I race and train on 29ers but I have a 2013 Flux which I can't bring myself to sell. It makes me smile every time I look at it even though I don't ride it much. When I do ride it I need a better eye for lines, sharper reflexes and a lot more respect for ruts. Not sure if that's a good thing or not for my XC riding but it's a different sort of fun.
All 26" here, newest bike is about 2012ish. If I was in the market for a new bike I'd probably go 29", but the current collection stubbornly refuse to break. (Actually one did break the swingarm a couple of years ago, but the fix was by far the cheapest solution.)
2x 26 and a 700c here.
I've just not bought a new mtb in the last 3 years.
Four MTBs in two countries .
All 26" and 3 X 9 .
When I ride the. I never think I want/ need bigger wheels .
I do think 2 X 11 would be worth trying .
reckon 650b has put of as many buyers as it's won. I don't think many people are "upgrading" to 650b, rather it's coincidental to upgrading the bike they owned.
I thbkin in that category. I didn't really want a 650b bike, but the frame I liked was 650b so I took the plunge. I can't say it's night and day compared to the old frame, but I do like it. I then figured when buying my Ti, dropping that kind of money on a frame I wasn't buying one the industry is trying to kill off.
4 bikes with 26" wheels. Two rigids with 8 speed and V brakes, a hardtail and full suss, both with 9 speed and discs. Three are from the 90s, newest is a 2005 model. They ain't broke and don't need fixing, the cost of marginally upgrading would also be prohibitive.
Voodoo bokor 2010 vintage that refuses to die. Was thinking about slowly amassing a 29er via classifieds but the current one works and isn't worth moving on (2nd hand values isn't much if anything) so I'm sticking
Not only is my bike a 26 but all the components on it are so old as to be pretty much obsolete or at least bloody difficult to get spares for.
2003 Cove Stiffee with RS Psylo forks (one of the good ones, they still work perfectly although at the last service they had, Tim Flooks said it'd probably be their last!)
Dual Control levers
ISIS BB and chainset (triple no less!)
9sp
25.8mm bars/stem
So as soon as something breaks, it will necessitate changing most of the other stuff on there. 🙁
The poor thing is battered to hell although it still just soldiers on steadily; I do sometimes think about a total strip, respray and rebuild with some new parts but to be honest it'd be easier and more practical to just get a new bike.
Still 26
2008-ish model Soul. I bought it as a bike for life, and have no intention of replacing it.
I must admit that I am seriously and frankly amazed that such a wheel size can rotate in "very round" circles, given that it is deficient by 25mm in diameter compared to the "right" and "most perfect" wheel, that inherits only the positives of other diameters and none of the compromises.
The trails must be well dead here though, what with it being 26er, 3x9, fixed seat post, bars less than 820mm wide, a massively stretched 60mm stem, and at 120mm a fork suspension length that doesn't even register on the acceptable lengths list any more. Oh and 9/10mm quick releases.
Nope, sold my 26" hummer and my 26" pivot mach 5.7 last year, 29 and 29+ only for me, though I really want a Surly Wednesday, so I guess I will go back!
Orange Alpine 160 26 (2014)
Cotic BFE (2012) - 26
Identiti Mr Hyde (2010) - 26
DMR Trailstar mk2 (2001) - 26
Lee Cooper XC (1996) - 26
Peugeot pub/rat bike (1992ish) - 26
and wife has a Spesh Hardrock (2010ish) - 26
Totally behind the times in our biking household...
Just been doing some work on the trusty Ragley but tbh it's not been ridden much recently, it's all been the clownwheeled mincetank and the fatbike- which is a 26er too I suppose. But I think just because they're newer really. Also, usually I bitch about depreciation but even if I rarely ride it I'll still justify keeping it as "it's not worth anything any more". 😆
(I think Brant might come and stab me if I bolt it into the turbo though...)
Yup, 26 only. BFe and Cover (2012) plus my original hardrock from 2005 t and have a build project for a Prince Albert Classic, 2012 frame I've had since new, use up some old wheels from my 2007 Reign. No infention of buying anything else size wise at the moment.
1 26" and 1 29".
In the end they are both just tools
Genesis Core 40
Maverick Ml7
26 doesn't give me any grief, why change?
From the purely anecdotal evidence on this thread it really would appear that the MTB Industry has shot itself in the foot with all the 29er is better gumph. Especially as they tried to follow it up with actually what we meant was 650b is better unless we can flog you a Fat Bike cos any phule knows that 26 is best for Fat.
