Tyres and handlebar size.

Hurrache

I'm thinking a sticky type of post might be beneficial for those new to MTBs, or returning after a long hiatus.

I've been browsing some bikes with a view to picking up a new one soon, and I've been wondering about tyre size, and also saw it mentioned in the Pictures thread.

If 29ers are the way to go, why bother with 26 or 27.5? Is it just that 29ers are best suited and more forgiving for general MTBing rather than being a specialist in say downhill or specific courses in which you may use different size tyres for?

Also in the pictures thread, I saw someone mention bar size. On my last MTB (almost 25 years ago!) I got the store to shorten the handle bars as I preferred narrower bars.

Now I see what look to me as massively wide bars. Does this allow better control on the trails, or is it just the way they are now?

bogmanfan

Good idea for a thread.

I've ridden both 26 and 27.5 for a few years each, and just switched to a 29er two weeks ago. Based on my initial impressions, I can't see myself switching back. The 29er feels so much faster, and my Strava times are far quicker than they were previously. Obviously it's hard to know how much of this is purely down to the wheel size, and how much is down to the much higher level suspension and frame, but it does seem to roll so much better on gentle trails in particular.

In terms of bar width, the new bike has 780mm bars. First spin out I clipped a couple of branches with them as I was used to 740. I don't notice a huge difference to be honest, but physics would suggest that wider = easier to control. However, seeing some videos online from Vancouver's North Shore, and some of the trails are just too tight for modern bar widths. I haven't seen that here yet, but I'm sure there are some tight gaps that would be easier with narrower bars.

Hurrache

My tyre choice may ultimately be a moot point anyway. I'm a short ass with an inside leg of 30 and below 5'8 which puts me into the small bracket for a lot of frames, and for some manufacturers their models don't come with a 29 anyway until medium, or it's just harder to find the bike in a small size.

Good point about trail width, that wouldn't have entered my mind.

Lemming

Handlebar width is a bit of a trial & error combination of factors that will change with each rider. Shoulder width, arm length, bar sweep, bike geometry and what sort of riding you're trying to achieve all go into the mix, besides matters such as whether or not what you're riding allows for wider bars,etc.

steamsey

I'm not sure that everyone would agree that 29er's are the way to go. I think it's clear that 27.5 and 29 are the two preferred wheel sizes at the moment. 26 is dead. (For clarity - OP says tyre size and I'll hazard a guess that they actualy mean wheel size)

I think people should try both out before buying a new bike as there are differences. Moving from a 26 to a 27.5, I did miss the agility of the 26 but the 27.5 is a lot sturdier and forgiving so there are trade offs.

Handlebars are very subjective. My bike came with 780mm bars which are too wide for both me and the trails I ride / way I ride them. I chopped them down to 740 ish (as far as I remember) and feel a lot better on the bike now. I was clipping everything with them before I cut them and my arms were too far spread. Easy enough to measure (check online) and simple to cut (even carbon).