Is bigger “better”?

In riding this Solo-One I am stunned by some impressions of the wheel size. If we just do some basic math it makes facts easier to see. A 29” wheel is 3” larger than a 26”. Easy math, but so what? The circumference of the 29” wheel is a little over 10% greater. This affects how the wheel feels and the gear ratio that moves it.

Feel- This bike has absolutely phenomenal traction. I am used to getting a little wheel spin on uphill sprints; not on this bike. With the tire pressure taken down to 30psi front and 34psi rear it was amazing. Please keep in mind that this bike has no suspension travel so I was not hitting corners as aggressively, but still 80% of normal. Still fast enough to get “snow globed” from the bumps. (That’s when you get shaken up enough that your vision blurs, like shaking a snow globe and watching the flakes float around.) The diameter of the wheel reduces the impact of trail bumps so trails you know feel smoother. The larger wheel has it’s axle higher off the ground but the crank assembly is at the normal altitude. This means that you ride this bike with a lower center of gravity. You’ll feel it, definitely. I’ve been riding MTB’s since... well..the early 80’s and it’s an effect that’s very attractive. It makes the bike have a longboard feel, and it carves smooth radius turns like poetry. If you are 5’ 10” or taller you should definitely try a 29’er. The difference is dramatic.

If you’ve attended classes with me you’ll be ready for the other side of the coin, that every choice has an up and down side. By using a larger wheel your rolling assembly will weigh more. How much more is determined by you, but it’ll weigh more. Added weight makes ascending harder. That added weight will also make your brakes less effective, so don’t use cheap brakes on your 29’er. Since the wheel has greater momentum the steering response is slower but there’s easy ways to deal with that, use shorter width handlebars.

Gearing- If you’re going to singlespeed this wheelset plan on owning a few extra rear cogs. The Solo-One comes equipped with a 32:20 gear ratio. Depending on your personal fitness level and the steepness of your trails you may want to have an easier gear. If you look closely at some affordable cassettes you may be able to disassemble them and have 2 or 3 usable choices for a pretty low cost. 32:20 equals a ratio of 1:1.6. 32:21 = 1:1.52, 32:23 = 1:1.39, and any lower you can calculate on your own. A common mountain bike has a range of ratios from 0.65 to 4, so keep in mind that if you have ONE gear don’t go too low. Or toddlers on tricycles will look like Lance Armstrong as they pass you.

Also- consider bar ends! They can really help you to power up some hills.