I posted this on another thread, but not sure we’ve done it properly. It seems to be an industry insider view of what wheels we’re going to get offered.

650B Freight Train

Some quotes I thought interesting were:

The midsized tire will dominate the market. Twenty-six-inch wheels will be seen only on entry-level bikes and long-travel downhill bikes. Twenty-nine-inch wheels will be reserved for bikes aimed at the cross-country set, with short-travel or hardtail frames.

“It may seem confusing now, but the industry has made the decision for the consumer.”

Yes, I’ve been thinking that’s the way it’ll go, kind of makes sense and will allow manufacturers to sell more stuff 😉 which they need with the current financial conditions a bit of a ‘push’ for the market.
My next mid travel (150ish) FS bike is definatly going to be a 650. 😉

IF I was buying a complete bike, I’d go 650

Having spent ages saving to build my current one though, replacing frame, forks & wheels/tyres in one swoop is a long way off.

650 ftw

if only because i think imperial measurements are crap (im aware 650 wheels arent 650mm)

The issue is not a lack of stuff to sell. It’s everywhere. Never been cheaper etc

The issue is people not having the money to buy. Just making new stuff does not mean people will suddenly have the money.

Great swathes of people who ride bikes do no really care what wheel size they have. They just want a bike.

Yep I know, 650 is a better option for given application IMO, another standard may just give people the nudge to buy something though, maybe/possibly. 😉

incidentally whose going to be the first nichemonger to build a 29er front 650 rear then 😉

Marketing BS. Emperor’s new clothes.

Marketing BS. Emperor’s new clothes.

Exactly. Isn’t a 26″ with a decent tyre size almost the same as a 650B anyway?

Makes sod all difference to 99% of people, just another PITA standard.

Marketing BS. Emperor’s new clothes.

26″ only came about because there were loads of wide rims/tyres for beach cruiser bikes. So yes, it was marketing BS, they had a load of 26″ wheels/tyres to sell and convince people they were the best. If it had been a decision made on technical merit we’d probably not have used them and addapted 700c/29er toruing rims.

Exactly. Isn’t a 26″ with a decent tyre size almost the same as a 650B anyway?

As for “well it’s jusst like 26″ with a decent tyre size”, no it’s not, you can still put a big tyre on a 650b.

But I love my 26″ tyres 🙁

But I love my 26″ tyres

Then wait 6 months untill they’re worn out?

Having never ridden one I’ll reserve judgement, but it does seem to me as though it could just be a neat way for the industry to sell us back our old bikes.

So 26″ wheels were fine but it was getting hard to convince people to buy new bikes. Enter the 29er with a big marketing push. The problem is that while a 29er is good for some applications it’s not ideal for the sort of general messing around that makes up much of the market. So, what to do. You can’t just say “stick with your old 26 inch bikes folks”. That wont generate many sales. But if you can bring in a “new” standard that is almost the same then you could be onto a winner.

Well that’s one cynical interpretation. But, as I say, I’ll reserve judgement for now.

Then wait 6 months untill they’re worn out?

But I like the way 26″ bikes look – their sweet little wheels! 😀

26 inch with a big tyre is already close to 650b with a small tyre. How many people fit bigger tyres to their 26 inch bikes and go zomfg, what a massive difference to the diameter of my wheel! What a difference to the way it hits things!

It’s the pissant no-sense compromise-til-most-of-the-benefit’s-lost-but-without-removing-the-drawbacks ****’s option. And therefore will probably succeed, like 15mm axles.

Some interesting comments at the bottom of that link… but they only thing they can agree on is that they disagree.

If one size of wheel was faster/better than all the rest it would be obvious at the races and on the trails… but it’s not. I think the biggest difference most riders feel when trying a 650b (or 29 or whatever) bike is the joy of relearning old skills on a new bike… if the industry does indeed have us all on 650b’s in 5 years; will they in 10 years be raving about how manouverable the new crop of 26″ wheeled bikes are?

New bikes feel ace… go buy a new bike and feel the difference 🙄

Problem 1: people aren’t buying enough new bikes.

Problem 2: people are upgrading their existing bikes.

Solution: Come up with an innovation that you can’t fit to an existing bike.

c.f. tapered steerers, press-fit BBs, etc etc.

That.

