My very brief history of MTB wheel sizes concentrated on 26" and larger wheel sizes. As you point out, telling the whole story of MTB wheel sizes would take a lot more time. Maybe this could be a subject for a new thread?interesting but I not totally agree about big wheels. Gary Fisher was a roady and CX man and he’s very tall. But he lived in the west coast were mtb philosophy was high speed and DH. In the East US coast, things were different and pionnier like John Olsen prefered trial bikes, built for climbing and steerin. he developped first 24” Cannondale concept and the Raleigh Edge. and there were some little wheel concept like the Mountain Machine and full 20” wheels. And Dan Hanebrink developp his bike in full 24” wheels to. On other hand, in the mid 90ies, some builder thought to developp 25” wheel diameter
Lots of interesting information there, much of which I did not know. Thanks for posting.About rear 24” wheels (and some bikes I got in my collection) I would classify 3 main categories:
- Technical or trial bikes were smaller wheel give more reactivity : Ibis trial and Raleigh Edge (designed by John Olsen)
- smallest sized bikes : first Cannondale in 16” shown in that BoTM, some early Specialized or 87/88 Fat Chance which use a 24” rear wheel…
- for compensating a problem of geometry. For exemple, the first 1984 Cannondale used a small wheel because because the big aluminum chainstays got some problem with mud and chainring clearence. So a 26” wheel needed a 460mm chsinstay instead of the 24” which needed classic 425 (cf John Olden who designed the bike). The Hanebrink is in the same case : the suspension system needed a too long chainstay, compensated with the 24” rear wheel
Wow! That Moulton is cool. Full suspension in 1985!Lots of interesting information there, much of which I did not know. Thanks for posting.
In 1978, Geoff Apps' first serious off-road bicycle design shown below was specified to have 24" x 2" wheels.
View attachment 588336
Apps then went on to design 650b and 700c bikes that were primarily designed for long distance all-weather off-road touring. In 1985 his ideas returned to smaller wheels with his Cleland Dingbat designs. Here, the primary focus was on agility and trials capability. Though fitted with wide-range gears and mudguards he would also use there bikes for touring. The Dingbat had a Rear: 550b rim fitted with a 65-484 Nokia Trials tyre and a front 600b rim fitted with a 44-531 Nokia Hakkapeliitta tyre:
View attachment 588338 Here is a video that shows the Dingbat and other Clelands in action at the 1986 Wendover bash:
The Start of British mountain biking video
Then in 1987 he designed the Clelandale which was built around a Cannondale 'Beast from the East' frame. For this lightweight bike he went back to the wheel-size that was commonly used by British 'dirt-track riders', including Apps, in the 1960s and 70s. 26″ X 1 3/8″ (37-590)
Again he fitted Nokia Hakkapeliitta tyres:
View attachment 588339
After a break from designing bikes, in 2006 Apps returned to focus on bikes with 700c wheels.
Other notable small wheeled off-road bikes include the 1985 English Cycles Rat, designed by Jeremy Torr, with its 20" rear and 26" front wheel: View attachment 588340
Also, the full 20" wheeled full-suspension Moulton AM-ATB of 1988: View attachment 588341
Lots of interesting information there, much of which I did not know. Thanks for posting.
In 1978, Geoff Apps' first serious off-road bicycle design shown below was specified to have 24" x 2" wheels.
View attachment 588336
Apps then went on to design 650b and 700c bikes that were primarily designed for long distance all-weather off-road touring. In 1985 his ideas returned to smaller wheels with his Cleland Dingbat designs. Here, the primary focus was on agility and trials capability. Though fitted with wide-range gears and mudguards he would also use there bikes for touring. The Dingbat had a Rear: 550b rim fitted with a 65-484 Nokia Trials tyre and a front 600b rim fitted with a 44-531 Nokia Hakkapeliitta tyre:
View attachment 588338 Here is a video that shows the Dingbat and other Clelands in action at the 1986 Wendover bash:
The Start of British mountain biking video
Then in 1987 he designed the Clelandale which was built around a Cannondale 'Beast from the East' frame. For this lightweight bike he went back to the wheel-size that was commonly used by British 'dirt-track riders', including Apps, in the 1960s and 70s. 26″ X 1 3/8″ (37-590)
Again he fitted Nokia Hakkapeliitta tyres:
View attachment 588339
After a break from designing bikes, in 2006 Apps returned to focus on bikes with 700c wheels.
Other notable small wheeled off-road bikes include the 1985 English Cycles Rat, designed by Jeremy Torr, with its 20" rear and 26" front wheel: View attachment 588340
Also, the full 20" wheeled full-suspension Moulton AM-ATB of 1988: View attachment 588341
The pictures of the Moulton AM-ATB first appeared in the UK cycling press in August 1988 and I rode one in the September. I did not buy one but my friend did. I do not know if he still has it.Wow! That Moulton is cool. Full suspension in 1985!
Is that yours?