[Closed] Who's still on a 26"?

Yes, 26" here, Nukeproof Mega TR and a Ridgeback Storm with semi slicks for the road!

2x26 and a 29er.

I just bought a brand new Transition Suppressor last year expressly because they were making a 26" model and I wanted to support them.

When I bought my first "proper" mountain bike a year ago, I was reluctant to move away from 26 on principle, but thought I'd be unnecessarily limiting my choice and future options. Since I was starting from scratch, I had no reason to choose 26 for backwards compatibility. May have been the right choice, may not. I have fun on my bike, so can't be far wrong.

I have two other 26" bikes.

26 will never die - me.

Tried 29er hated it, had a go on my mates new 27.5 he can't get up stuff we used to get up together call him parrot (sick as). OK he may be marginally quicker down, but not so in anything technical and he's gone and sold out to SPD's the ****er, so no not likely to change ever, well at least as long as there are spares and bits to rebuild with.

26 here also, considering another as well.

2 x 26 for me, a Dialled Alpine and a Prince Albert that i'm in the middle of building up to replace a Cove Handjob. Not planning to change to a different wheel size anytime soon.

Tried 29er hated it, had a go on my mates new 27.5 he can't get up stuff we used to get up together

To be fair if there was only 26" wheels you could still have this experience going from one model of bike to another.

Tried a Stumpjumper hated it, had a go on my mates new Orange Alpine he can't get up stuff we used to get up together

See? 🙂

Yep 2 x 26" also 650b & 3 x 700c

Got a anthem sx 27.5 but still prefer to use my Boardman pro HT 2010 most rides .
Can't tell the wheel size difference when riding to be honest .

26 zesty here no plan to change any time soon

650b and 29" here. got keep it current! 😆

did notice quite a difference between my old 26 and new 650b; but imagine some of that was down to fresher geo rather than anything

Yep 3 26's here.
Five,Trance x and an Ariel 16x.Love em all and no plans to increase wheel size by 2.56879%. 😀

26" here (2010 Nicolai) although I am 650b curious 😉

Yes. 5 mtb in the garage all 26". Though the two FS could run 650 with alternative dropouts

Most of ours are 26" and works for swapping bits around. Abigale has been tempted away to 650b for competing and 29" for training. looks like her Enduro will be being split and the frame sold on in the near future.

Kind of...

I had a period when my only bike was 650 b (Ti hardtail) but I accidentally bought an old Demo 8 recently.

I also have a Cannondale singlespeed project that I need to finish which is on 26. My other half's diddy Chameleon is a 26er too.

2 26's for me. My Orange 5 is a 2012 frame that I built up but is currently running 1 x 11 just to prove I'm not a total Luddite.
I will admit to being 650b curious but not to the point I am going to blow a load of cash on it.

Tracy.YGM 😀

26 here too...I even bucked the trend last year, or the one before, by buying a brand new (yep, you read that right) 26in frame ( one of the last 26" Cotic Souls..).....I'm sure many would call me mad but it worked for me... 😀

1 x 26 HT Commute + 1 x 26 FS. Would happily buy a 650b or two, but as I can't afford to I will definitely bide my time and hope that wheel widths/axle widths/diameters/speeds/gears/etc settles down a bit.

All 26 inch here. 2013 Five and 2014 Alpine. I race them both for fun in XC, Enduro and DH and they're brilliant bikes. Both under 30lbs.

I'll need to demo something a lot more fun to make me change this season. We'll have to see!

I hope the industry still continues to make 26 inch stuff for some time yet as it would be a great shame for anyone buying these bikes after us if they couldn't get parts to keep them going. It's not like 26 inch wheels have stopped going round or stopped being fun.

If the industry would settle down on standards for long enough I might consider buying in. Boost hubs has really thrown a spanner in the works. Doesn't cause me any issues as I'd have to get all new stuff anyway but I won't buy a future bike without Boost hubs now so there are loads of new bikes out now that you already know are going to be out of date within one season.

Yep. My 26 enduro has done 5 years of racing. I keep thinking of changing but when go through the spec i want (fox, xt 11, threaded bb, reverb) i cant find it and realise that ive basically already got exactly what i want

Yep, 2009 Heckler on 26" and 9spd 🙂

At the last imaginary lottery winning bike dream, I was up to about 5 MTBs with various wheel sizes, but in the real world I just have my Mk1 Soul, bought winter 2004/5. It does all the riding I actually do, not the stuff I imagine I might do, one day, perhaps.

yep all 26'ers here

Still 26, prefer not to ride a barge!

