Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

thanks for the advice.

yep, as hugo7 says it's all around getting my thoughts together on requirements for a custom frame / complete bike build. the guy (angus taylor of taylormadebikes.co.uk) will also build wheels for it within my (actually not that great) budget, and once i've got some money together we'll no doubt have a proper conversation about demands on the wheels and relative merits of 29er vs 700c and tire widths, but i prefer to go into that sort of conversation armed with a bit of knowledge in advance!

I would base my descion on use.

A) heavy load carrying = high tyre pressure, and high spoke tension.

Both of which will reduce comfort. The solution is to increase tyre size, and preferably rim width. So a strong 29er rim (with regards to spoke tension resistance), and a fattish road slik. Say 32m/35mm.

B) Off-road riding = desire to increase contact patch.

This is best done by reducing tyre pressure. Which requires fatter tyres, and wider rims. If you want to aviod pinch flats.

I guess I'm saying. Go big!