My $.02
My fav, bike is 8 & 8, inches that is; but I cant ride that bike when the DH resorts are closed. I tried to fill in the down time with some urban, dirt jump, and light freeriding...........but I couldnt get a good enough workout.
I really didnt miss XC riding because I find it rather boring:sleep: My friends were making invitations for trail rides but my quiver wasnt all that inviting (8''DH rig, 6&6 FR rig, and a full on DJ SS rig) so I went on a few(more like 2)rides and was miserable.
Fast forward to Jan 07, I walked into one of my LBS and snagged a SS 29 off the rack, paid for it, called my XC friends, and rode that night with a flash light taped to my helmet.
Guess what?, I am back, a XC weinie just waiting for the phone to ring. I am weighing bike parts, dieting, and happy. I contribute alot to the 29er, its simple, fun, light, and easy to ride.
A FS bike is all than a 29 is not. Expensive, complicated, sorta heavy(in comparison). But a 29 in not for every one, I know guys who are too short for big wheel bikes, yea its a bold statement but true, those fvckes are big, almost to big for me, so with that said..........29 is cool, real cool, but not for everyone!!