Pinkbike Poll: The Demise of 26'' Wheels - Unnecessary Extinction or Natural Evolution?

Jul 25, 2013 at 16:33
by Mike Levy  
Oh great, we haven't even decided what to call these ''new'' wheels but here we are with yet another wheel-size article. Well, this one is going to be a little different in that we won't be talking about whether one size is better than another (although it is obvious that 24'' wheels offer the best performance), but if you believe that the industry is forcing 650B wheels, bikes, and components onto consumers. While there has been a backlash to some admittedly debatable things in the past - 15mm axles, a whole bunch of different head tube sizes, and, more recently, whether the word 'enduro' is a verb or a noun - 650B has taken many consumer's cynicism to new highs. Is it justified? Is it a conspiracy to sell more bikes and components? Or should we take off our tinfoil hats and admit that progression can sometimes mean big changes?

Slash 650B

Trek recently released images of their 650B-wheeled Slash, a 160mm travel bike meant for some serious terrain, and the American company now offers a number of their bikes in both 650B and 29'' flavours. One of their major competitors, Specialized, has both 26'' and 29''-wheeled bikes in their lineup and has so far shunned any 650B platforms, saying that the advantages offered by the mid-sized wheel aren't worth the trouble.


Unnecessary Extinction

At this point it is pretty obvious that the large majority of new mid-travel bikes, meaning many of the rigs that riders around the world spend their time on, will be sporting 650B wheels for 2014, with the figure only growing for 2015 and beyond. That means that if you plan on spending more than $2,000 or so on a proper mountain bike with between four and seven inches of travel, you'll likely be looking at 'tweener wheels whether you like it or not. That's bad news for diehard fans of the 26'' wheel who want to purchase a new bike, because although there will likely always be manufacturers using the proven, smaller diameter wheel, most companies will be focusing their resources on the 650B market - it won't be long until we see some forks, tires, and wheels being offered in only 650B sizes. If you doubt that will happen, you only have to look to the past for examples. While it can certainly be argued that is the price to pay for technology moving forwards (physics does prove that 650B wheels have a slight advantage in roll-over and attack angle compared to 26'' wheels), one could also claim that the slight advantage in performance isn't worth the wholesale change that it requires, which leads us to the reason those aforementioned tinfoil hat-wearing riders often cite for 650B wheels being around at all: new gear to sell to the buying public.

Natural Evolution

Look back fifteen or more years ago and ask yourself which components and bikes sucked... the answer is that most of them weren't great, and we'll likely think the same fifteen years from now about the bikes and gear currently in our garage. We may reminisce fondly about the good times that were had, but no one wants to change their cantilever brake pads every other ride during the winter, pull the lowers off of their Quadra 21R fork to pour out a half cup of rust coloured water, or use tires with a rubber compound similar to what hockey pucks are made with. While there is still plenty of unfounded hate, especially from younger riders who somehow assume that larger diameter wheels don't have ''soul'', 29 inch wheels are here to stay and offer certain advantages in certain situations over 26'' wheels, as do 650B wheels. No, neither are better everywhere, but the very same can be said of 26'' hoops. The point is that there will always be detractors when it comes to anything new - those who were around when front and rear suspension began to appear can attest to that - but that the advantages presented could be worth the growing pains.
photo

Intense was an early adopter of 'tweener wheels, with their 650B 951 Evo shown here opposite the 26'' wheeled M9 - two of the world's more capable descenders. With equal riders aboard, the M9 would have a small fight on its hands to stay ahead of the Evo.


The cycling industry works years in advance, with designers and marketing teams talking about 2015 and 2016 while you sit waiting for that 2011-model year bike to finally go on sale at your local shop. That means that trends and technology that you won't see for two years is being decided upon behind closed doors right now. These people aren't evil, their goal isn't to dupe you out of your hard-earned pay check, and yes, the very large majority of them do ride. But they are determining how much travel your next bike has, what angles it will use, and everything else from its spec to its colour. We are far from being unusual, though, as that is how it works in pretty much every industry. Does that mean that, at least in a way, the industry itself is creating its own demand? If 70% of full-suspension trail bikes in 2015 will use 650B wheels (which is just a figure pulled out of thin air, not a fact), will consumers believe that 650B is better and seek them out? Does it matter what anyone thinks if there are next to no 26''-wheeled bikes to choose from? The heart of the matter is that 'new' sells and established technology is eventually viewed as boring and antiquated, and 650B is new and garnering plenty of headlines these days.

Bikes have gotten better year in and year out, and although there have been some bad eggs in that time, the performance curve is always on the rise. So why would it be any different over the coming years? Yes, marketing departments most definitely come into play as they think up catch-words, construct colourful pie charts, and release beautifully shot photos and videos of professional riders doing impossible things on their 650B-wheeled bikes, but the same could be said of any other bike or component that is on the market. The latest GT Fury downhill bike is one hell of a machine, but anyone thinking of purchasing one knows full well that they won't be racing to new heights because Gee and Rachel are laying waste to the field this season. Likewise, 650B bikes won't give you Absalon-like lungs and muscle power, or allow you to scale climbs like Danny MacAskill up the side of a building, but science proves that the larger diameter wheels DO roll over lumpy terrain better than 26'' wheels. That means that many of the advantages that 29ers offer are also present with 650B, albeit with performance that is much closer to 26'' wheels. The real trick with 650B bikes is that most of them handle very much like a 26''-wheeled bike, which certainly can't be said of 29ers. If a company can offer a machine with more performance but that handles exactly like a 26''-wheeled bike, what is the problem? Expect bikes to continue to perform better and better over the next few years, especially the ones with 650B wheels.

photo

This carbon fiber 650B prototype from Giant, a company that is traditionally slower than some to jump on the wagon, is a sign of changing times.





Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

412 Comments
  • 290 11
 For me riding bikes is about having fun ! I love my 26 it is quick to accelerate easy to manual and throw about! I see the benefits if 650b and 29ers but from what I have ridden they are not as fun to ride ! So I don't think I would get one just because they are faster
  • 62 3
 right on
  • 31 11
 Last year my 26 " HT rig was stolen, but last 2 years pushed me to demand much more from a bike.
Stolen bike has one main unique feature - you don't have to think what to upgrade first Big Grin
Firts of all I borrowed 3 sizes to big HT 26" with RS Judy I, form my friend, just to save money. For next 6 months I was lurking for new a bit "bigger" fully for enduro, there was Tansition Covert 26" on the table in 2012, but when the time came and pockets were ready to sucked, Santa Cruz showed up their new baby, eye-burning yellow 650b, 150mm CTD Fox, at price of a good used car.
SC came with exact spec as i would build myself, so why to bother i just ordered, waited 6 weeks for shipping ( US > Po(or)land ) ,
The Owner of Polish official SC store, was a True Middle-aged Bike-Soul Rider. Offered me to come across entire country at the weekend to be sure that SAG is set properly for me, tyre pressure is set perfectly for local singletracks, he builded all of it for one man with single bike in his free time. He really loves Santa Cruz bikes. Meanwhile i could test some road bikes, DHs, HTs form SC lineup - and when, all was set ,and i could ride where i wanted, he took his Tallboy and offered to ride with him Big Grin He showed me best enduro singletracs in area Big Grin The Expirience was so amazing, the bike was like flying, rides effortlessly, climbs superbly , bombs downhill, for a bike i had for first time in my life on a track i havent seen before it inspired me to ride faster, Like you have been rejoined with a rig that was part of your body form birth.
I confess that i was sold to the new 650b religion, if i'm going for something new let try everything new they have.
Thats how i found out that 650b middle travel bike is perfect for me, and i love as much as i loved 26"
  • 52 23
 650B will flunk i hope.. the majotity of real riders will keep on doing what they want to do..and on 26" mostly..(except xc riders perhaps )
the rear profit made.. is all the new wannabe's who actually listen to these commercials. and buy these bikes...(completes)
(and after the hype..(face it.. mtb is a hype right now) they will all end up on ebay for scrap prices cause they found a new hype to follow)
now with 10-11 speed.. you can purchase the drive train.. chainring cass. and mech and shifter.. what will cost you some savings.. if you want to be hip.. let face it.. 9speed is good enough.. for most..
with the new wheel standards.. it is 2 rims a fork and a complete frame.. where all your gathered saved spares wont fit on.. i mean who doesnt have a spare rear wheel for his bike ? just in case of.. ...? or changes even complete sets for different rides ?
and the complete dissapearing of the discussion rotational weight on 27.5/29"still really baffles me..
you want to make a bigger wheel the same weight .. its going to be not as strong as a smaller one.. fact.. ! not even going in on the larger diameter..

i say they(the industry) did fine for XC riders.. give them the 10-11 speed gears and the 29"wheels..

and then i would like to see what the womens category XC will choose .. little girls on 29"bikes.. i dont think a lot will want to ride that.. unless your sponsor is breathing down your neck to do so.. .. oww thats right .. they are allready doing that Blank Stare
  • 65 5
 omg who need performance of bigger wheels, why is everything now about speed and competition, most of news on pb is contest results, race reports, what happend with fun side of the sport? 26" are just more fun and even when u think about mountain biking u know its about 26" wheels, its just iconic size. Ive never heard that someone complaining about 26 wheels. Maybe try to make stronger frames couse all new light weight shit is breaking too frequently. We dont need bigger wheels.
  • 27 2
 According to lapierre a 27.5 bike is about a second faster on a 2.50 run. That's with a top pro saving about 0.5%. An amateur might not even be able to notice that.
  • 20 4
 www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

We already decided that 27.5 is a waste of time and better 29 if you really need to roll over things. Specialized did the same with their 29er Enduro.

Just another way to sell more bikes.
  • 50 3
 As long as you have fun on the bike it doesn't matter what the wheel size is
  • 9 22
flag cyberhawk (Jul 26, 2013 at 4:05) (Below Threshold)
 as long as you stand your ground.. you will not get fucked over....
  • 29 6
 I've change my frame from a 180mm Kona Coilair to a 120mm Stumpjumper FSR because it's way more challenging and fun to ride a shorter and less travel bike. Also love to ride enduro and dh trails on my dj bike because of the extra effort I need to make controlling the bike.

I don't want to be faster just because a bike does all the hard work for me. In fact I don´t need to be faster at all. I ride because I love mountain bike and it makes me happy. I just want to arrive at the end of the trail with a big smile and think it was so awesome.

Bigger wheels might make sense for pro racers to allow them to shave some seconds. But just like a dh bike with a custom geometry for some pro pilot there's no need to take it to the market.

We just want to have fun and the truth is that 26 inch bikes are way more fun and force us to have better technique and riding skills. On a 29er you just need to point it and wait for the "monster truck" to roll over everything.

