VeloNews.com:

Dear Lennard,

I’m seriously contemplating moving myself to a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels.

So my first question is, do you buy into the various arguments leveled by the 29er proponents about the inherent superiority of 29ers over a 26er (e.g. - decreased rolling resistance on both rough and smooth trail)? I have been reasonably successful at long mountain bike races (I was third at the Durango MTB100 this summer, and 22nd, 17th, and 15th at the Leadville 100 in previous years).

I don’t want to do anything to compromise my strength - long races with lots of climbing - and it’s darn near impossible to find out if a good 29er will help, hinder, or not affect my performance without buying one. Hence my asking the advice of people whose opinion I value.

Peter

Check out the Zinn-master’s answer…