I have been riding for 24 years both mtb and road, I still ride 4-5 days a week :)

I've been doing it since 1992. Still ride/race and has not lost one bit of enjoyment.

29'r is my choice, both Hardtail and Full


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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

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I'm fresh out of mountain bikes as of last fall, I was riding single speed 29ers both fully rigid and front suspension. I can see buying a full squish 29er or 27.5 in the future, as I'm ready to get back to a full suspension bike. Age tells me it'll make riding more enjoyable and safer. This will have to wait for funds though, I bought a gravel racer last fall to replace what I had.

I chicken out today as well. :)

Giant Trance X 29er here. I get out about 2 to 3 times a week. I demoed this bike before I bought it and fell in love...coming from a 26er it does almost everything just as good and some stuff much better on the trails I ride.

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I live in Mt. Bike Heaven and ride a lot! I rode a Niner Jet 9 Carbon last year, my first 29er - came from a 26" full suspension Tomac cross country rig. I'm 6' tall and ride a size large frame. I generally like it, but there's a few funny things about how it rides and it took me a bunch of rides/time to get used to it. For the trails where I live, and the type of rider I am, the Jet 9 is about perfect in concept.

In general, if you're fit, a 29er can be pretty quick. Momentum is key with the bigger wheels. They shine on middle ring & big ring rolling terrain & the bigger wheels & tires really do provide another inch or 2 worth of suspension.

Like all big expensive equipment purchases, if you can spend a ride or 2 or 3 demoing a few different bikes before you throw down, it's best.

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You should look at getting a nice set of wheels; like some Stans with Chris King hubs, or similar. It will really wake up your bike on hills. Giant wheels are strong but heavy.

I MTB and just started getting my family involved. We all ride Specialized. I have a Stumpjumper Comp 26", wife rides my old 2003 Epic and the kids ride Hotrocks. The bigger wheels may be more popular, but I don't think it will help my endurance which is the limiting factor in my riding.
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After a 9 month break, I am back at it. I pedaled everyday up until I stopped. 6 days in now. Going on vacation for a few days tomorrow, but plan to be back at it when I return.

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I'm a huge mnt bike fan! SmileWavy I'm not sure if I will go with a 27.5 when I change out my bike.. Def won't go 29er, but will give the 27.5 a demo just to see how it feels, but I really enjoy the 26..sad to see it getting tossed aside by manufactures these days.

Can't wait to get high again ;)
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The rig. 2009 trek remedy 26in 160mm travel. 32single ring
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And of course have to take my trail buddy, or deal with seeing the sad face when leaving the house haha
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Happy to see a mnt bike thread on pelican!!

Careful not to piss me off when riding! Notice what is in my right hand... :D

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I just built this on Monday, first ride Thursday. 2014 Niner Jet 9 RDO, to go along with my 26" Yeti which is still by far my preferred ride. Like others have said, if you can have more than one bike, there is nothing better than a bike designed for the type of riding you want to do, on a particular day. I demo'd a Trek Remedy 9.8 27.5" last year and found that it was an awesome bike, but was not as fun on the technical downhills and was not as fast as my old Niner Jet 9. And this new full carbon Jet 9 is even faster! (You'll also need a fat bike for snow, and a dirt jumper for the pump track, and a BMX bike, and so on.....) I might suggest that if you're looking for a first bike, get a 26" while you can. It's sad that they may join the pennyfarthing in history!

Buy used, and learn to wrench yourself, and it's not as crazy expensive as you might think. Good luck and have fun!

[IMG]<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/15874269@N03/16698869900" title="Jet 9 RDO by madridvb, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8721/16698869900_68e5153e68_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Jet 9 RDO"></a>[/IMG]

I've been biking with an old full suspension GT-LTS for years. It was great when I was down south with long down hill portions. But up here there's more pedaling up hill. So a couple years ago I picked up a Cannondale Flash 3. It's a light weight hard tail which made a huge difference. That GT full suspension sucked up so much energy going up hill but I'm sure they're better now. I stuck with the 26 because I didn't care for the 29ers but now the 27.5 is becoming popular. I don't know, I like the 26. I changed the pedals to Spank Spike with Teva link shoes and Ergon grips.

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Me too, mine's XT. I think I bought it in 2005? I paid too much for the thing to get rid of it and it still is a great bike!

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Have ridden my 1988 Trek Antelope for years, upgraded to a Mrazek Boh about 4 years ago and last week into an Intense Spider 29 Carbon. This thing is a work of art. I still ride the "bunny" trails locally.

Doesn't hurt that my brother is an authorized Orbea, Specialized, Intense, .... dealer!

Here she is!

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I have the benefit of living at the base of a stupendous riding area (Galbraith Mt) and a couple of hours from Whistler and try to ride as much as I can.
If I was looking to buy right now, I would certainly give 27.5's a serious look but with two Trek Fuels, my wife is not going to go for that anytime soon.

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Santa Cruz Blur LT 2007-08. I like it alot bought it used in good shape 4 Years ago, To try Mt Biking it replaced my no suspension 1991 trail bike.

Wife has a new 29 and loves it, she is much faster on the good trails. I like the increase of pedaling efficiency.

I would look at everything out now. The comparison between the new bikes and the old bikes is pretty shocking.

I think I would go with the 29 if I bought a new one. Lots of decisions.

Nice Intense! Another VPP bike...
When I bought my Blur, a riding buddy bought an Intense. it was more of a XC race bike than my trail bike but it did ride very nicely.
I am going to test ride a Santa Cruz Bronson in the next while. 27.5s on it.
Will let you know what I think...