29ers dead?

[hjb1000]

29ers are still going strong, however 27.5 are certainly flavour of the month. Personally I don't particularly like 29ers and I too am still on 26 (yeah, WW!). But when I upgrade it will be to 27.5 as that is how the market is heading.

[Getter]

I don't think the 29 will go away anytime soon. The whole 'enduro" craze is fueling the 27.5 sales.

I own a 26 FS and a 29 HT. I've also spent a good amount of time on a 27.5 (Stumpy Evo). For me the 27.5 didn't feel much different than my 26. It was too small of a difference to make a big difference.

[bm0p700f]

The problem I have with 26" bikes is I find climbs more difficult on them, the front wheel wants to ride up on the steep ones. Over rough ground I am thrown about more. On the 29er I can ride rigid and still be quicker over rough ground than I was on a 26" wheeled bike with a suspension fork. The other problem I have with 26" wheeled bikes is the parts are worthless and I have a number of parts that are simply not worth parting with.

[TheRookie]

I really don't see 26" parts as worthless, still lots of demand out there.

Just about to reframe my HT as an FS, still 26", the vast majority of MTB are still 26" and most 26" frame will take a 650B wheel anyway (it's only half an inch bigger in radius after all) so that only leaves wheels, tyres and forks that are 26" specific.

[LeDuke]

I haven't seen a 26" FS, aside from DH/FR bikes, in a long, long time around here. A 26" HT? It's been years.

Most people are on 29er HT or FS, or 27.5 FS. A few 27.5 HTs, too.

The majority of the 27.5 HTs I see are under some of the Liv and Scott female racers. Most of them are 5' to 5'6"

[TheRookie]

I see plenty of 26" still probably 7 or 8 out of ten bikes at my local riding areas.

[bm0p700f]

In the U.K there are lots of 26er still. However at races all the faster riders are on 29er. Tells you something doesn't it so I made the switch and you know what I got quicker too. 29er just have not taken over yet but look at what available for sale. A decreasing number of higher end 26" wheeled frames/bike available now. In fact I am struggling to think of any 26" wheeled bikes in the brands I am familar with.

26" parts are not worthless but they do not attract the price they might except for retro bits. A pair of Marzocchi forks (good ones too) sold for £26 on fleabay. I was not impressed with that and vowed not to part with any more kit again.

[raganwald]

I owned a lightweight 26er HT and it climbed like a mountain goat. But, you have to ride it differently than a 29er. You have to be nimble and hop it over things you might ride over on a 29er. I have no idea if that is faster or slower, but I do know that if you enjoy the feeling of active movement, it's a lot of fun.

But there's no question that the market and the industry have gone to bigger wheels, and I don't think they'll come back.

[bm0p700f]

In a 4 hr race constantly jumping over things is tiring so it becomes slower.

[MikeD]

In my opinion, smaller wheels make the bike more maneuverable (better for technical riding and tight single track). 29ers are better for fire roads, bombing downhill, ride comfort, rolling over obstacles rather than finessing them. 650B may hit a sweet spot, but the wheel size is closer to 26 in reality.