I just hope 26 wheels are not dead.
  • 9 21
flag jmbrit (Jul 26, 2013 at 5:14) (Below Threshold)
 I ride 26 in xc and dh, 20 in BMX currently and my road bike is 700, I have nothing against progression and i would fucking hate to ride 26 on the road like we used to. i am a racer and i just bought a new carbon wilson a couple of months ago, amidst all the new era of wheel change i still opted for 26. should i be in the market for a new bike in 3 years or whatever and i ride a 27.5 DH rig that i feel is faster it will be bought end of story........ be honest with yourselves, this may not be immediate as there are so many out there that like to think they are purists BUT if you go against any clock for fun or a job and you think you won't be buying bikes with different size wheels in the future - then you must also believe that terrorism is only significant in the religious world.
  • 3 2
 My point was to show that mine or borrowed alloy HT 26er are grea and fun bikes, and will be whether they gonna stop or continue to sell it Big Grin
I bought enduro, because i wanted it, despite of the hype that rised recently.
My friends says "omg, that hells expensive rig" and as amateurs they expect it rolling itself, thats ofcourse complete bullshit.
It still has two wheels ( yes a bit bigger ), tubeless , and some nice touches like 2x10 drivetrain etc, but according to that was already written above, nobody except me will notice the diference in small specified known by me only conditions.
Some rooted rocky uphills impossible to reach on muddy wet days, or extra dry slippery leafs, became true Big Grin
Some of my fav uphill trails comes with a little less effort (more speed) ,additionaly i liked tubeless girp that has nothong to do with wheel diam.
I do compete in local xc races just for fun and great satisfaction if i overtake HTs on uphills, or can maintain speed for few km's after PROs Big Grin Having fun has nothing to do with wheels, overall weight, and any other commercial-driven gadgets.
True is if you are lazy and think that bike will do anything for you,you are wrong. Fun on trails comes from effort ( for me ) ,and if bike helps abit with something, i can train it harder or think about other skills i need to learn. I recently jumped form 3x9 to 2x10 , differnece is so great that it took about one month to learn how to more or less effectively use it. There is so much to learn Big Grin
  • 2 9
flag cyberhawk (Jul 26, 2013 at 5:15) (Below Threshold)
 @jmbrit : well if you put it that way.. lets all ride formula 1 cars on the Streets ??
  • 3 0
 Nope. Put Monster Truck against F1s on their ground on their rules Big Grin and try to finish somewhere in the middle Big Grin
  • 9 9
 Everybody, good news. Despite the hype, the new 650b wheel size is close enough to the old 26" one to make very minimal real world difference. It's the "new 26" vs the "old 26". Most of you will like your new mid travel 650b bike (forced on us by the industry) as much as your old 26" bike because they're practically the same bike. Naked emperor / industry hype machine bullshit. At least the manufacturers are pushing something other than 29ers at us. The parade of "incredible" 120mm bikes was getting old.
  • 48 4
 How is a larger wheel a new technology? And if your having trouble "rolling" over things on 5" of travel or more, then you suck and need to get your skills up.
  • 4 1
 In a week there will be a local event where people will be able to try new Santa Cruz bikes, so I'm going to try some. There's no way I'd buy a 29" bike, it just looks ugly, but I'm going to try a 27.5" Bronson and if it's better than my 26" Rocky Mountain... why not?
  • 13 4
 To ALOT of people faster is more fun...
  • 13 1
 I'd rather ride 50 on a singletrack then 120 on the freeway...
  • 10 1
 Im going to buy a surplus of 26 wheelsets if this is the case. I really dont see them taking over completely but who knows. I like my 26 thank you very much
  • 10 0
 650b are like 15mm axles to me. i really do not understand the push for 650b that 26 would have to disappear. from purely a skills viewpoint it makes no sense. dh is the f1 of mountainbiking in my view and the overall skill level of a dh rider local or pro who all currently exist on 26s is plenty proof for me to stick with 26 or know that a bigger wheel is not the answer.

The most skillfull riders i know about & have ridden with (bmx,moto) all aquired skills from smaller wheels. I think you rob people of that development in this case. it's like when you grow up with 20s your bike handling skills are set for life and you can adapt it to anything. All the reviews, reviewers, ads, vids of pro riders, who sing praises and are adopting the next thing are probably seriously accomplished riders in their own right with decades of riding the lowly 26 and probably equally long years on 20s. it reminds me of the "no kid left behind policy". not saying crap on 650b or 29 just let 26 live. just an opinion...
  • 13 0
 IsaacGrey, you're right on the money. 650b is here to stay and I got no problem with it, I just want to ride my 26. before anyone asks, yes I have riden a 650b, and yes I did enjoyed it, because it was a sick bike and I love riding bikes not because of the wheel size!! I did notice the wheels roll slightly better over awkward stuff and I did notice the bigger wheels stand me up in corners a little more.

It's as Mike said in the article ""The heart of the matter is that 'new' sells and established technology is eventually viewed as boring and antiquated, and 650B is new and garnering plenty of headlines these days", the fact of the mater is that 26 wheel sales are depleting and the bike industry is trying to revive a category. The big companies can't invest in 2 wheel sizes that are so similar, so their going with the man of the hour, they don't really care about the performance, which make business sense.

I just want to shred jumps and corners, I don't care if I get to the top of the hill 30 sec faster. Trails are getting to smooth now-a-days as is, and awkward section albeit are slightly less awkward on 650b, they are still awkward. So in my personal situation, they are not an advantage. So if you're like me, don't knock 650b, just support 26, they're not die. The larger bike companies have no choice but to switch, but the small companies will stick with it if they are selling units!! So if you just want to shred and don't care about keeping the industry "fresh", buy 26 next bike and they'll be around forever.

650b ISN'T KILL 26, IT'S JUST MAKING IT COOL!!!
  • 7 1
 i think the answer is re-wording the title of the article. necessary extinction for the natural evolution of business. bad or good it just is.
  • 5 0
 This is the most one-sided 'poll' article I've read in quite a while. As far as I'm concerned on wheel sizes, if it ain't broke...
  • 4 2
 Fullbug knows what time it is. If your a badass 20" rider any bike going to be easy to adapt to. Now they want kids to start on 26", then buy a 27.5. Next thing they in spandex climbing on a 29er. Whatever makes you happy as a rider go with that. All I see here is bmx madness so thats a big inspiration. Then we take the dh bikes and go for a road trip. I feel sorry for riders than miss the advantage 20" riding can give you. Do you think all these dh pros started out on 27.5 bikes? Hell no, the reason they soo badass is because of the bmx background. I see riders with no 20" experience going straight to 26" and it shows. They can go fast and huck drops to flat but style no, technical skills no, steep transitions no. There is nothing steeper than a bmx landing. If you limit production and wheel sizes you going to loose customers and progression will slow down. Going uphill fast is great for some people, do your thing. I not hating just way diff experience and know you would hurt the industry by stopping production. Lets face it when a size like 26" has been in production for soo long it going to take 150 year to get rid of them. If you don't like big wheels move to east coast. We fully stocked 26" locked and loaded.
  • 10 2
 Here here. I think people should change their riding level not wheel size.
  • 3 0
 Good point a bike is a bike. Just pick one and stick with it. If you breaking everything then you suck and need some lessons, go to camp extreme. People scrambling to keep up with progressive technology are like hamsters in the wheel spinning. "Its the bike, thats why I ride like crap" Wankster
  • 3 0
 Ha well said! Personally I think it's taking the graft away from it all. ... if it's easier then surely its cheating a little? I can understand the attraction of more dh speed with the 650b and I'd try it but I don't see anything at all wrong with 26" rims.
  • 6 0
 i feel 650 b/29 ers are good for the guys that just like to keep both tyres on the ground! me on the other hand i like to pop my bike around and have fun thats why im not into big wheels
  • 4 0
 Why, why, why change something people like so much? 650b may have its place but enough already. Newer isn't always better. @ thekayo, I agree.
  • 3 5
 The pros say 650b is 1 second faster for every 3 minutes. I would imagine that it'd be more for everyday folks. But even if it does not make you faster it rolls over stuff better and thus making going through rough sections easier. That in my book is better. That is why you guys have a 200mm fork right? If you want to make you life harder than ride a hardtail or a bmx on a DH course. I personally want a bike that makes harder sections easier to ride so that I can then go look for even harder stuff to ride!
  • 9 0
 Instead of saying "650b roles over rough terrain better than 26", but with handling closer to 26" you could also flip it around to "650b has poorer rolling resistance than a 29" however handles only a bit worse than a 26'"
It's a fairly one sided article, how about mentioning that the wheels aren't as strong, and if they are, they will be heavier. Even if you have the same wheel weight, more of that weight is further form the center of ration so will be harder to accelerate. People often say bigger wheels take a little more effort to get moving, but once they are up to speed, they just keep going. The same argument is true for a heavy bike, yet thousands of dollars are spend in order to cut weight...
  • 5 0
 @SintraFreeride: but 29" rolls better than 650b, and 32" better than 29", and 34"... maybe after 50years of evolution moutainbikers will just roll over 6m drops on monster wheels or manufacturers will make a wings for as to fly through rockgardens couse its easier. Theres some core standards that shouldnt be changed. Especially in mtb wheres 95% rider and 5% bike. Why hill is faster on single pivot frame than on ultra fabulous active FSR suspension? Why im faster on 2009 glory than my buddy on 2011 demo? Is technology really giving us advantages in this sport?
  • 3 1
 currently, amongst my bike stable:

carbon fibre 29'er hardtail trail bike (Specialized Stumpjumper Expert)

carbon fibre 700c road racing bike (Specialized Tarmac)

loving riding both of these bikes Smile !!

one on the dirt trail, the other on the roads...


no complaints here.

owned many different sizes over the years in BMX, ROAD and MTN: 20" / 24" / 26" / 700c

its all bikes Wink


as long as I have bikes to ride, I could not care less what is happening with market trends
  • 7 0
 Hey!! I ride 24"
  • 4 9
flag Willie1 (Jul 26, 2013 at 15:23) (Below Threshold)
 Why do people use suspension, or use slacker head angles? Don't these take away from "fun" and rider skill? They make riding easier, and more comfortable, so why use these impurities that take away from the raw experience?
  • 2 2
 Because we dont like to blow our elbows and knees out when we land 10ft + drops Big Grin
  • 6 1
 WOW everybody is so tolerant today , so I'll play the bad guy for today:

No matter how high tech bike frames have become, those bikes still look like wagons Wink .
just watch every 29" edit, a lot of cutting to not let you see the bike rolling.
if the Amish still have wooden wheel on their tractors in 2013 , i can ride my 26" and be happy and content (although some would say IGNORANT, so ignorantly and happily ).

the poll is missing one option: "PinkBike stop trolling about wheel size".
  • 1 0
 I'm on a 180mm travel AM bike...I've owned many truly remarkable bikes, but this one might be my all-time fav. Kinda sad it won't be offered in a 26" wheel size, starting 2014 Frown
  • 1 0
 yo IsaacGrey hit the fuckin nail on the head
  • 3 2
 So what you guys are saying is: "I am fine with the developments that happened since the 80's up to and including what I already have. Everything else is just marketing, a money grab, and the manufacturers can go **** themselves!" Its a conspiracy to plan obsolescence.

As a side note, on the custom frame forum I frequent, there are a lot of roadies, and they are appalled at the idea of using disc brakes. They are concerned they will be stranded from bent rotors, overheated brakes, and the incompatibility with their old equipment. I am sure that does not make sense to anyone on this site. They say the rim brakes are good enough, and always have been. They say the difference isn't worth the cost of the upgrade. Sound familiar? I personally welcome road discs, and have actually already converted my road bike.
  • 3 0
 The options that sell will continue to be available. Seems simple enough to me. Vote with your wallet.
  • 3 0
 I'm happy with 26 it does everything I want it to do I. Its like cock measuring to some people
  • 2 0
 I totally agree with you. BUT , i was shopping a new bike for a friend and the majority of the store we visited only have tweeners, the other stores were more like only 1 26" for 10 29". So in couple of years when you'll want to change your bike what will you do if there is no more 26". This is not a "choice" offered by the so-call industry, its an ultimatum : "from now on, this is how a mountain bike is made"... And it sucks.
  • 4 0
 Alright brothers. I read this article very carefully. I read 98% of comments carefully and this is what I have to say:
1: I personally prefer 26" should exist.
2: The industry main idea is to develop and experiment with new things (And earn money at the end of the day). They will not stop.
3: It is us who can decide what to buy and what not.
4: According to my observation overall and on this article - Majority of riders (Including me) want 26" | Dont want 26" to go away. It has become a part of our life.
5: So its YOUR response to the market. If the 650B or 29er sales, popularity and response are low compared to 26", they would automatically discontinue it or give it less attention in the future. You are not being forced to buy a 650B or a 29er. If any brand stops production of 26 frames...i bet some other brand will have it. And they will realize it. Simple!

