26 inch mtber kicking and screaming into the future

[hjb1000]

^ Thanks for your comments whatsblue, good info!

[F45]

When I was building my 26 hard tail, I was concerned about availability of forks and shifting with the shorter chain line. At 43cm, I thought 11 speed would have a tougher time, but it works fine. There are tons of forks still for sale. I didn't have any trouble getting anything I wanted for it. I could even build a superlight set of wheels from Chinese carbon if I wanted. Instead I just got some $14 Stans Arch.

[Marin]

Here's what I just did with my trusty 26" 456, now in its 4th incarnation:



Monstercross build - tons of fun to ride. I checked, it would also fit 28" wheels with CX tires Or 27.5 with mild knobbies.

[hjb1000]

^ Thanks for the input guys, glad to hear I'm not the only one keeping the 26 spirit alive!

[twoangstroms]

Nice monstercross build! I am toying with handing off my old Diamondback Ti frame (raced for years all around Colorado) to some mad genius who could convert it -- though it's over 15 years old. 26" wheels, cantilever brakes, probably not a super-stiff frame or modern-sized headset. Thoughts? I'd like to do it on some modest budget.

[Marin]

Umm why do you need a mad genius? Just slap some drop bars on, figure out which shifters you want and go! There's nothing on the frame you need to convert, and a DB Ti frame would be a sweet base for a MonsterX build!

Would be happy to help with info too.

[twoangstroms]

Thanks. I'd need to replace the brakes (recommendations for good but inexpensive cantis that'd work with SRAM shifter/brake levers?), probably most of the 9speed drivetrain, maybe also the ancient Rock Shox fork.

[Marin]

Avid Shorty cantis have a good reputation, but I have no experience. Avid = Sram, so I'd expect these to work.

[TheRookie]

I think you mean short (mini) V's for use with road levers, all Canti's are rubbish, just some are slightly less rubbish than others!