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The UK is stuck in the mud for some reason.
Literally. Please let me know when someone makes a 29er that can run high volume tyres all year round without seizing up in the mud or having chainstays so long the front wheel resolutely refuses to leave the ground.
Reading the interview on the link to bikeradar, the manufacturers seem to imply that it was europe that was one of the driving forces behind 650B, as we're not all riding 29ers like the 'mericans are.
It smacks of;
"shit, those pesky commie euros haven't taken the bait, quick invent something just like they got and make sure they buy some goddamnit. YEE-HAAAW"
I transferred from 26er to 29ers 4 years ago when they were "niche" 😆 so it's hard for me to understand the love for 26ers any more. All my mates ride 29ers too, but you see where we ride 29ers are just betterer like init.
But a well designed bike is a well designed bike and a good rider is a good rider on whatever they ride IMO.
Well the North American market is the largest market for performance mountain bikes. The public here seem far more accepting of different standards if they provide a benefit so I guess that's why 29" are the majority of sales? The UK is stuck in the mud for some reason.
So we can assume the USA is the rest of the world ... or does the statement change to suit the argument?
Anyway, my point wasn't whether 29er is good for the US or 650b is the best for Europe. The vast volume of bike sales from Halfords, which will be high proportion of low to medium range mountain bikes, means that the death knoll is hardly chiming for the 26" wheeled bike.
It's only when the larger wheel sizes breakthrough into the mainstream market and start to monopolise sales can they be considered as truly having an impact on the cycling world (in the UK at least).
yes! really our group rides with about 25 - 30 locals here and there is 1, yes one, guy (over 6ft) who has just got a 29er - the rest of us are on 26ers and quite happy. its not as though we only ride occasionally
yes! really our group rides with about 25 - 30 locals here and there is 1, yes one, guy (over 6ft) who has just got a 29er - the rest of us are on 26ers and quite happy. its not as though we only ride occasionally
no! our group rides are up to 12 riders and the clear majority are on 29ers nowadays, and one on 650b that he put in a Whippet frame. We are all heights. Last week the 2 on 26ers were 50 metres off the back of the group all the time, and they are quite fit. We don't only ride occasionally either.
which proves nothing other than a small sample is meaningless
(everyone should ride what makes them happy)
it is interesting though to see that range of how different things are in different places
agree with the "everyone should ride what makes them happy"
yeah it is, where are you? we're in Surrey Hills doing fast XC and singletrack, uppy downy hilly rather than biiig up biiig down hilly
I heard one LBS has stopped ordering 26ers and is only selling 29ers and 650b now, in what proportions I don't know
the first 29er in our crew was about 18 months ago
I'm a 26 inch wheel user and I have effectively stopped buying anything that is wheel size specific (frame/fork/wheels/tyres), I was going to buy a Soul but I'm happy to wait now. When the stockpile wears out or something major breaks, I will go for 650b, although I would prefer the size to be nearer to the middle than 26in. I'm expecting, optimistically perhaps, to put less money into the bike industry over the next few years though I will have to resist the bargains if the bottom does fall out of the 26inch market.
I seem to be a little out of step with this wheel trend thing as I moved from 26" to 650b in 1984. I have however recently put a deposit on a Geoff Apps designed 1981 700x47c machine.
I'm a 26 inch wheel user
Well done chap, the first step is admitting you have a problem.
😆Toasty - Member
I'm a 26 inch wheel user
Well done chap, the first step is admitting you have a problem.
So what makes 650B/27.5" closer to 26" than 29?? Since 27.5 is right bang in the middle in terms of numbers. 😕
michaelmcc - Member
So what makes 650B/27.5" closer to 26" than 29?? Since 27.5 is right bang in the middle in terms of numbers.
The diameter. 27.5" is just 25mm bigger than 26" - 29 is 63mm bigger. It's less than halfway.
[img] 
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This is an interesting article/picture Michael.
[url= http://twentynineinches.com/soapbox/ ]Twentynine inches[/url]
'27.5' is not really 27.5, marketers are trying to get the term adopted because it's less technical, and more reassuring, than '650b'
michaelmcc - MemberSo what makes 650B/27.5" closer to 26" than 29??
The size
Nice pic Lee!! Yeah it looks like it'd be F' all difference really.
