2008 looks to be the year of the 29er mountain bike with more big wheeled MTBs on the market then ever before.

Until recently most mountain bikes had 26" wheels but a few years ago smaller companies started experimenting with bigger 29" diameter wheels. The theory was that a bigger wheel rolls faster and rolls over more bumps making it the perfect choice for cross country riding and endurance riding.

As more and more people tried 29ers interest grew and for 2008 we are seeing a great lineup of 29er bikes starting at very reasonable prices. Some people love the 29inch wheel on single speeds and so Avanti has launched the KISS 29er, a rigid single speed bike with big rolling wheels. Lifecycle mechanic Alex Bahnisch is already riding one of these around Brisbane and loving the simplicity and durability of it. For those of you who want a bike with gears, suspension and other fancy features you can check out models like the Specialized Rockhopper 29er and the Avanti Scratch. These are the perfect Cross Country weapons but also make great commuters as the bigger wheels roll faster on the road.