go for 29! I absolutely love my pivot and trek
@@ltendler3 thanks for update. old guy here getting back into MTB now that my kids are old enough to bee effective at it. Got to catching up to do on the tech. Think I'll keep riding my 1996 rig for now until the kids start beating me lol.
I use to be a staunch 26er. Then, I bought my first 29er. The bigger wheel size is not just an improvement, but completely energizes my riding to a new level. A smoother power transfer is the most critical advantage of the bigger wheel.
I'm coming back on all the videos on Google's TH-cam to retract my previous comments against the 29er.
So was I when I switched from a 26 mtb to a 29 gravel bike but now that I bought a 29 mtb I feel like I've made a mistake, those wheels are too large coupled with the bigger tires, I can barely steer this garbage around obstacles and tight turns.
I think it depends on the rider, i love my hardtail 29er, but if i got a full suspension bike, i would get a 26er, because i feel like i lose some handling ability with the 29er
i ran both and i think it's dependes of your biking style and how do you feel confortable riding in a trail.the i feel that the26'er has a sharp response in narrow turns and trails.and to pass over a obstacle it's quite similar.the 29'er rolls a few inches foward than 26'er. and in a flat terrain 29'er has a little vantage.
I also rode a friends C dale Caffeine 29er, and really like it for some reason. Seemed to clear certain rough sections quite easily and be stiff under foot. I'd buy one for the right price, but I'm kinda cheap. It did handle strange on tight switchbacks, and I had a tendency to tip inside on left hand turns....Seat time would likely fix any cornering issues.
When approaching downhill corners at speed - I definatly find I can brake later and harder with the 29er - maybe this is because you get more rubber on the track with the larger diameter, mixed with a little more stability? Then through the bend I find it more stable. This stable feel gives you confidence to let it go harder and faster than I would on any of my 26" wheels.
I think is all marketing. I prefer 26. But if you like 29 or 27.5 is your choice.
Remember, the most important part in the cycling is the rider, the bike is only a tool, if you are not a good cyclist with a 26, don't expect a miracle with a 29 or 27.5.
Yea that true i know someone with a 2008 bike 26er not carbon frame and he is better than some others with 7000€ carbon 29ers but i think its not marketing because i had a 26er bike a giant xtc allux sl i dont sell it because the frame is legend for his years and o switch to a 29er carbon bike and the only things i se its you can be a little faster and it roll over from everything but i still love my old bike 💞😍
Specialized, please do a video with the Pitch i am interested in purchasing one but i want more details
Wow magic....Old video here 1:37 no GoPro on the handle bars during the same run 1:42 a GoPro appears on the bars🤨. This happens on the 26 and the 29er ride. Something doesn't add up here.
I agree with this, the 29er will be faster over that time that they tested, but a 29er pushes your heart rate quite a bit higher - NOW, how will this affect you after a 5 hour race?
Thats what i want to know...
Try Walnut creek in Austin Texas. See if a 29 is easier in twisty single track. Of course you need to do this soon as lots of saplings, which give 26 an obvious advantage, are being steadily whittled down and will eventually be removed to make trails "safe" and wide for bigger bikes. This is happening to trails everywhere as bikes get bigger, longer and "faster". Also the decreasing topsoil exposes rocks, roots which help make a 29 an advantage.
See ya on the freeway. Enjoy the ride.
I have been on a 26 Dual for many years now and rode a 29er for the first time this week.....I thought my GPS was broken becasue I had a 21 minute improvement on my best 50km loop.. That's BIG. I also took it into some pretty technical single track and it felt like it tracked allot better than my 26er. When it came to climbing it felt allot more grounded and held its momentum. IM SOLD..
I am unsure it is that simple. I am 5ft3 but feel comfortable on a 29er. Is it more that the bikes are more suitable for different types of course terrain?
It's not fake just because the GoPro is there sometimes. and then sometimes it's not. Sauser did the initial time trial run. Then after that, they went back and filmed clips for the video. After all the time trial runs were over, that is.
