Because 650b and 29 are easier...just like an eBike. I don't need easy. I'm only 55.

And then there's this...

The first pic is when I built my new carbon 26 hoops and mounted the standard 2.35 tires that I can buy all day long for only $35 ea. and always buy them in bulk.

The second pic is the bike today with the elimination of the Fox 34 CTD and CTD Boostvalve shock, adding a brand new Pike RCT3 and new Monarch Plus Debonaire shock. And I should mention I built this brand new 2014 factory warranty covered Expert Evo frameset in June '15 and paid <1/3 of it's new price and built it with all top line components for pennies on the dollar. It would cost me well over $7k to spec this bike as it sits with the only difference being wheel diameter.

I'll be wearing this one out.

 

Because 650b and 29 are easier...just like an eBike. I don't need easy. I'm only 55.

And then there's this...

The first pic is when I built my new carbon 26 hoops and mounted the standard 2.35 tires that I can buy all day long for only $35 ea. and always buy them in bulk.

The second pic is the bike today with the elimination of the Fox 34 CTD and CTD Boostvalve shock, adding a brand new Pike RCT3 and new Monarch Plus Debonaire shock. And I should mention I built this brand new 2014 factory warranty covered Expert Evo frameset in June '15 and paid <1/3 of it's new price and built it with all top line components for pennies on the dollar. It would cost me well over $7k to spec this bike as it sits with the only difference being wheel diameter.

I'll be wearing this one out.

You are still young. Hope you'll have many more years with your nice bikes

 

Like most here I have a modern 29er as well as two older 26ers. I began my mountain biking on a 26er and see no reason to stop riding one even though they're vintage bikes. I also love driving my vintage '65 Mustang when I have the opportunity. Both the Mustang and the 26ers make me smile for the same reasons: the experience and the individuality.

 

^^ Total agreement on that, above.

My 26'r on Demo Flow Trail is insane fun! As well, here on my tight turned, chunky local trails.

 

Like most guys on 26ers, I got my start on a 26 and never felt the need to "upgrade" to a larger size. I tried 27.5 and 29ers at my LBS and they just seemed heavy and cumbersome. Not wanting to rule them out completely, I tried my buddy's 27.5 Giant and I couldn't wait to get off the thing. It was heavy, felt bulky, and didn't respond anywhere near my 26. The funny part is while I was riding my buddy's 27.5 2015 Giant, he was riding my 96 Gary Fisher Joshua Y and didn't want to give it back. He said he felt comfortable on the 27.5, but the ride was 100% better on my 26. Luckily for him I have 2 more 26ers to ride so i let him ride the fish for the rest of the summer. I've always been one for "ride what makes you happy", but also don't rule out the other styles just because they aren't trendy at the moment.. you may be missing out on a great ride ;-)

 

How else can you get a full suspension S-Works FSR loaded with premium components under $1300?

And it is light and very nimble.

 

Nicely done, MudSnow! I had to look for my eBay handle on your spreadsheet...I sell a lot of bike parts on eBay. Now, back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

 

Not everyone can afford to buy a new bike. My 26'er has a modern XT 1X11 drivetrain, decent enough geometry and can handle the type of riding I do. I'd love to buy a new bike but the only thing holding back my riding experience right now is my own fitness level, not the bike.

 

I built mine piece by piece. I can't seem to break it.

It seems like I'm usually waiting at the bottom of the hill, for my friends with bigger wheel bikes. Then I have to listen to them tell me I need a better bike. Funny.
View attachment 1115103

 

It seems like I'm usually waiting at the bottom of the hill, for my friends with bigger wheel bikes. Then I have to listen to them tell me I need a better bike. Funny.
View attachment 1115103

That was a huge f'in tree!! Nice bike BTW

 

They are playful.

 

Obsolete? I love my fatty running tubeless, saves 1 lb per wheel. yes it's a 26er.

 

when I come to certain obstacles most of the riders i ride with, ride over it, if I have the speed, my 26r spreads its wings

 

In years to come, when bike companies decide to extract yet more money from people with a new "revolutionary" size, someone will make a similar comment (or comments based on the 2 threads you've started on this!) about 27.5 & 29.
Bit like vinyl/CD/MP3; vinyl is growing in popularity nowadays thanks in part to nostalgia, but mostly to its superior audio quality

 

Thanks for that, Captain Obvious. All this time, I never thought that happened. From the horse and buggy to the VHS/Betamax, there has never been people resistant to change.

