[Closed] What the F? 'The wheel decision isnt our choice'

I think it'll be the new entrants to the sport that will probably drive the decline if the smaller wheel especially with things like the Rockhopper being a traditional first bike. By the time this has been upgraded and ridden, their next bike will likely be another 29er because that is what they know....in the same way that my new frame will end up with 26 inch wheels because that's what I have to carry over.

It'll be interesting to see where the industry goes once the if wheel bikes are the norm? What will they do then to drive sales? Being a fairly small sport, surely they have got to realise that sales will stagnate as the market reaches saturation point? This combined with stuff lasting longer and a strong second hand market driven by high cost of new products and the ease of trading on forums and eBay.

So are DJ, 4X and DH bikes all moving to 650b too?

BMXs and Bromptons too.

It'll be interesting to see where the industry goes once the if wheel bikes are the norm? What will they do then to drive sales?

We've still got the full effect of the 650b v 29er debate to be had!

Rather than letting the 26er and 29er exist in harmony there has been a constant battle, which is odd as choice is a good thing - this 'new' size has just been thrown in to kill off rather than open up the choices, unfortunately.

I'm not one for conspiracy theories. The market is simply responding to a number of factors.

1. A bigger wheel that has some of the advantages of a 29er but is easier to design around
2. A critical mass of interest in the new wheel size
3. Few other innovations happening at the moment.

It pretty funny to accuse the industry of forcing our hand.. by all accounts it is frame manufacturers that are following the trend enabled by the tyres and forks folks. It's herd not conspiracy theory.

It's all good news for us riders as the bikes will get better and better. We'll probably have a swing to 650b for awhile and it'll either be advantageous and stay or fade out with betamax.

All part of the evolution that has brought us some amazing bikes at reasonable prices.

Me, I'll be riding my 26" 5spot for a few more years by which time I'll buy another amazing Turner of 26"/650b/29"/?" variety.

It pretty funny to accuse the industry of forcing our hand.. by all accounts it is frame manufacturers that are following the trend enabled by the tyres and forks folks.

IS disc mounts are dead

A rare case of Betamax winning the standards war.

Seen this all before. The arguments on this site about flat bars vs riser and vees vs hydro were just as vociferous and bitter.

Most times people realise that there are benefits or see which way the winds blowing and act accordingly.

You're seriously equating V-brakes vs disc with the introduction of a wheel size even those honest people in the industry admit makes no real difference and is just a marketing thing? Personally I still run flat bars - that choice doesn't affect any of the other component choices on my bike (well I suppose it allows me to use bar-ends without the fashion police objecting - actually that's a good one, as there doesn't seem to be any problem with buying a wide variety of bar-ends when the impression seems to be that there is no demand for them).

To give some history i have a Bontrager Race, new in '97 and came with a 1" fork

Well that's the equivalent of buying a 26" bike in 5 years time. But not exactly - I have a feeling that the next big thing might just be 26" wheels when the marketing people discovery that 27" (I'm making the policy decision to call it what it really is rather than what the marketing folk call it) doesn't provide sustainable increased sales in the way they though it would. You've got to look at that in a proper historical perspective - Rockshox was only founded in 1989 and my '92 Dyna-Tech has a 1.25" headtube - there never were huge numbers of forks made for 1" steerer, it was always a niche.

How many people buy wheels aftermarket? very little demand for replacement rims anymore as no rim brakes to wear them out.

Plenty enough to sustain several whole companies who only really sell aftermarket rims/wheels. Not to mention that even companies like Mavic who supply a significant amount of OEM stuff make a significant proportion of their profit in the aftermarket (I'd go so far as to suggest more than half).

Something for everyone there...

29ers... I blame Gary Fisher. If I ever see him i'm going to give him a great big kick up the arse.

Also...

[img] [/img]

what we need is an industry spokesman to blow the whistle on how the bike industry (bikes, parts, magazines, websites, retailers, e-tailers, servicing) collaborates to mug the consumer of his hard-earned cash.
that will dispel all this myth, spin and conjecture.
but that's never going to happen - and we all know that's what's happening anyway...