Y que hicieron con la Epic 26 de esta prueba,¿la depositaron en la basura?
Can someone please take me through the decision process when choosing between a Fuel EX, a Superfly, and a Rumblefish.
It would be most appreciated if someone could think aloud how they would define their anticipated use, and use this to then assess each bike model's pros and cons thereby leading to an informed choice.
Where does each bike design excel?
Which bike design offers the most versatility?
What is each bike design's weakest attribute?
Thanks!!!
Not necessarily. For example, in the Olympics this year, the racers fastest laps on the course were towards the end, even though they rode hard the entire time. Athletes in that condition don't get burned out in a 20 minute climb, it's almost more of a warm-up.
types of bikes are down to preference, 26 inches tend to steer better and have more response and 29 ers have better traction, keep their momentum for longer and roll over obstacles better, or that show i understand it, I have a 26er but I am getting a 29er, cube acid 29er if your interested
26 vs 29,ground clearance is 1 1/2 inches higher, the difference in wheel size on top and bottom from the hub. As for higher top speed on the 29er,whats the bike weight, gear ratio on both bikes,crank arm length,are the tires the same? These things make a huge difference along with frame design.Side by side tire prints reveal less than a 1/2 inch difference in the amount of tire touching the trail. So do what you like ,buy the 29er if your looking for something new,i dont believe its better.IMO
If you are riding on a straight paved road then would a 29er be faster or does the advantage only come from being able to move over rocky terrain better?
wouldn't you have to do the rides on 2 different days? or at least a few hours in between. it seems to me the 2nd ride would be slower just cause the rider was fresh on the 1st ride
It'd be nice to see the same runs with power meter results.
Wheres the video now on the 650B vs the 29er?
its really down to preference. you heard him. he chooses the 26er because of his riding style, even though he was faster in this test on the 29er. it really is just a choice that someone buying a bike needs to figure out for themselves.
I own both a 29 and 26. And to be honest I really prefer my 26 by far. Every time I jump back on 26 I am amazed the difference in acceleration, and its also more entertaining on the trail. And since I put a 120mm travel fork on the front of my 26, the only significant advantages of the 29 is momentum and ride comfort.
Same, the 29 seems like it's trying to control me when going around obstacles and in tight turns while the 26er is helping me steer.
I believe you Mike, Santa Cruz all the way. The Blur C is one bad ass machine. Wish I had one.
All right, First of all 26'' was the birth of mountain bikes. Why did it start with 26 inch wheel size I don't know. MOST of the 26 vs 29 videos I've seen are absolute BS. just to point out when he started going DOWN the hill on the 29er he didn't have a GoPro on the handle bars. and a few cuts later one magically appears on his bars. one of MY theories on this is because most bike companies EG. Trek, Giant, Specialized may have put extensive waste of money and resources towards this so called innovative wheel size. and they need to lie about it being better so it sells. I have ridden a 29er off-road on some very technical and tight trails. In my opinion it required more effort around corners and through some very tight technical sections, BUT it did however roll smoother and faster on some of the flatter and more open trails. Its PERSONAL preference to what wheel size you chose and the best way to do that is to ride one for yourself. it all depends on what type of riding you do.
Sry but 29 was the birth of mountain bikes
name of the song?
hmm from what i can ascertain wouldnt the best solution be to make a 27.5" bike?
got a 29 for this season. Never going back :)
Why would they choose to market a 29 if it wasnt faster? Are they that much more profitable than a 26?
Name of music? 3:45
A 29er may be quick but at the end of the day the destroy the fun of riding small wheels. I ride a Specialized Big Hit I with a 24 inch rear wheel. Great handling - great fun.
There is something called 69er .. 29" front and 26" back.. perfect.
What do you think about the Bergamont revox 8.2?
When I'm riding in forest areas, I now always seem to pick the 29er. I just enjoy it more. Its just a nicer, better feel ride.
how aboutt a big hit with 29 in front and 26 in back?
