Video: The Ultimate MTB Wheel Size Shootout

Feb 20, 2014
by Dan Milner  


The Trail Ninja, Dan Milner is on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria to ride the punishing route of the Trans Gran Canaria running race. As if riding up, across and over the steep slopes of the island is not adventure enough, the Trail Ninja, Dan Milner, uses this MTB epic as an experiment to see which wheel size - 26, 27.5 or 29 inches - is best for mountain biking. One ring to rule them all? Three days of ultimate enduro riding delivers the result, sort of. All filmed on his GoPro camera.

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DanMilner avatar

Member since Feb 11, 2011
55 articles

99 Comments
  • 89 0
 The fittest and most technically capable rider makes the fastest bike Wink Easy
  • 23 0
 Finally, a Pinkbike user that isn't so stuck up about his wheel sizes. Well said my friend!
  • 51 1
 Wait so we're not supposed to pick a wheel size and be a dick about it?!
  • 6 2
 Well, maybe just a little bit. What is the english word for ''small dick''? Dicky? Big Grin
  • 5 2
 cucumber
  • 4 0
 So disappointed he wasn't able to give a conclusive, scientific result. Damn banana...
  • 40 4
 video wont load so I'm sticking with my 26", ........safest bet anyway
  • 6 2
 you prob need to update your flash player or browser. Try it.
  • 13 4
 ''Troll mode on'', guess your browser is like your wheel size, old fashioned Wink ''Troll mode off
  • 1 0
 Ya im on my mobile and alot of pinkbike vids havnt been working for me lately
  • 27 5
 Lets be honest. 27.5 is probably the best of both worlds, but I am sitting on five 26in mountain bikes, so I am kinda committed. I am not going to get rid of my stable based on that a 27.5 is better. I am still riding my bikes and having fun. Thats what matters isnt it?
  • 4 13
flag eluder FL (Feb 20, 2014 at 17:56) (Below Threshold)
 I don't think so, they don't compare to 29ers at all in my opinion. They feel like 26" bikes (not that thats a bad thing). I guess my point is that it can replace 26" bikes but not 29" bikes.
  • 3 0
 each wheel size has its niche. so depending on what kind of riding you do there is an optimal size but one size isnt the hands down best
  • 3 0
 I'm in the same boat man, 4 26" bikes, with a handful of 26 specific spare/extra parts, why would I ever change?

The only 29" bike I have is my road bike, which I frankly don't even like riding.
  • 13 3
 sorry guys but 26 is great, i have a 29er and i find it too long and hard to get round tight swich backs, plus it feels like riding a bus! so 26 all the way for me, because there simply funner and faster!
  • 2 0
 26 for switch backs for sure. 26 is lighter to carry up the hill as they did a lot. Better for manuals and wheelies blah blah blah.
  • 1 0
 Wrong wrong, get a better 29 or at least figure out your cockpit and riding style if you think they aren't fun or don't do switchbacks or manuals or corners or jumps or anything tech....and my 29 is waaaay lighter than my 26 was before it was replaced. Hey, maybe it's the rider.....
  • 1 0
 Yeah some riders can ride anything and and honestly I've never tried a manual on a progressive geo 29. Are you telling me you don't find it easier to manual a 20 or 24 over a 26? Dirt jump bikes are easier than trail bikes but, who makes a dirt jump 29? Maybe the mongoose Chriss Akrigg Rides or that NS Sam did that edit on.
  • 15 7
 Why can't people just understand that it's all personal preference, just like anything. 26 rolls over stuff, but it's your speed/nimble and jump wheel (what I believe it is). 29er for rolling over just about anything and climbs like a dime. 650b, the perfect cross between the two with minor compromises.
  • 3 1
 true. but its still nice to see and hear peoples inputs. i just rode a crappy niner for the other day for the FIRST TIME (yes, really). i dont get to try anything out, other than that i own. so its always nice to see an unbiased comparison between things.

honestly, i wish pinkbike would do something like this.. not necessarily with wheel sizing, but with components. like cranks, shocks, forks, frames, etc..
  • 18 0
 didya watch the vid?



it was a joke.
  • 19 1
 Is 650b the perfect compromise or is it the worst possible option? It doesn't climb as well or roll over stuff as good as a 29er and it doesn't jump and pop as good as a 26er. Mind blown.
  • 7 1
 Only problem is your personal preference could be phased out so that they can market almost solely to the type of riders that buy more bikes (gearheads).