And talking about technology and all... They made dropper post, adjustable travel fork.... I would bow down to a technology that can develop "AN ADJUSTABLE RIM + TIRE" Just hit the dial, it converts to a desired size, and can be installed on any existing frame.
  • 2 0
 adjustable rim is what I would call technology evolution. The industry throws that word around endlessly,
PB has been sent here to conform you... And you will be conformed. First, eliminate the competition (26) so there will be no measuring stick. But, you will be told your beloved 26 still to here for years to come, in and attempt to sooth the savage heart, but all the short while begin to remove them from all their upcoming lines. Since the differences are suttle you will forget about your dear friend (26) in a few of years (out of sight, out of mind). The industry will reap the fortunes made from you and any other new consumer having no other choice but to buy a complete bike or new fork and wheelset at a price that they know the masses can no longer afford to spend for the asian production bikes in this horrible economy. These are the truths, you can recognize them or not. The fact is 26 sale and bike sales in general have slumped due to the inflated price and the bad economy of the last 6yrs (and still counting). This move is not for the better, it is to separate you from your dollar..or euro and all that other BS is just what it is BS. The median income model the bike industry has used to establish pricing for bikes, components, and gear does not work any longer, but they do not want to lowers their standard. So this is what you get...carefully crafted trickery.
The solution is simple...don't fight it, take what it gives you and that will be rock bottom prices for 26 bikes and parts. In a few years when there are plenty of take off parts on ebay, a solid used part market and then jump on board. Minimize their profits for treating us like the dumb sheep that they think we are. Make their 5yrs window of increased sales profit like drinking their own piss. Force these companies to evolve in this economy and become like YT Industries, Canyon, and the like.
  • 2 2
 @bigbossman, if you add up the comments in the poll above, there are more people who accept 650b than those who don't.
  • 5 0
 GIVE ME 26 INCH OR GIVE ME DEATH
  • 2 1
 First off I never said 26" should become extinct.
@Zalevsky yes bigger wheels roll over better but there comes a point where the benefits of bigger wheels are outweighed by their cons (weight, flex, acceleration, agility). I have yet to try a 29in but I have tried 650b, 26 and 24 and have come to the following conclusions for DH/freeriding:
24in wheels with big tires (2.7-3.0) are great for off piste freeriding (especially as a rear wheel) aka shale/big rocks and for tight singletrack
26" wheels work well on rolling terrain and accelerate slower than 24" (even a 24"x3.0 compared to a 26x2.5) I think they are great all rounders
650b wheels handle slower than 26" but roll over stuff even better than 26" I think they work great for faster speeds and/or rough terrain eg big rocks, roots
  • 67 6
 Forced upon us.
  • 98 8
 Lets face it we are all sitting at home today with our 26" wheels being told by the "capitalist" that they are no good and that we should go out and spend five grand or more to "upgrade" to a new bike so that we can potentially be 5 seconds faster on our next two hour ride.

I would rather take the five grand to Vegas as the ride would be a lot more exciting and it would certainly last more than 5 seconds!
  • 12 1
 This is exactly my thought process.
  • 20 15
 you dont have to buy it yo!
  • 6 4
 Scrammer your comment looks oddly suspicious
  • 8 0
 I mean familiar
  • 2 1
 ...by "marketing teams" that I'm willing to bet earn far more than their R&D counterparts.
  • 7 8
 From working in the bike industry myself i really don't think there is an argument to be had, I mean the companies are doing it for a reason. Yea it's expensive at the moment like EVERYTHING new in the industry is but give it a few more years and surely 650b and 29" wheel will be the more normal thing just like 26" at the moment, making the main part of what is making everyone angry about the situation the same between all the sizes ... PRICE.
  • 3 2
 if it means 26" parts will start being less expensive as 650b is selling more, go ahead i need some new tyres
  • 7 3
 You stop with this silly argument right now. It is all conspiracy. You make no sense with your non factual statements. I just want to ride my 26er till I die. There isn't any difference between 26 and 650b. Stupid people on their 650b bikes don't know anything, it was forced on them by the greedy industry. I don't have to try them, owner of my LBS measured the wheels and there is only like an inch difference. And do not even try to tell me I should at least ride them before I express myself, because I don't have to, I just need to see some pictures of them and I know right away... I tried to ridicule it before as a fad, but unfortunately it looks like it is going to stay so now I have to use this conspiracy argument. I hope I can still buy some 26 rubber in a year... This is like a bad dream. Ouch.
  • 6 0
 @hermit185 I hear alot of people saying "you don't have to buy it" but with most bikes companys dropping the 26 size how can we not? The industry seems to be cutting us out. Even the owner of intenses said somthing like the industry moved to 650b and 29 before demand was even there.
  • 2 1
 Haaa my thoughts aswell !
How come press fit bb"s fit the new iscg nicely.. ? A drunk thought yesterday... Redface
They are one step ahead of us !
They tell you.. you have freedom.. and power... Here you have the power to choose between 2 choices..... Given by us .
  • 3 1
 Those bike companies have the right to build any size wheel or frame they want. Thats why some companies go out of business and others stay thriving. Intense with the big wheels so everyone going to buy euro bikes or any custom frame offering 26" geo. For every big wheel company about to go under like khs, theres a new one making good frames in standard 26" format. If they want to committ corporate suicide thats on them. I could ride a bmx or cruiser for life and pick up another 450cc moto. These company/marketing guys rolled the dice and just crapped out in their pants after reading this thread.
  • 1 2
 I work on the sales floor at a local bike shop and my usual sales routine involves holding a gun to the customer's head and forcing them to buy a 650b trailbike while reciting 650 times "26 INCH WHEELS ARE DEAD!". Take it from an industry guy, we're coming for your money and you have no choice in the matter.

Totally.
  • 2 0
 26" for President!
  • 47 3
 I leave for Whistler tomorrow. riding for a week. staying at a hostel and bringing my own protein powder to save money. bought flexible date round trip tickets for cheaper than a one way to Vancouver off priceline.i've saved up to rent a demo bike that it would take me years to buy on my own. it's a fantasy- exactly as if someone said "you can rent a ferrari and the nurburgring for a week for less than you'd spend on rent and beer in a month" and the memories last a lifetime- they are not made "obsolete" by next years hyped-up brand new BS. that's how the F I spend my money.
  • 7 2
 f*cking spot on. But its almost as though "eff", "F" and "F**k" mean f*ck more than f*ck means f*ck these days. Just an observation not a criticism.
  • 4 0
 I just did the same thing. It was amazing... until I broke my wrist on the second day. Such a friggin waste. Wear tons of protection, and don't push it too far, and you'll have a blast.
  • 8 0
 I shattered my collar bone on the 3rd day. Enjoy your visit Smile
  • 9 0
 You can't really protect your wrists or collar bone. Pressure suits stop cuts and bruises but not broken bones since plastic does not absorb impact. My advice, don't push it too hard at Whistler too quickly, it will make you pay. If you ease into it (at first) it is the most enjoyable and limit testing place in the world to ride imo.
  • 7 0
 I agree with redrook! Last year was my first year and I opted to ease into it rather then go gung-ho. Injuries? Not a one? Crashes? Just one (Upper Angry Pirate). Did it expand my abilities and provide a great time? Hell frackin' yes! So much so that I'll be there for Crankworx next month and racing in the Garbanzo.

But I'm still going to take it easy!
  • 5 0
 totally agree with redrook. when you're in Whistler first time, and having the time of your life, best runs ever, your ability is progressing, it's not time to keep progressing and stepping it up - it's time to dial it back half a notch. just slow down a little. i've witnessed too many people high on 'bike park' smash themselves, and did my own shoulder one year in the boneyard.
  • 3 1
 Gotta love some noobs but please be careful there. Crash happens in a millisecond on the mountain. The roots reach out and grab your bike, then its just you vs the rocks and trees. Suggest having a background in something mountain like mtb or skiing. I drive a car for 25 years but not going on f1 track anytime soon. Also rule number 1 - don't block the trail. Someone might be going 60 mph and mash into you standing there with bike sideways blocking the whole trail. This why I don't ride weekends a certain mountains. Messin my flow
  • 4 0
 Whistler is in constant evolution. Lines change and jumps get bigger as we push the sport to higher limits, he'll even b line has a handful of legit jumps this year. As everyone else said relax into it, we hit Aline prematurely this year and the upgraded features almost ended our trip.
  • 46 4
 the marketing of the new wheels sizes has been quite aggressive, but I think that will prove to be its downfall. casual riders might buy into the hype, but the more seasoned and experienced among us are actively resisting the change. Not because we are backwards looking, but because we can see that its change for its own sake. if the bike and component manufacturers start slowing down production on 26 wheels and frames etc, then they are in for a nasty shock. there are millions of 26 inch wheeled bikes out there and from time to time even the guy who only rides a few miles a year needs new tyres and tubes. stop making them and you just lost a huge chunk of your market. will that guy buy a whole new bike because he cant find a tyre for his old getabout? nope. he'll just stop riding.

Even people like me will stop buying. In my garage right now I have 4 MTBs worth around £5000 collectively. All 26 inchers. I sometimes snap a fork or a frame, bust a wheel and so on. if I break my DH frame then I only* need to spend maybe £1200 to get a new one because all the existing components will fit, but if I cant find a frame that suits my needs will I spend £2500 on a new bike? No, I wont.

So wise up bike builders. if you force this change on us then we will resist it and we will do so with our money. talk all the guff you like about riding being a spiritual thing, you want our dollar, and if you f*ck us about youre not getting it.


*only being a relative term. £1200 is a lot of money.
  • 6 2
 This. And this again.
  • 6 1
 this. and this again, and again.
  • 2 2
 The downhill market won't be controlling the industry in a few years any more than it is now (very little). I think you overestimate how many will resist the change (to whatever degree it happens-26" options will become more limited, but it's ridiculous to say obsolete) and how much of an impact that will actually have.
  • 9 3
 I was at a store yesterday and one of the young 20 something mechanics came out to ask if they had any 5 speed freewheels in stock for index or 6 speed otherwise. The owner pointed to the display wall where at the very top, 4 feet higher than than the height of this mechanic, there were 6 speed shimano freewheels. Now its been 25 years since since six speed rear ends got replaced by 7 speeds, and they still are made new each year by shimano. What do people think, 26" tires are just going to disappear because of 650B ?!
  • 6 1
 7, then 8 then 9 speed etc were never being marketed as a replacement for the 5 speed and thats the difference here. they were an option, but quite a few companies only brought out 29" versions of thier most popular models this year, some only 650b. They are trying to force a change to a product that remains unproven. Paid for articles in the press, and on this site, are trying to give the impression that the new wheel sizes have already been adopted and are now the norm when that is evidentially untrue. That is why there is so much resistance.

the manufacturers have an advantage in that we have to buy what they make, but if they stop making 26" tyres that can compete with new technologies in 650b and 29", what option do we have but to either quit racing or buy a new bike? will Maxxis, for example, spend as much on R+D in the 26" market if the pressure is to start on 650b? No, they wont, so we get left behind. our only ammunition in this arguement will be our spending power. remove that and we swing the balance back in our favour.
  • 7 1
 @ deeeight,

couldn't agree more. I work at a bright orange bike chain in the UK and we stock spares that would fit bikes over 30 years old. people think that the bike industry is covered by bike radar and pinkbike, when in fact there are millions of riders that have never heard of them.

