29'er Mt Bike Question

Is it a single-speed or multi-speed bike?

This user's post has been ignored.

I guess I don't understand what the problem is. I think your option #4 is probably the right answer. I think it probably just feels a bit different, you will get used to it. The wheels are bigger so there has to be more clearance to the pedals and downtube so the angles may be different that what you've ridden before. Changing the crank arms won't have much affect and neither will a different cluster.

Relax, just give yourself some time and have fun on it

What's the issue?

Are you not getting the same cadence in the same gears as on the 26" bike?

If that is the problem then it's an issue of adjusting to the bike. The gear ratios are different on a 29er compared to a 26" bike. For example, if you had the cadence you like in your middle ring with 32teeth and say the 20tooth cog in the back, you will be in a slightly easier, like 22t in the back for the same cadence at the same speed because of the larger wheels.

If you haven't done this already, stop looking at the numbers on your shifters. Ride, find the speed you like and adjust the gears (without looking at what number you are on) to get the cadence you like. Or, if you like the other approach, ride, find the cadence you like, then adjust gears to get the speed/effort level you want, don't look at the shifters.

Changing the crank arms will not make much of a difference. I run 175s on my Full Suspension bike, and 180s on my Single Speed. I can't tell a difference. I couldn't tell a difference when I switched from 175s to 180s on the SS bike.

This user's post has been ignored.

What cadence are you shooting for?

MTB's are harder to nail down a perfect cadence on as the spread between gears on the cassette is generally wider with something like a 11/32 vs 11/23 or whatnot.

I vote for just riding more and giving it some time as well.

This user's post has been ignored.

I really have a hard time switching to a geared MTB. It's no problem on the road, but offroad I ride primarily single speed. On the geared MTB it seems I always just end up finding a gear close to my single speed and riding that. Time on the geared bike is one solution. The other is to just make it a single speed