Both full sus and HT are 26ers

As has been echoed here, I feel like this industry wheel size bollocks has had the opposite to its intended effect on me and has stopped me buying new stuff.

I'm on a 26" steel hardtail but run a 150mm Dt swiss 27.5" fork to give myself options in the future. It gives me the benefit of a bit more clearance on the front to run big volume tyres and performs no different. Same A2C and offset as a 26" 160mm pike

Just in case anyone missed this first time around.

2X26 for me.

Wheel size grumbling still going then...

Mine's a 26", bought new in 2013 which I think was the last summer before 650b swept the board.
When I was shopping for it I think Evans had 2 or 3 650bs to choose from, everything else was 26" or 29". The next year it looked like 26" and 650b had swapped places.

All still 26 here. If you list the things that are stopping me being a better rider then wheel size is quite a way down. If you list the things that would enable me to enjoy riding the bike more then it's still nowhere near the top. If you list the things the industry and associated media want me to believe I need in those first 2 lists....

2011 5 Spot and a 2010 Superlight, both 26", both brilliant

Also got a 2004 Stumpjumper HT used for commuting duties

All are 26" no plans to change any of them

I may get a 29er hardtail at some point as I think it would be sufficiently different to my current bikes to be a good addition but I've no plans to change the trail bikes anytime soon

Edit: Scrap that, I've a better idea. 🙂

26 here.

I've been on the cusp of a new bike for a couple of years since the last one got stolen (an Orange g2, which replaced the one which was stolen before, (a P7)which I found and got back from ebay, whilst looking for the most recently stolen one!)

And 650b made me realise that so much mtb "development" is bullshit for most of us. So it actually put me off buying new all together, and I am back on the 15 year old P7!

I 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.

But it is mysterious how quickly an obsolete wheel size, only fractionally different to what it replaced, picked up manufacturer support, especially when it also became clear riders didn't by and large want 29 as a mainstream size.

I actually feel really ripped off by theMTB industry, in a way that road bikes dont appear to rip of their purchasers with a new standard every few months to make old bikes "obsolete".

Make me a 26. Give it 1/18, and 135mm rear hub on a 9mm qr please. And no silly seatpost sizes please.

26er here. Not proud of it and am a little 29er curious. As above, the whole debate about dying kittens has put me off buying anything new (too much hassle, and I love my Alpine 160 and Brodie Holeshot) .

26 Cotic Bfe here.

All 26ers here ,but I have been told that my(cracked) frame replacement ,is only available in the 650b/27.5.I don't know how the other bikes in the shed are going to treat this bastardlovechild of a 29 and 26er . 😉

26" Cotic Rocket no plans to change anytime soon

Yes and happy on a 2012 Trance. I was at Llandegla in November. I was climbing that steep bit half way round the B-Line and someone did loudly comment to his mates "What's he riding, a BMX?"

Not in the slightest bit bothered.

Yep, only have a 26 and have no intention of changing.

Yep.
26" Preservation Society

I have a 29er ht but of the usual suspects I ride with 5 out of the 6 are on 26ers.

That said my fat bike is 26 and has become my main bike now!

26 here, Giant Anthem full susser and XTC hardtail. Was looking to trade them both in for a more trail orientated 29er hard tail but seemingly pretty much worthless now so will be keeping them a bit longer!

I can't edit my post, but I should have said that I got the bike that fit the bill, which was for a long-ish (well, 120mm) off the shelf trail hardtail. At the time that meant 26", and I'm happy with it. The following year, it would probably have meant 650b, which I'd probably also have been happy with.

3 x 26" here...I use my brakes far too much...would have to use them even more if the wheels were bigger as they're quicker...right?

26" HT here. I did have a go on a 650B Onza Jackpot at the NEC but other than it being a nice colour and it having a tapered head tube it didn't really feel any different to my current bike.

26er and no plans to change ... ever!

If it ain't broke - don't fix it.......26 all round!

Yep times 2,still love my Neon Orange 5 and bought a s/h Zesty last year in 26 too.
TBH I`m tempted to sell both to buy something more modern in 27.5 but no great rush,love both bikes anyway

26 for me. I do have to say it is getting harder to find smaller parts, such as a replacement for an axle i snapped last year. It would appear that the majority of riders are still on 26 so you would have thought someone would be trying to fill a lucrative gap in the market and manufacture the appropriate parts.

26er Transition Covert is my only MTB

2x26 here, Ragley Blue pig and Commencal Meta AM.

26 here, but will probably go 650b when I upgrade, although it'll be a while as my bike is only 3 3/4 years old and still great at what it does (downhill fast)

26 dartmoor hornet built up before xmas

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.

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...