Bicycles with 29 inch wheels - pros and cons

If you've been following the trends in the cycling industry, you've probably noticed bikes with 29 inch wheels, which appeared several years ago and really have not gone anywhere until that time. The magazines were writing about them more and more, the manufacturers are making more and more of them. Even if you rarely see them on the road, consumers still buy them. So what happened? Are they here to stay? Do you think you are ready to buy such a bike?

It really depends on you and your type of riding.

There are, of course, some advantages to bikes with 29" wheels over standard 26". For example, a more comfortable ride, better rollover resistance, better grip. These are some significant benefits that bike designers are always trying to achieve.
On the other hand, looking at some of the current trends in the industry, there are a number of shortcomings in the production of bikes with 29-inch wheels. Such bikes are heavier, have a higher center of gravity (although not a little), and a number of serious problems can arise during long trips.

Also, for those of us who are not quite tall, bikes with 29-inch wheels require some sacrifices, such as setting a higher handlebar height and a higher top tube height. Because of this, the range of such bicycles is decreasing.

Comparison of 29″ and 26″ wheels

An interesting fact is that supporters of the 29 inch trend would like to point out that 26″ wheels were originally chosen as the standard. It's true, 26″ wheels and tires, originally used by bike manufacturers, became popular simply because it was a convenient size for adult mountain bikes. However, using this fact as an argument in support of 29″ wheels understates the fact that these same 26″ wheels are still in use today, and this is already a more compelling argument.

I think, by far, the biggest argument against the 29" category is that it creates some problems with long suspension travel, and it seems that this problem still needs to be solved by manufacturers. Some of them claim that because of the big wheels, not much suspension is needed, but this only applies in certain circumstances and only up to a certain level.

This is what the difference between bikes on 29″ and 26″ wheels looks like

I don't think the discussion about wheel size will decrease any time soon. There's no reason why there won't be room in the future for bikes with 26" and 29" wheels, or any other size.
You should always focus on the bike that is right for you. If it has 29-inch wheels, then this is the bike you need to get.

Anyway, bike 29 inches trustworthy. This is really a good idea.
The technology behind 29 inch bikes is getting better every season. And it is very interesting to observe new trends.

We bring to your attention a review of the CUBE bike on 29 inch wheels:

Overview of KONA bikes on 29 inch wheels: