Atlantis w/ some fatties!

[Tony DeFilippo]

Yet another snow day in the DC area... I think the schools will be in session till July 4th at this rate!  Supposedly we're in for our biggest snowfall since 2011 but I'll believe it when I see it.  I don't have true snow tires, but I did pick up some sweet used 29x2.1 Kenda Small Block Eight tires at the co-op recently and had been hoping to try them out on my Atlantis.  700Cx54mm tires!  I need to measure the actuals on my 23mm Dyad rims but they fit just fine once the fenders came off.  I also finally got around to moutning my front Nitto rack/basket/light setup.  Peter White can rest assured that I've maintained the centerline, above tire location of the light but he'll be upset that I don't have fender coverage for the beastie...  I'll keep an eye on it and possibly add some kind of splash protection.  It's a sweet light, and I can see based on the light pattern why keeping it center and over tire is desireable.  Stand over w/ the monster tires is not improved for me... predictably, but it is fun.  I'm going to take it for a spin this morning before the snow comes in then we'll see about later!  More pix on the blog - http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2014/01/monster-snow-cross-atlantis.html

Tony

[Howard H]

It's hard to tell, but is there any room for fenders? On second thought, you might not want them if you're riding in the snow. I rode out past Leesburg on Sunday and there was plenty of snow on the trail. It eventually filled up the space between wheel/fender on the Ram until I had to stop and clean it out.

Love the basket up front. It's so convenient and the Shopsack will fit perfectly.

[Howard H]

PS - the bike looks GREAT with those fatties

On Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8:11:56 AM UTC-5, Tony DeFilippo wrote:

[Tony DeFilippo]

Thanks Howard!  I'm going to take a harder look at the fenders this evening if it's not to cold in the garage.  It was simpler to just remove them last night vice messing with the height.  It'll be very tight to get the set of SKS ones I have in there and to your point I'm not sure it makes sense in any case.  The tread on these tires is honestly small enough I'm not sure they'll be a big help in the snow but they are fun.  I took a very leisurly ride around the neighborhood including a short .5 mile stretch on a dirt path and enjoyed the 'float' I got.  The front basket was a long time coming, I have that on my Trek and much prefer it.  Seeing your Sam was just another reminder.

I'm glad to hear you made the Leesburg ride, I did the Arlington Loop yesterday early in the morning but I wished I had grabbed one more layer as I got pretty cold by the end.  Originally I was going to push out to that deli in Falls Church on the W&OD before I completed the loop but I scrapped that when my toes went numb!! :)  

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[dougP]

Tony:

If fenders can't be done, I've used 1/16" thick HDPE (an industrial plastic) zip tied to the underside of racks as a sort of "faux fender".  On the rear, it prevents the wet stripe up the back.  It may work for your front situation just to protect the light and keep some water off the contents of the basket.  It's relatively soft and flexible, so can be forced into gentle curves.  You may be able to find from an industrial plastics source as "60 mil HDPE liner".  If you're curious but don't want to go to a lot of trouble, let know how much you need.  I have a lifetime supply & will gladly send enough for multiple experiments. 

dougP

[Michael]

I never knew Atlantii had those swirly curves on their chainstays until I saw your Atlantis last month. I can see the curves in the pic. Very cool.

 

What about wooden fenders? They are flat, so they would cover everything and you wouldn't have to worry about if the sides will fit between tires and frame. 

[Tony DeFilippo]

Doug,

Great suggestion about the HPDE, I am not sure that tires this size will be a long term solution for my Atlantis but if it ends up being a regular occurance I'll look into this stuff. I think I've seen something similar on some of the fat-bike blogs actually.  Do you have any pictures of your setup?

Michael,

Wood fenders would probably work, I'm guessing they are a bit thicker than plastic/metal but not wrapping around the edges would keep the sizing pretty easy.  I'm going to hold off on fenders for now and just ride it around while we keep this colder weather w/ threat of snow.  We've got a couple inches out there now so I may give it a go before it gets dark...

Tony

On Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 2:36 PM, Michael <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

I never knew Atlantii had those swirly curves on their chainstays until I saw your Atlantis last month. I can see the curves in the pic. Very cool.

 

What about wooden fenders? They are flat, so they would cover everything and you wouldn't have to worry about if the sides will fit between tires and frame. 

--

[Steve Palincsar]

On 01/21/2014 03:26 PM, Tony DeFilippo wrote:
>
> Wood fenders would probably work, I'm guessing they are a bit thicker
> than plastic/metal but not wrapping around the edges would keep the
> sizing pretty easy.

Also cuts back on their effectiveness, I think.

[Allingham II, Thomas J]

Definitely -- the flat wood fenders are fine in a drizzle, especially with a flap to catch the run off, but not terribly effective in a hard rain. They can be really beautiful, though, and they're very easy to install.

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[dougP]

tony:

I've never taken photos but it's pretty easy.  I just make a template from cardboard since it usually takes me a couple of shots to get it right.  Then I cut the HDPE with a box cutter (this stuff is tough, use a new blade).  When I've gotten it properly fit, then drill holes where the zip ties need to be, and tie it in place.  I installed a Tubus Cosmo a while back but with our lack of rain haven't been motivated to make one for it.  I'll take a photo when I do.

dougP

[hsmitham]

Tony,

Don't know why but I think fat tires on an Atlantis just looks right. And those Kenda's look great. Here's a DIY for studded tires...since it doesn't snow in LA really no reason for studs...on the matter of snow and fenders I've seen never experienced the jam up and it seems like not running with them in snow sort of makes sense, and what Steve P. said about the flat fender I believe is correct  perhaps wear something to protect against the wet strip up the back.

~Hugh

[Tony DeFilippo]

Hugh,

I'm with you, I haven't ridden that much since the new tires are on but I love the look of the bike... rough and ready...  I did take it out in the snow tonight for my shift at the bike co-op.  Really short ride but on my way home I strayed into a small park with plenty of snow on grass with tree roots.  I felt like a little kid, lots of fun!  Not going anywhere, not logging miles, only spending about 10 min really...

The tires did great on the streets which are still a bit of a mess in my neighborhood, hardpack snow, salt, black ice, and clear pavement all in random patches.  On the snowy park I was definitely able to loose traction with some turns but for such small tread they gave me more confidence than I had anticipated.  Enough that I'm actually contemplating commuting tomorrow. Going to be mighty cold, I'll make the call in the morning.

The DIY studs are intriguing! Might be a fun project though I'm not sure these tires are a good candidate.  I'm definitely jealous of your snow-less, moderate to amazing constant weather patterns!

Tony

[Hugh Smitham]

Tony,

Don't be jealous, were in major a drought I can't remember the last time we had rain?? And the high pressure pushing the jet stream North and East has created an inversion layer which  traps nitrogen oxide and carbon particulates close to the ground making breathing a bummer. Yeah it's nice to have Sunny days in the 80's but then there's the too much of a good thing issue. 

I'm about to do a medicine dance to summon the rain Gods.

So bundle up and take a short ride in that blustery weather my friend.

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

[Tony DeFilippo]

http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2014/01/national-mall-snow-ride.html

Certainly not a definitive 'test', but each time I'm out w/ these 2.1" tires I'm loving them more.  The National Mall has a crushed stone walkway going down either side of it and my wife and I took a very leisurely and relatively short ramble w/ the knobby-tired-bikes this morning.  I wanted to play in the snow a bit but also keep the exposure to the cold brief enough that I'd get her company.  Great time all around.  We warmed up in the US Botanic Garden taking in the warmth, humidity and gorgeous greenness that we are definitely lacking this time of year in DC.  I'm primed to ride most of the week for my commute after lying low last week.  Can't wait to get back in the saddle!

Tony

[Deacon Patrick]

Knobbies in the snow are a beautiful thing!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Michael]

Tony,
Have you seen the new 700c Atlantis build kit on rivbike.com? It's listed in the New Stuff link on their site.
Comes with 700 x 50mm tires now. Far out.

[Michael]

Thanks for the blog shots, Tony.
The Mall looks like a great place to learn to ride in the snow. Flat, open, safe!

[Tony DeFilippo]

That is a great looking  build kit for a 700c Atlantis/Hunq...  I'm definitely enjoying the fat tires.  I'm not 100% sure of the legalities of cycling on the Mall but it was a pretty sparse day for pedestrians and I felt like it was safe.  Great backdrop for pictures!

[Michael]

I hope its not illegal. It is fun to ride there. I did it last spring with my wife among hundreds of other cyclists. Bikes laying all over the place, and owners basking in the sun. Noone was getting run off the property by the cops. I didn't see any signs. Let us know if you find out for sure.

 

 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rbw-owners-bunch/national/rbw-owners-bunch/EIx4KnmIN6Y/KqlkAvbYEfAJ

[Tony DeFilippo]

Nice pics!  I see people all the time too, I've also heard of cyclists getting hassled by the Park Police, but I take my chances!

On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 5:40 PM, Michael <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

I hope its not illegal. It is fun to ride there. I did it last spring with my wife among hundreds of other cyclists. Bikes laying all over the place, and owners basking in the sun. Noone was getting run off the property by the cops. I didn't see any signs. Let us know if you find out for sure.

 

 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rbw-owners-bunch/national/rbw-owners-bunch/EIx4KnmIN6Y/KqlkAvbYEfAJ

--

[Chris Lampe 2]

For the longest time, a photo of an Atlantis on Peter White's website that is described as being outfitted with his best parts was my favorite Atlantis photo.  Now it's this one.  I've become hooked on the 26" wheel/fat-tire combo.  Nothing else looks or feels as good to me now and the Atlantis, with it's traditional diamond frame, just looks TOUGH with fat knobbies.  I haven't had the pleasure of riding one yet. 

[Hugh Smitham]

Chris, 

I too have been lusting after fat tire Atlantis...I don't see that many. Here's one I like a lot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37542512@N04/4815790104/in/pool-rivendellatlantis/

and another 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fireman483/8541167230/in/pool-rivendellatlantis

But I am curious Chris what is it about the 26" wheel size that has you so smitten. It's especially interesting when there is so much talk of 29ers and 650b tires. Please elucidate. 

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

[Chris Lampe 2]

Keep in mind that I'm not a mountain biker and other than riding gravel roads way back when, all my riding is on pavement.  

I can't say how much is the fat tires themselves.  The difference between my 40mm and my 55mm tires is far larger than the numbers would suggest.  I think it's that old volume thing....with the 55mm tires having a lot more.  The closest I've come to riding a 700c fatter tire was a short test ride on a Surly Karate Monkey and it lacked something that both my old 820 and the new Troll I test rode have.  

I tend to ride like a little kid, meaning I don't ride from point A to point B.  My favorite place to ride (when it's not packed with pedestrians) is the walking path in our subdivision.  This is a typical sidewalk on gently rolling terrain and I don't think there is a true straight stretch of sidewalk that is longer than a few yards.  Tons of curves with some twists and turns while speeding up and slowing down, according to the path.  My experience is that the 26" wheels accelerate faster and are far more maneuverable than 700c wheels.  The entry I use to the walkway is a gutter that is at a 90 degree angle to the sidewalk with curb on either side so there is no room for error when making that turn.  It's a bit scary on 700c x 40mm tires but a breeze on 559 x 55mm tires.  I think it boils down to a ride that is very nimble and quick while still being very smooth and cushy. 

I've read numerous accounts that suggest 700c wheels rollover things better than 26" wheels and that 700c wheels maintain their momentum better and the latter, at least, seems to be true in my experience (I never roll over things so no experience with the first).   Riding my 700c bike is fun but almost bordering on boring.  Riding a 26" bike is both exhilarating and it literally makes me feel like a little kid again.  For me, a long ride is 10 miles so the 26" wheels are a no-brainer.  If I was more into traveling and riding longer distances, I'd have to do some soul-searching before making a firm commitment to one or the other.  

[Hugh Smitham]

Chris,

Interesting, the 26" Atlantis I'm building up as a off road beasty for rough stuff bike camping...I'm still debating what knobby tires I'll run? I currently have some Big Ben's for it but not sure they're the road tires I'll want. Lots of folks swear by the Schwalbe supreme's.

Anyway, one of my concerns lately with all the talk of 650b & 29ers is riding for distance...it seems so many folks are super concerned with efficiency,  read that as speed.  So yeah it has been messing with my head. Just need to build it and ride it, then I'll have some feedback.

-Hugh

[Chris Lampe 2]

I feel your pain.

My existance right now consists of obsessing about whether to buy a Troll frameset or simply transfer my new components over to the old 820.  Sometimes I even throw getting an Ogre frameset into the mix, which would let me use my Rich Lesnik built 700c wheels.  It's usually some outside influence that leads me to consider the Ogre, something like reading someone's experiences or rewatching "Ride the Divide".  It usually just takes one comparison ride between my 700c and 26" bike to swing me back to 26" wheels.

I've read that the WBT Nano is the number one choice for Great Divide riders.  It appears to be a not-too-aggressive multi-surface tire of high quality.  It might be worth some research if you haven't looked into it yet.  

I'll be curious to hear your experiences with your Atlantis.  That bike is basically the prototype for what I want, although sometimes I find myself wanting an actual MTB, like the Troll.  

[Hugh Smitham]

Chris,

Yeah it's a pain I have to live with. I'll survive.

List member Mike Shiller posted a WTB release note about the Nano heck it may have been on this same topic? It gets all jumbled together :-)  But the Nano looks interesting and a tire of serious contention, it's relativity light weight, has good knobby tread and is supposed to roll pretty fast on pavement. There are so many choices in the 26" field.

I think that's interesting that you really do prefer the 26" even after riding the 700c. One of the things I liked about the 700c when I had a race/road bike was just how much distance I could cover quickly. Once you get those wheels up to speed they're really efficient. But that's usually a bike with only one purpose. These days I like to go where I want to go and that means dirt too and carrying bags.

In terms of the Troll and Ogre, I don't really know enough about them to really speak cogently but the fat tire bikes are tempting as it would open up previously un-ride able areas to me. But then I've committed myself to the Rivendell's. I'd have to sell one of them to buy another bicycle, so I'd say I'm a long way off from pulling the trigger on one of those. Funny how we are influenced by those outside opinions, sometimes with little to no firm merit.

The ride the divide is awesome. I think the Atlantis could be used for that ride running 2.1 or larger tires. But I'd do it on a more leisurely pace not to compete.

I'm hoping to document the build up of the Atlantis and give feedback on the differences between the AAH and the Atlantis. It should be a fun process.

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

[Tom Virgil]

Hugh,

Medicine dance is working.

Awesome job.

Tom

[Anne Paulson]

I've asked this before, but how wide tires does a 26" Atlantis take? I'm skeptical mine would take anything wider than 2.1. 

People do the Divide on touring bikes. It works. But if you read the journals of people on touring bikes, you see them taking paved detours a lot.

On Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 10:03 AM, Hugh Smitham <hughs...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

The ride the divide is awesome. I think the Atlantis could be used for that ride running 2.1 or larger tires. But I'd do it on a more leisurely pace not to compete.

 

--
-- Anne Paulson

It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride.

[dougP]

"I've read numerous accounts that suggest 700c wheels rollover things better than 26" wheels..."

True but in reality not a huge difference.  A BQ article on tires contained a graphic comparing the angle of a 700 wheel vs a 26" against a block maybe 4" tall (?).  The difference in the angle was surprisingly small & personally I doubt I'd notice the difference.

Hugh, I look forward to comparing my 700 wheeled Atlantis to your 26". 

dougP

[Chris Lampe 2]

If you decide to try the Nano's I'll be interested in your experience.  I plan to buy at least one set of knobby tires and they are high on my list.

 

Surly markets the Ogre and the Troll as touring bikes but they are literally just a Karate Monkey (29'er MTB) and a 1 x 1 (26" MTB) with all the braze-ons you need for touring plus they have mounts for canti-studs, which is huge for me. 

 

I would love to spend some time riding 55mm BA's on a 700c bike, particularly something like the Hunqapillar or Velo-Orange's upcoming Camargue.  I might find it's more the tires than the wheel size.  