I suspect this is all coming about because the market has slowed right up: all the markets that have provided growth so far (US and Europe) are no longer growing as we're all reining in on disposable income spend; and because a lot of the new growth in cycling is road rather than MTB...
So forecast profits are likely taking a massive hit... hence this rather desperate industry response...

2 things I think the industry might have overlooked compared to previous changes in standards:
1. We no longer have the cash to spend on not-entirely-necessary-bike-stuff that we've had for the last 15+ years... so less willing to replace existing kit that is entirely fit for purpose
2. Social media makes it easier for us to share our views, and recognising that a lot of other riders are as unhappy as I am, makes me less willing to replace my kit

Remember, as CharlieTheBikemonger posted ^^ if there's no demand then there's no business... so if we don't want 650B, just don't buy it and the industry cannot kill off 26" if there's no demand for their dictated replacement...

what we need is an industry spokesman to blow the whistle on how the bike industry (bikes, parts, magazines, websites, retailers, e-tailers, servicing) collaborates to mug the consumer of his hard-earned cash.
that will dispel all this myth, spin and conjecture.
but that's never going to happen - and we all know that's what's happening anyway...

Do you really need a whistle blower to tell you businesses are trying to make money? Seriously?

Remember, as CharlieTheBikemonger posted ^^ if there's no demand then there's no business... so if we don't want 650B, just don't buy it and the industry cannot kill off 26" if there's no demand for their dictated replacement...

+1

[i]You're seriously equating V-brakes vs disc with the introduction of a wheel size[/i]

No, my point was the[u] arguing [/u]was just as bad, then the arguing dies down when people realise its just bikes, they can still have fun riding in circles in the dirt, and get on with their lives...

Have any of you been in a bike shop recently? Quite a few round here are full of road a comuter bikes and stock a token number of mtbs. Road looks comercially cool and mountain bikes look a bit naff whatever the size of the wheels

Agree with Bruce - when I was last in my nearest Leisure Lakes, the road / commuter section had grown loads and had taken over a lot of space where the mtb's used to be.

I guess for a shop they are easier to stock spares for too because the 'standards' seem to have some shelf live.

The market was always going to struggle, especially when you consider who the average cyctlist is demographically and the impact the recession has had on them. Not only that, the second hand market is stronger than ever made easier by the internet. When I first started riding, I just hoarded stuff because selling it via the back of MBUK was a pain. Now with forums its easy.

I'll be honest who really cares which wheel size wins or lasts the distance? If you buy a product (new bike) and it works for you and where/how you ride - it becomes immaterial surely whether it's a 26er, 29er or their bastard offspring. If its any good people will continue to use it and create demand for it and its ancillary products (wheels, bb's, tyres etc) for as long as people actually use them. As mentioned above - if people don't continue to buy something (immaterial of how good it may actually be!) it wont last. Hence why my LBS is frankly lacking in a full and decent range of Penny Farthings and Recumbent cycles the bastards!

Stuff this for a game of soldiers, I'm going back to BMX. 20in. 4130. Job done.

I'm with Broooeesss (back up the top)

My last "big" bike change (frame wheels forks brakes) was about 2005 when I went to discs (although iirc I had disc ready forks already) - I moved from an fsr xc to Yeti 575 and difference was night and day, in terms of geometry as much as anything. I never questioned that i was getting a far better overall product

Now - I would need to sell a perfectly good bike which I thought was pretty future proof (bolt through rear, tapered head-tube, modern geometry) plus wheels and forks just to get a slightly bigger wheel

which has p*ssed me off. 29 I can see the benefit of - 27.5 I can't. But if you believe Santa Cruz - it's not them deciding this, it's the customers telling them that that's what they want

But if you believe Santa Cruz - it's not them deciding this, it's the customers telling them that that's what they want

Now - I would need to sell a perfectly good bike which I thought was pretty future proof (bolt through rear, tapered head-tube, modern geometry) plus wheels and forks just to get a slightly bigger wheel

so don't!

there's no need to change, unless your old bike is wrecked at which point it doesn't matter what your old bike is if you're replacing it anyway.

@ asterix - I posted the link below before. they produced 26 inch version of the Bronson but pulled it 'cos it wouldn't sell

http://www.bikemag.com/gear/exclusive-video-bronson-santa-cruzs-new-650b-trail-bike/

[i]Having seen the Ibis Mojo news on the front page this morning, I have to commend Ibis for getting it absolutely right.
...More of this, please.[/i]

"£2399 for the frameset."

