Topaz47

Hello, I haven't ridden an MTB in 10 years and at that time I did it occasionally with a 26" hard tail. (Gary Fisher Marlin)

Now I live in South Florida, where there are some nice trails with little or no elevation changes.
I was thinking in an entry level hard tail and saw that there are some nice used ones available on CraigsList.
My main concern is whether to get a 27.5 or 29. I've read online the differences about speed, attack angle, easy to maneuver and better fit if you're particularly tall or short (I'm 5'9")

what would you guys say?
Is wheel size related to type of riding? or related to frame size? Or both? At 5'9", I think I need a frame size Medium or Large.

The bikes I saw available in the used market are Trek Roscoe 7, Trek Marlin 7, Santa Cruz Chameleon (Mullet), Spec Rockhopper, Kona Kahoona., Giant Fathom. Prices around $1200 for those that are really good and not too old. And around 700 for the older or more used.

Thanks for any Comments

DMC707

29” won the wheel size battle, However bikes like the Roscoe are 27.5+ . That has a greater diameter than standard 27.5 and seems to still be relevant for now.


I’m 5’9 also and ride a medium , however, I am pretty symmetrical. 32” cycling inseam (I wear 30” pants- cycling inseam is measured different and is usually a little longer than pants inseam)

I also use short stems and wide bars And ride pretty upright. A large would stretch me out way too much

Pootler

A vote for 27.5 here if you want to throw the bike around a bit without the worry of crunching yourself on the forward part of the head tube. You'll likely feel less perched up in the air as you can on a 29er.

Topaz47

Thanks for the comments!

cxwrench

I would say you should post in the mountain bike section.

big john

I agree that 29 has won the battle for the market but a 27.5 can be great fun. People like the 27.5 more for tossing the bike around and quick moves and the 29 is better suited to speed over rough ground. I think starting in about 2017 or 2018 mountain bike geometry changed quite a bit and there are lots of great bikes out there.

In 2018 I bought a 27.5 full suspension bike despite people telling me I should go for a 29er because I am 6'2". I'm pretty happy with it, though. I chose it because of the geometry and how it fits, not because of the wheel size. It can certainly do anything I want to do.

Maelochs

I still ride a 26er .... Dinosaurs R Us ..... as @Big_John mentions, if you ride a lot of rolling smoothish trails with wider turns---higher-speed stuff---29 might have a tiny edge, but if you ride more technical stuff, 27.5, maybe ....

I sort of wonder if it really makes much difference, because any two bikes are going to be different anyway. As big john suggests, find one you like and then make up reasons why it is technically superior ....

wolfchild

I would choose a frame that is designed to run both 29er wheels and 27.5 wheels.

63rickert

Gravel bike. Current MTB are designed for extreme trails, no trails, hardcore riding. South Florida?

Wolfchild is right, get one that is happy with either wheel.

Some gravel bikes are still roadish. Others will happily take a big tire and look a lot like MTB from not so long ago.

masonv45

I'm 5' 6"....

I started riding on rigids back in the late 1990's. Only added front suspension about 8-10 years ago to that same 26" bike. I've ridden a 29'r and - although it rode over the rooty sections of trail nicely - I felt "on top" of the bike instead of "in" it.

About 4 years ago I ended up buying a medium 27.5 2016 GT Aggressor Expert. Upgraded some components and the forks. Now I feel really comfortable in the bike and even though it's a little large for me (probably could ride a small), I don't feel as though the lack of 29" wheels holds me back on anything.

Yan 

I vote 29". Going with the most common standard will make life easier in the future.