Oh yes, PGP: you’ve seen my lovely Blue Pig – I rode it on that skills course at Gisburn.

or the tip.

never ever this, ever.

Either take it to a local bike project, or find a local kid to give it to, but never just scrap a working bike or decent frame with potential to be built up, there are people and charities that would bite your hand off for that kind of thing.

Sticking with 26″ here, in fact the only bike out of my five I am not feeling the love for is my first foray into 29er land which on paper ought to be perfect for me, but then again I still like 2×9’s & 3×9’s & sub 700mm wide bars so what do I know.

Just bought a second hand Stumpy Evo 26er and I love it.
I don’t think an extra inch and a half makes any difference (unless you’re a porn star).
Marketing BS which seems to have reeled everyone in.

I still find 26″ great on technical and twisty sections while 29″ is sluggish to turn.

On plain track, 29″ is faster and can roll better.

Frankenstein – you’ve nailed it for me.

26″ is fun and nimble. If you want to ride faster on rides that aren’t particularly fun then get bigger wheels. If you prefer twisty and aren’t in a race then what’s the point?

My first full sus is my first non-26″ is my first 650b. The full sus means I feel less beat up at the end of a ride (a good thing!). The 650b makes me slightly faster – who gives a %*&£?

As things stand my next purchase is likely to be a cheap second hand 26″ full sus… if I end up liking it I’ll be semi-gutted at spending the best part of £2.5k on my newest bike. Not properly gutted cos I do love her!

Personally I don’t notice any difference between my 26″ & 27″ wheels

Started building an recently purchased Ebay Vitus full suss for my 12 year old from a Trek Liquid I had yesterday,been in garage 7 years not used,been busy buying/machining all day as not ,much is a straight swap, going to end up costly!!!

Also FWIW – I REALLY can’t see why a 5’2″ rider – possibly male, more likely female – would want to ride a bike so out of proportion to their body. I’m best part of 6′ and 26″ feels in proportion to me. Are all the top bods in the industry 6’7″ and that explains why they can’t work out why we don’t all love 29ers?

Wheel size has very little to do with height.
And for the OP good luck in the classifieds. I took loads of stuff to the bike recycling lot in Hebden when I left the UK. Felt really good about it.

Mike

Why do kids bikes have 12″ then 14″ then 18″ then 20″ then 24″ wheels? Why don’t eight year olds (or five year olds for that matter) get straight on a 26er (or a 29er for that matter?)

Surely the smaller you are the more cumbersome large wheels are?

Why do adult BMXer get the piss ripped out of them for riding kids bike is its not that the wheels are not in proportion to the person riding it (Bromptons etc are the exeptions that prove the rule as you get massively odd shaped bikes which make compromises in order to acheive a certain feature (foldability))?

Why do most adult road bikes have 700c wheels but they make ones 650c front a rear for smaller women?

Surely the smaller you are the more cumbersome large wheels are?

For adults who can ride a 26″ bike 29r’s work just fine.I know some short lass’s who get on just fine with 29r bikes. Shirley with some lanky lads Santa Cruz would be up on 29r DH bikes by now?

My point is that – whilst I can see why a smaller rider would rider big wheels for rolling properties and speed, and a bigger rider would ride small wheels for fun, surely there is a basic rule that the bigger you are the bigger wheels fit you better and vice versa?

surely there is a basic rule that the bigger you are the bigger wheels fit you better and vice versa?

Does there have to be?
It always came over as the lazy sales pitch, tall get this short get that. How about ride them and see.

Why do kids bikes have 12″ then 14″ then 18″ then 20″ then 24″ wheels? Why don’t eight year olds (or five year olds for that matter) get straight on a 26er (or a 29er for that matter?)

Surely the smaller you are the more cumbersome large wheels are?

It’s called received wisdom and abounds in all areas of life and thinking. It is passed on belief that when you actually look for the tested evidence to back it up you simply can’t find it.

Cooking pasta you leave the lid off. Why? Yes i know it can be tricky to get a perfect setting to stop it boiling over but try and find any explanation as to how it affects the end result. I haven’t been able to, it seems its just the same old thing passed on and on with no one stopping to say why.

So when someone tells you a “thing” ask them why.

God forbid you’d see an adult on a BMX

Wheel size for bike purpose innit, not wheel size for person size (although I’ll admit 29’ers probs don’t suit hobbits)

But there are genuine wheelsize packing issues for the very small (kids and adults), on road and MTB, especially at the front end in terms of fitting a ‘big’ front wheel in front of the riders feet without having to deal with massive toe overlap or kinked geometry to accommodate it.

Same with getting bars at the right height when using big wheels (worse with bouncy forks), you end up with teeny tiny headtubes and massively negative angle stems.

I’m not saying you can’t make it all fit (look at Batty for example) but there are compromises that have to be made, sometimes they’re worth it for a particular benefit, and sometimes not, sometimes a smaller wheel is the better option if it gets round a load of other issues with fit or geo.

As always, it’s nice to have the choice, but it’s not so nice to have the choice dictated to you by someone else.

Havent got any picture hosting but just built up

16″ On One Inbred White Frame
26″ Hope ProII Wheelset
HTII XT Chainset with E13 Bash
XTR Rear Mech
XT Front Mech
LX Shifter
Avid Juicy 5 Brakes
Charge Saddle
RS Rebas SL forks
Raceface bars
Lock On Grips

Most of the gear is off my own bike which was redundant. Have really enjoyed building it for my 13yr old son. Finish it off tonight when i adjust the gears etc. He is chomping at the bit to get it.

Not a bad first proper mountain bike for him and he has helped build it so now has some understanding of how bikes work.

As always, it’s nice to have the choice, but it’s not so nice to have the choice dictated to you by someone else.

What like somebody telling you what wheel size based on your height?

I just paid good money for a Dialled PA frame, about to sell Zesty carbon frame and Revelation forks.
Yes, some of us do buld up ‘old’ and are quite happy.

I would echo the general guidance that small riders fit smaller wheels better – but it’s down to choice of rider. I would love to see a manufacturer who can make an XS/12.5″ framed 29er for 5′ rider…

Exhibit A – today’s labour, just needing a few extra bits (as ever).
[url=https://flic.kr/p/HUdN77]IMG_20160611_145556119[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

What like somebody telling you what wheel size based on your height?

Exactly that, but it works both ways, like having big wheels forced on you because ‘we can make it fit’ rather than being given the option to pick based on which compromises/benefits are important to you personally.

I’m all for the choice, big or small, and choose based on preferences and characteristics you want.

I have a 26″ kili flyer hardtail for rufty tufty stuff and a cannondale 29er for long XC days. Don’t see the point in 27.5 for what I do. Each to their own I suppose.

Finally got round to bleeding the brakes on my yet to be ridden Orange P7. Picked the frame up cheap off eBay last year. Can’t wait to ride it.

Just finishing off my 26er race bike. What’s not to like???