What is "longer travel" 29'ers used for?

[popcorn_skollie]

Its a trade off between wheel size and travel. Thats it.

The shorter travel 29ers will climb better and roll faster.

The longer travel 27.5 could take bigger hits and should be easier to maneuver.

They just handle the same terrain differently.

Look at this rock. You either gonna roll over it easier with bigger wheels or soak it up with longer travel. So what you wanna do.

Having said that someone with your height vs the trails in your area.

IMO 29er  

[Beefy]

Point #2 was me trying to be sarcastic after waay to many beers, and obviously failing. 

I got it, I am a sarcastic guy myself

 

Didn't want to confuse the OP.

[Myth]

I've only ever had a 26er hard tail, so I guess both 27.5 and 29 with suspension will be something new to me. I think I'm leaning towards the 29er from what you guys are suggesting...

[Lone_Ranger]

I've only ever had a 26er hard tail, so I guess both 27.5 and 29 with suspension will be something new to me. I think I'm leaning towards the 29er from what you guys are suggesting...

I changed from 26" hardtail to 29" dual sus. My first ride truly was an epiphany. OK the bike was a bit heavier, but bombing down gnarly ST was so awesome. Not quite long travel, but at 110mm it's a bit longer than the standard 29" XC machines.

 

If you're riding (or want to be riding) a mix of gravel roads and roughish ST, 29" dual suss is the way to go (IMHO). If you're riding mostly gravel roads or groomed ST, I'd say you need a 29" HT. If you're riding mostly ST, longer travel 29" for me.

 

Haven't tried 650B, so can't comment on that.

[JXV]

I changed from a 150mm DS 26er trail bike to a Tallboy LT 29er with 140mm front / 135mm rear. Improved modern suspension notwithstanding, the 29er is just way quicker at everything except tight switchbacks. There are not enough switchbacks in any route to make it slower overall than my old 26er though.

However if you plan to seriously rough-house your bike then 27.5 wheels of same build will be stronger than 29 and some extra mm in suspension will help. Smaller wheel bikes can also be lighter due to shorter stays, fork legs, spokes and less rubber. Just dont expect it to be faster.

[Myth]

I guess its fair to say that my skill/ability will not require me to have a super-high travel 27.5 bike at this stage, it may be something to consider for the future.  I think the longish travel 29er would then be the best to go for as I can not really say that I will never want to do a XC race (even though I really want a  trail bike).  Thus I think the 29er with longish travel would be best compromise to (for now) do both XC and trails with...

 

Thanks for all the advice, appreciate it!

[nonky]

And the award for blanket statement of the year goes to....

Get a Spez then rather.

[NicoBoshoff]

And the award for blanket statement of the year goes to....

Go wider...

[T-Bob]

This was a good article. 

 

Same bikes, 3 different wheel set ups and sizes. All Dual sus. Some conclusions. 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Go wider...

You forgot shorter

[Myth]

This was a good article. 

 

Same bikes, 3 different wheel set ups and sizes. All Dual sus. Some conclusions. 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

Thanks man, that's a pretty good summary of each wheel size...

 

Even though my heart is pulling towards a 27.5, I think practically and in terms of my riding skill a 29er will be a better buy for me right now.  That will leave the option to get a "fun" 27.5 at a later stage once I'm more confident on the trails...

[rudi-h]

I guess its fair to say that my skill/ability will not require me to have a super-high travel 27.5 bike at this stage, it may be something to consider for the future.  I think the longish travel 29er would then be the best to go for as I can not really say that I will never want to do a XC race (even though I really want a  trail bike).  Thus I think the 29er with longish travel would be best compromise to (for now) do both XC and trails with...

 

Thanks for all the advice, appreciate it!

 

Noooooooo!   When test-riding, check out the head angle and how easy it is to lift the front wheel (aka manual).  this should be much easier on e.g. a SC 5010 or Bronson than on a Tallboy LT (I've never ridden a Tallboy LT, its just an assumption, so please don't shoot me if i'm wrong).

 

I find the most useful bike skill of them all to be able to lift the front wheel and do a proper bunny hop.  this adds waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more confidence to my riding than anything else that I have ever learned.

 

PS 27.5's are hardly slower than 29ers IMO.  I can keep up to all of my mates that ride wagon wheeled machines.