While marketing like us to think that technology and innovation move very fast in the bike industry, that's false. bikes have changed very little in even 3 decades. sure, they have got lighter and a little more refined but a derailleur is still a derailleur, a chaining is still a chaining, and a top spec rotor oval chainset for 600 pounds plus is still the same technology as some old shimano biospace rings.

new wheel will come and go but the industry has more than a century of infastructure built around 26" wheels and I strongly believe this will all blow over and manufacturers will start making new models in 26".
  • 1 1
 @querhoch

Do you know what a straw man is? Please explain what you mean by "quite a few".

By the way, they have been adopted, just not to the degree that this sensationalist article makes it seem.
  • 3 0
 @deeight,
Absolutely, there will never be an issue with spares as you say. My beef is not with Shimano, Race Face, Maxxis or any spares maker. i sit here disappointed by the frame makers. while many people approach the issue from the point of finding components to hang off their frame, there are a significant number of my personal friends who approach it from the opposite direction: what frames can i find for which i have the components. This is how the bike industry gets not insignificant amounts of money from around where I live. By doing this, changes in geometry and frame building technology bring us a new riding experience, a new bike, without the need to buy a new bike. I know of many established riders here who have a plethora of 26 inch rims, forks, wheelsets, tyres and so on who are feeling disappointed with the quite obvious demise of the 26 inch trail bike. If by any chance frame makers who read PB see this, do your future frame sales a favor: please consider making frames with the ability to run both, there are a lot of people with a lot of 26 inch specific stuff who would keep spending their money on 26 inch frames but not 650B complete bikes around here.
  • 3 0
 In many ways, the heavy push towards 650B by the mountain bike industry / media (pretty much the same thing) is taking a toll on people relatively new to the sport. I think it is pretty disheartening for someone getting into this awesome sport, they shell out a ton of cash, and then in short order, are being made to feel that what they have is cut-rate.

Choice is excellent, but when an article is titled "The Demise of 26" Wheels..." it can't help but make the new riders out there feel like they have been screwed.
  • 30 3
 TBH this endless debate bores the crap out of me. I'm strugling to give a shit about the whole thing. It does piss me off that most mainstream bike mags are only reviewing 29ers now, but thats why i stopped reading them.

As already said, you dont have to buy the new bike with bigger wheels

As said by flowraw, why cant we just ride bikes ?
  • 8 2
 Precisely what irritates me the most, out of say 5 reviews in a mag, 3/4 of them will be 29"! How is that representative of the bikes MOST riders own or want to buy?
  • 2 2
 it's where the trend is - these are new models and need to be reviewed whether we like it or not. if this is the product being made en-mass in comparison to NEW 26 ers then that is where the mags/media will gravitate - it has to.

if you look up selling trends on models i reckon that this time next year 26ers will be selling a lot less, some manufacturers are already selling less 26 inch wheel in comparison to their taller siblings, not because they are proven better or worse but because people out there want the new thing (myself not included yet but i am not saying never)
  • 1 0
 I think the main issue is the availability of 26" models in a production lines. I work in a shop which sells Scott and Avanti (NZ brand) bikes. I have just seen the 2014 catalogues for both brands. The only MTB you can buy in a 26" wheel size is a $529 entry level model. Everything else, including their 5.5" travel trail bike is going 650b and this sucks. I have the 2013 model which is 26" and I love it to bits. I'm not 100% sure but i'm pretty sure a number of other brands are going this way. You can't find a 26" Scott full suspension bike until you get to the Voltage or Gambler. Both the Spark, Genius and Genius LT are now only offered in either 650b or 29".
  • 1 0
 @bolmaing - At my local bike shop, the owner says he probably won't stock up on any 26" bikes next year except for the Specialized Demo. The reason: nobody who goes into his shop wants to buy a 26" bike! They all want the twentyniners. When I heard that, my heart sunk Frown
  • 2 0
 Yup, media isn't helping out a bit, it ends up that they are limiting our choices by feeding the machine. I used to read Dirt Rag but it hasn't mentioned a bike other than a 29er in years I swear.
  • 3 0
 I just sold all 5 of my mtbs and purchased that huge hamster ball from Jackass. Now I rolling in a 300" wheel...what?
  • 26 2
 The problem with all the new tire sizes is that the components are not universal. Nobody wants to be stuck with a $1000 fork that they can't use on a 650B or on a 29er rim. I think that's the biggest issue out there for most riders.
  • 24 1
 I know for me it's the feeling of having bought a new 26er bike in 2011, then upgrading to a kashima fox 34 2013 that I worked my ass off to be able to afford and was really proud of it. Now, the bike industry tells me my bike is obsolete, my shiny new fork was a busted experiment from Fox, and it won't fit my new frame should I decide to upgrade to 650b. I feel like the me consumer is the one getting burned here at the expense of rapid innovation.
  • 10 0
 You have a good bike, go ride Smile
I'm still with my Knolly from 2010 crossmax SX 2010, reverb 2011 X9 rear der 2010 9speed, BOS suspension from 2010 and i really think this the best bike for my level, don't need carbon, 650b, 10-11 speed. Wink
  • 6 2
 i still ride a giant reign x0 from 2008/9

it's not carbon, its 26 inch wheel, it's heavy, it has outdated geo, YET IT STILL works and does not hold me back - in fact i will blast most i come across on trails regardless of their bike or wheel, and i can run DH on it no problem..

the products you buy were of personal value when you bought them, you believed they were worth the money when you bought them (shame on you for believing kashima hype) so what is your problem? nobody is making you do anything. how do you think those that bought the new fox a day or 2 before the shiny kashima coated came out felt?

EXACTLY - progression demands forward movement, get on board or don't.
  • 3 0
 Love love love my 07 Chameleon Smile
  • 2 8
flag PHeller (Jul 26, 2013 at 8:11) (Below Threshold)
 I disagree. The beauty of 650b is that you a can run a 26" wheel in the bike, and even have plenty of room for mud, fenders, and big tires. Same goes for 29 specific front forks, many folks are running 650b in 29er frames and forks with good luck (and a few pedal strikes). It's not the end of the world, seriously.
  • 2 1
 i still ride my 07 reign Razz
  • 5 0
 I still ride the bike I bought in 1992 on occassion, the fork is a bitch to maintain now because elastomers are such a rare thing (there is a company making new ones to original formulas I know, just for the vintage mtb market), and its nowhere near as smooth/fast/whatever you want to call it on the rooty/rocky trails I tend to ride on as my modern bikes, but I still enjoy riding it and I will keep riding it until the frame fails. At which point the frame will get hung on the wall over my fireplace.
  • 25 1
 Mike Levy wrote: "their goal isn't to dupe you out of your hard-earned pay check".

Well actually it is, I just wouldn't put it that way; the goal is to make the biggest revenue as possible. How can you argue against that, that's actually the primary goal of a company, to make the highest possible revenue, that's basic knowledge (well for 99.99% of western companies it is). They certainly aren't doing this for the sake of "good times", although the PR guys will likely tell you so..
  • 15 2
 These so-called "polls" Levy is driving here on PB have less democracy in them than my country between 1976 and 1983. Every single of these columns are written from the industry perspective, and precisely aimed to rule out a standard and reiforce the bike manufacturer's point of view. Take this very one and the one about gearboxes for clear examples...

I know PB will go where the money is, but Levy's "polls" are blatant pieces of marketing disguised as open-to-user-opinions articles.

I still remember an interview Solo Bici Magazine pulled on Mariano Gon from Santa Cruz Bikes, and how he stated "the 26" bikes don't want us no more, the transition will be dirty, but unavoidable". Now I'd like to know how could a bike hate on you... Pure marketing BS, and again a market segmentation forced by the bike industry. And again, they want us to think it's all fow our own good...
  • 2 2
 I agree with you all mountain NEXT Levy gets to demo ride loads of bikes for free. Of course he loves any new technology because riding it doesn't cost him a dime, then it's easy to sit there and be neutral about them. If you just bought a $5000 bike you worked your ass off for you aren't going to want see your bike become 'obsolete' and out of date.
  • 3 2
 @southoftheborder - Obviously, I am not so sure that I'd agree with you haha! There are two sides to the piece written above, one on the left and the opposite on the right - BOTH OPINIONS ARE INCLUDED. Also, many manufacturers have confided that the last thing they want to do is have to redesign their entire range of bikes to accommodate 650B wheels due to the cost involved. This is especially true for a lot of mid and small-sized brands.

I'll happily go on the record saying that while I have ridden some great 650B bikes, it most certainly wasn't down to their wheel size but rather just a great overall design that works well. Norco's Range is a great example. On the other hand, I've spent time on 650B bikes that didn't do anything for me... again, nothing to do with the wheels. The point is that I am indifferent to wheel size so long as the damn bike works well.

As for the gearbox poll: derailleurs are king haha =)
  • 3 0
 Mike, I'm not stating the 650b wheel size is wrong or anything like that. I'm saying the bike brands are forcing them up our arses by discontinuing their 26" product lines, or leaving that wheel size just for the gravity-oriented market segment. I'd like to know why did Trek delete all their 26" XC line if that would imply such much trouble... Or why did Specialized did it too... As you said, this doesn't have anything to do with the wheel size, but with the market segmentation the bike industry has embraced without any hesitation. 29" for XC/Trail, 27.5" for AM/Enduro, and 26" for FR/DJ/DH/SS.

And I stand by my words, this isn't a poll, it's more like an infomercial.
  • 24 5
 Does anyone actually care that much? Can't we just ride our bikes instead of worrying about a 1.5" or 3" change in wheel diameter?
  • 6 4
 Do you want to buy a whole new 3k bike because of 1.5" change in wheel diameter? What if just want to replace a frame?
  • 23 5
 You will care when you go into a shop to buy a 26" tyre or inner and they don' t have any....
  • 15 5
 @Marleysbikeshop Then I won't go to your bike shop that doesnt sell what i need and i'll get one online for cheaper anyway. The 26" wheel isn't disappearing, it's just getting some rivals...
  • 4 4
 Well, it won't disappear no, but it will dwindle away from the big makes, as you can see already.. You'll probably only find 26" on the smaller brands soon. Personally I love 26" although I haven't tried 650B yet, but as you say at the beginning, its only a small difference.

