#!markdown
No, it WAS enough of an improvement. I've been riding mountain bikes since '87
and while I am likely spectacularly average at best, I know what I like. The
27.5 wheels rolled faster through the corners, maintained momentum better and
my average speeds increased compared to my 26″ bike at the time (SC Butcher)
with the geometry weirdness of a 29'er. The Butcher was an awesome rig and had
it stayed in their line up with updated geo and 27.5 wheel compatibility I
would have been all over it. It was tough for me to stop riding SC's having
been on five different ones since '99, but the cost/performance differences of
their current rigs just didn't work for me.
April 23, 2015, 9:37 a.m. - Raymond Epstein
#!markdown No, it WAS enough of an improvement. I've been riding mountain bikes since '87 and while I am likely spectacularly average at best, I know what I like. The 27.5 wheels rolled faster through the corners, maintained momentum better and my average speeds increased compared to my 26″ bike at the time (SC Butcher) with the geometry weirdness of a 29'er. The Butcher was an awesome rig and had it stayed in their line up with updated geo and 27.5 wheel compatibility I would have been all over it. It was tough for me to stop riding SC's having been on five different ones since '99, but the cost/performance differences of their current rigs just didn't work for me.