Are 26ers a dying breed?

I think it’s interesting that (and potentially telling) that Spesh haven’t released a 650b model for 2013

But they have as good as given up on 26″ wheels: no Stumpjumper/S-Works hardtails, no Epics, no Stumpy FSRs (except the Evo).

But they have as good as given up on 26″ wheels: no Stumpjumper/S-Works hardtails, no Epics, no Stumpy FSRs (except the Evo).

So they’ve moved to 29 for all their XC and trail bikes – no surprise. However they retain 26 for dirt jump, downhill, and all-mountain rigs. That’s hardly dumping 26. It just shows Spesh also think 26 is for more aggressive riding.

Why did we end up with VHS over Betamax?

It was actually because of pron. truefact.
Sony, who championed Betamax refused to let their format be licensed for pron. the resulting gain in business for VHS was enough to sway it. They nearly made the same mistake with Blu ray but capitulated. Blu ray is still around as a result. So, if you want to succeed; you need to embrace pron.
Sorry for the hijack. I thought it was interesting.
Ill still never buy a 29er though pron or no pron.

Very interesting thoughts on PinkBike related to 29ers:

“…before the 29er can sprout longer legs, it will have to develop some big-wheel-specific component standards – some of which exist and others that must be invented. Breaking through the 29er travel
barrier will require a redesign of many major components: Wider bottom bracket shells and crank spacing to move the chain-line outwards in order to make room for wider tires and shorter chain stays. Zero-offset crankarms to return the Q-factor back to normal. Wider rear-axle spacing (probably 145mm) to move the cassette cogs in line with the chainring and wider hub-flange spacing to reduce the spoke angle and strengthen the wheel. Up front, wider hub flanges may require a wider axle and fork crown metrics. Heavy wheels are already a thorn in the side of the 29er, so to keep the weight down, wider, lightweight carbon rims, and tires with wide, aggressive tread and low-profile sidewalls must be considered. Because the front derailleur swings into the exact spot that the tire must occupy, SRAM’s XXI drivetrain is tailor-made for the new 29er – long-travel plus big wheels equals no front mech. Other component makers will be pressured to follow. Where the big trouble occurs for the long-travel 29er, however, is that suspension designers must figure out a way to keep the bike’s chain stays short enough to ensure proper handling, and still figure out a way to arc the wheel away from the rider’s butt when the saddle is slammed…”

When I’ve ridden my 26er into the ground I’d like to try a 29er with all those future improvements!

Sounds like a pain in the arse, i think the manufacturers will keep 29ers for XC and for selling to people who want to ride along canal paths and keep 26ers for crashing down hills….650b is intriguing though, Saracen do a 130mm 650b hardtail, it could be the perfect middle ground, i dont get the 29 inch early adopters anti stance towards 650b?
If 29 inch wheels do end up being too much of a pain in the arse to fit into decent gravity bikes then 650b is the natural plan-b for those who like larger wheels surely?

So am I allowed to really like my 29er or not?

Not until you get some peer reviewed scientific data to prove its 10% faster over rough terrain and 5% more efficient for a given energy output
And a pic of all the laydees who have swooned at your mere passing..
And non of the wheels haven’t exploded for at least 48 hours.

So am I allowed to really like my 29er or not?

Of course. Just don’t try to tell everyone that they should.

So they’ve moved to 29 for all their XC and trail bikes – no surprise. However they retain 26 for dirt jump, downhill, and all-mountain rigs. That’s hardly dumping 26. It just shows Spesh also think 26 is for more aggressive riding.

I’m so bored of people saying 29″ bikes aren’t as fast downhill or AM and DH bikes would have them etc. You can’t engineer 200mm of travel around 29″ wheels without huge wheelbases. That is the reason why, not because they aren’t suited to more agressive riding. A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails. I’m sure when the 29 ” Enduro arrives the 26″ version will disappear within a year or two. As it is I think a 29″ Evo would run a 26″ Enduro really close on any descent and it’d destroy it when you hit a tech climb or flat rutted section.

The advantages of geo around 29″ wheels are obvious. Specialized’s position is it worth getting rid of 26″ and changing everything for just over 27″ when it doesn’t have the advantages of 29″. If you’re gonna change, make it worth it.

Surely the main reason 26″ MTB’s will not die out is the fact that so many people have them.
Ok sure a load of bikes are becoming 29″ or 27.5″. But until they are being sold everywhere and are proven to keep going without the wheels buckling all the time then I don’t expect to see the 26″ MTB die.

As others have said, its yet another sales thing for the big manufacturers. Give it 3 years and everyone will be raving about 26″ wheels again.

Seriously though who gives a s*** if 29ers are faster or not, unless you are racing then get over yourselves. MTB’s are fun thats why we ride them, and I cannot see a different wheel size being more fun than others.

Spesh also think 26 is for more aggressive riding.

A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails.

