2019 will be all about different wheel sizes, I reckon 53″ up front and 18″ back.
Actually not far off how it may end up.
I think 2019 will be more like the 1960-70s.
ie, we’ll stop talking about rim size and start thinking about what really matters, outside diameter and volume, the rim will simply facilitate that.
We already have 650B+ on the way at last. So now you can have different rims and air volumes across the full range of overall wheel ODs. Confusing but a good thing considering the range of use bikes get.
It’ll settle on a couple of common set ups though, with the understanding that with many bikes they can be swapped for greater volume / same OD or similar interchangeability if needed / if you CBA. 650B std rear, 26+ front? 29″ rear, 650B+ front? 650B+ F+R? 29″ F+R? etc. Not sure how 29+ fits in eventually, it’s nice enough but the OD is huge. fronts only perhaps.
But the wheel size bit I’m more interested in is how long it’ll take to get over 100mm front hubs for good.