Pros:
-Contact patch matters 1! Climbs like nothing I have ever ridden. Shocking ease even pointing purposely straight up on mud/sand/rocks = grips and rips-up. I say the climbing difference of going 29 skinny to Fat is as dramatic of going 26 to 29. 9psi in rear tire like a Indy car grip on singletrack.
-Contact patch matters 2! Go anywhere on or off trail and nothing to even worry about. Sand is nothing - no float feels same as solid ground. Mud is nothing - never sideslip or spin out. Confidence.
-Fun: don't know what it is but these bikes that are so much different in terms of the fun factor - there's just something about cranking on a giant tired bike I can't get past loving.
Cons:
-Slow Downhill.... Feels that way at least. Don't know if I need to increase the tire pressure (need to try upping but at expense of grip...) or if the smaller wheel (but not overall OD?) itself just makes it feel like it's going slower but it's definitely losing that rush feeling of bombing on the two Niner. This was only part of the ride I didn't get buzz off. Missed the downhill and gliding speeds being faster.
-Fork. It was fine to initially test the solid carbon fork on the trail I've written probably 100 times but here you definitely need to have at least 100MM upfront of suspension. Numb hands and bounced core. Caution on drops too. $500 for Bluto switch out would remedy.
-Turning: turning definitely seemed to be slower and less reactive with the big long handlebars and the big front wheel. Maybe it's just getting more time on the bike but I definitely felt like the turning was wider and much slower.
That's it. Highland is in my sights for test next. I can see this as my ride all the time with Bluto upgrade. No kidding. Sell 29 and don't look back. Bucksaw demo next week in CO could seal it.