Presumably by that you mean it would be faster. No idea whether that is true, but even if it were its pretty irrelevant. Most of us are riding round in circles for fun. If a 29er is more fun than my 26″ bike then I’m in. But so far none of the ones I’ve tried have been.

deviant…..this 29er likes crashing downhills 😀

You can’t engineer 200mm of travel around 29″ wheels without huge wheelbases

Which proves the limitations of 29″. It’s pointless without being able to put the geometry around the wheels which is why it it very unlikely to ever move into the freeride/downhill scene. 29″ wheels are also weaker for aggressive riding unless they’re built like a tank, in which case you’re carrying even more unnecessary extra weight. All negative points – and they’re likely to steer like a barge.

A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails.

I call bullshit.

Popped into my local ASDA on my way home tonight after swimming to grab a quick snack, one chiller cabinet happened to be full of goods on special offer at 50p, I kindly asked the the guy stacking the shelves if I could please squeeze past to get a peperami and instead of simply allowing me past told me “the fridge raiders are nicer”, I laughed and said “not if you prefer Peperami they’re not!”.. to which he replied, “but the Fridge raiders are healthier, 100% chicken!”.. I laughed and said “ha ha.. you think that’s chicken?”
**** dumbass’d fit in well here!

You can’t engineer 200mm of travel around 29″ wheels without huge wheelbases

A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails.I call bullpoo

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/dirt-magazine-26v29-bonus-feature.html

A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails

Another crack smoker. Do you see any 29’ers on the enduro circuit? No. Why? Because they are not as good as 26 inch wheels on “rowdy trails”

Perhaps the rowdy trails you are talking about are the sort of thing you find at a trail centre?

Do you see any 29’ers on the enduro circuit

Rob Cooksley did o’k last year on a Tracer 29 I think 😉 (1st at cyb,3rd at dyfi,4th at eastridge….and he’s a master as well).

I’m getting bored of contradicting people with actual facts now.Can you all do a little research before posting please xxx.

WTF is wrong with you lot? Just ride a bike and enjoy it, if you put as much energy into riding that you do arguing over wheel size I’m sure you’d all be better riders whatever it is you’re sat on

But Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!

Rob Cooksley did o’k last year on a Tracer 29 I think
I’m getting bored of contradicting people with actual facts now.Can you all do a little research before posting please xxx.

The actual fact that one guy rides enduro on a 29’er? I can probably find one guy who races xc on 26″ wheels and proclaim they are better.

When 29’ers become the norm on the enduro circuit I will believe they are as good for aggressive riding. After all, racers ride what gives them the edge, rather than what they have been lead to believe 😉

I’m not anti 29’ers, I just cannot stand the bullshit that they are some mystical thing that is going to kill off 26 inch wheels.

Its 99% rider 1% bike , I’d be slow on them all 😀

top class rider would make a GT fast

29ers will always be a bit shit, a bit like a dawes galaxy, just for nerds.

JCL – Member

So they’ve moved to 29 for all their XC and trail bikes – no surprise. However they retain 26 for dirt jump, downhill, and all-mountain rigs. That’s hardly dumping 26. It just shows Spesh also think 26 is for more aggressive riding.

I’m so bored of people saying 29″ bikes aren’t as fast downhill or AM and DH bikes would have them etc. You can’t engineer 200mm of travel around 29″ wheels without huge wheelbases. That is the reason why, not because they aren’t suited to more agressive riding.

You’re forgetting the fact that DH wheels need to be stronger, 29er DH wheels would need to be massively heavy – larger 2ply tryres, super strong spokes, or have massive flange diametres and/or a bigger hub standards to cope with the stresses. All that extra weight would compound the problems of slower deceleration, and acceleration, which would also cause problems with braking on steeper longer DH tracks. There is no proper 2ply dh tyre available. Added to the fact no major manufacturer makes a DH fork that will accommodate a 29″ wheel, added to the fact it would raise stack height massively if they did, ruining the geometry.

The advantages of geo around 29″ wheels are obvious.

See above. The disadvantages are obvious.

Rorschach

Rob Cooksley did o’k last year on a Tracer 29 I think (1st at cyb,3rd at dyfi,4th at eastridge….and he’s a master as well).

I’m getting bored of contradicting people with actual facts now.Can you all do a little research before posting please xxx.

How come he didn’t dominate everything? He’s on a much faster bike with much more grip that rolls more easily and feels as iff it’s got 50% more travel? We all know some guy won a road race in South Africa years back on an MTB. 26″ wheels to boot. Does that stand as proof mountain bikes are faster on the road than road bikes, or was it down to the rider? You’ve contradicted dick all mate.

A good 110mm 29″ will wipe the floor with a 140mm 26″ on rowdy trails.

