Will a 29er spoil my love of all things 26 and old?

[al-onestare]

To the original question, it'll only spoil it if you allow it to. You make the decisions - not us lot.

It'll no doubt change the way you feel, it's up to you what that does.

 

[mattr]

Some 26x2.4/2.5 are bigger than 650x2/2.1

My last new mtb lasted near enough 10 years.
In fact, I've only had 8 since i started MTBing 27 years ago, some of those fill completely different niches as well. (I didn't buy the two most expensive ones either.....)

 

[yakboy]

Re:

Reading through this thread I concur with what has already been said, I don't ride a 29r but a 650b 160mm Enduro..it eats terrain..pushes me to ride things that I probably shouldn't be riding at my age and is my weekly rider.....but..I still love my Retro's because they are quirky take a lot more riding and make me feel 21 again.

I also have a VW T5 and a 1966 VW Split Screen and the same principles apply, the T5 is smoother, more powerful, more comfortable and more economical..but do I love it more than the splitscreen which is slow noisy and takes a bit of skill to drive...Hell No.


Modern bikes take me places that I would never go on a Retro but i always seem to have a wider grin when i ride my retro

 

[ultrazenith]

26 wheels are too small for many larger riders. I found 29 too big but have yet to try 650b

However, I do find large modern tyres work well with older 26 wheels to bring the rotating size up to almost a 650b equivalent, some tyres bring the circumference beyond my road bikes.

I agree completely. This goes back to the old question of whether modern is faster, and how you define modern vs retro. My own experience is whee size is only part of the equation, and from my own experience a 26er can roll faster off road if you fit faster rolling tyres and tubes. The difference between 26 and 29 in terms of rolling over stuff is about 10%, but if your 29er has standard butyl tubes and tyres with average rolling resistance (like most people I know who ride 29ers), and you 26er has fast rolling tyres and tubeless (or latex tubes, a retro technology still in use today) your 26er might still end up rolling about 10% faster.

 

[Bimly]

For my 10 pence worth; I own both 29 and 26 modern and 80s 26" steel. In fact the 26 and 29 age the same bike, just used on different races. Gravel and fire trail, love the 29. Smoother, faster in a straight line. 26, faster acceleration, better control in the twisties and better hands down over bumps. HOWEVER...I would not trade my 80s bikes for anything for the sheer joy and feedback you get. Suspension and alloy saps more than power ......its your soul trickling away.