It’s a well known medical effect and apparently no one understands why it works. So could it be applied to bikes, if I’m given some new wheels and told they’re 29 or 650b will I ride betterer even if they’re 26″?

Well no, you’d need to be blindfolded for the test to work – you volunteering?

I think he meant if you were told ‘these wheels are faster’ does it make you faster?
I’m telling myself my little wheels are lighter so must be faster.
I do like the idea of a proper ‘double blind’ trial though 😀

Without a proper test (and who would fund such a thing) we’ll never know, but I’d bet a sizeable chunk of cash that most of the differences people feel on any bike would go away if they didn’t know what they were riding.

and who would fund such a thing

I’m prepared to pitch in with £1.83, if orangewinger rides Fort Bill blindfolded on a penny farthing after being told it is an Intense M6