 

So many ideas to try.....so little money to spend trying them.  

[hsmitham]

Tom,

I wish now my medicine hadn't worked on this particular weekend, but it's an inexact science ;-\

~Hugh

[Hugh Smitham]

Doug,

What about the 700c wheel efficiency Vs. the 26"wheel once they're rolling? It's been my understanding one of the reasons many tour bikes are using 26" size wheels is they are easier to get a heavy mass rolling? Seems like that would be true. So as I see it there's always a compromise in choosing a wheel size. The 26" for carrying a load and it's maneuverability off road are positive attributes and since your hauling stuff one would inherently understand you won't be as quick as a race bike. Yet another reason folks are always favoring multiple steeds and the N+1 factor as well.

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

[Dave Johnston]

Anne,

You asked how big  a tire the 26" Atlantis takes. My early model Atlantis has 70mm of clearance at the narrowest spot (the chainstays). I would think that would mean you could run 60mm tires or about 2.25". However note that many tires are quite a bit smaller than they advertise, for instance the tires I run on the Atlantis are Schwalbe Kojak 26x2" (559-50) and actually measures 44mm on Maverick rims. Knobbies on the other hand can stick out past the casing width, so sometimes it's trial and error.

-Dave J

[cyclotourist]

IIRC, Bike Quarterly suggested that there is a sweet spot for wheel diameter/circumference. Basically 622X28mm (686 diameter), 584X42mm (676 diameter), 559X55mm (677 diameter) all were pretty close to it. So the fatter the tire, the smaller the wheel.

Cheers,
David

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

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[dougP]

"What about the 700c wheel efficiency Vs. the 26"wheel once they're rolling?"

This is an interesting question.  Before getting her mini-Lantis, my wife rode a 700c wheeled bike.  Coasting downhill, she always drifted behind me on my 700c Atlantis.  Her bike would only take 28 mm tires vs the 40ish widths I used (usually a pretty hefty touring tire).  On her 26" wheeled 47 cm Atlantis she coasts as fast as I do downhill.  Does this prove anything?  She's got less frontal area than I do.  Her Atlantis is only a pound or so different than her old bike.  The old bike has 28 mm Paselas.  We put 1.25" Panaracer Urban Max tires on her Atlantis when we got it, and it now has a 1.25" Pasela on the front and a 1.5" Compass on the back.  No difference in coasting. 

Based on observation & experience, I couldn't suggest that there's any significant difference between 700 & 26 for touring or general purpose riding.  Maybe at the margins of racing, say for acceleration, or MTB manuverability, there may be something worth some small percentage advantage in one size or the other. 

Maybe that's where the "650B magic" comes in.  When you get your Atlantis built up, we'll blind-fold you & have you ride around on each of your bikes to see if you can tell the difference in wheel size.  Now that would be fun test!

dougP

[Steve Palincsar]

What is meant by wheel efficiency in this Context?

dougP <doug...@cox.net> wrote:

"What about the 700c wheel efficiency Vs. the 26"wheel once they're rolling?"

This is an interesting question.  Before getting her mini-Lantis, my wife rode a 700c wheeled bike.  Coasting downhill, she always drifted behind me on my 700c Atlantis.  Her bike would only take 28 mm tires vs the 40ish widths I used (usually a pretty hefty touring tire).  On her 26" wheeled 47 cm Atlantis she coasts as fast as I do downhill.  Does this prove anything?  She's got less frontal area than I do.  Her Atlantis is only a pound or so different than her old bike.  The old bike has 28 mm Paselas.  We put 1.25" Panaracer Urban Max tires on her Atlantis when we got it, and it now has a 1.25" Pasela on the front and a 1.5" Compass on the back.  No difference in coasting. 

Based on observation & experience, I couldn't suggest that there's any significant difference between 700 & 26 for touring o r general purpose riding.  Maybe at the margins of racing, say for acceleration, or MTB manuverability, there may be something worth some small percentage advantage in one size or the other. 