But what did pro's race with?
hmmm...I'm trying to make sense of what you wrote. In a time trial in any type of race 11 seconds to me is a lot.
Same course same person but 2 different bikes. One being a 26er and the other a 29er. I just think if you're racing yourself and you shave off 11 seconds that's pretty impressive. I'm not downing the 26er's either they are both great and both have their own pro's and cons. I'll do some more research and a few riders and see if they agree.
Rode a friends 29er and the sense of momentum is def there. For what I paid formy Trek maybe 12 years ago, 26 still suits me just fine. lol
can I do brevets using a 26er XC MTB.
200km
300km
If he would use a 69er he can benefit from the fast acceleration of the 26 rear wheel and on the other hand has the advantage of the 29 front wheel which improves the smooth ride over the bumps.
Well,I am 15 and 185cm(6'1).So far I have ridden only 26er hardtail(since I'm into cycling more seriously).Tomorrow I'm getting a full- suspension allmountain type 29er.Hope it doesn't cut handling performance for the faster climbing and descending.The bike has the second shortest chainstay on a full-suspension 29er on the market.Hope that helps :-)
How do you like the 29er?
It has made me far more confident on the downhill and climbing up obstecles on the way up is a joy :D
Вихрен Костадинов
Thanks for the feedback. Godspeed!
Thank you for this comment i was not sure if i was tall enough for a 29er this helps me out thank you.
Remember getting this those sworks shoes he has on and the first 29er epic model and everyone being like “it’s a fad”. A couple models on now and still on the epic.
What glasses is he wearing
If the same person does the same track one with 26 and then a 29er. If he consistently is getting better times on the 29er then this is a good thing. I don't see how this cannot be accounted for.
he may not win the race but he is beating his own personal score. I just think that 11 seconds is a big improvement and the reason why Christoph has switched.
My experience. Really fast guys with lots of skill will go the 26" because it is more light/nimble and they would not declare a benefit of the 29er. The rest of us, mere mortals who are not the cream will gain heaps from using a 29er, and enjoy the ride a whole lot more as well.
29ers hold speed better in the transition to the climb, less concentration required, lines can be sloppy, the climbing is easier as the toque is sweeter for managing the bumps. I ride the Giant X0 2012, happy as. :)
What's a jeep track?
How tall do you mean, whats the minimum?
Why do you think 26" was readily available and not 29? Plus you said gnarly, your post is void.
Well the average heart rate was higher on the 29er on the uphill which means more energy is being used on the 29er than the 26er. 11 seconds difference is not much of a difference but is easily accounted for in the higher energy output that the rider did on the 29er. Any test that shows only a difference of about 10s won't convince me. My rides vary by 10s for the same ride all the time on my bike which is a 26er.
The standover on a 29 is the same as a 26 in most cases. You could argue that a shorter riders would benefit even more due to the lower centre of gravity. Ive yet to find a course where my 29 was slower than my 26.
I have both. 29er for fast up/down hill and over things. 26" a lot more fun for pump track, jumps and switchbacks. On all mountain terrain..not much difference though.
Very nice track.
@122chucknorris and what's fake about that? he did his run and for some filming material he did some parts again. that's called producing a promo video.
The 700C wheels mean for on road & packed grit trails, that a 28" x 1.5" touring tyre, will be even faster and more durable than MTB tyres. On road training rides with Marathon Plus anti-puncture tyres, I've actually been invited onto wheel of club racing cyclists, because of the high speed despite missing drop handlebars (but crouching and moving hands in from grips helps aerodynamics).
couldn't agree with you more!
Not according to physics. Would you go mountain biking with 20" wheels? There are advantages to using taller wheels. Disadvantages to, it isn't all fashion
26ers are going to take their revenge
@122chucknorris
thats actually a really good point...