Don't even go there with the plus sizes. I thought that was fashion for chubby chicks but it turns out to be not only a slightly larger diameter but also a slightly fatter tyre.
I know the marketing for these new sizes has actually put me off buying a new bike and it would seem I am not alone.
From the purely anecdotal evidence on this thread it really would appear that the MTB Industry has shot itself in the foot with all the 29er is better gumph.
Really, it's very anecdotal like putting a sign up saying free beer for gingers and having a bar full of gingers.
Also stw is full of die hards.
First thing is good bikes are good for reasons beyond their wheel sizes.
I wouldn't swap my 29r, it is a great bike.
Sometimes people over think stuff.
Sometimes people over think stuff.
And come up with the idea that a bigger wheel size is better 😀
It's different it has different characteristics, put the right package together and it can be different/better.
There were some shitty 26" bikes out there too.
If we do what we always have done we will get the same results. Try changing some things see what happens, maybe we will end up with something that works. Just keep doing the same and you will never know.
Also stw is full of die hards.
Really??
You're basing that on what evidence?
Rather, I see this thread as being evidence that there are many who see there 26" bikes as being perfectly capable regardless of what the industry tries to tell them....
If we were all diehards we'd still be on penny farthings....
I thought STW was full of fashion victims who had to upgrade every 3 months.
26" Canyon here from 2012 and 26" Kona from 2010. No plans to change.
Also stw is full of die hards.
I know, some of us don't use strava either.
Building up a lovely carbon Covert today with my son.
I have a beautiful custom sprayed Lapierre Zesty '09 that I would love to build up but fear it would never get ridden so for now it is just several box loads of bits.
I also have an Evil Sovereign that is currently in 26 light build mode.... such a great bike.
I also have a couple of 29ers and a 29 HT I run 650+... I have no hate for different wheel sizes, i'm just a bloke who loves bikes.
Anyone interested in a Zesty '09 frame or pretty smart full build give me a shout.... or anything else for that matter.... I have enough frames and bits to build a wide range of 26 bikes.
If we do what we always have done we will get the same results. Try changing some things see what happens, maybe we will end up with something that works. Just keep doing the same and you will never know.
While I appreciate your positivity, I don't think you can really look at the whole 27.5 thing as some sort of grand, philanthropic experiment by the bicycle industry. It's quite clearly a cynical marketing driven exercise in obsolescence, inspired by the success of 29ers (which I think a few of them were slightly surprised by TBH) which isn't all that odd really.
Perhaps we've had it a bit too good for a bit too long, other markets have this sort of thing, planned obsolescence is just part of how the capitalist in charge keep their business ticking over...
They didn't do it out of the goodness of their hearts or help make bicycles in some way better.
don't confuse change with progress or improvement, 27.5 wheels are just change, not appreciably better or worse than 26" just newer...
Still got my 2005 Hummer , been through too much with this to let it go ( even if I could get anywhere near what it's worth ) . 3 X 9 , HT2 , QR f & r , 25.4 stem , 25" bars , I could go on ! Question is how much longer before it becomes retro ?
But covering all bases Kona Raijin Ti 29er and Kona Process 650B , CX bike and a proper retro Kona Aha Stars n Bars cruiser as well 🙂
Three 26 bikes here and, having recently been able to pick up some new forks for my Soul and Mk 1 Dialled Alpine, I can't see me getting rid of any of them soon.
My local trails are twisty rocky singletrack so 26 inch wheeled bikes with short or no travel bikes are fastest and most fun. My ten+ year old bikes are gettng a bit creaky and likely unreliable for a multiday epic but for my riding they are fine.
If I cut back on the road riding and plan more rides off road and away from home then likely I'll invest in a 29 inch wheeled bike or a modern decent travelled full suspension bike.
From the purely anecdotal evidence on this thread it really would appear that the MTB Industry has shot itself in the foot
😆
Yes.. very true, I have heard they are on their knees due to the loss of 70 odd hypocrites from stw
Not me, I embrace progress.Also stw is full of die hards
My first MTB had rigid forks, steel handlebars, cantilever brakes, 3 x 7 gearing, 1.75 skinwall tyres and toe clips and straps.
I'm now down with the kids on a MK1 Soul with 120 forks, 2 x 10 gears and SPD pedals and some handlebars made of this new carbon fiber wonder material. I've even got a road bike without down-tube friction shifters and tubular tyres.
At this rate of progress I'll be riding a 1 x 11 27.5 tubeless full susser with a dropper post somewhere around 2040.
