The 29er vs. the 26 Inch Mountain Bike

If you are into mountain biking, then you have probably heard of a 29er and a 26 inch mountain bike. I myself have both a 29er (Trek Marlin) and a 26 inch (Gravity Base Camp) which I have rode many times each. A 29er has a bigger wheel and usually takes a bit more to stop but it’s better for bigger people. A 26 inch has smaller tires that most people are used to seeing. Deciding which bike is better for your is more about what feel you like better in a mountain bike.

The 29er Explained

The 29er’s big change is the tires – they are bigger and bulkier looking than the 26 inch. A 29er seems to fit a taller rider much better than the 26 inch. A heavier set person would also probably enjoy the 29er more than the 26 as well. While the 29er isn’t a sluggish bike and while it’s not difficult to work with, it is a bit more challenging to handle when comparing handling to a 26 inch mountain bike. It may take a bit more to go around corners but it isn’t anything to consider bad about riding the bike. The brake systems on a 29er work perfectly but after riding any real mountain bike terrain, you would want to make sure you inspect all brakes and gears. The great thing about a 29er is that is requires less skill to operate it.

The 26 Inch Explained

The 26 inch mountain bike has the tires that most of us are used to. Most mountain bikers will have a 26 inch mountain bike and most of us had them as kids as well. The 26 inch mountain bike does have the tendency to be a bit quicker when it comes to navigating skinny mountain bike trails and terrain. However, the 26 inch bike requires the rider to develop more skill when riding. The 29er is a bit slower and doesn’t require as much skill so seeing that the 26 inch is quicker and “looser” on the trails, you will need to get used to riding it better.

Which is better for me?

This really depends of what you like and what seems to fit you the best! My suggestion would be trying them both out (renting them both for a day or something like that) and seeing which one you like the best. I personally enjoy the 29er more than the 26 inch. The reason for that is because the 29er seems to fit me better. I am about 6 and a half feet tall so the bigger setup has less stress in my back when I am riding. However, I do notice the difference in handling and corners and such on the 29er verse my 26 inch mountain bike.

Thanks for reading my blog post on the 29er verses the 26 inch mountain bike. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. If you like what you see on my blog – then I encourage you to share it with other cyclists to help show me support for my free blog posts to you!

What do you think? Have you ever ridden a 29er mountain bike before? How about a 26 inch one? Which did you like more and why?