How many bikes sold each year are actually used in situations where a smaller wheel is an advantage? A very, very small number.

messiah: New bikes feel ace… go buy a new bike and feel the difference

Very true, which is actually a big help to the industry. How many times have we seen “I just bought a new 29er and it’s the best bike I’ve ever ridden”? Yes it is and so is every new bike you’ve ever bought. It may have nothing to do with the size of the wheel, but a few people reading that will think “I’d better try one of those new 29ers”. Then they buy one, love it (because it’s a new bike) and so the wave grows.

How many bikes sold each year are actually used in situations where a smaller wheel is an advantage?

How many MTBs sold each year are actually used off-road? Never mind in the kinds of riding where the difference between 26″ and 29″ would make any difference whatsoever?

So 26″ wheels were fine but it was getting hard to convince people to buy new bikes. Enter the 29er with a big marketing push. The problem is that while a 29er is good for some applications it’s not ideal for the sort of general messing around that makes up much of the market. So, what to do. You can’t just say “stick with your old 26 inch bikes folks”. That wont generate many sales. But if you can bring in a “new” standard that is almost the same then you could be onto a winner.

I disagre, whilst some people may upgrade out of habit or desire to have the latest/greatest bikes. Most people buy a bike, ride it, something breaks, replace it, continue ad-infinium or untill so much is broken that a new one becomes a better option. Then they might change to 650b or a 29er. Or they buy a bike to fill a niche they’ve identified, maybe they’re a DH’er and want an XC bike, or an XCer who wants to go enduro raceing. In which case why not pick a wheel size just like you pick a new fork or frame.

26 inch with a big tyre is already close to 650b with a small tyre. How many people fit bigger tyres to their 26 inch bikes and go zomfg, what a massive difference to the diameter of my wheel! What a difference to the way it hits things!

That’s like arguing that removing 1kg from a bike is pointless and you may as well take a shit. You can remove 1kg and take a shit. You can run 650b and big tyres. Just like 29ers are bigger than CX wheels, after all CX wheels are about the same size as 26″ with 2.5 tyres, but how many DHers would swap to CX wheels.

How many bikes sold each year are actually used in situations where a smaller wheel is an advantage? A very, very small number.

How do you know that? Or to be more specific, can you prove it?

A smaller wheel is stronger, lighter and easier to accelerate than a larger one. They are all advantages that occur in virtually any cycling situation. It will also fall into small holes easier, along with various other disadvantages that occur in some situations. Proving that one size is better in a single situation is already difficult and nothing I’ve seen comes remotely close to proof. Trying to quantify the fraction of the market where wheel A is better than wheel B sounds almost impossible to me.

Fashion is a fickle thing. 8 years ago all the dirt jump kids where sticking 24″ wheels on their bikes and raving about how brilliant it made them feel.

I disagre, whilst some people may upgrade out of habit or desire to have the latest/greatest bikes. Most people buy a bike, ride it, something breaks, replace it, continue ad-infinium or untill so much is broken that a new one becomes a better option.

Really? If the cycling industry had to rely on bikes breaking to drive new sales I reckon they’d be in trouble. I’ve got 4 bikes (road x2, MTB & folding). I’m “only” 48, but I reckon they could all be kept running for the rest of my cycling life. OK they may end up like Trigger’s brush but I doubt I’d ever “need” to replace a whole bike in one go.

But, as somebody pointed out, we aren’t really representative of the cycling market as a whole anyway, so you could be right.

How many bicycle owners know what size their wheels are?

Well, I guess it’s nice to have more choice than just two types of a mtb wheel size, isn’t it? It may confuse less experienced riders and newbies alike, but it’s up to Forums and Sales guys to impartially show the pros and cons of each wheel size.
In my eyes it might be a good idea to offer different frame sizes with different wheels, eg. XS, S with 26″, M and L with 650b and XL, XXL with 29er hoops?
I’ve caught the 29er bug to the point where I’ve sold my 26″ bikes(bar one;), now I’m looking forward to build a set of 27.5″ wheels and do a conversion on the Prophet. I just need to try it before I’ll be able say anything about it, that’s all.
And the fact that I have to spent some money? I would anyway as I love to tinker with my bikes!

Have a nice weekend!

Having spoken to a well known Endurance racer whose, done back to back timed and tested laps he’s now running 650 on his bikes as they worked out to be the best option for his use.

The results showed a clear difference between 26, 650 and 29 standards all of which matched up the physical attributes of the wheel size.

Also the Loco Racing team riders have found considerable benefits with other wheel standards, but as with any bike and component choice it’s down to what the rider likes best and if racing makes them quickest.

