Specific results aside, if there was one thing to take away from our modern geometry 29er bike test, it’s that 29in wheeled trail bikes have come a very long way in recent years. Sure the number-crunchers may still have their theories, but the realworld performance of each of these three trail bikes left very little room for any downsides. Flanks to better components and fresh geometry, many of the compromises exhibited in previous 29ers have been all but eradicated.
In the 120–140mm travel bracket, there are certainly more benefits to getting on a 29er than there ever have been. For a start, the big wheels roll smoother over rough terrain – and that one cannot be denied. Back-to-back with smaller sized wheels, all of these 29ers blitzed our local test loops with more momentum when pedalling through the chunder. Secondly, they deliver masses of traction. Get on to a frame with contemporary geometry, and see just how hard you can lean the bike through the turns. And thirdly, they descend with more speed and more stability. With decently wide rims and chunky tyres, 29er trail bikes absolutely fly when let loose on the descents, and they’ll deliver you more confidence while doing so.