Come to think about it...If the 26ers are far and few between that'll mean the inners and tyres (Along with other things etc) will become more expensive to buy as they'll not be in such demand anymore..
  • 10 0
 You can still buy 27" road tyres and rims, I don't think 26" will disappear overnight.
  • 11 17
flag cyberhawk (Jul 26, 2013 at 2:01) (Below Threshold)
 dont buy the new shit.. and they will die out.. dont forget .. we are the 99%
we have more power than most of us think we do.. we can overthrow governments, start revolutions and close banks by taking all our money out of them.. Big Grin

we can certainly kill 650B .. if you really think we dont have any power.. you are a f*cking waste of space !!
and evolution has left you behind.. Whip
  • 4 3
 I'd love to do that bank idea.. Smile

Yes, we certainly are more powerful then we think, but I don't think we'd want to over through the bike companies... Revolution against governments etc is fine, but we can't touch the bike guys... Its against all our morals Smile
  • 5 5
 the bike guys.. also have someone above.. who wants to see money.. if you dont buy it.. thay dont make it.. you wont bankrupt them..
its kinda weird to see sooo much attention/advertising on these wheel stuff.. i find it strange..

there are numero things that are new.. gearbox perhaps.. ! but noooo. new frame.. bla bla bla. i have seen all the NO comments regarding new frames..
BUTT were are taking this shit fairly easy up the ass.. not just the new frame now.. but wheels too lol
it amuses me how simple people really are sometimes..
  • 3 3
 the bike industry is financed by banks and any other enterprise so ultimately it is the banks. lets all keep our money home from now on. but then suddenly burglary will go up because the banks will complain with the government who will give orders to police to look away and orders to crime bosses to start stealing, thats how it would work in italy at least (i am itailan).
  • 5 2
 Heh, yes let's throw down banks - great idea! So if you are the first of one hundred persons to take all your money from your bank, then great for you, the trouble is, no bank in the world has even 1% of the savings of it's clients, virtually everything is loaned, or stolen for private investments and bonuses for members of the board, then the rest is to finance marketing and lobbying in goverment and private sector. Make sure you spend this money of things of actual value immediately cuz money after all is pieces of paper or bites in the bank computer that we all agreed to have any value. The whole idea of the bank is to lend money from savings because they are lying there, not used. Almost the whole current Economy is shaped by this system, it evolves since few hundred years, by few people providing opportunity to do so, and countless masses happily using it, you can't turn such ship around in a matter of a day, hell not even few years. Dropping banks equals the end of our lifestyle as we know it. People in the West like the comfort of their lives and only a fraction can imagine a different way, and a fraction of that fraction is willing to resign from it, ultimately a tiniest fraction of fraction of fraction is actualy prepared for such a drastic change. Ever laughed at people building bunkers, storing food and water, learning to shoot, all those guys in pick ups doing survival schools? So if you want to overthrow banks, you better get a rifle, lots of ammo and learn to use it, cuz you are going to need it! You may form a commune, small groups governing each other and sharing goods, growing food, but average Westeners can't, all they will be able to do to survive will be beg for help or steal.

In all of it, at least for now, it is the US that stands safest with it's unmatched military power to force anything upon anyone in case of emergency.
  • 4 10
flag cyberhawk (Jul 26, 2013 at 4:29) (Below Threshold)
 funny you demizing the west.. while we are swarmed by polish workers.. and your flashy gold seeking girls.. and by the US .. you mean the US elite.. cause they dont give a flying fuck about their citizens,.
  • 6 4
 Ahaha cyberhawk, it's funny how you treat Poland as not the part of the West and thus want to make my opinion appear biased Smile Well I do feel that Poland is the part of the West, and it actualy is a part of it, I can even count in Russia. Oh and I moved to Sweden... Am I the part of the North? The socialist North aye?

And WTF is your problem mate, did I write anything against you? You can't stand not being the smartest arse in certain thread or what? Please mark your territory next time
  • 2 13
flag cyberhawk (Jul 26, 2013 at 5:14) (Below Threshold)
 im sorry your butthurt,., and i stepped on your migrating feelings..
  • 2 1
 waki, lets say nl is swarmed by cheap polish workers (and cheap gold seeking girls) and i fear it is not the best who leave the country
and
maybe cyberhawk means reducing the power of the banks does not necessarily lead to anarchy, there are a lot of things going on in the world to change the status quo, transparency, whistle blowing etc. so i hope chnage will happen without rifles involved
  • 6 2
 There are Millions of 26 inch bikes out there and they will not stop making tires for them because they love the money. These articles about different wheels are aimed for people with low self esteem who need to have the latest-greatest thing to feel better. They just want to sell you shit you don't need.
  • 2 2
 1st = yes.. and the 2nd = yes... aye aye for the peeps with open eyes ! tup
  • 2 2
 Try to disagree that money are something else than piece of paper that free market gave any value beyond that, or it is some digits stored somehere in ie. Indonesian servers.
Any economical studies will learn you this, and common sense should advice you whats the reality.
Lets say someone accidentaly made you bancrupt with simple press of "delete" on your account, and officials in bank says everything is fine Big Grin What would You do ? sue bank ? Big Grin Does your lawyer work for poor citizens, that has no money ?

I see how ppl form Poorland swarms EU, and makes me sad that such problems appears here. We Biking community, as i assume, each of us have at last one bike and lets discuss about it, without political/religion/ethnical/wealth concerns.

"I dont like Germans but Span is fine Big Grin " you cant say that; you never met everyone, especially me personally.

However i do realize , that every swarmed country would feel your way.
  • 12 0
 Do you guys remember the days when everyone was riding a 24" street/park/dirtbike? With narrow handlebars and horrendous rise?
Yeah, and I was also one of those guys riding it. But sooner or later I gave it up.
Nowadays a great (still) 26" bike with a normal midrised handlebar is the way to go.

I think 29" is used with good cause on XC bikes. We know the advantages and disadvantages.
But the differences from 26" to 650B (and from 650B to 29") are too small. So one must 'die' --> 650B.

20" BMX, 26" MTB gravity-orientated riding, 29" MTB distance-orientated riding.

Just my 50 cents ...
  • 11 0
 I work in a shop where everyone rides 26" bikes. But guess what? Most customers come in asking for 29ers. 29ers sell. The shop owner said he wasn't going to order 26" bikes next year because they do not sell. Why should he stock bikes that no one buys? The bikes that hardcore riders want are usually not what the average customer wants. The future of the bike industry is determined by what the market wants and what sells. So go out and buy a new 26" bike if you are so worried about the death of 26" wheels.
  • 6 2
 This is the reality. There is no conspiracy.
  • 2 1
 It's not the bike I'm worried about. Honestly, there will always be someone designing and building the frames. It's the death of the rims/forks/tires I'm concerned over. I have no desire to give up my 26" soon. I love it. I've had a couple 29ers now and just wasn't into it. Not for where/what I ride. I just don't like seeing the "industry" giving up on 26's. I understand economics but it's hard when it's thrust upon you.
  • 2 0
 My local shop just recently stopped selling 26" and will not be ordering any full suspension bikes for next year. A lot of the "forcing it down your throat" is based on what people are buying in your area. Don't get me wrong, I loved my first bike that was a 29" but I spent the entire 4 years I had it trying to get it to handle like a 26". Its good to be on a fast and playful bike now Big Grin
  • 2 2
 Forks will not be going away, there will always be somebody making high end 26er forks. Hell White Brothers will still make 1" steerer tube forks for customers who want them and there hasn't been anything other than department store bikes built around 1" steerer tubes in nearly 15 years.
  • 2 1
 I was wondering when your pro 29 trolling would made it into this thread.
  • 2 0
 "Pro 29 trolling"??? WTF? You sir, are f*cking clueless. I ride a 26"bike. I don't own a 29er and i don't advocate riding them. The reality is just that they SELL better than 26"bikes.
  • 2 0
 Reality entering into a pinkbike poll commentary? Who'da thunk it.
  • 1 1
 @ axleworthington I was referring to Mr Deeeight. As he alway like to troll these boards with his pro 29er thoughts.
  • 1 0
 Ummm, how is my defending 650B facts against pinkbike tinfoil brigade make believe info, being pro 29er? I've said MANY times, I much prefer my 650B bikes over my 29ers.
  • 11 1
 I love this "you won't be able to parts for 26" wheeled bikes in a few years time" rubbish. Talk about scaremongering!
The vast majority of the MTB world are on 26". In the real world outside of forums and websites like this, people are on 26" and don't care or even know about 650b.
There are hardly any 650b bikes out there. In say, 4-5 years time the demand for 26" tyres/rims will still be massive because there will still be more people on 26" than 650.
Imagine how much tyre manufactures would lose if they if they didn't offer 26" tyres!?
Regardless of what the industry says, people are not going to ditch their 26" wheeled bikes overnight.
  • 4 0
 true true, but its is happening seriously fast all of a sudden, you only need look around a little to see all the big names massively reducing 26" range to be replaced by 650, and all this is happening when mountain biking is on one massive high, i live in an area with great trails and riding and the increase in riders is massive, even over the last year, trot to the local bike store and their stocks are dominant 29er, followed by 650 with some 26 bikes for good measure - the bricks and mortor buyer, getting into riding or swapping for new machine is the market they want as im sure its where the boom is

so while i agree with you its hard to ignore how fast the AM and Trail and XC bike market is changing - its almost wildfire like and if shops keep doing what they are doing then buyers wont even be offered 26ers from the off, oh they will still exist for sure, but not in high street shops where the main money for new bikes is
  • 3 0
 ya the scary thought is then it "looks" like they are out selling 26 because newbs get marketing hype when they shop and the marketing is now anything but 26 and if they wont even offer a decent selection of 26 or all models etc etc whats going to help anyone going into a shop to go the 26 route , specially when they are ignorant of the inner workings or just direction things are going.
  • 5 1
 It's the fork and frame manufacturers that benefit. Their thinking is that the guy who blows his fork up, or breaks his frame, will go into his lbs and, upon realizing that he can't buy a decent quality 26" frame/fork anymore, will instead think, "hmmm, maybe it's time I buy a new bike instead" and pony up for a whole new bike, shelling out $2-3k+ rather than only $1k that he would have spent on a replacement 26" frame/fork. They are banking on the fact that a biker will continue to be a biker, regardless of cost (even if he goes into debt to do so), and can therefore be upsold into a complete new bike, rather than just buying upgrade parts. Where they are short-sighted is in thinking that the customer WILL buy that bike. That he/she won't just say "ah, f*ck it, I'm going to take up kiteboarding/trailrunning/dirtbiking/whatever instead". They're going to lose a good number of participants by burning bridges like this. Opening themselves up to attrition rates they never even considered.
If I had to make the decision to continue mtb'ing and spending money on parts that constantly break, require stupid amounts of maintenance, and become obsolete the same year I buy them, I'd probably consider taking the money and running. Well, maybe not trailrunning, but maybe dirtbiking, I hear it's cheaper and more fun anyways.
  • 12 0
 Why isn't there a poll option for: 'no one cares, this poll is complete BS and I will ride whatever damn wheel size I feel like, 26" being the true mtb wheel size"
  • 3 0
 I know right?!
  • 10 2
 The interesting thing that I've not seen mentioned anywhere is that the 650b/27.5 wheel size is actually ONLY 1 inch/25mm larger
in diameter than a 26" wheel. If you look at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tyre_and_Rim_Technical_data_02-en.png you can see the diameter of a standard 26 inch wheel is 559mm and a 650b is 584mm. This equates to a 3.8% increase in diameter. Not a big change, and it does beg the question is it enough to make all your 26" kit redundant. If we were starting with a clean slate, that is, none of us owned 26" frames, wheel, forks, tyres, ..., then it might make perfect sense, but to make the financial jump to a new standard for such a seemingly small difference....

Oh and 29ers, have a diameter of 622mm, so actually only 2.5" bigger than a 26 wheel
  • 3 2
 What amuses me about the tinfoil hat brigade here is that many of them don't seem to know that the whole modern 650B movement got the ball rolling because of a few thousand enthusiastic supporters who were rank and file everyday consumer riders who simply bought some rims from velocity usa, some tires from kirk pacenti (he personally bankrolled a several thousand tire order thru the panaracer factory) and then set about building wheels and converting exisiting 26" frames and forks which had adequate tire clearance. If your frame/fork was designed to take up to a 26 x 2.6/2.7 tire, it can be definitely be used for 650B conversions. And if the sizing clearances are close, there are easy modifications you can do also (Santa Cruz Hecklers for example have the clearance in the swingarm at rest, but fully compressed the top of the tire smacks the back of the seattube. So a 10 cent plastic spacer around the shock shaft to limit the stroke solves the problem).

Anyone here who owns a surly instigator or 1x1 for example with the stock rigid forks they came with, can convert to 650B just with wheel/tire swap. No need to go buy a whole new bike.
  • 2 4
 Troll on troll master
  • 11 3
 Does the B in 650B stand for "bubble", as in economic bubble?