Having a laugh, surely?

Agree with Bruce - when I was last in my nearest Leisure Lakes, the road / commuter section had grown loads and had taken over a lot of space where the mtb's used to be.

Yep.

Most people don't have a lot of need for a mountain bike.

Commuting is becoming more popular in some areas and people are choosing the tool for the job. This is a good thing.

Keeping up with the latest 'innovations' in mountain biking is expensive and can be worthwhile. Having said that, with fairly light-weight & decent suspension, brakes, transmissions and tyres having already been invented, it is difficult to see how a slight change in wheel size, requiring a new frame and tyres can really be justified in riding terms.

Santa Cruz possibly did have a lot of people asking for 650b wheels, but they are selling expensive kit to people with a (generally) large disposable income, who may want the latest fad. I suspect that there weren't 1000s of people demanding it though.

It's funny reading the microcosum UK perspective. Have a look at the Oregon Enduro results from the weekend. You had to go down to 7th to find a 26" rider

Didnt the olympics put the lie to the performance effect of different standards, with a podium that had 26", 29", HT and FS on it?

all the way to 7th? The last Gorrick race is our real world - the Oregon Enduro isn't. It's all relative. Nice to see that we're not quite as gullible in the UK.

It doesn't matter. US sales of high end mountain bikes dwarf the UK's. The US is the real world to Trek, SC, Specialized etc. You wouldn't believe how many XX1 Bronson's I saw at the weekend. I'm not advocating any of it BTW.

What about Fort William? Both Men and Women's races won with 26" wheels.

crashtestmonkey - Member

Didnt the olympics put the lie to the performance effect of different standards, with a podium that had 26", 29", HT and FS on it?

And a 650b...

Exactly. The question you have to ask is would the same people have taken the top 6 places if they had been riding on 26" or 650b wheels?
The human engine is also quite important.

90% of them were on 650b! One 29" I believe.

I totally agree though but racing is the ultimate form of marketing. Remember Specialized signing Hill? Sales of the Demo (admittedly a good bike) were 2x any other DH bike.

Let's be honest, it's bullshit.

I've been knocking about with other MTB'ers for years.
I've never, ever heard anyone say 'That was a great ride folks, but I really, really wish my wheels were a bit bigger'.

It's cynical, obvious, unecessary corporate marketing bollocks and is genuinely turning me off the whole scene.

Making things that are lighter, cheaper and stronger is true innovation.

But it doesn't sell advertising space to appeal to thick, status obsessed idiots who judge the worth of others based on the little silver numbers on the boot lids of their cars.

And I'm getting a bit tired with those who should know better attempting to justify this whole ****er's outing.

Emperor's new clothes?

Damn right.

[i]'That was a great ride folks, but I really, really wish my wheels were a bit bigger'.[/i]

Did you nick that line off me? 😉

Life used to be so simple.

Agree with Rusty

Well, if this whole conspiratorial marketing led bike industry is so upsetting, take up rambling.

Now that would be flouncing 😀

Making things that are lighter, cheaper and stronger is true innovation.

But you know you can only pick 2, right? 😉

I was away from mtbing a bit then couldn't believe all the 'new' pigeonholes that had cropped up while I had been away! No point in muttering about one bike doing all BITD as there has been loads of progress and innovation. Anyway BITD I was riding a Fisher with an Evolution headset and ordering in parts like Gripshift, Flexstem, etc (1991) so not hiding from following latest tech or trends.

That said I picked up the latest mbuk, 25 year anniversary edition, as I'd been there for issue 1. A little piece near the front mentioned how enduro bikes had taken things back full circle to one bike to do it all!

Perhaps 'another' wheel size was an obvious reaction to stop that!

Spot on Rusty ...
Re 27.5 remember Americans love to be marketed to and have the new and shiney ...
New wheel size keeps the old footfall going at shops ...

26 and 29 will survive. It won't be any more complex than that. If peple really want 27.5 they will just stick them in their 26 inch frames ....

I'm not arsed.

1.5 steerer now tapered etc. 26" will be around.

