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For those of you that are into your cycling already, you’ll no doubt know what about the 29er. But, for those of you just starting out, you may be scratching your head at this point. A 29er mountain bike basically refers to a mountain bike that has 29” wheels. This is the largest wheel size available for standard bikes and they are great for being used in a number of situations.

What’s so good about 29ers?

1. Because of their large size, 29er wheels allow for easier riding over tough terrain. They’re also great for climbing, too, as they have improved traction due to the extra tread.
2. Its standard physics that larger wheels roll faster, so picking up speed with these wheels will not be an issue.​

Anything that’s not so good?

1. Because of their large size, 29ers are more difficult to maneuver.
2. And, unless you pay extra to have ultralight models, the larger tires will add weight to the bike, making overall acceleration slower.​

Other than that, they’re pretty good all-around mountain bikes for riders of all abilities. Keep reading to check out some of the top 5 29er mountain bikes available on the market right now:

1. Kent Thruster T-29 Men’s Mountain Bike

Price range: Low

If you want a 29er mountain bike that looks good, feels good, and won’t cost your whole month’s paycheck, look no further. The Kent Thruster T-29 has a lightweight aluminum frame and alloy rims that makes it easy to move around. It also comes with all-terrain tires that grip well in all kinds of weather. Fitted with RS25 Shimano shifters and TZ31 Shimano rear derailleurs, this bike is suitable for both beginner and intermediate cyclists. For effective stopping, the bike is fitted with a dual rim linear pull braking system. It also comes 85% assembled.

Verdict: The bike is relatively easy to put together and I found it to be pretty lightweight for a 29er. For the money you’re paying, the quality is pretty good too. The only downfall is you can’t adjust the handlebar height.

Overall rating: 10/10

2. Diamondback Overdrive 29 Hardtail Mountain Bike

Price range: High

This bike is ideal for those who are serious about cycling. Not for the faint hearted, the Overdrive has a 6061-T6 aluminum alloy frame that’s lightweight yet strong, and will support you while on even the toughest of terrains. The bike is also fitted with Tektro disc brakes to give you maximum braking capabilities. Another fantastic feature about this bike is as soon as you get it out of the box, it’s so nearly ready to go. Simply put on the seat, pedals, and front wheel and away you go.

Verdict: It has a stealth black look that just oozes quality and its sturdiness while riding cannot be faltered. My only gripe is the seat could be a little more comfortable.

Overall rating: 10/10

3. SE Bikes Big Mountain 1.0 Mountain Bike

Price range: High

A brand new model out this year, the Big Mountain gives you everything you need from a reliable mountain bike. It comes equipped with a 24-speed Shimano drivetrain and double-wall rims to help you have a smooth ride regardless of what terrain you encounter. The bike’s lightweight alloy frame also comes fitted with rack and water bottle mounts, ready for your next venture. To give you maximum stopping capabilities to help keep you safe the bike is fitted with Tektro hydraulic brakes, which are some of the best around at the moment.

Verdict: This bike is fairly easy to put together and provides a good, solid ride. However, for a mid-priced model, I do feel the quality could be a little better, particularly when it comes to the tires.

Overall rating: 8/10

4. Vilano Blackjack 3.0 29er Mountain Bike MTB

Price range: Mid

As well as looking the part, this red and black, hand-built hydroformed alloy frame will help keep your ride smooth and bump-free. Its 29” double-walled alloy wheels allow you to glide over even the toughest terrain with no trouble at all. Fitted with Shimano front and rear derailleurs, as well as a Shimano integrated shifter/brake lever, you know you’re getting nothing but quality with this bike. There are 24 speeds in which to help through traffic, up hills, or across muddy paths, and it’s got responsive, mechanical disc brakes to slow you down when you need them most.

Verdict: The Vilano Blackjack is a fantastic example of an all-round decent mountain bike. It’s one of the smoothest rides I’ve had from a 29er in all my days of cycling. It’s lightweight yet stable, made of quality materials, and looks great, too. What more could you want?

Overall rating: 10/10

5. Mongoose Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle 29-Inch

Price range: Mid

Another mid-price mountain bike, the Mongoose Impasse provides you with a stress free, smooth ride on a bike that’s been designed with both comfort and performance in mind. Its Element suspension fork allows greater control while the SRAM twist sifters allow easy changing of the 21 gears. It comes with alloy disc brakes fitted to both the front and rear as well as alloy wheels with a quick release mechanism on the front. All of these features and more will ensure your ride is as comfortable and safe as it can be with this bike.

Verdict: While the bike itself seems pretty durable, I do feel the design leaves a lot to be desired. It is also very heavy and not as easy as some of the others to maneuver, so not sure how suitable it would be for a beginner.

