So is it 26 or 27.5"

[tintin40]

Re: Re:

It's all about both, that is a mix of wheel sizes.
Having them match is so last year.

 

[tufty]

Re: Re:

It's all about both, that is a mix of wheel sizes.
Having them match is so last year.

I'm all over that. My next build will have 26" rims, 29" spokes and 27.5" tyres.

 

[The History Man]

Re: Re:

I converted to 29ers first and my current ‘best’ bike is a 29” full suss with bang up to the minute geometry. Being tall I found 29ers fit me and every 26” bike I now ride seems tiny and weird. To me 29 feels about right, 27.5 feels playful, 26 feels like a child’s bike. I notice the difference between all three and am a fan of current geometry trends so 26 has become restricted to retro japes for me.

Couldn't have put it better myself so i haven't.

 

[Duxuk]

I've ridden my modern 27.5" over the same bumpy section of climb as my 2004 26", both FS. The 26" rides it far smoother because it has a better design of front suspension. It's not just about the wheel size.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Agreed but since they have been fazing out 26" for 5 years the decent 26" forks are now starting to lag behind the current stuff. My last modern 26" HT had great condition Fox Float forks on that were top kit back in 2007/8. When I compared them to my 2015 Pike forks they were noodly and nervous + no where near as well damped. If I compared them to my old lower standard Rockshox Sektor they'd still be noodly but probably smoother.

 

[ultrazenith]

What I still don't quite get is this. If wheel size is so important and 29" is faster for XC / XCM stuff, and 26 is awful (hence its death), how is it possible for 650b to be so competitive with 29" that pro racers haven't come to a consensus about what is better/faster, but at the same time 650b is considered way better/faster than 26". The size difference between 650b and 29 is virtually identical to that between 650b and 26, so I'd be very surprised if the improvement from 26 to 650b was much greater than the improvement from 650b to 29.

Some numbers:
26" x 2.1" : 666 mm (26.2 inch)
650b x 2.1" : 691 mm (27.2 inch)
29" x 2.1" : 723 mm (28.5 inch)

Looking more closely at the numbers, it turns out you can convert a 26 MTB to 650b just by fitting wide tyres:
26" x 2.1" : 666 mm (26.2 inch)
26" x 2.4 : 681 mm (26.8 inch)
26" x 2.5 : 686 mm (27.0 inch)
650b x 2.1" : 691 mm (27.2 inch)
Yes, I know there aren't many 26 MTBs with clearance for a 2.5" tyre, but I have a few Ti Raleighs which can take a 2.4, maybe a 2.5 if it's not muddy.

 

[mattr]

As Ultrazeniths calcs just showed, 650B/27,5 must be the biggest con of the lot.

 

[velomaniac]

27.5 is best because the industry says it is. We thought 26 was best because the industry said it was.Its got nothing to do with your vork sprung durk dont you know !

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

None of them are best, they're all good at different things. I personally prefer the larger wheels but that could be because I'm a big unit.

The problem for 26" is that no one is using it so you can't buy modern versions of it. I wouldn't if I could but some would. :|

 

[ultrazenith]

I have to say, though, if I had the money and space for an extra bike I would go for a modern FS 29er.