Do bigger wheels on a mountain bike make a difference?
May 19th, 2005 by Tim GrahlQ. What do you think of the newer mountain bikes with 29-inch wheels? I’m thinking of upgrading my 1989 Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo for something more roadworthy, but that can still take the abuse of dirt trails. I was thinking of getting a cyclocross bike, but perhaps a 29-inch wheeler might be more suited to the kind of riding I want to do.
A. The 29-inch wheels now on some mountain bikes (Gary Fisher makes several models) have two supposed advantages: One, you can use 700c tires on them (the road bike standard these days, referring to a 700-millimeter outer diameter), an advantage if you want to use a mountain-type bike for touring or recreational riding on asphalt. Two, the bigger wheel doesn’t hit obstacles like roots or rocks at such a severe angle as the traditional 26-incher, so in theory can roll over the obstacle more easily.
But, is a 29-inch wheel “better” than a 26-inch wheel? Hard to say. Certainly, the 26-inch standard is arbitrary, simply being the original size of the fat tires when mountain bikes were first pioneered back in the 1970s. But the 29-inch size—really just another way of identifying a 700c wheel—is in itself quite arbitrary, its origins to some degree lost in the misty past of cycling. No one seems to have done any real empirical study as to what the ideal wheel size would be. I’m willing to buy into the idea that a 29-inch wheel rolls better in some instances, something that might be particularly useful for downhill riding. But it’s also going to be heavier than a 26-inch wheel, perhaps meaning greater fatigue on long rides, plus lesser acceleration.
via Outside Magazine
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Okay folks, here we have another story on 29 inch wheeled bikes from a very uninformed/ inexperienced viewpoint. That’s okay, as long as you realize that is the case. Let’s take a look at some points, shall we?
First; this wheel/tire combination is not the cure-all for every off road riders ailments. However; it bears serious consideration from most trailbike users for a couple of very good reasons. One: the twentynine inch wheel/tire combination rolls over obstacles better. The writer of the “Outside” article admits as much. Yet, the writer only sees this as a benefit in a downhill situation. What? Check out what it can do for you on a climb! The bigger wheel/tire combo does not have to spend as much of your energy going up and over obstacles, like a 26″ wheel would. It’s easier to go up, just like it is going down, around, or where ever.
Add to this the elongated contact patch to the ground, and your talking better traction as well.
Secondly, we have the mention of weight. While it is obvious that “more” of something usually means “heavier” we have to look a little deeper than the plainly obvious for the full effect. Riding a bicycle is about momentum, amongst other things. Keeping your momentum on a ride is a very good thing. Think about going downhill. Your gaining momentum as gravity pulls on you. If you do not add anything by pedaling, your momentum will gradually be lost as you climb up the other side of the valley, until you stop. Keeping your momentum is critical to climbing up the other side as easily as possible. So, you might choose to pedal downhill, to add to your momentum to aid you in climbing the other side. Larger diameter wheels, while being a little heavier, tend to help you conserve your momentum, making your ride smoother, and giving you more “flow”. Larger diameter wheels also tend to be more stable, giving you an advantage on tight, techy trails, where a 26″ wheel will be harder to keep upright. While the benifits of the 29 inch wheel/tire combo are an obvious advantage to taller riders, smaller riders really benifit from the stability, and momentum saving tendencies that the 29 inch wheel/tire combo brings to the table.
Much of what I’ve written here is not really quantifiable unless you actually experience the ride difference yourself. Try it if you get a chance. You might just find that 29 inch wheel/tires give you a better ride than what you may have thought!