Yep, you read that correctly. A brand new mountain bike has just been launched by Trailcraft, and it doesn’t even have a new wheelsize standard. As shockwaves reverberate throughout the global mountain bike industry, many riders are still coming to terms with the dramatic announcement from Colorado-based Trailcraft Cycles. Despite being barely two years young, the risqué move Trailcraft has clearly shown the company’s intentions to stick the middle finger up at the establishment.
Ok, so the Timber 26 is a actually a new kids mountain bike. But as the model name suggests, it is built around good ol’ fashioned 26in wheels. And there’s something refreshing about a bike that doesn’t have some weird new wheel standard built into it. “The Timber 26 was created as the next logical wheel size need for young kids coming off a 24″ wheel,” said Ginger Rosenbauer, Trailcraft Cycles founder. “While the industry jumped head first and all-in on the 27.5″ wheel size so quickly, young kids and their parents were searching for XS and S sized 26″ frames and bikes that actually fit their kids now.”
You may remember our story on Trailcraft from back in 2014, where the then-new company announced it would be making high-end kids mountain bikes with 24in wheels. Looking to further expand its lineup, Trailcraft has just announced it’ll be offering a slightly bigger Timber 26 model that will provide the adolescent pathway from a child-sized mountain bike to a small adult mountain bike.
“Why should kids be put on a bike too big, tall and long when they can be shredding trails just like they were able to on their 24″ bikes?”, Ginger Rosenbauer continues. “While 27.5″ wheels are great for some shorter riders in the low 5’2 and up range, the wheelbase is still too long, front end too high, and rotational weight too heavy for kids in the 4’9″ (145cm) and above heights coming right off of 24″ wheels. We prototyped bikes playing with chainstay length, top tube lengths, and component choices in order to create a true 26” high performance bike starting at just 21.5 pounds dialed out of the box.”
The Timber 26 Features:
- Designed for 9-13 years old
- 26in wheels
- 7005 series aluminium frame
- RST Revel or RockShox XC 30 fork w/100mm travel
- “New school geometry”: 69 degree head tube angle, 525mm top tube and a 419mm chainstay length
- Lightweight 1290 gram wheelset with Stans Podium rims, 450 gram Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires and 85 gram Ashima ultralight rotors
- Shimano Deore XT or Deore groupset options
- 1x and 2x drivetrain spec available
- Custom Trailcraft 152mm crank arms
- Cockpit: Trailcraft alloy bar, stem and seatpost
- RRP: From $1949 USD
You can check out the new Timber 26 on the Trailcraft website, where a customised bike builder allows you to spec various options including drivetrain and fork spec, as well as frame colours too. No word yet whether a plus version is a likely future option.
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So its like a 29er but for kids then?
Looks nice. But…….if it is a properly proportioned kids bike, why has it still got high bars and a huge length head tube?
I’m just brazing a frame for a 10 year old, and that needs an 80mm head tube, 80mm forks and a horizontal stem to put the bars in the correct place relative to the saddle.
good to see someone thinking about crank length for not-6footers.