Just got my 29er this year,after years of hating...650b i won't be adding,but for xc racers on some courses will do well
Hi Mattg
were in the east midlands with pretty muddy trails and trips to neighbouring trail centres (e.g sherwood cannock and wales occasionally, cornwall lakes etc) some of the guys do more jump stuff at chicksands but I am old and riding xc. we have a few fixies too. I used to ride surrey hills before it was call that - just ranmore common down to Leith hills and around there
I admit i haven't read all of this thread just a couple of pages of the usual stuff when ever wheel size is mentioned but, and in a totally non scientific way just an observation, the good weather this weekend bought out loads of families on the disused rail line that runs through my village and quite a few people out on obviously new bikes, and i can honestly say that half of all the new mtb's that i saw were 29ers. I would say from appearances that most of these people weren't mtb'ers but leisure users, so big push of sales coming from bike shops it would appear.
The public want what the public get. 😉
I used to ride surrey hills before it was call that - just ranmore common down to Leith hills and around there
So did we!
No fixies but some SS here, that's gaining ground too (and works well on a 29).
Thinking about how the group are moving over, I realised it's nothing to do with the LBSs, most of us build our own bikes or order what we want rather than what they stock.
[quote=Bazz ]I admit i haven't read all of this thread just a couple of pages of the usual stuff when ever wheel size is mentioned but, and in a totally non scientific way just an observation, the good weather this weekend bought out loads of families on the disused rail line that runs through my village and quite a few people out on obviously new bikes, and i can honestly say that half of all the new mtb's that i saw were 29ers. I would say from appearances that most of these people weren't mtb'ers but leisure users, so big push of sales coming from bike shops it would appear.
The thing is, for most of those folk the bigger wheel makes a lot of sense. They're not after flickability, sharp steering or whatever perceived advantage the smaller wheel gives. What they need is a chunky hybrid.
What they need is a chunky hybrid.
+1 It would suit 90% of uk riders.
But they believe the marketing hype that they need 150mm travel, retro wheels, seatposts that go up and down by themselves, Helmets with no vents and matching anodized parts.
The thing is, for most of those folk the bigger wheel makes a lot of sense. They're not after flickability, sharp steering or whatever perceived advantage the smaller wheel gives. What they need is a chunky hybrid.
Exactly! Some of us on the other hand may prefer something that behaves a little more like a giant BMX.
I was trying out a 29er for the first time on the Borrowdale bash (Lakes) last week and I was very Impressed with the Orange Gyro and Five 29er.
The ride was so much faster than a 26er and the section down Birkett Leap (Watendlath to Rosthwaite was noticeably easier and overall the bikes were great fun to ride.
Would i buy one? No, I really can't get on with the look of bigger wheels, and although after riding and appreciating the benefits I do prefer the more involved ride 26in bikes give you.
I really hope manufacturers adopt the 650b 27.5 standard as the bikes still look good and in theory will ride/roll a bit better than a 26in wheel.
[quote=chiefgrooveguru ]
Exactly! Some of us on the other hand may prefer something that behaves a little more like a giant BMX.
Correct, but that's a tiny proportion of the bike-buying public (let's not call them all mountain bikers) and that's why 26" wheels will eventually become a niche.
Am pleased to report that my green 275 flicks and pops very well once I got used to the long front-centre and short chain stays. The short back end makes it easy to rip out of corners. With 6" front and back I rode a big boulder trail I've never had the balls to ride, without flinching. " hulk smash!" I need to find some scarier dragons as its one by one slaying all the dragons.
Exactly! Some of us on the other hand may prefer something that behaves a little more like a giant BMX.
Agreed. I will be riding my Sov with big semi slicks at Ashton Court on Saturday. It's a gas on trails like that.
@buzz similar geo on my 29er (HT), fun isn't ?
OK, got a 26er, just got some 2013 Bontrager XR2 team issue 2.2 tyres fitted today, they are very tall(big volume)tyres.Reckon its made my bike a 650b, or near as dam it.
Not as big as a 650b with tall tyres.
You are forever inadequate.
mattjg - Member
Not as big as a 650b with tall tyres.You are forever inadequate.
😥
I agree with the comment on coming off 20" wheels and finding 26" feeling monstrous. It really does show you how cumbersome they can feel.. without going to 29!
I look forward to the day when we can all look back to 2013 and find these threads where some folk thought that a wheel with a larger radius is going to take over from 26 inch wheels and make everything 26inch hard to find over the next 20 years. It'll be like 2035.. and it'll go something like 'remember Cannondales with 24" wheels and fat tyres on their DH bikes? only for everyone to realize that 26 was better all along?... then everyone getting the idea that 26" was going to be taken over by a wheel measuring 12.5mm greater in radius.. kin muppets!'
Well the North American market is the largest market for performance mountain bikes. The public here seem far more accepting of [s]different standards if they provide a benefit[/s] marketing BS
FTFY
are we still bashing this one out?
If you reckon they are faster and will make you ride like Gwinn buy one. Go be awesome on it an try not to cry when someone on a 26" HT passes you. In the end it's about the rider.