Why big wheels?
A better question might be, “Why did we ever ride small wheels?” Considering how much better the larger wheels roll over terrain, how much energy they save, how much they improve traction, and how much faster they descend, it’s no wonder bikes with larger wheels have been showing up at the front of so many races. While most bicycle companies are still trying to reinvent the wheel, those of us who’ve been riding mountain bikes from the very beginning have quietly realized that the real answer is pretty simple: make the wheel bigger. So what is a 29er? A 29er is a mountain bike with rims as large as a road bike, but the same old large tires you’d find on any mountain bike. On the road, we refer to this wheel size as “700c” an antiquated measuring designation that basically translates into 29″ total diameter, tires included, and makes for better overall rolling. It isn’t a new idea. In the early days of “velocipede” or “safety bicycle” design, roads were a lot worse than they are today-ba