Maybe that's where the "650B magic" comes in.  When you get your Atlantis built up, we'll blind-fold you & have you ride around on each of your bikes to see if you can tell the difference in wheel size.  Now that would be fun test!

dougP

On Thursday, February 27, 2014 12:52:08 PM UTC-8, hsmitham wrote:

Doug,

What about the 700c wheel efficiency Vs. the 26"wheel once they're rolling? It's been my understanding one of the reasons many tour bikes are using 26" size wheels is they are easier to get a heavy mass rolling? Seems like that would be true. So as I see it there's always a compro mise in choosing a wheel size. The 26" for carrying a load and it's maneuverability off road are positive attributes and since your hauling stuff one would inherently understand you won't be as quick as a race bike. Yet another reason folks are always favoring multiple steeds and the N+1 factor as well.

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

On Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 10:36 AM, dougP <doug...@cox.net> wrote:

"I've read numerous accounts that suggest 700c wheels rollover things better than 26" wheels..."

True but in reality not a huge difference.  A BQ article on tires contained a graphic comparing the angle of a 700 wheel vs a 26" against a block maybe 4" tall (?).  The difference in the angle was surprisingly small & personally I doubt I'd notice the difference.

Hugh, I look forward to comparing my 700 wheeled Atlantis to your 26". 

dougP

On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:11:09 PM UTC-8, Chris Lampe 2 wrote:

Keep in mind that I'm not a mountain biker and other than riding gravel roads way back when, all my riding is on pavement.  

I can't say how much is the fat tires themselves.  The difference between my 40mm and my 55mm tires is far larger than the numbers would suggest.  I think it's that old volume thing....with the 55mm tires having a lot more.  The closest I've come to riding a 700c fatter tire was a short test ride on a Surly Karate Monkey and it lacked something that both my old 820 and the new Troll I test rode have.  

I tend to ride like a little kid, meaning I don't ride from point A to point B.  My favorite place to ride (when it's not packed with pedestrians) is the walking path in our subdivision.  This is a typical sidewalk on gently rolling terrain and I don't think there is a true straight stretch of sidewalk that is longer than a few yards.  Tons of curves with some twists and turns while speeding up and slowing down, according to the path.  My experience is that the 26" wheels accelerate faster and are far more maneuverable than 700c wheels.  The entry I use to the walkway is a gutter that is at a 90 degree angle to the sidewalk with curb on either side so there is no room for error when making that turn.  It's a bit scary on 700c x 40mm tires but a breeze on 559 x 55mm tires.  I think it boils down to a ride that is very nimble and quick while still being very smooth and cushy. 

I've read numerous accounts that suggest 700c wheels rollover things better than 26" wheels and that 700c wheels maintain their momentum better and the latter, at least, seems to be true in my experience (I never roll over things so no experience with the first).   Riding my 700c bike is fun but almost bordering on boring.  Riding a 26" bike is both exhilarating and it literally makes me feel like a little kid again.  For me, a long ride is 10 miles so the 26" wheels are a no-brainer.  If I was more into traveling and riding longer distances, I'd have to do some soul-searching before making a firm commitment to one or the other.  

 

On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 4:34:41 PM UTC-6, hsmitham wrote:

Chris, 

I too have been lusting after fat tire Atlantis...I don't see that many. Here's one I like a lot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37542512@N04/4815790104/in/pool-rivendellatlantis/

and another 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fireman483/8541167230/in/pool-rivendellatlantis

But I am curious Chris what is it about the 26" wheel size that has you so smitten. It's especially interesting when there is so much talk of 29ers and 650b tires. Please elucidate. 

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

--
Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

[Deacon Patrick]

In the 26" v 29" debate as I understand it there are two primary areas of contention:

1) angle of attack. 26 is smaller, thus has a steeper angle to overcome when hitting a rock or stump. My personal experience is that on the trail I notice it is really easy to roll over things with 29ers v. what I remember of my 26" days (back when I was mid-teens).

2) acceleration rate and momentum efficiency. This seems to be to be a wash and what difference may remain utterly insignificant when copared with the 20% grade I'm attempting to climb or not go down too fast. Grin.

With abandon,

Patrick