The death of the 26" bike

Status
Not open for further replies.
650b ?

For those of us on 'dead' 26" frames & can't afford a 29er for quite some time, is it worth building up a 650b front wheel ?
 
steverod - cant answer the technical part of your question but I'll just say if youre happy on your current bike just continue to enjoy it.

but when the time comes to get a new bike definitely give some 29ers a test ride.

there's no reason to "keep up with Jones" here. I only got a 29er since my 26" was old and heavy and lets just say it "lived a good long life".

with that said, I'll never get a 26" again.
 
wonderturtle said:
with that said, I'll never get a 26" again.
Click to expand...

How much experience do you have that you can make this kind of claim? Never is a long, long time. It should also be mentioned that the fastest guy on this board rides a 26er and thinks this is all hokey. He's been riding for 20+ years, trained in France when he was a teenager.

I have a pair 29ers, FTR.
 
Norm said:
How much experience do you have that you can make this kind of claim?
Click to expand...

I know what suits me.

as far as the fastest guy having a 26" - good for him (and I dont mean that in a wiseass way, seriously). if that's what he likes...that's what he likes. and if he's out there winning races he certainly knows what suits him. who am I to comment on his ride?

the current "trend" or "fad" for single speed and fully rigid bikes will likely subside, but I think 29ers are only going to get more and more popular. while I think saying that 26" bikes are dead is an overstatement to say the least, they are dead to me. I havent touched my 26" since I got my niner. spiders are living in its spokes.
 
Last edited:
I think what Norm is trying to say is that the 29er retoric probably doesn't need this much fanfare. It will do just fine on it's own without the hype.

FTR, I have two 29ers, and I am relatively certain I won't go back to 26".
 
i love my 29er. rode it just yesterday. it is hands down a better bike for what i'm doing right now.

but that said, i'm starting to tinker with my old trek 970 again (that's the reason for the tires norm). i doubt it'll see any real trail time but who knows. and hey, i'll be in full retro-style once this whole 29er thing fades away... 😀

and fwiw, norm is 100% dead on. that french guy just FLIES. :popcorn:
 
History may look back on this thread as the precise time that mtbNJ jumped the shark.

JumpTheShark.jpg
 
I can recall a few discussions many years back with people who who said that hardtails were about to die because suspension technology was starting to advance. They now ride hardtails. Never say Never. 😉
 
So the 29er makes it easier to roll over stuff no doubt. At the same time we have been designing trails to have more techincal features. Are these trails going to be too easy now?

It's just funny, there are trends towards making it easier, bigger wheels, more travel, less weight. At the same time the other side going retro with SS and fully rigid.

I'd like to have one of everything, but the shed is too full of JORBA tools.
 
trailhead said:
So the 29er makes it easier to roll over stuff no doubt. At the same time we have been designing trails to have more techincal features. Are these trails going to be too easy now?

It's just funny, there are trends towards making it easier, bigger wheels, more travel, less weight. At the same time the other side going retro with SS and fully rigid.
...
Click to expand...

that makes orthodox riders stronger 😀😀😀
 
Last edited:
trailhead said:
It's just funny, there are trends towards making it easier, bigger wheels, more travel, less weight. At the same time the other side going retro with SS and fully rigid.
Click to expand...

I think it just means that XC mountain biking is "diversifying". my take - a few years ago, pretty much everyone was buying full suspension (and 26" was the only option). now you have some people realizing that hardtail is the way to go for them, some prefer SS, some fully rigid, some go 1x9, some 29 over 26, etc.. it all depends on where you ride and how you like to ride. I assume this "diversity of choice" will continue in the future.

to each his/her own I guess.
 
26er won't die for a simple reason and even J I believe will agree to it. There is a section of MTBers that are just too small for a 29er frame. It doesn't fit everyone. Now will I go back to a 26er? Most likely not permanently. I feel my 29er will remain my main ride in some form or another. This debate will probably go on from now until eternity.
 
Its a personal preference... just like Blondes, Brunettes, or red heads... 😀


To each his own
 
southernerinnj said:
26er won't die for a simple reason and even J I believe will agree to it. There is a section of MTBers that are just too small for a 29er frame. It doesn't fit everyone. Now will I go back to a 26er? Most likely not permanently. I feel my 29er will remain my main ride in some form or another. This debate will probably go on from now until eternity.
Click to expand...


I agree, there are people like a friend of mine that tried one and just was not right for him. Nut cracker bike he called it.. He said " I need a nut friendly bike" :hysterica So he is buying a 26er... Hard tail...
 
wonderturtle said:
I think it just means that XC mountain biking is "diversifying". my take - a few years ago, pretty much everyone was buying full suspension (and 26" was the only option). now you have some people realizing that hardtail is the way to go for them, some prefer SS, some fully rigid, some go 1x9, some 29 over 26, etc.. it all depends on where you ride and how you like to ride. I assume this "diversity of choice" will continue in the future.

to each his/her own I guess.
Click to expand...

Mountain biking is diversifying because bike manufacters need to make $$$. Its guys on this board who drive the industry, buying up the latest greatest bike stuff. At the end of the day its all just a hobby, who here really makes a living cycling? besides this french guy
I know its only rockn-roll but i like it
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom