Most of the Zinn and Clydesdale mountain bikes built in the past few years have all been using 29 plus tires. A 29 plus mountain bike is a great option for a big and tall rider for many reason. For one the larger volume tires of a 29 plus mountain bike look and feel more proportional for taller riders. You also get added traction in sand and on technical trails.
29 plus mountain bike and tire pressure
A 29 Plus mountain bike also has the advantage of being able to ride with lower tire pressure than a standard size mountain bike tire. This achieves multiple performance benefits that are great for anyone, but really make a big and tall guy enjoy their mountain bike even more.
- The lower tire pressure helps absorb more of the small chattery bumps that we experience on any trail. These little bumps take a lot of energy from the suspension, so when the tire absorbs them the suspension doesn’t have to, which means your shocks can do more for the bigger bumps when they come along. Good small bump compliance equates to a smoother ride and less fatigue over a long ride. This means you will feel fresh for tomorrow’s ride instead of feeling beat up. Here is a quote from MTB legend Mike Curiak about the long term comfort factor of a 29 plus mountain bike. “There’s also the smoothness, comfort, compliance that 29+ tires provide: A 2 hour chunky ride on a set of 2.5″ tires these days (all else equal) means I’m too sore to ride much the next day. *2 laps* of that same ride (4+ hours total) on 29 x 3″ tires and I feel fresher, better, more ready to ride again the next day. Easy choice.” Read the rest of Mike’s review here.
- While my initial expectation of 29 plus tires (29×3.0″) was that they would be slower than a 2.5″ tire; I actually found them to be faster. This is due to the fact that the small bumps are no longer causing upward deflection since the tires are absorbing them. That absorption allows more of your energy to propel the bike forward instead of wasting the energy bouncing up and down. The combination of the 29 plus tires and a frame with good small bump compliance make for a very fast bike.
- 29 x 3.0″ tires also have a larger overall diameter than a standard 29er and that extra diameter improves rolling speed as well.
Improved traction on a 29 plus mountain bike
It may seem obvious that a larger tire would have more traction, and that is true. But here are some details on how that traction is helpful.
- The added surface area of the tire is going to grip more. That is the obvious part of this.
- The reduced tire pressure means that the tire is going to sink into the chunky rocks and roots and grip them better without you being bounced off your line.
From our experience of riding 29 plus mountain bikes for the past 5 years is that we are able to climb up technical sections that we were never able to get before. The control and traction you get while climbing is beyond any other bike we have ridden. This means less dabs and more rock crawling.
29 plus mountain bike stability
The other advantage of the 29 plus mountain bike is stability. The wider tires with appropriate tire pressure feel more stable on descents, climbs, and when pedaling on a long dirt road. This feeling of stability is really beneficial to a tall guy who already feels pretty high up off the ground. It will make you ride with more confidence which means more fun on the trails. Most of our mountain bikes are now available as 29 plus. The Zinn B.I.G. Full Suspension bike is our most popular mountain bike and is available with 29 plus tires. The Clydesdale Steer is our non custom titanium hardtail from our sister brand, Clydesdale Bicycles. We also offer custom titanium and steel hardtail mountain bikes that can be built as a 29 plus if desired. We even make e-bikes with 29 plus tires, including the eZinn custom e-bike and the Clydesdale Spur non-custom electric mountain bike.