1 1/8 forks are hardly 'dead' are they.

JCL - Member

It doesn't matter. US sales of high end mountain bikes dwarf the UK's. The US is the real world to Trek, SC, Specialized etc.

It helps that the population of the US is enormous and that luxury goods like bikes have always appeared been much cheaper over there too.

Having said that, I'm always amazed by the flashy kit on display at places like Llandegla car park -Oddly, it never seems to overtake myself and my fellow short-ride-weekend-warrior-dad friends, though... the few very fast descenders always seem to be on battered bitsa machines. Fast climbers on all kinds of XC weirdo bikes of all vintages.

You wouldn't believe how many XX1 Bronson's I saw at the weekend.

Well, I suppose that depends upon whether or not you have a Saturday job in Santa Cruz's warehouse.

I think with his obsessive love in for all things 29 & Specialized, he has a job polishing the underside of my CEO's desk with his head 😉

Making things that are lighter, cheaper and stronger is true innovation.

It isn't though, is it? Making innovative things is true innovation.

As long as I can keep getting decent tyres then I really don't care if 650b becomes dominant - my current big tyres make my bike so close to 650b size that there's almost nothing in it and thus there's clearance to run skinnier 650b tyres if it's relegated to spare/wife bike duties.

Define 'innovative' then.

Me thinks bike companies are desperately scrabbling round for new! ideas.

Every years its a visual tweak etc etc.

Now we've got new! Murdered out forks...

That look like mazz 55's

For once I actually feel sorry for bike shops. They have to stock loads of weird bits for old bikes already and with the multiplication of standards for just about everything they haven't a chance of covering all the bases. It will just drive even more trade on line.
Or perhaps only the obsessed internet buyers will go for each new standard leaving the LBS to stock stuff for those who don't feel the love for 'new for the sake of it'.

There are some great bikes available right now. 😀

There have always been some great bikes available. 😀

Be interesting if contributors to this thread declared any industry/media involvement too.

my current big tyres make my bike so close to 650b size that there's almost nothing in it

Mine too.
Doesn't seem much point in a new size really, does there?

Create a buzz
Shift more units
Reinvent the wheel

To gullible 'must be part of the crowd types'

A pro or top end rider shaving 1second etc per lap. Translates to waste of time for the other 95% of riders?

If I see a top end 29'er I think I'll feel pity for the bloke riding it

my LBS has three otherwise identical bikes with the 3 different wheel sizes next to each other on a sales stand and most people cant actually tell which is which between the 26 and 650b, unless they compare the wheel sizes very deliberately. If they weren't next to each other only the officianados would know which was which

The 29er is obviously different.

I know its been said once. 1" inch suspension forks were never a standard. I think 1 1/8" was pretty big before any suspensions forks came out or many were sold. 26" wheels have been standard for a really long time.

Forks have been said will not be too big a problem as 650b will fit. Rims should be fine as I don't think expensive tooling is needed for a rim diameter so some one will keep making them. Tyres might be an issue but there will be a lot of bikes wanting new tyres for a long time yet. I think 27" road wheels were dropped over 20 years ago and you can still get them.

In the original article I found this bit curious

"The supplier scuttled the order to avoid being stuck with 26-inch bikes when the wave of bigger wheels hits the shores in a few months."

If that's true then they cancelled the order due what they think consumers want. Not as an industry fix up.

I think that problem is simply this. The uk is too small a market to sway the industry. I think we are trapped by consumer demand in other countries. I think the American really want a new wheel size. I think consumers like buying into new ideas. In contintal Europe I think people don't play triggers broom. I think they buy a bike and replace it when its old. So a wheel size change will be pain free.

If I see a top end 29'er I think I'll feel pity for the bloke riding it

Don't, I really like my bike. 😀

hora - Member

Create a buzz
Shift more units
Reinvent the wheel

To gullible 'must be part of the crowd types'

Yeah thats right.

Thats why bike isn't 'trending' and I run a 2001 XTR rear mech.

Get with the program

hora - Member

Yeah thats right.

Thats why bike isn't 'trending' and I run a 2001 XTR rear mech.