I think at this point PB is just trolling its readers to get them more page views and argue about wheel size more. The video had nothing to do with wheel size.
  • 1 0
 I understand what you guys are saying, but again... It's still personal preference and what you believe or like. Wink
  • 5 0
 Well my vid did have something to do with wheelsize, in as much as we were riding one of each across the same 3 day traverse (with its 4800m of up and down and some very tech trails). But we all rode it, and we all had fun, even my 26-er. I guess thats the point of my video. Its about riding and you as a rider. Thanks for appreciating it. Next episode Fabien Barel teaches me how to "enduro". Watch this space.
  • 1 0
 @DanMilner
I love these vids. I cannot wait to see that one. It should be hilarious.
  • 4 0
 Funny video, Well done!

And what wheel size is better? Im a firm believer that it doesn't mean a damn thing. Biking hard and losing 10 pounds of winter weight and just practicing on the trail will do more for your ride than a wheel size can even dream of achieving.
  • 4 0
 But dont forge, beer is the best endurance fuel and recovery drink. LOL
  • 6 1
 How can I get your job? I LOVE this series. I would seriously pay my left nut to do what you do Dan! Let me know if you ever come riding in the Montana area!
  • 5 0
 Montana has bears. Bears are scary.
  • 1 0
 Bears add to the excitement of the rides!
  • 4 0
 Stop talking about wheelsize! That title was clearly meant as a joke. Say what you're supposed to say after that video: "Holy crap, I want to ride there!"
  • 6 0
 Holy crap, I want to ride there!
  • 2 0
 I recently sold my 2013 26er intense uzzi and built up a 2013 intense tracer 275, 650b. At first I was worried that I just sold my favourite bike to date, being the uzzi. But all I can say is that the tracer 275 performs way better than I could ever had imagined. It's lighter at 29pds, 8+ pounds less the uzzi. It's faster up and down, rolls way better, corners great and is very responsive all in all. I'm super pleased with it and here to say I don't see any draw backs from going from 26er to 650b as of yet. Anyway Happy Riding, what ever you're on!
  • 4 0
 when you save 8 lbs it doesnt matter what else changes youre going to think its the greatest thing ever. 8lbs for a bike is like your family sedan dropping 1000 lbs.
  • 2 0
 haha right? he went up in wheel size and down that much in weight? Sounds like you've got far nicer parts on your new bike, not just bigger wheels.
  • 2 0
 ????????? IN AN EFFORT TO SEE WHICH WHEEL SIZE IS BEST, HE DID A BACK TO BACK TEST ON A RUNNING TRAIL?????????? WHAT THE HELL HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

I KNOW, IM GOING TO DO A TEST OF MY OWN. WHICH WHEEL SIZE IS BETTER. IM GOING TO DO IT AT CORBY SKATE PARK. THAT SHOULD BE INFORMATIVE.

P.S. SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS. MY COMP IS BEING A TARD.
  • 3 1
 Hmm, Corby is by far the best place outside of Northampton's Grosvenor shopping centre to do that test. Make a video and post it up. I'll watch it. OK, I gotta fill you in here... its not a "running trail" ... its a "trail". the kind of thing that "enduro" (formerly known as XC, then All Mountain) is all about. In fact our "running rail" is a dozen different trails linked up as route on which they happen to run a race. We just used the route as a suitable set of linked singletrack to ride cross the island. Of course there are a lot of riders out there who think of MTBing as bike park, or trail centres, or Les Gets DH tracks, and they might be surprised to hear that the planet is covered in such "running trails".. oh hang on, footpaths, singletrack, bridleways, senderos, sentieros, chemins... but dont forget you are only allowed to ride an enduro bike on them.
  • 1 1
 "The Trail Ninja, Dan Milner is on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria to ride the punishing route of the Trans Gran Canaria running race"

your words not mine.