 

Edit:  It's a lot easier to learn "essential" skills on a trail bike than on a marathon bike.  Its very hard to learn to hop, manual, ride rock gardens and jumps on a marathon bike due to the geometry

[popcorn_skollie]

Noooooooo! When test-riding, check out the head angle and how easy it is to lift the front wheel (aka manual). this should be much easier on e.g. a SC 5010 or Bronson than on a Tallboy LT (I've never ridden a Tallboy LT, its just an assumption, so please don't shoot me if i'm wrong).

 

I find the most useful bike skill of them all to be able to lift the front wheel and do a proper bunny hop. this adds waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more confidence to my riding than anything else that I have ever learned.

 

PS 27.5's are hardly slower than 29ers IMO. I can keep up to all of my mates that ride wagon wheeled machines.

 

Edit: It's a lot easier to learn "essential" skills on a trail bike than on a marathon bike. Its very hard to learn to hop, manual, ride rock gardens and jumps on a marathon bike due to the geometry

All true. But a 130mm 29er is hardly a marathon bike. Their heads are as slack and their stays are as short and their bb's as low as their big wheels will allow. Albeit somewhat contradictory. I've also read about 29er downhill bikes. There really is every kindav bike out there. pushing the envelope. see whats possible. i like that. i may prefer a certain kind of bike or wheelsize but i still like to see all kind of bikes being made. challenging the rules. i must admit that after reading on including what you said.perhaps op should go for a 650b. guess its his choice

[rudi-h]

All true. But a 130mm 29er is hardly a marathon bike. Their heads are as slack and their stays are as short and their bb's as low as their big wheels will allow. Albeit somewhat contradictory. I've also read about 29er downhill bikes. There really is every kindav bike out there. pushing the envelope. see whats possible. i like that. i may prefer a certain kind of bike or wheelsize but i still like to see all kind of bikes being made. challenging the rules. i must admit that after reading on including what you said.perhaps op should go for a 650b. guess its his choice

 

yip.  i've got zero experience with longer travel 29ers and don't know how they handle compared to short travel 29ers, so can't comment too much.  just would like to encourage the op to test ride the different options and specifically to consider weight distribution and riding position when doing so.  That is WAY more important IMO than wheel size.

 

just looking at that epic crash thread again, I can't help to think that 90% of the OTB crashes could have been avoided with slack geometry bikes.

[BarryH]

I am swallowing a lot of words lately so I will just tell my story.

I had a great 26" 120mm travel bike, and I enjoy the rougher stuff going down. I am heavy so climbing is not for me. Then my frame cracked and I got stuck.

A friend of mine borrowed his Cannondale Flash - all carbon XO  type of goodies to me. Man that thing climbs like a mountain goat.

I was very happy on my 26 er and wanted to stay on the smaller wheels, but the efficiency of the bigger wheels I could not ignore.

Yes the ride was very different, obviously, but on my third ride I felt I could push that 29er to go as fast if not faster down hill, but not on the really rocky stuff and drops.

Long story short, I now ride a Cannondale Trigger, 29er with 2.35 Hans Dampfh tyres. What a beat, 130mm travel, it climbs well and it really does not feel much different than my old 26er.

Believe me when I say it surprises me. It is very quick, very stable on the rougher stuff and climbs very well. A great surprise and lots of fun.

[DanielJhb]

Trek make most of their bikes, including trail bikes, in both 29 and 650b (you choose when ordering). That should show you that it really is just about personal preference. That being said, unless you racing x-country it doesn't make sense to sacrifice the advantages that 650b's have for trail riding (which is what you will probably be doing most of the time) - and if you really looking for speed in a x-country race then stick with a hardtail!

 

Also, having more travel than you need is not the worst thing in the world, so what if you only use 120mm of 140mm available travel on most of your rides?the relaxed geometry will make you fitter and stronger and is better for your body overall and you will have the option of still doing some light downhill or an enduro event now and again. You miss out on all of this with a sub 130mm travel bike (except maybe the Santa Cruz 5010) - all for the sake of making up a few minutes on the long uphills. Do you really want to be scared of every jump and drop off just to have a slightly faster overall time in the odd race you (may) do?

 

P.S. I am interested to see the stats for the epic i.t.o wheel selection this year. I think last year was close to 100% 29ers.