Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"? - Bike Forum

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

epicyclo — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:21:23 +0000

Goldigger - Member
I'm still really hoping 26+ becomes a thing.

Been around since 1998. Buy a Surly 1x1, they fit 3" tyres.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

Goldigger — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 13:59:44 +0000

I'm still really hoping 26+ becomes a thing.

Isn't that just a fat bike on a diet?

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

dmorts — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:52:40 +0000

Orange Bikes launched today, the Stage 5 and Stage 6 are both 29" trail and enduro bikes respectively. They already have the Segment as a short travel trail bike 29" option.... no plus bikes though

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

dmorts — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 08:51:37 +0000

That would leave us with 27.5 measuring up at an average of about 28.25, and 29 going more towards the XC market again at 29.5.

benpinnick, I broadly agree although 29" seems to be gaining traction for "enduro" bikes and shorter travel 29er trail bikes are getting more common.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

epicyclo — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 18:09:29 +0000

esher shore - Member
The SS giant in a previous post is again the same frameset. It uses a sliding dropout to support both wheel sizes and gears or SS. You can get the geared model in the UK, and SS easily

That's good to know. I wonder how available the requisite dropouts are, or frames for that matter.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

eshershore — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 17:46:09 +0000

The SS giant in a previous post is again the same frameset. It uses a sliding dropout to support both wheel sizes and gears or SS. You can get the geared model in the UK, and SS easily :)

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

scotroutes — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 19:18:04 +0000

cookeaa- your logic is sound. My Pact is basically what you've described.

A set of 27.5x3 and a set of 29x2.2 are easily interchangeable and I find the difference in geometry (BB height) to have no affect on handling.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

Northwind — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 19:13:52 +0000

epicyclo - Member

I don't follow your reasoning. Why would you need adjustable geometry if it comes out the same with both wheelsets?

It doesn't come out the same, except with small 29er tyres. So basically you're making a bike that's a good plus bike and a compromised 29er. And the important thing is, there absolutely no reason it can't be equally as good with both.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

benpinnick — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 08:31:48 +0000

an you elaborate further on that?

Sure. As mentioned tyre sizing is nominal not fixed, in summary right now:

26 tyre = 26.5" diameter
27.5 = 27.5"
29 = 29.5"

27+ varies between around 28.25 and 29.

However the sustainable trend seems to be for 27.5 to get bigger, maybe settling in the 2.5/2.6 region in the long term width wise. Wider tyres are taller, a 2.5 Maxxis WT measuring just shy of 28.25 diameter, a 2.6 would definitely get there. So I predict that plus will fade, replaced by 2.5/2.6 tyres on 27.5, and dying off pretty much as a 29+ format.

That would leave us with 27.5 measuring up at an average of about 28.25, and 29 going more towards the XC market again at 29.5.

This trend actually makes the 27.5 tyre the legit tweener size it was always claimed to be, rather than closer to 26.

Re: Are 'trail' bike wheel sizes finally going to converge to somewhere around 29"?

cookeaa — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 01:25:57 +0000

Realistically most people would expect to be able to run a 29x2.3 (739mm OD) and plenty would be keen on a 29x2.5 (749mm)

Let's say you really want to run that on trend "27.5x3" wide tyre too (736mm), compared with the 29x2.5" there's 12.5mm in it diametrically, radially it's 1/4", let's be generous and say you're going to need to find an extra ~7mm of extra radial clearance to accommodate biggish 29" tyres, it van be done on a 420-430mm chainstay...
And a minimum of say 82mm between the stays, it's really not that much of a logical leap to make and sell frames that can clear a reasonable sized 29" tyre and a clownish "27+" and have some broad market appeal from a single set of tooling...

I'd buy that (for the right price), and probably only ever fit 29x2.2-2.5 tyres (who really wants to bother swapping wheels?), but choice is apparently what the people always want, so give it to them...