Overall rating: 7/10​

The first mountain bikes in the world were made by a bike enthusiast and racer named Joe Breeze. He made the first one in 1978. Now, the idea of the bike he started with has become much more specialized, with the frame, wheels, and suspension adapted to meet riders’ different goals. Breeze had a background in bike racing, and he came from Marin County, California. His first mountain bike was called the Breezer #1. This bike now lives in the Smithsonian, and the company is still in existence today, though he has since sold it.

Mountain bikes have certainly come a long way since the Breezer #1. They’re getting lighter, faster, and sturdier. People are taking advantage of technology and coming up with apps to help track your mileage, speed, and other riding stats. People are developing frames and suspension systems that Breeze may not even have dreamed of back in the 70’s. Some of the top athletes in the sport are helping companies come up with burlier and better bikes. More and more people are joining the sport, and kids are starting to mountain bike younger and younger. It’s an exciting time for biking. By joining a downhill community, you’ll be taking part in a sport that has evolved so much in a small amount of time. The people drawn to this sport are often adrenaline junkies, the kind of folks who like to go skydiving and bungee jumping. They don’t like to sit still. They’re rabid for the kind of energy that comes with zooming at high speeds down the side of a mountain on a downhill trail, or doing major jumps on a high speed cross country trail, or going off cliffs. They’re the Shane McConkey’s of the world. Downhill biking doesn’t always have to be a massive adrenalin rush, of course. You can just go for a mellow downhill ride without fearing for your life. It’s up to you. That’s what’s great about biking; the freedom you experience while doing it.

There are a few different kinds of mountain biking, and it’s good to have an idea of which ones you’d like to focus on so that you can buy a bike that will fit your specific needs. Dirt jumping, freeriding, enduro, trail riding, downhill biking, all mountain, hardtail…the list goes on. But one of our favorite styles of riding is downhill mountain biking. The adrenaline rush is unbelievable. It’s more addictive than those amazing cappuccinos with cocoa powder that your barista makes. You might have watched videos of World Cup races, or of young kids zooming off of jumps. Downhill biking is no doubt one of the coolest things you could do.

Downhill mountain biking is the sport of kings. And it doesn’t have to be incredibly expensive to get into. We’ve provided a handy guide so that you know what to look out for when you’re buying a downhill mountain bike, as these bikes can be quite different from all mountain or cross-country models. This isn’t a versatile bike. Four out of five mountain bikers would have absolutely no use for it. That’s because it’s made for fast and gnarly trails, the kind you wouldn’t take dad on. They usually have a good amount of suspension, and their breaks are of course super reactive, so you can stop or cut speed on a dime if you need to. Whether you want to use it for racing or you just want to cruise around while avoiding the annoying pedaling uphill, you have a lot of options.

You can ride this type of a bike off the tallest jumps you can find, while other bikes would defi-nitely end up wrecking and leaving you gasping on the ground. But the downside is that you won’t want to pedal them far. These bikes aren’t meant for anything but screaming downhill as fast as possible, so if you’d like to do some pedaling on your mountain bike, you might want to go for an all mountain or another type.

The most important part of any bike is its frame, and downhill bikes are of course no exception. Frames for these are often developed by World Cup racers or other high-profile, hard riding people. For the most part these generally have some carbon in them, to make them a little bit lighter. Others are still mostly aluminum, which can be a bit heavier but is also far sturdier.

One of our all-time favorite downhill bike brands is Nukeproof, and you can bet it’s true to its name. Some of the top World Cup racers, like Sam Hill, a World Series Enduro champion and Elliot Heap, use this brand, which hails from Belfast.

Other downhill bike models we like:​

Diamondtrack

A consistently awesome performer, this bike is a favorite of many.

Beiou

We like this one because it’s one of the lightest bikes on the market.

Raleigh

This has an aluminum frame, and has incredible reach.

Merax

Tough, highly recommended by the pros, and with a cool rugged frame that folks love. It’s really, really fast, though some want a sleeker model.

For downhill mountain bikes, you’ll want to think about a few different factors.

The shocks. Coil springs, or the lighter air shocks? Do you know the difference between the two?

The brakes. Always an important part of downhill biking.

The wheels. For downhill tires, the traction is important. You’ll want some weight to them, and you’ll want to look for tires that are in the sweet spot in terms of size: from 2.35 to 2.5 inches. You can also decide what kind of pattern you want on the tread.

The price. Research is key to investing in a bike that fits both your budget and your needs.

The frame. The frame contributes to the overall stability of the bike, and can make a big difference in how much control you have while you’re riding down those steep hills and making those switchback turns.​