I'm worried about all these high dollar 650B offerings, targeting a market (long travel trail/AM) not really known for shelling out $$$ for the lightest and most technologically advanced. Isn't the XC/trail market where the revenue and high dollar sales are mostly coming from? If they are trying to forecast trends, based on wheel size sales, and are applying the new wheel size to the most logical kind of bike...

I have to say the wheel size has merit. The only thing keeping it from taking off is consumer acceptance, and the manufacturers need help from the media to make that happen, such as 650b bikes getting awarded bike of the year from multiple reputable media outlets. I personally don't want to see this fail, for the sake of the industry's health and potential growth and all the innovation that comes along with it.

From what I've seen around my parts, people seem to have 26" bikes with way more travel than you imagine they'd actually need, while people with bigger wheels actually are riding challenging terrain better than you'd expect. I think 650B might cut down on some of that silliness regarding the extra long travel 26" bikes on not-so-rough trails. For example, if a rider is contemplating between a new Trance X 26" and Reign, I actually think a Trance 650B would be a welcome option over the Reign, if he/she were leaning towards the more capable bike.
  • 10 0
 I have had a chance to demo 650b bikes multiple time and personally i just cant get the gist of why every one is going shitfucking crazy about them. As a dh ride it may be that I'm used to the 26er being more maneuverable through the technical sections, for me the 650b is just too lumbers through technical sections, the bike company's can have their way at it, I wouldn't mind it if it was just trail bikes becoming 650b but when a dh bike is 650b i just get pissed off. I think it could just be personal preference, but i just think if you want to be good at xc ride a 29er, if u want to be good at dh and still be able to ride uphill, condition yourself and ride up but rip it up on the way down...but thats just my take on this cluster fuck that is uprising about the magnificent 650b.
  • 5 0
 "... why every one is going shitf*cking crazy about them."

The cynic in me is saying this is the corporations' doing. They are forcing on us the idea that 650b is the way to go if you're into such and such. I'm not against 650b, though. I'm just worried for the 650b buyers who bought into the hype, only to find out that this is not what they're looking in a bike.

Really annoyed with how the corporations are telling us what is good. Let us choose for ourselves!
  • 7 1
 Lets look at the facts: The worlds best riders in the world enduro series are riding a mixture of 26, 27.5 and 29 inch wheels. So far we have had a mixture of 26 and 27.5 winning and in the top ten. Both Jey clementz and Jared Graves don't seem to be held back much by riding 26".

Nico vouilloz thinks 27.5 inch wheels are worth a second on a 3 minute track. If the worlds greatest Downhiller is only getting a minute advantage, I can't see this translating into much for the average rider or racer.

The conclusion? 650 doesn't mean shit and is being pushed by the industry as a way to sell more bikes.
  • 3 3
 1 second has often the difference between 1st place and 3rd place at the pro level.
  • 3 3
 Nice trolling.
  • 7 1
 That whole wheel size wave reminds me my first years of riding. Everyone was riding full rigid bikes. Then came the front suspension, a the DEBATE! Useless, too heavy, energy wasting... etc. A few years later, a new debate began! Full suspension or HT ? Every rider had his own opinion about it. Too heavy, just for huckers, energy wasting, etc... There were funky designs, stupid ones, great ones. A few years later, almost every trail rider was riding a full sus. Racers were still riding HT for lightness and efficient stand up climbs : comfort sacrifice. Now there are 100mm -110mm -120mm - 130- 132 - 135mm - 145mm 150mm, --- -- --- mm travel bikes and everyone can choose what they want to suit their needs. It's now accepted. The wheel size debate is just the same. You don't have to sell your bike because there are new offerings and i don't think anyone is KILLING anything. Why not question that 26" wheel size we've been riding for so long ? To me, it's just logical. I liked the way 29er's roll over stuff and I own a Fatbike that does that even better and I learn to flick the bike (36lbs) and use the rolling inertia to my advantage. So I can now see my self on a 650b. I don't NEED it, but when I'll change my current bike (a Pivot Mach 5.7 al) I will consider it for sure. I like to play with my bike !
  • 3 1
 Best post in this thread!!!
  • 2 0
 I can understand your point of view. But if you take a look at specialized bike range for example you'll notice they don't have a single 26'' bike for xc or trail anymore. And that worries me
  • 1 0
 If I count right, they will still offer 3 Stumpy Evos in 26" configuration for 2014. It seems that this is a better fit for the more aggressive trail rider that doesn't want/need the extra cush of the Enduro line. I do agree it seems weird to see them cut the line down. But based on the sales ratio they claim (7 29s for every 26 sold), it only makes sense to thin the herd of 26s.
  • 8 2
 I have ridden a few of these fake 27.5 inch bikes and for the money it's not a good investment at all. I ride an updated Specialized Stumpjumper Pro Carbon 26r with 5.5 inches of travel and it hauls A$$ just fine as my trail/AM bike. I also have a Santa Cruz Tallboy C and that works fine as a light trail/XC bike. When I run 2.2 inch Specialized tires on my Stumpy the diameter in 27 1/4 inches so buying an entirely new rig for 1/4 of an inch in diameter is a bad joke. The benefits of this old/new wheel diameter will never be felt by most of us and frankly is a huge waste of money. Why not make a 28 inch or 27 3/4 inch wheel bike?
  • 6 1
 I've got a decent set of wheels 26" and decent fork 26" and was looking to upgrade my frame but couldnt get a 26" frame from any of the makers only by luck i managed to get the last 26" frame that a supplier had in stock.That is not right that we are forced to buy a complete new bike, or components just because THEY want to change the wheel size. WE should have the option to buy what we want.
  • 5 0
 I still have and occasionally ride a 2001 6" Big Hit with a 24" rear wheel. I like it. I like my 2011 Enduro better though and my 2012 Demo and 2013 Canfield 29er. You can have progression and be a retrogrouch at once if your quiver is expansive enough.
  • 5 0
 Sadly, my main motivation to move to 650B right now is the resale value of my current bike. If I don't sell my 26" wheel bike before the onslaught of 650B bikes, it's going to depreciate faster than normal.

Have a wicked-awesome fork for AM that will only fit a 26" wheel? You're going to bleed money if you hold on to it too long.
  • 8 0
 If I wanted to roll smoothly over stuff, id be riding a road bike. Just sayin.
  • 5 0
 This isn't a "poll," this is an industry advertisement. Lame.

Just bought a new bike: made sure it was 26" frame. Most of the 26" frames are 650B compatible. All you have to do is look at 650B Palace to see how many conversions there are out there.

The "engineering" involved in reinventing the wheel is minimal for the 26", which is why all the manufacturers jumped on it. The little guys like Intense, Turner, and Ventana had nothing to lose by this, and it looks like their gamble paid off. This is just a quick way for the industry to make a buck with very little invested in new design. The biggest impact was on the forks, because the tires had to clear that last bit of travel without hitting the crown.

As long as my Mojo HD will last me, I'll keep riding it. My DJ is no way going to sport the 650B. Useless wheel size for DJ.

As far as parts, Fox still makes the 36 only in 26", XFusion sells their stuff for both 26" and 650", and I'm sure a lot of the stronger wheel manufacturers are going to keep making rims, and same with tires. Kinda dumb for those to cut out their main market.

If 650b wheels are the way of the future for TrailAM (XC is already 29"), I'll learn to ride my DJ on the trails first, and get a DH bikes for the parks.
  • 5 0
 I feel I'm being forced towards 650b and 29" wheeled bikes, My '11 Spicy suits me perfectly now, but one day it's going to be worn out or I'm just going to fancy a change, when that time comes I'll try a 650b, in fact, chances are, that's the only wheel size I'll be able to try, because the list of 26" wheeled 5"-6" bikes is, a half? Maybe even a third of the 2013 options - If it's not a complete sales disaster for 650b's in 2014 I'd guess the 26" wheeled options for 2015 year bikes will be a couple of boutique frames which are basically old designs.

I might love 650b,I might hate it, but it doesn't matter because my next bike will probably have to be 650b (or heaven forbid a 29er) whether I want it or not, and it won't be too many years after that until you might struggle to by good tyres, wheels, forks or whatever to keep your 'old' 26er going.

I hope it turns out to be the 1.5" steerer fork of the day, comes along, makes a big fuss, leaves.
  • 5 0
 Changing the wheel size opens a whole new business oportunity for the bike industry. New wheel size means a whole new generation of components. So, fresh €€€€€€€€€€€€€!!! That is why they are forcing new wheel sizes, they want to empty our pockets!!
We throw away our €xpensive bikes and get new ones!! :-)
  • 5 0
 Dear mountain bike industry,

I am going to clue you in to how riders are starting to see you:

Go watch the movie "Wall Street", now fast forward to to scene where Gorden Gecko explains how greed is good.

That's how you are being viewed: profit above all else. You used to make a quality product that would last many years, could be upgraded AND would offer evolution/ new technology.

You're still doing the last part, what happened to the first two?
  • 9 5
 sheesh. everyones got their painties in a knot, ride what you want, everything has a advantage and disadvantage. dont go baggin on 650 or 29 unless its because the trail doesnt need it, but they do roll better than a 26. and there is no force, the industry is giving you guys OPTIONS, say thanks and click the poll that you trust the DESIGNERS. guys that get paid to do it and make you happy arent trying to screw you over. and a bigger wheel isnt an upgrade scrammer, its an OPTION, choose to pick it or dont.
  • 4 0
 TBH I really see no point in 650B or why the industry seems to be shovelling the money in to create these new bikes which so far I havent seen one person peacefully accept theyre going to spend £5k on a new bike... If you got off a 26" and got on a 29er you'll feel a noticeable difference whether you like it or not, but 26" to 650B I cant see myself really feeling much difference between the two so why on earth would anyone spend the money and deal with initial problems like lack of tyres/fork sizings is beyond me
  • 4 0
 I hope the 26s are not being killed off! I have three and love everyone of them! Like everyone is saying its all about having fun. Not to say that 29 and 650b are not fun and only about beating the clock. I have an sb66 and my dad has a sb95. We have tested both before buying and found these to be the most fun for our riding styles. If you manufacturers want to make different wheels sizes, fine, but do not ever chop away our roots and limit the models to only 650b and 29er.
  • 5 1
 There are many riders who are looking for fun instead of performance. I ride my bike for fun and having a hard time accelerating on a 29" is not in my terms of having fun. About 650b tires, I think its a good addition for consumers to choose, IF 26" is still available. Dont kill a standard please, bike manufacturers. Kids in between sizes, short people like my and people who love flicky bikes will still want a 26" bike. Just please don't kill a dinosaur.
  • 4 0
 This totally reminds me of the marketing strategies of the Ski and Snowboard industry in the 90s. It was big mountain boards this and freeride that. Style and design changes every 6 months. It wasn't until the late 90sl the industry adopted a standard for bindings and a general board shape. But the marketing strategy was the same " buy our sh!t before your sh!t goes the way of the dodo bird ". The industry pushed the casual user to keep up with the pros. That's all well and good if I were a competitor, but as most people I'm a weekend warrior doing this for fun. It's cool to see progression and evolution in the sport but trying to scare the end users into buying a product is a little rediculous,.. actually very rediculous.