Get with the program

You had me until 'program(me)'. 😀

My main mtb is 8 years old:
It's got a steel frame - you know, one of those that'll 'last a lifetime'.
The 8 year old Mavic rims are perfect.
The 8 year old Hope hubs run fine on new bearings.
The 8 year old, well serviced Rebas are spot on.
Everything else has been replaced, which is fine, because stuff wears out.

I love it.

If I have to spend another £1300 to replace it if it gets nicked, I don't know if I'd bother.
I'd probably just buy something secondhand, depriving a manufacturer of new bike sale.

This is such a horribly cynical move by the manufacturers and the media, I can see a lot of older mtb'ers just jacking it in.
No new standards in walking boots. 😉

Btw, talking of the media, has anyone seen a dissenting article in any of the magazines?

I predict great bikes will still be made in 15 years time.

Does it really matter what wheel size they are?

Btw, talking of the media, has anyone seen a dissenting article in any of the magazines

Given advertising revenue I doubt we will.

With road bikes poised to 'sprout' discs it looks like the industry has cyclists every which way!

Who was it who said they were off to bmx? Don't blame them, I'd join them but my kids would disown me 🙂

No but its mildly irritating that we are told that visually-pretty products from last few years are now old hat. Its almost like Journos etc have short memories.

Could almost be seen as making a mockery of their claims to represent the true interests of their readership, couldn't it?

Unless they really, really believe it's for the benefit of everyone.
Not only the industry of which they are an intrinsic part.

would anyone really stop cycling because they were upset about wheel sizes?

another way of looking at this is if 27.5 is just slighter better why not change. why spend the next thousand years on the less good wheel size because changing is a bit of a pain

ampthill - Member
would anyone really stop cycling because they were upset about wheel sizes?

another way of looking at this is if 27.5 is just slighter better why not change. why spend the next thousand years on the less good wheel size because changing is a bit of a pain

For a few people lucky enough, riding bikes is their profession.

For everyone else, its something they do for fun.

If you think that a slight change in wheel size will make you have better fun then go ahead, I'm not that bothered though.

another way of looking at this is if 27.5 is just slighter better why not change. why spend the next thousand years on the less good wheel size because changing is a bit of a pain

I've got old frames & wheels that are used in the winter and for touring.
We pass them on to the kids.
They get used and recycled.

But mostly because I don't like being bent over and taught a lesson by bunch of ****s in polo neck jumpers who have decided that the hard earned few grand that me and my Mrs have spent on our hobby over the last 20 years was a complete and utter waste of time.

Because I don't like being bent over and taught a lesson by bunch of **** in polo neck jumpers who have decided that the hard earned few grand that me and my Mrs have spent on our hobby over the last 20 years was a complete and utter waste of time because some aresehole has decided that we no longer matter.

Yet you are likely to have already bought a few grands worth of kit over the last few years, or do you still ride a muddy fox courier?

No but its mildly irritating that we are told that visually-pretty products from last few years are now old hat. Its almost like Journos etc have short memories.

This has been going on since mtb began, every year they tell us the new bikes are better. Its life.

I hope non of the complainers ever need to buy a car, the variety of wheel sizes available would blow their tiny little minds.

Because I don't like being bent over and taught a lesson by bunch of **** in polo neck jumpers who have decided that the hard earned few grand that me and my Mrs have spent on our hobby over the last 20 years was a complete and utter waste of time because some aresehole has decided that we no longer matter.

Quite possibly taking it all a bit too personally Rusty 😉

As for you now regarding it as being a complete and utter waste of time... well, does that now mean you retrospectively un-enjoy the rides you have had? Or that now there is a third wheel size, you can no longer enjoy your chosen hobby on the bike/s you currently ride?

And I'm absolutely certain that you matter, to very many people.

Yet you are likely to have already bought a few grands worth of kit over the last few years, or do you still ride a muddy fox courier?

The wheels from my 1993 Rockhopper are still being used.

In fact, ALL the stuff that didn't break or wear out is still being used by someone.

Lots of people are lucky enough to be able to go out and buy a new, expensive bike to start riding on.
This magazine pushes the idea that £2000.00 is the normal spend for a first bike.

Or that now there is a third wheel size, you can no longer enjoy your chosen hobby on the bike/s you currently ride?

