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I won't buy a 27.5 or 29" bike.
I want to have at least one of each.
I don't accept I'm not 20 years old any more...
that doesn't stop it actually being true.
Most keen MTB'ers I know build their bikes and upgrade/replace major parts on a rolling basis. For that reason I can't see any of my mates going for 650b, unless a bike is nicked and they replace with a factory bike.
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*loads shotgun*
'here kitty, kitty...'
Give it time and the marketing cycle will be promoting the advantages of the 26" wheel as bringing the trail to life.
26 obviously isn't dead as long as folks ride 'em. But as a format for new bikes it looks pretty much dead to me.
(I just lashed out on new Pikes and crabonz rimz for my 26er, I might regret that but what the hell, good bikes are good bikes)
I haven't slung my leg over a 26"er for oooh, 7 years.. no intention too either in the near/distant future unless I find a mint Klein Attitude.
i'm still riding 26" . want to see how much weaker 27.5" is for what i do most before i'd even consider it. 🙂
Give it time and the marketing cycle will be promoting the advantages of the 26" wheel as bringing the trail to life.
Keep saying to yourself,
Give it time, go to a shop and buy the best bike for the money you have, it won't be a 26er but it will put you back on the trails and having fun.
I've just had a new 26" frame, by the time I feel the need for another new one 26" will be back on trend so I'm all good.
^^^What Northwind said.^^^ My alpine isn't suddenly crap because orange have released a 650b version. If I did have to replace it right now, it'd almost certainly not have 26" wheels. This wouldn't be out of choice, just that's all there is available.
I don't accept I'm not 20 years old any more...that doesn't stop it actually being true.
This.
The industry doesn't care whether you believe it or not, we are past the tipping point. It doesn't mean your 26" bike is no good now, but the only real question is how long will you continue to be able to get high end 26" equipment for. Personally I'm hedging my bets and when I bought a new set of Pikes for my 26" bike, I got the 650b ones, just in case. For now I just have plenty of clearance and next time I change frames, if I decide to go for bigger wheels it's only the frame and the rims and tyres to change.
I'm riding a 26" bike, but next one will probably not be.
It won't be until either the lyriks or the wheels fail, but I'm not particularly bothered, next bike will probably be a 650b
26" is alive and well until I can afford a new bike and that isn't likely to be this year and probably not next. After that who knows, I refuse to test other bikes in case I prefer them to my own.
26" wheels are dead in terms of new bikes. Yes there will be a supply of second hand bikes and people will carry on using the ones they have because they are still good bikes. But with a few small / boutique frame builders you wont be able to buy 26" frames / forks or wheels for much longer
I almost went 29er front end on my current bike, but each component needed to fit at least 2 others, some of which I had, some I didn't, and some I either did or didn't depending on what the searches for those I didn't have turned up ...
What with different options for axle, brakes, steerers, travel, hubs, etc the n-dimensional matrix of possible purchases gave about a gabillion possibilities, within which the number of actual compatible/suitable instances was zero!
That proves (for a given value of proof) that these standards are all about getting people to throw out 5 components in order to replace 1. I'd still have one of those voodoo bajingoes if I was buying now, though.
26" is alive and well until I can afford a new bike and that isn't likely to be this year and probably not next. After that who knows, I refuse to test other bikes in case I prefer them to my own.
I really can't add anything to that - absolutely the same point of view as mine!
Still got mine in use, though I can afford a new bike yet... Also got a 26" hard tail in the garage that I want to sell due to lack of use, a Kona Scab 02 if anyone's interested?
I'm still happy on 26inch for both my mountain bikes.
However, if I was to buy a new bike now, would it be 26inch? I very much doubt it because of what is available.
My Rune futureproofs me slightly because I can change the drop outs to accecpt 650b.
If last year was like things are at the moment with regards to availability of 26inch frames, I probably wouldn't have bought a new frame because I couldn't afford forks, wheels and tyres on top. I would either have stuck with my old frame and repainted it or looked for something secondhand. I wonder how many would do the same and how many would just suck it up and adopt bigger wheels.
A 650b is just a 26" that's had it's design compromised in order to fit larger wheels.
I can climb things on my 29 that I can't on my 26 and its 3 minutes quicker on my 9 mile commute.
So I'm killing kittens and happy with it!
ill ride my 26 until i break it, then ill go 27.5
I'm riding bikes which will probably outlive me, so isn't really an issue...
I've just gone 29er for a laugh, it's good. I don't know if 26" is dead or not, but I do tend to buy complete bikes.
even ive gone 650b
i got low profile tyres tho to keep that retro 26" feel.
My Orange 5 is a 26er, as is my old Patriot. My P7 is a 26er, as is the old one hanging up on the wall. My MTB tandem is a 26er as well. Mind you, my Jaspa (replica 1920's road bike), is a 29er!
I'll be sticking with 26in wheels until I can't. I've been riding MTB's with 26in wheels for nearly a quarter of a century and they haven't suddenly turned rubbish. Neither did I suddenly realise I'd been doing everything wrong and that 29ers were the way forward when I've ridden on them. To be honest, they've just felt like MTB's to me.
I resent being forced into changing for the sake of marketing. I appreciate that everyone who's invested in 650b or 29er needs to justify their purchases, but why should I be forced to buy into it as well?
Grrr! 😡
26" isn't dead for me either (no matter what marketing e.t.c tell me otherwise 😉
like others have said,i don't like being forced to go to another wheel size. by all means make 27.5/29 sized bikes,but don't force people to have to get them because you don't make 26" any more.
*Looks out of office window, towards bike shed* Mine still looks very much alive, thanks. 🙂
They are not dead. They are just cheaper for me to buy.
It just doesn't matter. The trails are still there and still the same; offering the joy, fun, and fulfilment they always have done. A few inches in wheelsize makes no difference to this fundamental.
No, no sir, it's not dead. It's resting
Remarkable bike your 26...
I had one of these waaaaay back in 2009, but now i use my in vogue, niche 26er. I am uber cool 8)
http://www.mbaction.com/Main/News/Test-Haro-Beasley-SS-2447.aspx
It's not 26" that's the problem - it's 1 1/8" head tubes.
I reckon I'll run out of suspension fork options before I run out of wheels or tyres.
it's 1 1/8" head tubes.
completely agree with you on that (my duster has the 1 1/8" head tube dimension.
i hope to update to another bike within the next couple of years though (funds allowing).
26 is dead, long live 29
accept it and move on with your life.
NO! 😉
OP - this will make your head melt - the latest incarnation of my bike will have, a 650b rear wheel with a 2.8" 27.5"+ tyre and the front wheel will be a 26" rim with a 4.8" tyre - 😉
26" is alive and kicking here too, with 2.75" Knards on my new Surly Troll is pretty much 650b anyway.
just ride.