With the cost of bikes that now exceed the cost of new motorcycle or a good used car, is someone really going to be spending 5-7K on a bike that the manufacture is telling you it will not be supported by next year. I'm not a fanboy of anything I don't care what so and so pro is using. My wallet decides what I can afford and use. I work and paybills and get through my daily life and with what little I have left I find a way to spend $ on my hobby. Not really caring what is the latest and greatest as I'm on 6 yr old DH as it is now. Oh well maybe by 2018 I'll look back at the 650b craze.
  • 4 0
 f*ck sake, did no one notice the pinkbike poll 'what size wheels do you ride?' Like 90% of people said that they ride 26, so the industry can basically f*ck off telling everyone that 26ers are obselete. People will ride what they want.
  • 6 2
 The industry has improved 26s as far as they can. Suspension. frame geometry and other things can now be made less expensive, Wheel size is really all they can change to keep themselves employed and profitable, Lucky it can help us have more fun riding or this forced change would make people (some) lose interest in the sport. Even a 1 percent loss would make a big difference to the industry. I just wish they would lower the prices just to expand the sport through affordability.
  • 1 1
 Best post in the thread, at least for me!
  • 5 1
 100% marketing. Industry needs more money, so they make new things for you to buy. All this new wheel kinds are the best example that people is like sheep, they buy what their idols show them. More with the prices shown these days.
  • 12 4
 Not this debate again
  • 12 0
 NOT THIS DEBATE AGAIN
  • 7 1
 Damm why they cannot say 27.5??? 650B sounds like a size of bra for big ladies
  • 1 1
 HA! I call it 27B for some reason...
  • 3 0
 I'd love to test one of those magical bikes before I can comment on this.. never rode a 29er or 650B. When it's such a magnificent difference, I'll change my mind and buy one in a few years. But for now my 26" Giant Trance X will have to do it

By the way: When it's so important to be about 1 second faster with bigger wheels, than some enthuisiastic bikers will have to change their hobby.

I'm really excited what brands like Specialized are going to do? Will they keep the 26" for the upcoming season? I'd be disappointed if the stumpjumper 26" will be gone in a few years..
  • 6 0
 for gods sake could a brother over here get a damn 26 inch all mountain bike nowadays?
  • 4 1
 I love my bike, which has 26" wheels. The CONSTANT undercurrent is telling me "you're wrong." It's a bit disconcerting that the "bicycle industrial complex" is hellbent on making us feel like crap for loving our 26ers. Worse yet, they're trying to take our 26ers from us. They don't get it... We love our bikes. Quit telling us we're wrong.
  • 3 0
 Aaah nooo - getting a bit tired of this wheel size pot stirring. Yes, the change is happening for whatever reason (mostly BS IMO) but change is not a bad thing. There will still be sixer bits available for years to come and if there are not, many bikes allow the bigger wheels to be fitted to them. Imagine if there was only one car wheel size? The big gripe is the hype that goes with bigger wheels, most of it exaggerated performance advantage and also the seeming obsolecence of the sixer equipment rather than the continued sale of bikes in all wheel sizes to give the consumer a choice.
  • 3 0
 650b riding advantages are minimal at best compared to the trouble of switching all your stuff to the new system.
i suppose it makes sense for production, one less production line to make 26 rims and spokes? the real advantage is to push sales of bikes and parts no? now everyone needs new frames, forks and wheels at least.
  • 4 1
 I don't care that there are multiple wheel sizes. If I were to buy a trail bike tomorrow, I'd probably get 650B (given the Blur LT has been superseded by the Bronson.
BUT in downhill racing - like in BMX racing - I believe the size should be standardized. 26 for downhill please.
  • 4 1
 "Intense was an early adopter of 'tweener wheels, with their 650B 951 Evo shown here opposite the 26'' wheeled M9 - two of the world's more capable descenders. With equal riders aboard, the M9 would have a small fight on its hands to stay ahead of the Evo."

Has this been proven or tested? Have you or anyone else taken a real top level DH rider that doesn't ride or work for Intense (and therefore has no stake in the outcome) and timed him/her on both bikes in some sort of scientific way?

That said, has a 650b bike won a World Cup DH race this year?
  • 2 0
 Sbrdude1 is onto it with his 2.2 inch Specialized tires on his Stumpy. All the extra cash for 1/4 of an inch in diameter is Indeed a bad joke. I'm not sure if people realise this is the case with 26 inch Wheels With bigger tyres
  • 5 1
 ''These people aren't evil, their goal isn't to dupe you out of your hard-earned pay check....'' Yes it is, its called capitalism.
  • 3 1
 24" is where it is at Big Grin

In all seriousness, I have only ridden 24 and 26" and tbh I can hardly tell the difference there and that is supposed to be a larger difference than 26->27.5". I honestly don't give a flying crap about these new wheel sized. The other thing that no one seems to mention is that these big wheels look daft, or at least they do imo. Smile
  • 1 0
 I built up a 24" wheeled ATX1 Dh way back. I tell you, that bike was still one of the most fun bikes I've ever had, and it taught me loads. So easy to throw about. Not the fastest, that's not what I'm saying, but still many merits to the wheel size.
I think 27" will be great for my next AM bike, and I'm interested in it for DH. I wonder what effect it'll have on slide and traction feel though, and chuckability. Will tracks just evolve to be faster, wider more open? I hope not, as it'll mean your down the hill quicker, and the hills not used to it's full potential.
  • 4 2
 natural evolution... it has allready happened to us dirt jumpers but the other way round. 5 years ago 24" dominated the market nor 26" dominate the market. 5 years ago everybody was happy riding on 24" wheels, in the here and now everybody is happy riding on 26" wheels. It's like when there is a change on facebook, everybody moans and bitches for a couple of days, then a few weeks later they get used to the new format and will concede that it is acctually an improvement.
  • 3 1
 It is amazing though. I recently did a large group ride with some slightly older guys (i am in my 20s, they were in mid 30s) on some tough techy single track. 80% were on 29ers, and nice ones too. these guys have the money and when its time for a new bike, why wouldn't they buy the new technology? Its a no brainer for the bike industry whether or we like it.
  • 3 1
 All this 27.5" hype is all about the "golden ratio" between 26" and 29", as salesmen says.

But this is only words. We can claim exactly the same - that 26" is best compromise between 24" and 29".

Also, 27.5 has benefits AND DRAWBACKS comparing to 26". So how can it be called 'evolution'?? It's just a bit different, not 'better'! Just a bit other riding experience. It's like comparing oranges and apples.

And lets not forget that the real difference between 26" and 27.5" is only 25mm (1 inch), so the 650b benefits that are claimed are so small that are almost impossible to measure.
  • 3 1
 I love having a read of pinkbike, and general mountain bike media for that matter, for inspiration and general entertainment; a good video never fails to get you stoked to go ride!

That said, it's a real pity that pinkbike persist in posting sensationalist articles such as this one, and this isn't limited just to the wheel size debate. What would be nice is if they could keep the entertaining and interesting stuff, where people are left to make their own mind up based on some good information, rather than articles making massive generalising statements, sniff just a little of marketing and judging by the comments on this one, generally irritate a large number of readers. Leave the stories shoving products you don't need down your throat to MBUK and the sensational stories to the tabloids.
  • 4 0
 We should stop answering these polls. Pinkbike readers have essentially become the only focus group that isn't compensated. 26 til I die.
  • 4 1
 This is just getting ridiculous... it's called supply and demand folks. There will always be manufacturers making 26" wheeled bikes if there is a demand for it.

Pinkbike, I'm disappointed. You guys are worse than Facebook.
  • 2 0
 If I see one more article trying to shove 29r or what ever different wheel down my throat I'm gonna lose it!! I 26 for life bro!!! It's like trying to convince bmx kids to change their wheel size. Sure there are benefits.... But f that
  • 3 1
 No one is telling you to throw away your 26" bike, but when you do upgrade your current rig take a look at the 27.5". I have ridden several back to back with my 26" bikes dh and xc and truthfully almost couldnt tell the difference the 27.5" seemed to have slightly better cornering traction. On the DH runs i was consistantly faster by a second or two no big deal, im not a racer. I think the real beauty of the 27.5 is that it does'nt feel different, I could jump on the bike and ride it just like my 26" without any big wheel learning curve like the 29". So if a bike can feel like my 26" that I love so much and be just a little bit better why would I hate it. my next bike will be 27.5" wheeled.
  • 2 0
 I've only just switched to 26 inch wheels, never had any issues with 24 inch wheels until I found it impossible to buy descent tyres. Fot short people like me 24 is a lifesaver I can run my seat low enough for it not to get in the way and not hit the rear tyre on full compression.
  • 2 0
 I like the idea of different wheel sizes but builders who rule out a 26" versions of their bikes are only shooting themselves in the foot. Im 6' and for me a 650B is fine, but for my GF who is 5'3", larger wheel sizes are problematic.

I agree with whoever said Trek just paid PB for another advert. This debate is stupid. Nothing is dying. Different bikes for different rides. Different bikes for different trails.
  • 2 0
 Seeing as in the last poll 26" wheels outnumbered both 27.5 and 29 by about a factor of 10, it seems a little silly to say that they are going to disappear as the main stream wheel size. Just as regular seat posts wont vanish with the use of dropper posts.
  • 4 2
 Really....who cares. Mtn biking is still mountain biking regardless of wheel size.

All you gripers should just resort back to tube TV's, a-tracks, and vhs. Technology advances, the industry changes, and you adapt. The world spins.....life goes on. Things do get obsolete....just the way it goes.

If the 26" wheel is forever replaced by a 27.5" wheel which is 3% different in size...then who cares? Do you really expect to only buy 1 bike for your entire lifetime b/c you invested your hard earned $$ in it? No....so when you feel like buying a new bike in the future, you'll probably will be buying a 27.5" bike...never look back and have a great time like you've been having on your 26" wheel, but now on a wheel 3% bigger (as someone stated earlier).

No one is forcing you to buy anything. Every year car companies release new cars and the new model comes with bigger wheels and weighs less!...DO YOU HAVE TO BUY THEM? No of course not. The industry is changing....go forward and talk about the good ol days of riding a pimp 26"....just as you will a 27.5".
  • 2 0
 I see a niche market... When 26" is obsolete by definition of the bike industry... I can start manufacturing components for the millions & millions around the world who want to continue enjoying the bikes they alreay own & love!!
  • 2 0
 I thought wheel sizes were changed because a rider out grew the smaller wheel... You started with the little 16" when you were small and learned with training wheels... then you went to 24s, then moved up to 26" when you were tall enough. Then you learned the skills to maneuver those 26" wheels over roots/rocks/obstacles. It wasn't about making riding easier and taking less skill to be fast and smooth...

I suppose I can see the appeal of being easier... but if that's the case why not ride on the road. Mountain biking is about pushing your limits and abilities.. at least it used to be. In recent years it seems to be more about the equipment and less about the rider much like F1 has become about the car and technology and not about the driver. Is this really where we want the sport to go? Progress is good sure.. but I still feel it is the rider that should progress not the bike giving a false sense of progression.
  • 3 1
 Obvious Pinkbike Trolling is obvious.

Guys, the only reason PB posts commentary like this is to troll for responses. They don't give a sh*t about wheel size in any way (although Mike Levy appears to have heard of of the old 26"/24" pairing for DH. How cute, someone has access to Wikipedia)
They in turn can show their advertisers PowerPoint presentations with large charts that display what an active and passionate audience they'll have if choose to spend their ad dollars here.

Nothing to see here, carry on.
  • 3 1
 The only thing more annoying than constantly having new wheel sizes shoved in my face is the constant barrage of polls on my dash. Seriously Pinkbike, what is the real priority here? Milking your longtime users and supporters for strategic marketing clues?

As the saying goes, don't feed the trolls, and Mike Levy is the biggest one of all. Always starting fights and then standing back to watch the fallout.
  • 2 0
 Pinkbike, you are missing one option from your poll: "The industry is killing off 26" wheels because the market asks for it, not because they are worse than 650b or 29."

Unfortunately, the industry has a slick, remarkable and mysterious power to convince people that something is better than another thing, that you will be at a disadvantage by not using a newer technology. More unfortunate is that people fall for these lies. The truth is for every potential advantage that one wheel size offers, it will invariably have a corollary disadvantage. Do you ever see the industry advertise the disadvantages of 29" wheels?

