all this 650b/29er stuff is a right pain in the bumhole to be honest, must be making some folk delay a new purchase i think.
It definitely is.
I’ve decided to sit this one out and to wait with my potential frame, fork and wheel purchases. I recently refurbished my 2010 Cotic Soul frame and bought some last-of-the-line straight steerer Fox 32 forks.
In the past, I’ve been quick to buy into some of the developments like full suspension, funky forks (Lefty), dual control shifters etc… but the wheelsize thing is a big uncertainty now that I custom build bikes rather than get them off the shelf.
I’m sure all wheelsizes will have a niche in the indefinite future, but it looks to me like 29 will be default for singlespeeds and bikes for tall people, whereas 650b may well dominate over 26 but potentially at the cost of reducing the OE market size overall. 26 will probably be championed by some funky small independents, making jewel-like components at boutique prices – like 29 and 650b in the early days!