I purchased a 29er... it was higher-than-mid-range specification bike, really rated and well reviewed...it had reba and full xt2012, it was a DS with 100mm travel... and I absolutely hated it, I kept on going back to my tomac snyper, with 150/140mm suspension. I just enjoyed a longer travel bike so much more... I now usually ride between 15 and 30km's at a time, but regularly (a couple of times a week). I have many years cycling experience under my belt, raced road provincially and even have a couple of modest titles to show for it.... so I can confidently say I have better than newbie cycling experience... I stay convinced that the 29er had nothing on my 26er longer travel bike in terms of "fun or enjoyment" for anything up to 3 hours of riding... I still believe people like Mr. HRossenrode would not have known any better and probably would have had more fun and a better experience on a good spec 26er v.s a 29er low spec. And yes, if you have the professionals test out the times, efficiencies, etc of the 29ers, using TOP TOP TOP-end components and "dialed" and tuned suspensions, then for sure, i agree - 29ers ARE "MUCH" faster - just like a "Track Tuned" version of an M3 is faster than a standard 328 or for the lack of a better example... just so is a UNO TURBO much faster than the 328 from robot to robot... it doesn't mean i want to drive a UNO TURBO.... does it?