Well, we don't know how long it'll be supported, do we?

I suppose asking those who can afford such things to have a care for those less fortunate is pointless.

The point I'm making is that anyone who isn't really into bikes will look at all bikes over £200 and think who buys into all this crap.

bigger wheels, extra gears, uppy downy posts, suspension its all just bells and whistles to make you part with money.

to look at it another way - how many other sports & pastimes have enjoyed such simple interchangeability between components in the past, as cyclists we have been lucky that we can swap one bit from one bike to another & upgrade from a variety of manufacturers with the knowledge that the parts should fit, trouble is now cycling is so much more mainstream that for various reasons all sorts of manufacturers are coming up with all sorts of different standards in their various components*, sadly it is a sign of the times & I shall enjoy my tinkering all the less for it - which on the plus side will keep me out cycling on my 26" wheeled bikes for some years to come.

* going back 60+ years you could easily swap quite a few car & motorcycle parts from one machine to another

😆

This seems like a 'I've just found out father Christmas isn't real' thread

I'm really sorry you had to find out like this but Marketing BS has led the way since day one. Sorry man I'm feeling for you! But dry your eyes.. great bikes are popping out everywhere at every price range with a choice of bleeding wheel sizes. Happy days!

As I read this I can't help but feel as though I must apologize for my fellow countrymen. While I have stayed loyal to 26in bikes (had to join this forum to find that the whole world hadn't gone mad), it has been a pretty steady takeover here in the US. My local shop just sold his last 26in bike recently (he said he was glad to see it gone, took him ages to sell it). Sadly they are all now 29ers now, and they are moving so quickly that I fear the writing my be on the wall over here (me and one other guy are all I know left on 26in). I hope this is all "chicken little" where you guys are, and the 26in stays the main player in the UK; I've really enjoyed taking solace in the notion that you all were still sane.

I raced this years enduro 6. a club member rode it on what looked like a 10-15year old mtb with v brakes and a clunky fork. he had the 5th fastest lap of the day. there where lots of carbon 29" exotica around the field.

if your buying new make you choice. if you want to stay 26" enjoy cheap parts (just like cheap 9speed parts at the mo).

the media types have to write about something that will captivate the reader (much like 'core exercises' or the must do interval work out or post ride recovery drink). you create your reality.

since good forks and disc brakes everything else is just 'marginal gains'

choice is good.

Fear not, 27.5 etc is not actually happening in the real world. It's just something that mags and forums believe is real. Sadly individuals of a more delicate constitution are starting to question themselves....you don't need to. Look around you, know many people that own or want a 27.5? Me neither. It is the most utter bolloxs of the highest order in the history of MTB.

Do not believe anything you are told on a website or in a magazine that has pages and pages of advertising space. 27.5 is merely a virtual wheel size.

I'm glad people want to keep old stuff going. But I really don't see the wheel size thing as being a big deal as some are making out. It doesn't turn a bike collection to junk

I have 3 bikes. The first was bought for an 18 birthday present in 1984 I think. It started off with 27 inch wheels its now running 700c. Its a bit if a dog and not ridden anymore.

I have a 1999 hard tail that nearly got binned 3 years ago. But £100 pounds of Alivio type bits got it going again. Its mainly now my road bike. Its 8 speed but I'm confident that for the next 20 years, forks aside, I'll be able to keep it running. It was a pain getting new forks 4 (ish) years ago. It was hard to find 80mm forks, harder still with canti bosses. I'm really tall so steerer length was an issue. But patience served up some marzochi Z2s with a steerer longer than I needed used on ebay

My FS was bought ridden once by previous owner for £800. I'm sure this can be kept running for years. Unless the frame breaks or suspension linkage fails. New forks will be easier than the hard tail even if shops only sell 650 b forks. I refuse to believe rims and tyres will not be available in 20 years time

Am I wrong? Will I really have to junk a bike because I can't parts. Will it really be harder than say being a bit patient on ebay?

haha, thank duir I haven't panicked yet, and am looking at yet another 26in hardtail after all (456c evo or Soul). I haven't drank the koolaid yet! Just a shame really, I'd hate to see it go away over here (tho chain reaction does ship to the US, just in case it does).

I was at dinner on Sunday eveing with a keen biking couple and the chap was all doom and gloom about his bikes becoming obsolete. I suppose there is some threat to the resale values, but if you like the bike, and it rides well then why not keep riding it? It's tempting to regard your current bike as a down-payment on the next exciting thing, but you have to say to yourself....I got this bike to ride it - not as an investment! It will have been worth the money if you've had a long and happy life together. I spent a bit on my 2010 Flux with 1.25 headtube, and 26" Revelation fork and Stans 26" wheels, but it makes now sense to dump my 26 inch bike for peanuts in order to spend a fortune on a 650b frame/Taper Fork/650b wheels - because I may not be able to get 26" fork spares, Maxle hub spares, 26" rim/spokes, 1.125" headseats in 10 years time.

By calling it 27.5, you are perpetuating the bullshit. It's not 27.5". It's not half way between 26 and 29.

[img] [/img]

At the risk of exposing ignorance, given the above picture, there's 25mm difference in diameter -is there not enough clearance to put a 650b wheel in a 26" frame anyway?

Wrecker- I saw that yesterday and thought the same thing...27in is much more accurate.

stratman- yes in some cases, just read today that a 456c can take them, and I know there is a guy on mtbr that has had them in his mojo HD for 2yrs now

There's quite a few. Blur TRc is one. 26" fox forks take 650b wheels.

I've just bought new forks off Merlin...
£250+ for service/new sliders @ Mojo (coz they're scored, £730 Retail,
£379 from Merlin.. oh, but they were 2012 models !!!
Can't go wrong ! 😀

I'm 5'4". I have a small Soul which is great; I like the way it turns fast. Am I (and other average sized women) going to be stuck with loon wheeled barges in future?

At the risk of exposing ignorance, given the above picture, there's 25mm difference in diameter -is there not enough clearance to put a 650b wheel in a 26" frame anyway?

Perhaps with a thinner tyre. I think I saw some one with 29er wheels in the carbon 456 on here.

But of course the other way is far easier. Your 26 inch wheel in a 650b fork will be fine

I suspect the story that's being put out about manufacturers no longer supporting 26 inch may just be to scare people into buying the new size because they think their current bike will be obsolete and they won't be able to get spares.
It's a way to create demand where there is none. 650B isn't different enough from what almost the whole of the installed base of bikes is, hence there's no demand. If 26 stays supported, there's no reason to buy 650B. 29 maybe, but not this meaningless midsize.
So the industry puts out the message that it'll no longer be supporting 26 so that those who don't want 29 have to buy 650B.
Honestly, this isn't genuine innovation in the way most of MTB product development has been since the mid-80s, it's manipulation of the highest order and I really hope it fails...

wrecker et al, care to join me in my anti marketing BS naming? From earlier in this thread:

27" (I'm making the policy decision to call it what it really is rather than what the marketing folk call it)

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/9021111751_9204f4e575.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/9021111751_9204f4e575.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/55204994@N03/9021111751/ ]photo (2)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/55204994@N03/ ]Loco Tuning[/url], on Flickr

😉

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/55204994@N03/9021138547/ ]photo (2) - Copy[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/55204994@N03/ ]Loco Tuning[/url], on Flickr

😀

I'm surprised at the vitriol coming out of this thread! Ive had a look to see if I can find the 29er version of this thread from three four five years ago!

I understand the issues Im on a 26er (as I said earlier in the thread Ive been blessed with a no longer made bike with a one off 142+ wheel standard thanks Spesh!) but Hey Ho Im not buying an MTB for a few years anyway and wouldn't due to these changes and that I don't chop and change bikes too often.

But has anyone ridden a 650b?? I doubt many have Ive only seen one in the LBS at Afan, they might be blooming great! But lets be honest WMB is a sales pitch, and always will be like What car, but Im looking forward to Worland eat al celebrating how awesome the 650b what not is even better than the super duper Santa Cruz Tall boy LTC. (Which is the best thing ever)

In the end we will be driven by bigger markets in the MTB world unless we stick to smaller companies Cotic On-One who cater for the UK market more. It will still come down to riding the test bike if you like it buy it regardless of wheel size. Id be surprised if the after market 26" parts market had the a&$e torn out of it for a while yet.