Mr2926er

average riders that doesn't translate to the same degree to professionals or experts who can throw a leg over anything and ride it well. That sophistication is missing from most of the public riding bikes. While this does make the bike-buying public open to manipulation, at the same time, should a prospective buyer test ride a rig, they'll notice differences. Some will like the differences and what that means to their riding style, others won't and they'll stay with what they know when making their next purchase. My personal bikes are in both 29 and 26 inch wheel sizes. I ride both bikes on the same trails all the time and have had a lot of saddle time to compare them. There are benefits and drawbacks when each is compared to the other. For me, the 29er was a welcome opening into a world of bike geometry that just fits me well (I'm 6-2, 215pds). Conversely, riding my 26 inch bike, I always feel a little bit like a Great Dane humping a football. So, my point is that getting away from race results and expert usage statistics and back to what the average Joe does in looking for a bike does, I think, identify why these bikes are being purchased. I never felt comfortable on 26 inch bikes.... someone made a 29er; I like how it fits and I bought it. I also happen to like how it rolls, it's stability, the size of it's tire contact area, etc. etc.

I think the big benefit of variability in wheel size is for the low to medium skilled rider. I have spoken to many people on the trails who are on 29ers and have found that riding such bikes has made them more confident, more capable of riding trails that are more technical than they used to ride. These are the kind of riders who tend to roll over things rather then pick a line; no wonder 29ers work for them. Regardless of the number of technically proficient riders, there will always be more average and intermediate mountain bikers in the system. Riding bikes with different wheel sizes can provide obvious and very different experiences for those riders. That is to say, the positive benefits of those wheels have a strong psychological element which helps with confidence. Issues related to momentum and the heavier weight of those same wheels aren't so obviously negative when they just had the 'best ride ever' on a bit of trail. The bottom line is that a lot of the bike buying public can benefit by choosing hardware that helps THEM ride better. Of course I'd be naïve to think that companies don't try to encourage 'latest and greatest' fads. By all means, they do. But amongst all the hype there is a reality of benefit to

Rational person: "They make a variety of bikes with different components, tire sizes and frame geometry. Wow, amazing to have the opportunity to try different options and choose what really works for you". Irrational person: "Are you MAD???!!!! That which pleases me should be pleasurable for all. More 'options' is nonsensical and an unnecessary pursuit of things that I'm not interested in." Rational person: "My GAWD, you have convinced me! I also realize the idea that Apple and Samsung's rivalry pushing innovation and choice is an absurd waste of energy as well. Oh how I long for sameness, uniformity, rigidness, and minimal imagination." Irrational person: "Join me my friend, I'm on my way to North Korea where your conformist enlightenment will be complete........".

I wonder how this would have turned out if he was on a stinky and she was riding a coiler......