Quote Originally Posted by Wahine View Post
Hi TigerMom.

I think I remember you saying you were having some trouble with switchbacks, is that right? If so a 27.5 would be a better choice over a 29er for the tighter turning radius and also your height. The Niner has a effective top tube length that is about 2.5 cm longer and a wheelbase that is 3 cm longer. The head tube angle on the two bikes is the same so the Niner will feel more stable at high speeds, but will be less responsive turning and the reach will be farther.

Are you bent on carbon? Are there any other models you've considered?

Hope that helps.
I am not nearly as good of a biker as you Wahine. So, I think that my problem with the switchbacks that I am currently doing has more to do with my lack of handling ability rather than the bike itself. In fact, after one month of practicing on my Santa Cruz Juliana 26er with all of Teamestrogen's great advice, I rode down the same switchbacks on a 29er without any problems. I think for my "beginner to intermediate" level of mountain biking ability, I can still use a 29er on the turns because I am not doing anything crazy gnarly. This is why I am still open to a 29er. Also, since I will be giving up my aluminum full suspension to go hardtail, I figure that the carbon with a bigger 29er wheel will feel similar when going over bumps....which is why I am picking Carbon hardtail over aluminum (I can't afford titanium, which is why I drool over your 2012 Moots Soft-tail). I tried an aluminum 27.5 hardtail and it felt terrible going over ditches and bumps compared to a 29er carbon hardtail. This is also the reason I am scared to buy a 27.5. But I have yet to demo a 27.5 carbon hardtail, so perhaps the comparison is not quite fair.