29er is faster when he was using more watts to push his bike. I want to see this test with both bikes and the same amount of energy (in watts with a powermeter). With the pulsometer, seems that he used more power in the 29er
How come at some points he goes really slow, like he's on the moon? and some parts he goes really fast like he's in a Charlie Chaplin movie? Also, I don't see any loudspeakers on the course, but there's some crappy 'metal' band playing in the background? And how come he's got two different maximum heart rates? Has he got two hearts?
The engine is what matters.
@joobfa796 We have. All the pro riders are now jumping on 29ers and winning the biggest races in the world Sea Otter last year just to name one off the top of my head
I'd take him easy on my carbon blur 26"
Went from an Stumpjumper M2 from '98 to a 04 Nishiki Z29, SJ is better for flat riding, Z29 for hills and fast riding on the streets.
So what is 11 seconds over 19 minutes? 1% difference ... a tiny 1% .... basically the same.
@Janesch oh, i see. very true.
I use 26, because the road bike wheel size is keep 700c, same wheel size if you use 26x2.1, if bigger better, why the road bike not use the 29 wheel size? 😂
My Gary Fisher 29er ( with fox front shox) is like monster truck in forest :D goes over everything
Please ... we are talking about 26 or 29, you come with ... 20?
I say again that there´s no visible difference between 26 or 29
Better for everyone no.. but a 29er with large frame is the most comfy bike I ever had, smaller wheels are going to suit smaller less powerful riders and allow smaller bike geometry. A 26er would seem like a toy now.. 29er's will be here to stay.
the 29" acyually has 28" wheels. They call it 29" only because the tires are much bigger than on a road or cross-bike
If you've got the power to keep the big wheels rolling, 29er all the way. For racing, I won't be looking back.
29er
pros - very fast and efficient both on trails and paved. definitely faster than previous bikes i'v ridden. comfortable ride despite being a HT. rewarded me well whenever i decide to really power pedal the bike.
cons - difficult on sharp turns specially on very tight/narrow single track. more difficult to pedal through thick mud unless u carry higher/faster momentum. off camber moments are scarier. u will feel penalized for slowing down.. so dont
@trenttyre just a matter of time before they find the perfect wheel size like 28.123882 and then everyone can just get over the 29er phenomena
I own both 29er and 26. IMO you dont ride a 26...you Shred on it!
I don't think the wheel size makes much of a difference but the size of the rider should be considered when looking at wheel size. Tall riders will be better suited for 29ers.
agreed. I saw a twelve yr old recently riding a new 29er he could barley see over the front wheel. far too big and ungainly for him.
so i think if u ride on trails that are 60%++ consisting of situations described in cons. you should go with a 26 inch full sus.
otherwise i would recommend 29er.
Most people aren't full on mountain bike racers.. that said, I preferred the 29er cause of a higher top speed, smoother ride, and I can still go off road without breaking stuff, (well less likely cause its smoother right... Slightly higher ground clearance too?. I'm not racing, just for fun. 26ers are lighter, quicker acceleration, and more agile.. I don't know what the debate is... Seems pretty obvious to me. I assume racers will use both bikes according to what's needed. Or lose. Haha
2:31 chain bouncing all over.
@alesailing84 Very true. I just sold off my 29er. They are clumsy and slow. 26" for me.
why does he discount his test results? He races a 26" so it's easier to accelerate; the results show that a 29" rolls better and carries more momentum so that you don't have to accelerate as frequently, leading to a faster overall time.
No, different days would be bad because of changing course conditions. A short rest to recover inbetween rides suffices.
Rats ? OHHH Ruts... oops
I bought a 29er 1 week ago LOVE it !
@zerordie95 I've got a pitch, awesome bike, does everything!
26 or 29 that's the argument now; later we'll be discussing about the 29 and 31..then 31 vs 33;
etc...
the 29er times were slightly better but his heart rate was higher on the big wheeler I.E. he was trying harder .
Meh this sucks. Stuck between the 26 or 29 rockhopper or 26 hardrock... All of them feel great just now it's on to deciding which one