where are all the 26"??

[jmcphee91]

been doing a bit looking about for a replacement of my old hardtail. quite fancied keeping to a 26" although I know there is a keen sway towards 27.5" and 29ners.

just seems as if manufacturers are not making good quality 26" anymore, anybody know if there are any good ones still out there?

cheers

[The_Jackal]

Decathlon do some 26ers.
But don't cut your nose of until you have tried a 27.5, they do roll nicer. I have just made the change myself from riding a 26er solidly for a year and a half off road.

[troc]

You can usually fit 26" wheels and tyres to a 27.5" frame/forks without any hassles, the rolling diameter isn't that different. Especially if you go for some nice big tyres which would give additional comfort and grip benefits too. It's quite a common thing to do

[jmcphee91]

troc said:

You can usually fit 26" wheels and tyres to a 27.5" frame/forks without any hassles, the rolling diameter isn't that different. Especially if you go for some nice big tyres which would give additional comfort and grip benefits too. It's quite a common thing to do

I did wonder that, part of my reason was ive got good wheels on my current I was hoping to keep as spares.

[AndrewEH1]

jmcphee91 said:

troc said:

You can usually fit 26" wheels and tyres to a 27.5" frame/forks without any hassles, the rolling diameter isn't that different. Especially if you go for some nice big tyres which would give additional comfort and grip benefits too. It's quite a common thing to do

I did wonder that, part of my reason was ive got good wheels on my current I was hoping to keep as spares.

Be sure to check the hub spacing on any bike you are thinking about buying, lots use 150mm/boost/142mm on the rear, compared to the 135mm of old1

Edited by AndrewEH1 on Saturday 25th June 13:54

[Andy JB]

Overall it does appear manufacturers are/have moved away from 26" to 27.5 & 29" now. I had same issue at the start of the year & with supplies of 26" parts dwindling I made the move to 27.5.

I have noticed some loss of turn-in on technical trails but you soon get used to it & adapt and they do roll better than 26" overall. I did find 29" too unwieldly like riding a cross bike, but I guess you'd get used to that too & depends on your type of riding as they roll faster than the smaller wheels.

It does appear 650b is replacing 26" so you may want to make the leap for spares in future years. Good bargains to be had on 26" though at present

[Crippo]

Andy JB said:

Overall it does appear manufacturers are/have moved away from 26" to 27.5 & 29" now. I had same issue at the start of the year & with supplies of 26" parts dwindling I made the move to 27.5.

I have noticed some loss of turn-in on technical trails but you soon get used to it & adapt and they do roll better than 26" overall. I did find 29" too unwieldly like riding a cross bike, but I guess you'd get used to that too & depends on your type of riding as they roll faster than the smaller wheels.

It does appear 650b is replacing 26" so you may want to make the leap for spares in future years. Good bargains to be had on 26" though at present

You're a bit late...26" stopped being developed by the big manufacturers 5 years ago, even though they continued to sell them for a further 18 months.