I don't think stw is full of diehards not wishing to progress...I read this thread as the view that people are happy to change wheel size when its necessary but are not going to throw away a perfectly good bike just to get the newest model..I don't care what wheel size my bike is. but the two factors keeping me at 26" are the costs (cheaper to move all my working 26" parts than buy a complete bike) AND just as importantly, the environmental aspect. I won't throw away stuff that works perfectly well..
My bikes are all 26',ally hardtail,Anthem & 2005 Enduro.They are just tools & do the job required.
If I was starting again I'd look at 650b stuff but there's no way I'm consigning all the spare tyres,wheels & forks I've acquired over the years to the bin.
Likewise I run 3x on all of them, these days it's deemed obsolete but it does the job for me.
I'd love a go on a Transition Scout to see how design has moved on from my Enduro but I doubt I'd buy one,whereas if it was a 26' frame I'd consider upgrading, moving my Forks & wheels onto it.
Well done you! Others have said the same. Not everyone is convinced though.
Most 275 versions of old 26 designs have other improvements, and you're doing well to be so sure that the differences in your ride are mostly down to the slightly bigger wheels. I've also ridden 26 and 275 versions of models, and didn't have the same experience as you. Happy to except that might be down to me having missing skills and senses… but that still means that they feel much the same to me.
Well done me indeed. I assure you that any missing skills you have I will also be missing.
The point is that I went from a 26" version of a bike to the 29" version. From making the change I could understand all good and bad points people had been banging on about 29ers.
I then tried the 650b version and although the difference was not as obvious it was still there and I'm a numb head when it comes to such things usually. I preferred the 29" so stayed with that.
The point is that to state there's no difference is wrong. It might to be a huge difference and it might not be a difference that's worth it to you but it's defo there.
Oh, and I currently have 4 built 26", one being built and 1 29" in the garage along with a whole load of spares for mostly 26". It's just that I don't get over excited about not being able to fit every part to every bike. If I got rid of the 29" and went 26" exclusively I'd still have loads of parts that wouldn't fit one bike or the other.
Also stw is full of die hards.
My bikes are far from worn out and I really like them so no need to change. Maybe its a function of the amount of riding I do and what a mincer I am but my forks are from 2007 and on a 2012 frame are working absolutely fine.
The point is that to state there's no difference is wrong. It might to be a huge difference and it might not be a difference that's worth it to you but it's defo there.
I said that I can't tell the difference, not that there isn't a difference.
So, no obvious gains for me, but all the hassle of none of my spares fitting.
Changing your tyres for slightly bigger/smaller ones makes a HUGE difference to how a bike feels.
As does changing the compound or tread.
As does getting rid of tubes.
Or wider rims.
Or lighter rims.
All changes I notice, and use.
So, in theory, I get how slightly bigger wheels could/should make a big difference.
But in practise, I can't detect any.
Oh yes and am happy with them. Running triples too, how cool. 😉
2 x 26" 3X9, 1 x 26" 2x10
As far as die hards go, I own a 1990s steel rigid, a 2010 titanium hardtail, a 2014 29er massive enduro [i]bastard[/i], and a fatbike. Oh and a halfords hybrid and an onza bird. So I don't know which of these 4 wheelsizes I'm being a die hard about but the best of all those bikes is the 29er and the most ridden right now is a 26er.
Still on a 5 year old Zesty here. It's a bit outdated now though with its non-tapered head tube and QR front and rear, and for me to upgrade it to how I want would cost more than the bike is worth. When I do get round to upgrading to a newer bike I'll be focusing more on value for money than whether it's 26" or 650b, cost is more important to me than wheel size.
Yeti SB66. Say no more.
We have a fleet of them. At *some* point we will all move to 650b (bar mrs_oab who WILL NOT be parted from her lovely 'Dale) and 2xsomething...
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/17179866862_fd2167a1a6_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8803/17179866862_fd2167a1a6_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/sb8iT5 ]IMG_2977[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
It is hard to see how some 26'ers will ever stop being made:
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/718/22024392118_213fc29890_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/718/22024392118_213fc29890_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/zydLsA ]Aviemore Overnighter[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
And despite what folk would have you believe, they rip with the best...
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1486/24211651629_ce3915f195_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1486/24211651629_ce3915f195_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CTv3vt ]Innerleithen bike ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
Yep, a 1990 Courier Comp with a few new bits.
I built a new 26 Alpine a few months back brings the trail alive.