My argument was that a runnable route is never going to be that much of a test of bike or rider. If you call anything more challenging than a running route "park" then i think you should rethink the trails you ride. Anyway this is all getting a bit argumentative. Sorry. That wasn't my intention. Tbh i had only flicked through the vid and hadn't really picked up on the tounge in cheek attitude of it. I just saw yet another "head to head" test of the different wheel sizes on a trail massively heavily favouring the bigger wheel sizes and jumped straight into defensive troll mode. my bad. Still, I don't really think that called for the "well you must only ride trail centres" retort
  • 2 0
 Hey Gabriel, no offence meant or taken. You should check out the Ultra running scene.. Just because they 'run' on these trails doesn't mean that they are necessarily either easy or hard on a bike (some are insanely technical, others smooth and loamy).. just that they are natural 'footpath" type trails.. the kind of thing most riders now like to ride (AM or enduro style). Go ride in Gran Canaria.. its some of the most rewarding natural trail riding any of us have done. Likewise try the Tour Mont Blanc route. the Ultra Trail scene races that one too (UTMB) but its some banging singletrack. On that note, I'm writing this on the way back from an Argentina trip with Hans Rey and Tibor Simai.. been riding some more "epic" natural trails.. including a big 3-day traverse of the mountains up north. Watch out for the video to come next month...:-)
  • 3 0
 Lol that was awesome! I want to ride there ssssoooooo bad! And obviously a 12 in is the best wheel size. That's the first bike u get as a kid!
  • 2 0
 brilliant comment. My original ending to the spoof wheel shootout was going to be "best wheel size? Whatever one gets you out on the trail riding!" but thought I'd go for the cliffhanger ending instead. Like your attitude. Nice. Gran Canaria is really, really good for riding. Go there.
  • 1 0
 Hi Dan,

Love the video. We have been going there for 20 years, great place. We did a similiar dream trip last year, 7 days, over the top of GC to Agaete, ferry to Tenerife, 2 days in Tenerife (great trails, stayed at the parador), ferry to La Palma....the best island! Uplifts helped here caues it is MASSIVE.

Like you, we had a tiny backpack for the week, sorts, tshirt, flipflogs, creditcard....deadly.

Day 1 in GC - Long and boring, but could not cut out the good stuff
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsAjPUlDBLg&feature=youtu.be

Day 3 in Tenerife - Lava Run
vimeo.com/83858338

Day 5 in La Palma - Best trail in the world on the biggest crator in the world ;-)
vimeo.com/65547700

Joe
  • 4 0
 Had a full suspension 29er, sold it. Bought a Wilson, now I want a 650b. They marketed my ass hard.
  • 1 0
 Great video Dan! I just put that place on my bucket list!

It looks like they all [wheel sizes] work. Shocking really with all the buzz around circle size in the bike industry. As long as they keep making them round we should be okay.
  • 1 0
 I have to go there, that was some gorgeous scenery. Worried I might be smarter than Christopher Columbus though and not leave. And for everyone discussing 26 vs 27.5 vs 29, just watch the video before commenting!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 It seems a lot of people didn't even watch the video before commenting. Its tongue in cheek, relax everyone.
  • 3 0
 Nice work Dan! And my god those trails look awesome.
  • 2 0
 They are. Prob one of the best places I've ridden in years and one of the best little mulitdayers I've tried. So much stuff there to ride. We did 3 other days just riding for fun (oh, its called work for me) rolling off the Pico and descending to the coast, a different direction each day. Endless singletracks everywhere. Got the shuttle guy Carlos (number on video) to pick us up each time and get us back to our hotel at Cruz de Tejeda, then drank beer buzzing our tits off.
  • 1 0
 Dan, how many bananas did the Gran Canaria tourism office pay you?? Because you are earning your fee! I'm off to look at flights and accommodation ! LOL

