what is a 29er bike

[terry_gardener]

is a 29er bike just a MTB with 29" wheels/tyres

 

[Firestorm]

is a 29er bike just a MTB with 29" wheels/tyres

I believe that standard mtb are 26 inch and that
29's are 700 wheels with tyres that take them to appx 29 inches

Otherwise much the same

Here is mine I opted for rigid front

 

[Sandra6]

Pretty much yes.
On the newer and better ones there's a slight geometry change to better accommodate the larger wheel.

 

[Dayvo]

Nice bike! I like the diddy stabilers!

 

[terry_gardener]

so what benefit do the 29in wheels give over the standard 26in

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Speed. 26inch is easier in the tricky stuff apparently

 

[Firestorm]

Nice bike! I like the diddy stabilers!

I could do with some at the moment .. recovering from a ruptured achilles so I havent actually ridden it properly.

 

[terry_gardener]

thanks for the replies

 

[lukesdad]

29ers roll better 26ers spin up quicker.

 

[User16625]

Speed. 26inch is easier in the tricky stuff apparently

I would have thought quite the opposite on rough ground. Doesnt a bigger wheel handle bumps better? Bigger wheels also act like a larger gear. Whats those 650bs I have been hearing about?

 

[lukesdad]

I would have thought quite the opposite on rough ground. Doesnt a bigger wheel handle bumps better? Bigger wheels also act like a larger gear. Whats those 650bs I have been hearing about?

I think he means the twisty stuff, or the nadger as we like to call it.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I think he means the twisty stuff, or the nadger as we like to call it.

This

 

[Sandra6]

I would have thought quite the opposite on rough ground. Doesnt a bigger wheel handle bumps better? Bigger wheels also act like a larger gear. Whats those 650bs I have been hearing about?

29ers roll over obstacles more easily, but have larger turning circles and are generally more stable, 26inch is "nippier" and better for technical stuff - unless you've only ever had a 29er then you just learn to do it big style!
650b's are somewhere in between.

 

[lukesdad]

29ers roll over obstacles more easily, but have larger turning circles and are generally more stable, 26inch is "nippier" and better for technical stuff - unless you've only ever had a 29er then you just learn to do it big style!
650b's are somewhere in between.

How do you mean more stable ?

 

[User16625]

How do you mean more stable ?

opposite of less stable.
Less twichy, easier to keep upright.

An example of stable would be a formula one car travelling in a strait line.
An example of unstable would be an articulated lorry in a crosswind.