Not trying to push any specific standard, if anything it’ll make my job more complicated due to extra parts etc, but if it makes a more fun and or faster (if that’s your thing) bike to ride then that’s all good 😀

A smaller wheel is stronger, lighter and easier to accelerate than a larger one. They are all advantages

Apart from stronger (I’ve yet to bend my 29er wheels so arguably there’s a strong enough’ point but that’s a seperate matter). The other arguments have been applied to road wheels to argue against aero rims. And the conclusion seems that a few hundred grams of aero fairing is quicker than a more traditional rim.

Really? If the cycling industry had to rely on bikes breaking to drive new sales I reckon they’d be in trouble. I’ve got 4 bikes (road x2, MTB & folding). I’m “only” 48, but I reckon they could all be kept running for the rest of my cycling life. OK they may end up like Trigger’s brush but I doubt I’d ever “need” to replace a whole bike in one go.

Maybe I ride my bikes more/harder than you but I’ve only ever sold on 2 frames (both steel) which I’ve described as good condition, everything else got an honest decription saying it was bent/batterd or hung up in the back of the shed, and I rarely sell components as working because usualy they’re run to a point where I’d not want to buy them so no one else would.

Marketing BS. Emperor’s new clothes.

Find me a bike product that doesn’t have “marketing bs” behind it.

I’ll probally never ride 650b. but choice is good,

whose going to be the first nichemonger to build a 29er front 650 rear then

How about a mini-69er – 650b up front and 24″ at the back?

How about a mini-69er – 650b up front and 24″ at the back?

Behave! it’s madness I tell you, 36er/29er front and rear on the other hand 😆

Singlespeed_Shep – Member

I’ll probally never ride 650b. but choice is good,

Choice is starting to disappear though, like 20mm axles & straight steerers – 26″ will get hard to find (read expensive)

Yep. In a few years, 26″ MTBs will be specialist kit the same way as DH bikes are now.

Choice is starting to disappear though, like 20mm axles & straight steerers – 26″ will get hard to find (read expensive)

Have they?

thisisnotaspoon – Member

Have they?

Loco posted something to that effect – RockShox not offering some options in 2013 range

Aftermarket, there are a limited option in things like axles and steerer diameters for some model ranges, however arts for specific wants can still be sourced for bespoke builds.
Tapered steerers and 15mm axles do seem to be becoming the standard on the higher end products though.

Loco posted something to that effect – RockShox not offering some options in 2013 range

Only on Sid/Reba/Rev’s i.e. XC forks, Ok so Rev’s might be closer to Lyrics, but fox went 15mm on the 32’s so makes sense to make whatever is most ‘standard’ accross the industry.

Relative to new forks, new hubs are rpetty cheep though, and most are addaptable down to 15mm.

One point of view is this: If you are a bike manufacturer, there is significant competition in the market, and one of the biggest companies(Specialized) makes a risky move by fully committing to the 29er market, by changing their entire portfolio of bikes.

What better way to put potentially knock a big player out of the market completely, by null and voiding the whole 29er story, by driving the 650 story?

Lets face it, many people will be thinking hard about 29er’s, but moving from a 26 to a 29 is a big step. The 650 market could potentially scoop up a big market of riders who recognize the benefits of bigger wheels, but not to the full extend a 29er offers.

I can imagine the conversation in various bike companies;
“we need to generate sales”
“we need another standard, lets sell 27.5 bikes for those who don’t want 29ers”
“people won’t rush out a buy them, it’s only a tiny bit different to what they have”
“Lets make them then”
And here we have it;

It may seem confusing now, but the industry has made the decision for the consumer

The industry has made the decision to make our bikes obsolete so we buy new ones.
I will never own a 29er. Just don’t like them. I’ll give 650B a go but if I don’t like them either and high end 26″ bikes are still available; that’s where my money will go.

thisisnotaspoon – Member

Only on Sid/Reba/Rev’s i.e. XC forks, Ok so Rev’s might be closer to Lyrics, but fox went 15mm on the 32’s so makes sense to make whatever is most ‘standard’ accross the industry.

Relative to new forks, new hubs are rpetty cheep though, and most are addaptable down to 15mm.

Was the steerers I was talking about, and on Revs.

My perspective is that my wheel size is not to blame for ‘poor’ riding skills. It is mainly my brain.
Yes, 26″ wheels may fall into holes that 27.5/29″ would roll better over but in the majority of cases it is never the equipment holding someone back.