26 vs 27.5 vs 29 wheel mtb.

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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skiezo
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:32 am
Location: Mid. PA. USA

by skiezo

It has been about 10 years that I had a mtb. My last was a SC SL cira 2004. It had 26" wheels.
I am getting ready to get another mtb. It will mainly for cross country and smooth single track. There will be a moderate amount of climbing and not much fast or real rough down hill stuff.
So my question is what are the advantages and disadvantages of the smaller wheel as opposed to the larger wheel sizes.
I am looking at a few now. 29" titus racer x, gaint anthem 29er,ellsworth evolve 29er as well as a racer x 26" and a SC SL 26" to name a few.
Help me understand the wheel wars.

Thanks

by Weenie


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KWalker
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Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:30 pm
Location: Bay Area

by KWalker

You should be able to use Google and find thousands of threads about this subject. There are almost zero 26 inch XC race bikes left and very few people have raced on 650B although Nino notably did so.
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
Gramz
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TheRookie
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

You'll struggle to find a decent 26" bike nowadays (short of DH), for your stated usage a 29er is the obvious choice.
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jonasd
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2016 9:49 am

by jonasd

With your terrain, a 26" wheeled bike would be fine. The problem is that the industry has moved away from 26" so its already getting harder to find good tires in the 26" size.

bikewithnoname
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Location: Paris

by bikewithnoname

I can directly compare a cannondale fsi and a cannondale habit, and whilst geometry and suspension will obvioulsy have an impact the 29inch wheels do seem to roll much better, you feel more inside the bike rather than on top. For XC I would ride a 29er (I'm 6foot 2 tall), the habit is more fun on the jumpy and bumpy stuff
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stockae92
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:13 pm

by stockae92

I had a Giant Anthem 26" (AL frame, 3.5" version i think, 2.1" tires) before, then i moved on to a Giant XTR 29er carbon hardtail on 2.25" tires. On Strava and for the trail that I ride, I am faster almost everywhere. The front indeed roll over stuff easier.

Also look at 27.5+ if you don't race, the + size tires is more forgiving and gives you more traction even.

MikeD
Posts: 1000
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:55 pm

by MikeD

If you're going to ride technical terrain, go with the smaller wheel sizes. It's easier to finesse the bike. If not, go with a 29er. Rolls over stuff easier, smoother ride.

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Drappo
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Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:17 pm
Location: Centumcellae

by Drappo

If your height is less than 172 cm, I would go with the 27.5.
Alhoa

TheRookie
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Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

Why? Does the wheel size somehow change the relationship between the contact Points?
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

leejonggil
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2016 2:12 pm

by leejonggil

I also tried to assemble a similar one for the questioner, but I chose 27.5

wheelzqc
Posts: 266
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:51 pm

by wheelzqc

TheRookie wrote:Why? Does the wheel size somehow change the relationship between the contact Points?

Maybe saddle to bar drop ?

TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

Not really, that's manageable with just a stem swap at worst, Emily Batty (1.61m) seems to cope just fine and still look great on a bike!

Image
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

RedCoke
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Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2016 8:54 am

by RedCoke

If you want different, go to 29er.

RedCoke
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2016 8:54 am

by RedCoke

[quote="TheRookie"]Not really, that's manageable with just a stem swap at worst, Emily Batty (1.61m) seems to cope just fine and still look great on a bike![/[quote]

Trek superfly 29er? I saw her Top fuel and it was 29er.

TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

Yep, rides a Superfly 29er....
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

by Weenie


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