Then you’ve never ridden a “rowdy” trail. Ever. I think you’ve just outed yourself as a complete fantasist, frankly, it’s people like you, spouting complete twaddle about things they clearly do not understand that are making so many people frustrated. Then again, you’re a salesman’s dream I would imagine. I don’t think I’ll be engaging in any more debates with you. Pointless really.

spouting complete twaddle about things they clearly do not understand that are making so many people frustrated.

i think you’re the most frustrated given your recent posts, as i said, ride your bike and stop worrying what other people think

Your question-Do you see any 29ers on the enduro circuit?
My answer-Yes,on the podium.
If you would like to resubmit your question ,changing the parameters to fit your argument,please do.
Box won the 2011 enduro overall on a 160mm 26″ wheeled bike.If it was’nt for some bad luck at Inners he would have won the 2012 on a 140mm 29″ wheeled bike.This does in no way prove that one is better/faster (though it would be odd of him to choose to race a ‘slower’ bike) than the other.It proves box is AWESOME and wheel size does’nt seem to make too much difference (to him).

Find me a 26″ with 0 BB drop and I’ll listen. Until then it’s just basic physics why a good 29″ is faster. That’s without even getting into the lower rolling resistance.

Try and convince an F1 engineer to mount the main masses, engine, fuel tank, driver etc above the axle centreline and he’ll also tell you you’re on crack.

Then you’ve never ridden a “rowdy” trail. Ever. I think you’ve just outed yourself as a complete fantasist, frankly, it’s people like you, spouting complete twaddle about things they clearly do not understand that are making so many people frustrated. Then again, you’re a salesman’s dream I would imagine. I don’t think I’ll be engaging in any more debates with you. Pointless really.

Come out to North Vancouver. I’m up for a rip whenever you can make it.

rOcKeTdOg .

ride your bike and stop worrying what other people think

It’s a bit late now mate. The fires on and I’m watching ghostbusters II, just about to open a beer.

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/dirt-magazine-26v29-bonus-feature.html

So 26er rider is faster on 26″ bike, 29er rider is faster on 29″ bike. Shocker.
Bonus points for comparing us duffers on push bikes to F1 cars 🙄

I think you’ve just outed yourself as a complete fantasist, frankly, it’s people like you, spouting complete twaddle about things they clearly do not understand that are making so many people frustrated.

Comic genius.

Your question-Do you see any 29ers on the enduro circuit?
My answer-Yes,on the podium.

Ah I see, the uk enduro series. I was talking about the European series in the alps. The one with the worlds best riders.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Superenduro-2012-Season-Recap.html

When you get guys winning the biggest races in the world on different sized wheels, I’ll take notice.

I have a 26″ C456 with 130mm Revs and a 29″ scandal with 100mm Rebas. Both are 16″ frames.

When I ride the 29er I feel more confident to not go over the bars hitting an obstacle or small drop with no finesse. On bumpy, muddy etc climbs it is easier to ride.

But when I get back on the 26er it feels more alive. Yes I tend to come to an abrupt stop more often but maybe that is because I expect to and don’t believe in the bike so approach with more caution than on the 29er. I think a proper skills course would show me what my bike can actually do.

Weight wise the carbon frame is a bit lighter (but not much), the C456 has XT, Scandal LX, the C456 has Mavic 717 with 2.25 Nics and the Scandal On One rims with either Beavers (very light) or today I tried the Smorgasboards so yes the 29er wheels are built a bit heavier but they are also wider which is nice.

Which do I prefer? Depends what mood I am in. When I had a rigid fork on the 29er I would take out the C456 if I knew it was going to get lairy but now I have Rebas on there I am more likely to give it more abuse but the 26″ C456 still puts the biggest smile of my face. Yes I do think i can be faster on the 29er but I am not racing, I am out with friends and I have more fun on the smaller wheels.

Maybe if I was over 6ft then the 29er would feel more nimble but I don’t buy into the whole “29ers are not for people under 6ft” thing. They are absolutely fine but just like you choose the type of bike for your riding you now have the option to choose wheel size and the 29″ wheels just make whatever you choose a bit more capable at rolling over stuff.

I fancy trying 650b wheels on my C456 to see where it lies in the middle. If it’s still as much fun then perfect. 🙂

you iz all looser innit though..

I’d sooner ride that thing yunki’s posted up there than spend any time riding/talking/being in the same county as some of the “experts” giving their opinion on this subject.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
Ride whatever you want. No one else gives a rats ass.

Ride whatever you want. No one else gives a rats ass.

Perfect, can’t believe nobody has every said that in the 26v29 discussion before. That should kill it right off!

😉
I do agree though.

Perfect, can’t believe nobody has every said that in the 26v29 discussion before.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

🙂

Has anyone mentioned weight in this discussion? For your £ I’d expect a 29er to weigh approx 2lbs more than a 26er.
2lb makes a difference on an xc course. Throw in some twisty, stoppy-starty woodland stuff rather than gravel grinds and I think the scales could swing against the 29er for racing.

I spent my money on a top notch 2nd hand 26 rather than getting an inferior spec 29. Love it for it’s agility.