from Rookie’s keyboard
Hello, friends
Yesterday I spent the day working in a village (long story how I ended up there).
On my way to the local store I saw a fairly old man (he still had a lot of energy in him) pedaling a retro 26″ MTB. What surprised me was that the bike was clearly assemblemed by someone who understands bikes and cares about them – it wasn’t just bought for pennies and left under the rain for the occasional ride to the supermarket.
“Nice bike,” I said instinctively. He nodded.
“Where did you get those tires,” I asked seeing that they were new.
“From the shop, he said and pointed forward.”
A minute later, I discovered that this particular village had a semi-legal bike shop.
I went there and saw retro parts for days and a ton of 26″ wheels. Actually, I don’t think I saw other wheel size at all.
“I guess legends never die,” I said to myself thinking of how wrong people are to label 26″ as obsolete.
Nonethelss, the truth, friends, is that the MTB industry has abandoned mountain bikes with 26″ wheels in favor of 27.5″ and 29″ models.
Consequently, it’s difficult to find a 26″ MTB with an up-to-date progressive geometry.
But 26-inch wheels will continue to be produced as they’re present on children’s bikes, dirt jumpers, some touring bicycles, commuters…etc.
After the introduction of 27.5″ and 29″ wheels, the entire industry focused on producing bikes and parts optimal for those tire sizes. Some companies were reluctant to make the switch but did so to remain competitive and preserve their market share.
Once 26″ support was abandoned, 26ers stopped receiving the latest upgrades in terms of components and frame geometry and slowly began to fade out.
The lack of support rather than the wheel size itself is the main reason why 26-ers appear to be in a comatose.
If companies were producing 26″ bikes with up-to-date geometry, the 26″ lines will offer performance rivaling that of modern 27.5″ models.
For better or worse, it’s really hard to find a new 26″ MTB, especially if you’re a taller individual.
First, the production is limited because there is low demand. Second, bike shops are reluctant to stock on 26ers because they are unlikely to sell as well as larger “hype” sizes.
Below are the possible options:
- “Youth bikes”
Many bicycles designed for youngsters come with 26″ wheels. If you need a 26er for a person in that age gap, you can buy a model from many reputable companies (e.g., Giant…etc.)
- Entry-level Bikes
Some companies still produce fairly cheap light-duty MTB bikes with 26″ wheels. Unfortunately, those bikes are low-end and do not feature the qualities that make modern MTBs superior to those of the past.
- Hybrid models
There are bikes designed to operate with both 26″ and 27.5″ wheels.
Examples:
- Banshee Rune V3
- NS Bikes Eccentric Chromo
- Privee Shan
- Dartmoor primal
- Scott Voltage FR720
- Bergamont Straitline Team
- Transition TR 500
You will also find 26″ bikes in some department stores. They suck in most cases. Many department store bikes are designed to mimic high-end units but are of super low quality.
What Does The Future Hold?
The demand for 26″ wheels is still high enough to manufacture them in large quantities, but the MTB industry is highly unlikely to ever revert to 26″. The MTB world likes new stuff. The old is hated.
Also, there’s little incentive to reverse the switch. Not to mention that many riders, especially those who’ve witnessed the 27.5″ and 29″ marketing hype front the first row, would feel insulted if the industry was to push them into regression.
What About The Components?
26ers are experiencing a shortage of high-end components and replacement parts because the industry is not incentivized to continue 26″ support.
For example, it’s difficult to find an up-to-date fork that would fit on a 26″ frame designed for a straight steerer. It’s possible to locate a great number of 26″ forks with 80-100mm travel, but if you want a model with more travel (120mm+), the options are limited.
The Advantages of Bigger Wheels
Speed
29″ wheels are faster than 26″ wheels for two main reasons:
- Roll-over-ability
Larger tires have an easier time overcoming obstacles on the road. Hence why rigid 29″ MTBs offer a surprisingly good performance despite the lack of suspension.
Conversely, 26″ wheels require extra attention and input to maneuver around irregularities on the trail. In some situations, 26″ riders may have to lift the front wheel to overcome a bump that 29″ bikes would roll over without an issue.
That said, some consider the decreased rider engagement that comes with 29″ wheels a negative because it reduces the fun of riding an MTB.
- Larger circumference
If two bikes have the same gearing, the one with the larger wheels will run faster when the rider is spinning the pedals at the same RPM.
Example:
| Bike A | Bike B | |
| Wheel Size | 29″ | 26″ |
| Tire Size | 2.2″ | 2.2″ |
| Highest gear | 36:11 | 36:11 |
| Wheel Circumference | 2305mm | 2107mm |
At 100rpm (rotations of the cranks per minute), the wheel will rotate 100 times.
To find out the distance that the bike will travel, we have to first determine how many times the rear wheel turns per 1 crank rotation.
That can be done by calculating the gear ratio. In this case, the chainring has 36 teeth whereas the smallest rear cog has 11. Thus, the gear ratio is 3.27. Or in other words, each rotation of the chainring moves the rear wheel 3.27 times.
At 100rpm, the rear wheel is rotating 100×3.27= 327 times.
To find out the covered distance, we have to multiply the wheels’ circumferences by 327.
Bike A: 2305mm x 327 = 753735mm = 753.735m = 0.753735km
Bike B: 2107mm x 327 = 688989mm = 688.989m = 0.688989km
The speed of each bike is calculated as follows:
Speed=Distance/Time
Bike A’s speed = 753.735m/60s = 12 562 m/s = 28.10mph = 45.22kph
Bike B’s speed = 688.989m/60s = 11 483 m/s = 25.68mph = 41.33kph
Conclusion: Bike A (29″ inch wheels) is 9.4% faster.
“Modernizing” an old 26″ bike
You can modernize an old 26″ bike by changing some of its components.
Example:
- Install wider rims and tires
- Buy a higher-end fork with more travel (make sure that the frame can handle the extra mm of travel)
- Install a dropper post
- Switch to a 2x or 1x drivetrain
- Shorten the stem
- Switch to larger disc brake rotors
- Switch to hydraulic disc brakes
Those modifications can dramatically change the bike but cannot fully compensate for an outdated frame. If the frame has obsolete MTB geometry stopping you from covering the trails that you want to ride on, you will need a new bike.
Street Bikes/Dirt Jumpers Will Stay Married To 26″
Street bikes will continue to rely on 26″ wheels because:
- 26″ wheels are more maneuverable and make the execution of technical tricks easier
- 26″ wheels are potentially stronger because they’re smaller. If two wheels are made of identical rims, spokes, and hubs, then the wheel with a smaller diameter will be stiffer and tougher.
- Street bikes are not used on trails and do not need the roll-over-ability-offered by 27.5″ and 29″ wheels.
The Benefits of 26″
- Stronger wheels
- More maneuvarable
- Lighter (potentially)
- More compact
- Uniqueness
In a world of 27.5″ and 29″ bikes, a 26er stands out. Some people enjoy the extra attention.
- Cheap second-hand parts
The second-hand market offers top-of-the-line 26″ parts that were rather expensive back in the day. Thus, with a little luck and knowledge, one can build a high-end 26″ bike that costs a lot less than a new model while still performing about as good.
Truth be told, most people will have a hard time reaching the limit of a high-end 26″ MTB built in the last 5-10 years or so. It takes a lot of skill to outgrow it.
Until next time,
Rookie
Leave a Reply