is 29er really faster than 26er?

cycle monster

bennett_346 wrote:

Great story however i feel that isn't really mountain biking.

You are right, Rutland Water is not proper mountain biking, whatever that may be. However, it doesn't alter the fact that 29ers are faster bikes, which appears to be the experience of those who have actually ridden them.

supersonic

benpinnick wrote:

Acceleration is a bit of a myth i reckon, as you wouldn't set off in lowest gear on a 26, probably not even bottom 3 or 4, so youve got lots of gear options to compensate for the bigger wheel.

But you need more power to accelerate the wheels, even if you compensate for gear.

cycle monster

It occurs to me that these 26er v 29er posts are serving no purpose at all. If you have one, try the other, if you have neither of them try both. If I was undecided I would take a mate of a similar size, hire one of each and have both of us try each one.

pilch

cycle monster wrote:

If you have one, try the other, if you have neither of them try both. If I was undecided I would take a mate of a similar size, hire one of each and have both of us try each one.

I had both, rode both sold 1 and bought more of the other...

kammybear

I've just got my 29" LTD cube.

It does feel faster and you feel higher up for obvious reasons.

spankwilder

Yes. 29 is faster at most things, technical ability is down to frame design, but most builds aim to have the same axle to axle length as a 26 (and unless you bump your tyres a lot, the extra 1" poking out the front and back makes no odds). admittedly the extra 1" on the front can be a psychological barrier at times! but better traction, better climbing particularly over rough and you should see good differences on your times. I would demo a full suss and a hardtail over your local routes and see how your times come out , for efficiency and good balance on a full suss I would stick with something like the Anthem setup.

bennett_346

:roll:

cooldad

bennett_346 wrote:

:roll: :roll:

You must bump your tyres a lot, obviously.

bennett_346

Well naturally since i have a 26er i never bump anything, since the wheels aren't big enough to ride off road on.

cooldad

bennett_346 wrote:

Well naturally since i have a 26er i never bump anything, since the wheels aren't big enough to ride off road on.

Yeah best we stick to canal paths and BMX tracks.

spankwilder

If it helps, you can let a little air out of the larger tyres that way you'll get a bit more clearance.

bennett_346

Won't make a difference, 26 inch wheels don't physically work off road remember. They're too small to turn, i've been on many a 26er, they just sit there and wont move.

29ers are the only way of going off the road, all the media says so.

spankwilder

With your 26" being 'static' 'slow rolling' 'susceptible to bumps' and the 29" being to 'non flickable' 'long' 'unstable' the 750b will come along soon with good marketing to let everyone ride again.

bazmcg

I have been riding MTBs with 26inch wheels for the last 20 years. I bought a Canyon AL 7.9 29er on Monday and took it out for it's first spin last night. I can honestly say I have never been on a bike that could go so fast around my local trails. It was brilliant. My trails are littered with roots and rocks and technical climbs. The 29er climbed the technical stuff a lot better than any 26er I have ever owned. A major advantage of the 29er was the higher bottom bracket. With my Stumpjumper 26er the bottom bracket was very low so as soon as the terrain got rooty or rocky I couldn't pedal without clipping the cranks or the chainrings. On the 29er I could pedal through everything hence why it was a lot faster. The bike also felt more stable at speed especially over the rough stuff. Canyon have a sale on at the minute as well so the 7.9 is only €1200.

supersonic

A high BB is nothing to do with being 26 or 29 though. Either format can have high or low BBs ;-)

JokerZero

I have a 29er Hardtail and a 26 FS.
Both have their value.
Strava does not lie, the 29er is way quicker on long steady climbs, same on the flats or even descents with smooth flowing singletrack.

When riding with a group there are some long, lumpy but basically straight descents upon which guys with really nice 26inch FS will be freewheeling, and I will be on the breaks to avoid running into the back of them.

That said, the 26 FS is way faster on the few technical twisty descents I get to ride, and loads of fun to boot.

supersonic

What 29er, what 26er? There could be other reasons why they behave so.

cooldad

JokerZero wrote:

guys with really nice 26inch FS will be freewheeling, and I will be on the breaks to avoid running into the back of them.

That happens to me, but I'm sure it's gravity working on my bulk.

ps brakes.

JokerZero

True, comparing a HT with a FS for starters is pretty unfair for starters.

So FTR the HT is a giant XTC 29er 1 with answer carbon bars and a hop bb and one of the heaviest wheelsets you can find stock on an XC bike (see other post), and the FS is just a 26 inch Camber Comp with an up rated shimano crankset/external bb (I managed to shear the stock one drive side, no I have no idea how I did this either).

That said my younger bro rides a 26 hardrock HT and a Marin - now he has 14 years of youthful energy and genuine fitness on me, he can outclimb me every time on either of those entry level 26 inch HTs, (except on really steep loose stuff but I reckon thats down to tyre choice).

But, he has to work hard to keep up with me cruising on the flat and cant keep up on the descents with either, certainly not freewheeling.

Daz555

Without access to data from massive double-blind random control trials I'll continue to assume that the benefits of 26 v 29 v 650 are all just placebo.

The whole debate seems to have no more substance to it than one discussing shredded wheat v mini shredded wheat.

VWsurfbum

Daz555 wrote:

discussing shredded wheat v mini shredded wheat.

Well thats obvious, Mini Shedded wheat wont get over any bumps at all!

benpinnick

JokerZero wrote:

Strava does not lie.

Lol. Strava lies. Alot.

bennett_346

Never seen an accurate strava thingy once.

Rushmore

bennett_346 wrote:

Never seen an accurate strava thingy once.

Now that depends.. If i'm KOM, then its definitely accurate... 100%

If someone takes it away from me.. its either a glitch, cheat or the drove it... simple as...

oodboo

The circumference of a 26" circle is just over 81"
The circumference of a 29" circle is just over 91"

A 26" wheel rotating at 1rpm will travel 81" in one minute
A 29" wheel rotating at 1rpm will travel a further 10" in the same amount time

Basic maths says the the larger wheel travels faster as it has covered a greater distance in the same amount of time.

There you go, a 29" wheel is faster. End of debate.

Of course this is meaningless in the real world. Ride what you like riding and if you're curious about other wheel sizes then try them for yourself as your experince may be totally different to someone else's.

YeehaaMcgee

No.

JokerZero

I'll agree its not 100% accurate, but on a 4.5-5 min climb I consistently get a 20-30 second difference between the two rides, thats a big difference. Agree there are plenty of other variables but Im not talking about one pair of runs here.

Besides - its down to what works for you.

bennett_346

I'm faster than all y'all, and i ride 14 inch wheels so the theory is wrong and 29ers are ghey.

cooldad

I've taken the wheels off and run with the frame. I'm just as slow though.

supersonic

oodboo wrote:

The circumference of a 26" circle is just over 81"
The circumference of a 29" circle is just over 91"

A 26" wheel rotating at 1rpm will travel 81" in one minute
A 29" wheel rotating at 1rpm will travel a further 10" in the same amount time

Basic maths says the the larger wheel travels faster as it has covered a greater distance in the same amount of time.

There you go, a 29" wheel is faster. End of debate.

Of course this is meaningless in the real world. Ride what you like riding and if you're curious about other wheel sizes then try them for yourself as your experince may be totally different to someone else's.

That is not the reason they roll faster - it is the reason why they are higher geared. Looking at it from your point of view, the 29er bike has had more energy inputted into it.