 

I am sticking with my 26ers because they do everything I request from them and more. I do not push either one to its fullest potential. I don't race, nor do I care about PRs, lap time, etc. If I can't climb or descend as efficiently as newer bikes, oh well.

Sure, it would be nice to have a sub 24 pound carbon FS bike with all the latest technology and newer geometry. I don't think anyone could logically argue that they aren't valid improvements. But those improvements aren't worth the cost for me. For many others, who ride differently, they get a great enough of a ROI that it is worth it to them.

 

Bless

 

Well, this was fun while it lasted...

 

Since the VHS/BetaMax war was brought up, I'm wondering what side of the wheel size debate the Porn industry favors? They lost the HD DVD/Blu-ray war, but they still got some clout.

Why am I even asking, they are obviously big wheel people...

 

When I moved to the mountains I picked up a 27.5" full-suspension and never looked back. Had to bring it in for a big service ($$$) so I went for a ride on my neglected 26" singlespeed - wow, such a fun/responsive ride!

Call me sentimental I guess - I like my 26" since it's been with me through 4 countries, conversion to single speed, new paint job, added disk tabs, etc, etc. Next up are perhaps some new rims and a dropper...

 

In grade school, my brother and I rode what we called "clunkers" with 20" wheels in a dump.

By 1974, wearing an ice hockey helmet, I was riding a Centurion 10 speed with 27 and 1/4 wheels on dirt where hunters poached.

After buying my first 26" wheeler bike, Diamond Back Topanga, and being introduced to real mountain bike trail riding, think it was 1988, what I called ATB riding, became a weekly ritual.

In 1996 I warranteed a broken plastic resin bike (early carbon fibre) for a Dean Ti Colonel 26" mountain bike. At the time, I considered this the ultimate expression of my devotion to mountain biking.

Time passes.

Around 2008 I started single speeding part time on a 26.

In 2009 a friend sold me his fresh 1995 Dean Colonel Ti bike built single speed. Identical to my original Dean Ti, the bike became a part of me.

I continue to single speed part time.

Today, despite riding an incredible 27.5 plus carbon fiber full suspension from time to time, I find that the 26" fully rigid SS more rewarding to ride every time, even if it kills me.

After all these years, that 26" wheel size does matter.


Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

 

I just jumped on my old 26" aluminum Schwinn with Maxxis tires for a bit today. After riding a 29er for awhile, the 26 felt so fun, even if it was a $100 bike. It felt tiny like a BMX. If I could magically appear at the top of the trail every ride, Id choose 26".

 

cuz i cant afford a new bike worth more than my car. so have always bought used. and upgrade parts as i go. usually used also. my bike drops off, jumps, pumps, and hits berms to have a good time. dont care about strava any more. 27.5 wont make me jump further, jib sections harder. When the time comes i will buy a good condition used 650b rig. almost tempted to go 26 again with a used uprising.

 

Started in the early 90's on a Diamondback, gave it away late 90's, became a father in 2005 and got back into it in 2009 with a budget secondhand 26'er hardtail. Spent more and more time on bike with my son and loved it so that it got to the stage I had to upgrade his bike a couple of times over for size and mine for skills. I can't afford to drop $3k+ on new but for $1100 I got a very nicely specced 5" with a Pike fork, mainly XT components and 26" rims, I'm not fast enough to push this bike to its limits and at 45yo probably never will be. Could it be lighter, have bigger wheels or be more on trend in paint scheme??? Yeah but I don't care, I got better things to spend $$$ on like my boy and his younger brothers bikes in the next few years

 

Because no matter how fast I feel I am at times, 27.5 or 29 will not get me in the top 10 on strava trails I care about. Because those guys were still that much faster before 29 even hit the scene. Skills and experience count for way more than the 1% effeciency you gain.

 

Because all the pros race on 26ers now? Umm, not. They ride 29ers to be slower, nope.

 

Because my suspension is so dialed Bros....... my 26 feels 27.5

 

The end of me or the bike. Either until I can't ride any more or I break the bike beyond repair. At this point in time I think the bike will outlast me, I ride trails just not as crazy as I did 20'years ago.

 

well I am poor and put my bikes together with what I drug off for free or nearly free....I have bought a few new parts along the way, but nothing too spendy.... both are 26" with the newest of the 2 being a 1997, but it is really pieced together with what I could find....its my SS beater/commuter/city bike.... my other one is a 91 and it was fairly complete when I got it

 

That kangaroo pouch is epic