Changes to CyclingNews.com’s 29er vs 26er Experiment
August 18th, 2006 by Tim GrahlAwhile back CyclingNews.com started what they said was an experiment to end the debate of 29 inches vs 26 inches. However there were a lot of flaws in the basics of the testing and plenty of people, including the TwentyNineInches.com readers, pointed them out.
So Part 2 of the experiment isn’t an update on how it’s going as much as an update on things they have changed to make the comparison a bit closer to reality.
Head over and read the article then let us know what you think of the changes. Does this make the comparison more fair? Does it matter at all?
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Doesn’t matter.
What comes next, what’s the best 29″ bike?
Which is better, fs 29 or rgid 29?
Best 29 handlebar?
Best bottle opener?
It matters because every day ignorant bike shop employees are asked what’s better. Riders want to know before they try. Just like medicines, “will this make me better?”.
In some ways, yes … it could matter to those who are sitting on the 26/29′er fence and are not sure which way to jump.
But no test like this is going to really tell or show the individual rider which is actually the best bike for him/her, because bikes are such a personal thing.
Because we are all unique individuals and like or dislike certain things, the only real solution is to do what I tell every other rider who asks me about my 29′ers to do… “Just try it for yourself”…
You will know within a very short time whether the big wheels suit your riding style, body and mind.
For me, it took one ride. I knew almost immediately that this was “it”.
Tests like this can be good to bring out the differences, the pro’s and con’s of the 26/29′er debate, but in the end, only riding one yourself can show you the real experience.
R.
I think what they have done here is brilliant. They have changed the geometry of the test bikes (custom built) so that the rider has exactly the same cockpit to work in. This has required a few compromises like the inability to fit a late model derailleur and having toe to front wheel issues but the comparisons (if James ever gets around to conducting them) will not be apples and oranges comparisons but hopefully a real indication of the potential of the 29er. Andrew