I thought your testing was fairly conclusive... it proved that all three wheel sizes rolled down trails! All you really need to know!
  • 2 0
 Awesome scenery! It's almost as if the video wasn't about wheel size at all Oh wait!
  • 2 0
 amazing views and trails, i even forgot about wheel sizes. i guess that's the point Smile
  • 2 0
 You got it. Go ride, Gran Canaria is amazing. So much variety.
  • 8 6
 Don't worry, 26 wins hands down!
  • 5 5
 I wasn't worried, but I think you're still mistaken.
  • 1 0
 Fit, form and function = personal preference. Talk about till the cows come home.
  • 1 0
 Amazing how many people don't watch the video but barge right in with their big opinion anyway. Haha
  • 1 0
 I scienced all day. I'm gonna ride the only bike I own and can afford then drink with my bros.
  • 2 0
 Best review on wheel size ever.
  • 1 0
 I want build a 24" pure street. But I think I'm gonna put my 26" wheel in it. Because I don't want buy another set wheels.
  • 1 0
 remember that Cannondale back in 1986/7, that had a 24" rear wheel and a 26" front? There's your solution. You could do the same and say you invented a new wheel size "combo".
  • 1 0
 Gran canaria, la Palma, Wallis alps, Pérou?Yes only the besttrails!http://www.besttrails.ch/en
  • 2 0
 result couldn't be more true, nice trails !
  • 1 1
 I'm pretty sure the answer to the wheel size debate as well as all your other questions (i.e. enduro vs DH vs XC) are answered in the bible.
  • 2 1
 26, 27.5, 28, 28.5, 29, 29.5, 30...........................its what suits you
  • 2 0
 I like that this article is right next to the opinion piece on ranting
  • 2 0
 I'll be glad to buy your barely used 26inch bike parts at a lowball price!
  • 1 0
 Dan ma man I think you truely found the best results. Wow what an epic ride!
  • 2 0
 I'm hanging out for the all new 39ers to hit the market...
  • 2 0
 Blonde, brunette or ginger? Well it depends on tits, but 26" is best.
  • 1 0
 great as always!! funny, entertaining, and with amazing trails and views! life´s hard...
  • 1 0
 This is bloody brilliant.
  • 1 0
 i love my island!! (CG too) Wink
  • 1 0
 More impressed with the quality of the GoPro camera.
  • 1 0
 sorry i did not mean to respond with that just a comment.
  • 1 0
 Best wheel size? The size that's on whichever bike I am currently on.
  • 1 0
 Screw wheel sizes. Hot Tubs for the win!
  • 1 0
 Saw that ending from a mile away. Nice!
  • 1 0
 I wish I had a Go Pro camera but I work and cant afford one ,
  • 1 0
 To be honest I'm not Dan Milner fan but this video is really cool Smile
  • 1 0
 Good stuff right there. Ride your bike and have some fun!
  • 1 1
 Damn!! I want to go there...
  • 1 0
 bloody great ending
  • 2 1
 WHICH WILL WIN?!?!
  • 1 1
 so many variables. you cant test 3 different riders on 3 different bikes on 100's of different lines. do you even know how to science?
  • 3 0
 I got a degree in Marine Biology, (really), if that helps?
  • 1 0
 Dan, I think these guys didn't get the point. > 3 Guys, 3 Different Wheel Sizes, All completed the ride together and everyone had a great time! How can there only be one WINNER?
  • 1 2
 Can you really speak of an "ultimate shootout" if you only test it on trail bikes?
  • 1 0
 To do list: check
  • 1 0
 Thats y we love MTBs
  • 1 0
 raatid video won't load
  • 1 0
 Change browser.
  • 1 3
 Not much on wheel size in this video. Except that the three dudes were riding three different sizes.
  • 2 0
 I think the point was that your wheel size doesn't matter when you are having an epic ride on some of the most exotic trails in the world.
  • 1 0
 until companies stop making the now obsolete 26" size. which seems to be happening next tuesday by all accounts. I can't believe how blasee most of the biking world appears to be about this...
  • 1 0
 Sure... but if that's the point, isn't "The Ultimate MTB Wheel Size Shootout" the wrong title? Shouldn't it be "Three Dudes Riding"?
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