If you were to build a hardtail…

What size wheels would it have?

I have a 26″ full sus and while it’s great out in the wilds and at trail centers I miss the speed and fun of the hardtail on the roads and fire roads of my local trails.

Seen as I’m 30 this year I might have an excuse to build up a hardtail but I’m undecided what size wheels to go for so what’s the hive minds opinion?

If have another 29er, but I’m tall and old and not particularly skillful and they suit me.

May as well go for a point of difference and get a 29’er if you want speed on fire roads. If you want real speed on fire roads get a CX bike.

I’d pick the frame I liked most not the wheels, so it’d be 26 on another Ragley Ti. I can see the logic in 29 inch for hardtails, though.

26″ is a bit niche these days. i’d go 26″ simply because thats what i have knocking about already. i want an 853 ss frame that isn’t heavy and since cotic simple is now 29er i can’t really find one

26″ cos I have the wheels already!

It all depends on what you want from the bike.

Long travel.
26″

High speed xc with sub 130mm forks
29″

Make use of what you have already including wheels and tyres.
26″

I’m not even entertaining 650b. Load of bollocks.

a 26″ 853 frame with 1 1/8th standard headtube and 68mm BB.

Custom as you like, but that’s what I’d have.

Will make sense once I buy that Chris King double.

My current build project is an 07 Ala Carte. Tange prestige tubes, 26″ and an 80mm fork 😀

Have all the bits gathered and given Mrs Slack has said she would like to know more and start to understand her own bike, so she can fix and maintain it, we’re lining up a build tuition day where she will build it with guidance from moi 😀 8)

I’ve been asked to label all the bits with corresponding labels on the bits fitted to her bike. Sounds like a plan to me 😀

porter_jamie – Member
26″ is a bit niche these days. i’d go 26″ simply because thats what i have knocking about already. i want an 853 ss frame that isn’t heavy and since cotic simple is now 29er i can’t really find one

18″ Sanderson Soloist 853 on the evilBay ATM.

cfinnimore – Member
a 26″ 853 frame with 1 1/8th standard headtube and 68mm BB.

Why would anybody spec a 1 1/8th HT these days?

Firstly what do you want it for?
Do Everything?
XC?
Fun Bike?
Harcore HT?
Niche Posing Bike?

Pick the frame the suits and build from there.

What would I do with the hypothetical Chris King mike? 🙂

Besides, there’s the Dialled Alpine to buy off classifieds, the Norco in the cupboard, the Bfe off the classifieds…

Just speccing for myself with what I have available.

leave it well alone??

Just seeing the writing on the wall with regard to fork availability 🙂 It’s more of a fork you than 650b really.

Agree re forks.

Agree in general.

Sad now.

Build a rigid SS 29er. Nothing else makes sense since we entered the age of Aquarius.

and witha rigid SS 29r you will save loads in razor blades too…

MAGNESIUM!

[/url]
image[/url] by shaunbibby[/url], on Flickr

Just finished building this recently, straight steerer fork and, 26″ steel. So defo outdated by some standards,
but its Soo much fun for ripping round local loops when the meta am is far too much bike!

26 as it’d mean I don’t need to get new wheels. Saying that though the Kona Explosif 650b looks so good in orange.

26er for tyre/wheel commonality

That Soma looks lovely 8)

What size wheels would it have?

650b or 29+. I already have a 29er and I’m done with 26.

I’m not even entertaining 650b. Load of bollocks.

Definitely 650b then!

I miss the speed and fun of the hardtail on the roads and fire roads of my local trails

srsly – that sounds like a classic 29er use case to me. they’re fine on the downs too but a smaller wheel will always be a bit more agile if you’re riding at the limits. actually I like the stability of my 29er anyway, I’m not the most agile of riders myself.

Why would anybody spec a 1 1/8th HT these days?

Its not suprising but it is odd, that this kind os statement is almost universal, yet theres some real hostility to 650b. Both incramental improvements reqiring new frames/forks, ones just a few years ahead of the other.

If I was (which I am) it is a dialled alpine with retro 26″ so all my tyres fit all my bikes.

If you are going for a long travel HT and starting from scratch you would be mad not to go for a 29er, providing the numbers are right and it has a nice short back end it will be as fun (more so because of the speed) and handle rough stuff a lot better than a 26″ bike.

Just what I have found anyway.

I think it depends upon what sort of ride you wanted, rather than what someone else regards as sanity?

I am a teapot though 😉

I see no reason not to go for a larger wheel size unless you have any other considerations you want to accommodate, like sharing wheels with your current 26er. But, If there isn’t then why get hung up on wheel size at all.? Conventional wisdom might say if you wanted an XC racy orientated bike then go 29er, if you want something more long travel/DH orientated then 26″ or 650b, but I think these boundaries are becoming more and more blurred as big wheeled bikes are developed. My AM bike is a good example. I’d ignore wheel size and go for a bike you want or fits the type of riding you want to do. If that is only available in one wheel size you have your answer.

thisisnotaspoon – Member
Why would anybody spec a 1 1/8th HT these days?
Its not suprising but it is odd, that this kind os statement is almost universal, yet theres some real hostility to 650b. Both incramental improvements reqiring new frames/forks, ones just a few years ahead of the other.

One shows the inevitability of the other, neither is that much of a good thing for the consumer.

larger headtubes allow greater strength at the front of the frame. the only parts they require to make them fit existing kit ( 1 1/8th ) are headset bits. they don’t suddenly make your old fork unusable.

You mention wanting speed / ground covering ability so IMHO 29er ht.

As someone that owns a fs 26er and 29er ht I’d (in true stw tradition) recommend that as a good combo.

Del – Member
larger headtubes allow greater strength at the front of the frame. the only parts they require to make them fit existing kit ( 1 1/8th ) are headset bits. they don’t suddenly make your old fork unusable.

Very true but the lack of new forks with 1 1/8th does start to make the frame unusable.

Buy the bike that makes you most excited and that will be the right one. For a while, at least. 🙂

It does sound like a 29er is needed…but try before you buy. That new Stanton Sherpa looks lovely in green.

I think it depends upon what sort of ride you wanted, rather than what someone else regards as sanity?

I am a teapot though

That’s exactly what I meant, maybe I should have written aggressive rather than long travel 😉

I was stunned how little choice there was when looking for normal 1 1/8 forks the other week
But for me I’d still want a threaded bb shell , I’m not a press fit fan