My favorite MTB is my 24 hour bike. 26" wheels, XT/XTR mix with sweet-assed Spinergy wheels. Literally a bomb proof bike.
I've ridden 29ers with varying opinions. The first that I tried was just silly tall, felt completely awkward and there was so much toe-lap that I absolutely would not recommend even thinking about it (16" frame as I'm 5'5). A few years later, I rode another and the geometry had been changed significantly for the frame size. That one was workable. Didn't feel any taller than my 'cross bike (which is logical as 700c 'cross bike wheels are the same as 29er MTB). It's the height of the bottom bracket that makes it feel "tall" to me. I thought the acceleration was a little sluggish compared to my 26" wheeled bike. But it rolled over stuff like roots and baby-head rocks like they weren't even there.
I also test rode a 27.5. Very impressed with that. In the 16" frame, these wheels felt 'just right' under the bike. Nearly as quick and flickable as my 26" wheeled bike, but rolled more easily over obstructions with none of the too-tall feeling that even a good 29er gives me. Not sure that I would buy a 27.5 as I'm tending toward having one 26" and one 29er. Though the 29ers feel tall to me, on the right course, I could probably just fly on one. But I would highly suggest you give the 27.5 a try. Like Goldilocks, you might find it to be just right!
angela
