29 inch mountain bikes

If you've been in touch with the trends of the industry over the years, you have probably noticed the 29 inch wheeled bikes that came out a few years ago haven't really gone away. The magazines are writing about them more and more, manufacturers are making more and more of them, and even though you rarely see one on the trail, the consumers are still buying them. So what's up? Are they here to stay? Should you consider one for yourself?
Answer: The answer really depends on you and the type of riding you want to do.
There are certainly some benefits to the 29 inch wheels over the standard 26 inchers, less rolling friction, more comfortable ride, better obstacle rollover, and even better traction

I think by far, the biggest argument against the 29 inch category is that it creates some issues with longer suspension travel and it seems that is the way the industry is moving these days.
Some will argue that because of the bigger wheels, not as much suspension is needed, but this only applies to certain circumstances and only to a certain level.
On the other hand, 29 inch mountain bikes are creating some undeniable benefits. For larger to normal sized people who know they don't want more than XC travel (80mm-100mm), these bikes may have some serious merit

Intense Cycles unveils the Carbine 29, and paves the way for a new breed of 29-inch All-Mountain Bikes.
The Carbine 29 raises the bar on performance, technology and beauty, offering aggressive geometry, patented VPP suspension, all the design benefits of INTENSE 2nd generation INTENSE carbon fiber, and a look only possible from INTENSE.
Designed to allow riders to descend the roughest enduro tracks with confidence, the bike boasts 5.5 inches (140mm) of rear wheel travel, 160mm of travel up front, and a 67 degree head tube angle. The slacker head angle and 51mm 29-specific fork offset on the Carbine 29 work together to create a bike that delivers added...