Personally, I will ride 26" wheels for as long as I can. It will be a sad day when I cannot purchase 26" rims, tubes, spokes, tires.
  • 2 0
 First of all, yer damn right 24" wheels are the best!!!

"These people aren't evil, their goal isn't to dupe you out of your hard-earned pay check". OK so then WTF did you go on to say: "The heart of the matter is that 'new' sells and established technology is eventually viewed as boring and antiquated, and 650B is new and garnering plenty of headlines these days." for? We all know that these bullshit wheel sizes are just for the sake of selling. Evil or not, greedy or not, that is the only reason they exist. "Scientifically proven" to roll over bumps better? A properly functioning brain could deduce that without a science experiment. That advantage, is the only one those stupid money maker wheel sizes offer. They lose in every single other category, not just the one where riders have to buy a new everything just to replace a wheel. This stupid f*cking industry makes me want to get a BMX, or a skate.
  • 2 0
 I hate it when they try to justify things like: "the 650b definitely has an advantage over the 26 but not as bad as the 29." Well if we had a 32" inch wheel then the 29" would be badass at handling. Its all relative to what you compare it to. Marketing at its best.
  • 2 0
 Is everyone crazy??? The bike industry is market driven. Anyone ever taken an econ class? If there is no demand for 650b, it will die off. If there is a demand, then it is here to stay. Look at the Ibis Mojo HDR. They offer both the 26, and the 650 version. Well over 90% of the HDRs they are now building are 650. Is this them forcing it down the consumers throat? No, they offer two options, and if one is not selling than they will react to the market accordingly. No one is forcing you to buy anything.
  • 3 1
 i dont like how the term "forced upon us" is being used. 26" bikes haven't totally been shunned, and its not as if production of 26" parts has been halted. but i have to say as someone who was a skeptic, when i got on the 650 altitude i forgot i was riding a 650 bike...it felt that close to a 26. i wasn't compelled to buy a 650 bike right this second, but in time i likely will.
  • 7 0
 if it felt so close to 26 what's the need for it? Just stick to 26.
  • 3 0
 so its looking like 29 for XC, 27.5 for enduro an 26 for DH,DJ,4X an street thing is i cant afford an also i dont have the space in my home for 6 bikes so 26 wins out for me
  • 2 0
 maybe 27.5 for my next long travel bike but,thats a good 2 years off so I'l just wait an see
  • 8 3
 It's called the gravy train, and you Mike Levy are part of it and you know it. Sell me your paymasters wares.
  • 6 0
 I know, I'm literally rolling around naked in $1000 billz as I'm typing this.
  • 2 1
 Doubtful, you're just eeking out an existence like the rest of us, but you're very much part of the marketing machine that pays your wages.
  • 2 0
 We -mountainbikers- are practicing a sport with fun in mind, more than any other sports. If you - industry-designers - are working to improve our experience in that way, we'll be happy for long times. But having the choice - for our trails, our lines, our gears, our components - to continue or improve our own to keep things fun on on riding is something you can't decide for us. Having said that, go back to your respective offices and add a 26-range to your 2014&more catalog!
  • 3 1
 I can get down with different wheel sizes as different people have different needs. MY needs however dictate 26" wheels on a trail bike, 26" wheels on a downhill bike and maybe 650 or 29" wheels on a cross country bike. So when I want to pick up a long travel trail bike in a couple years and I want to buy a stumpjumper evo in a 26" wheel, what the hell am I supposed to do? Why is our CHOICE on the matter being taken away? If any industry rep is reading this (which is doubtful), I want an answer.
  • 2 0
 With the last few years of bike development being more refinement than evolution, 650b has just bought bike manufacturers time redesigning most of their 26er bikes into 650b. Some good money to be made in the short term. So once this all done, in 5 years are we back into the stagnet hole of development and sales that the industry likes us to think the 26" is in now?
  • 2 0
 Based on ETRTO, it's actually 27. MTBAction has a good article on this, where instead of sitting at the trailhead spewing jargon about something you know about only because of what you read on Sheldon Brown, they actually got real 26, 27, and 29 wheels and measured their rolling circumference, basically concluding that 27.5 is bunch of (mathematical) BS.

I now expect the armchair engineers to come out of the woodwork, and lay bogus arguments to support their support of 27.
  • 2 0
 The bike industry doesn't control you.... You control it by choosing to purchase or not.

It sounds like people who bitch about the state of politics, but don't go out and vote!

Why let somebody else decide for you? Use your brain and more importantly your wallet!
  • 3 0
 I hope the 26" wheel is dropped by all the manufacturers. Then I'll start my own company that produces only 26" bikes/parts for all the real riders out there... you know who you are.
  • 2 0
 For 99% of the idiots out there, you are buying a 650b to go faster and keep up with your mates. How about you ride more, eat less. That usually works!
I'm riding a 24inch Bmx cruiser for a year now, hardly any mtb for me. Means I've developed some real pinpoint accuracy and flow. Also helped me turn up at the 4x Nat Champs ( hadn't ridden my 4x bike for over 15 months) yet won every Moto and the final. As Public Enemy say'Dont believe the hype' all you slow coaches out there..
  • 3 1
 i was very sceptical about 650b, but then a friend lent me a pair which i ran on my Liteville 301 and the difference isnt light and day, like the step to 29er's but market shpeil is holds some truth. You get all the fun of a 26er but its just a quicker in every situation, it climbs more easily and rolls or jumps (unlike the 29ers ive tried) coming down the hill. I was going to keep hold of my 26 wheels, but i'm a complete convert and i've sold or am selling the lot and i broke the bank and bought a SC Bronson and to put it simply its the best mtb decision i've made.

650b may not suit everyone, but the Pink Bike's Stadler & Waldorf contingent will continue to hate all that is new, but i'd say if you get the chance try it and then come back and share and informed opinion
  • 2 0
 Frankly I do hope this wheel size business hurts the industry a bit. There is no real argument around needing the slightly bigger wheels for the couple of seconds advantage it gives every few minutes - the advantage is wiped out as soon as everyone is back on the same wheelsize anyway. So long as people continue to believe they need their equipment to be at parity they will continue to feel they have to "upgrade". Unfortunately the price of bikes (and related gear) is now at a point where a continuous upgrade cycle is not sustainable / affordable for most of us - and realistically only matters to those at the front of the pack (and there are very, very few who are that level - and they could probably ride anything to the front of the pack anyway). I race xc exclusively and I have a couple of 26" xc bikes (one for training and one for racing). I also bought a 29er imagining I was being dropped by the fast guys because they had bigger wheels. Just over 6 months later I decided to sell at least one bike because of an injury and the decision was easy - the bike to go was the 29er. To me it was not as much fun as my 26ers and I was not materially faster on it - maybe 5 minutes or so less slow over a 3 hour course (and there are way too many variables over that distance to prove definitively it was the wheel size that gave me the 5 minutes). At my level the cost of the "upgrade" was just not worth the gain and I decided to keep the bikes that to me are the most fun (and its fun to outrun other riders on 29ers based on skill and fitness even if I am working a little harder than they are).
  • 9 5
 the real debate: are they 650b or 27.5? and who actually cares so long as it is not 29...
  • 2 1
 Same thing, the former is the french size code that related to a certain rim specification and tire specification that gave a nominal 650mm diameter inflated tire/wheel combination, 3/4 of a century ago. The later is what the modern father of 650B mountain bikes, Kirk Pacenti, called his old/new idea at the north american handbuilt bicycle show when he displayed a bike with his new Pacenti Neo-Moto tires, which originally came in a 2.3" listed size which inflated gave it a 27.5" nominal diameter.

There were three 650 sizes under the french system, A, B and C, and the letter referred to the width (A Narrowest and C widest) of the tire. So a 650A was the same diameter as a 650B or 650C but the tire and rim specifications were all different to achieve that same nominal diameter comparison. Same goes for 700A, 700B, 700C and 700D.
Now though the industry just refers to the old french specifications for rim/tire bead seat diameters when it says 650B or 700C for example, not the original diameters or tire widths. Those things have become blurred due to marketing numbers. Road bikes and 29er mountain bikes share the same 700C bead seat standard, but the tires are obviously very different and so then are their inflated diameters.
  • 1 0
 i know they are the same thing, just showing how pointless these debates are, i guess my sarcasm did not transfer, thanks for the history lesson though
  • 1 0
 im happy for the size changes but if company just focus of them and forget 26" then there just making majority of peoples bikes be outdated and this will put people in bad places with say money if they cant buy any 26 parts and have just spent a few grand on a shiny 26er just support all wheel types
  • 3 2
 Let's face it, 95% of people (if not more) ride 26" so thankfully it isn't going anywhere but they are definitely getting pushed out, what's wrong with having all 3 sizes, why try and drop the most popular one in favour of a wheel an inch bigger?
  • 2 1
 Maybe I'll be more interested in this whole debate in a few years when I have the need to buy a new bike. For now, my 26" Tracer 2 will work just fine for me. Besides, if larger diameter wheels roll over things and keep their momentum so much better, wouldn't riding a 26er help improve your skills more when you need to learn to maneuver over and around things instead of just casually rolling over them?
  • 2 0
 I could borrow my blue pig to Atherton so he could race to the next enduro to saw as what he could do!IMO the rider behind the bars makes the difference and not the wheels or anything else!cheers! LONG LIVE THE PIG
  • 4 0
 someone should make a 28" or a 27"wheel, that would throw a spanner in the works
  • 1 0
 The most important thing to me is that splitting between two wheel sizes must drive up the costs of design and testing frames and forks. I'm all for either wheel size, but I don't want to pay more because bike companies aren't getting as much sales for their development effort.
  • 1 0
 The industry is totally messed up now IMO. Haven't ridden a 650B and I'm sure its advantages are probably justified to the pros and serious amateur racers, but most people will be happy riding what they have got and unsettled by all the changes. Personally I ride an Alpine 160, its newest creation is still in 26". Myself, I would be holding back on changing my bike with the current crop of wheel size offerings. Rather keep my money in my pocket and see what develops, although if I was a serious amteur racer I would probably look to the merits of 650B. New purchasers must be seriously confused and probably doped in to making purchases based on biased revues rather than the real issues of the bike, frame, ongoing maintenance and the type of riding they really will end up doing. I know guys who have been duped into the 29" revolution on their first hardtails and now fitting dropper posts etc and I'm thinking whats the point, the bike is only good for XC racing and such, whereas I think if they had stuck with a 26" even if the geometry etc hadn't been perfect, they would at least have some sort of chance at moving in to other areas of MTB riding.
  • 3 0
 I saw numerous guys at my local Bike Park rolling 24"s front and back last weekend...don't stick the final nail in 26's coffin.
  • 2 0
 My brother still rides them for DH... They are great, strong and light. Bumps might feel a bit bigger but then I recon that makes him a better rider.
  • 2 1
 The better your skills the smaller the wheels . I wish the focus was on suspension as I feel that wheel size gains could be made through better suspension . We already have good frame angles and it feels like bike industry has gone back ten years and is still in the learns stage on new wheel sizes . I'm not sure the demand on bikes is large enough for such a split / defined / specific tool for the job bike and most will still have two or more bikes .
  • 2 1
 I accept that larger wheels roll faster and straighter, and would get me from A to B with less effort, but I'm not racing, and getting to the end of my ride a few seconds faster couldn't matter less. I ride my (26" Carbon Nomad) bike to play on my local trails here in the mountains. All of the larger wheeled bikes I've tried sacrificed the quality of playfulness on technical terrain. All of my friends that ride larger wheels speak of having to adapt to the straighter line that the wheels impose on the rider. I've embraced countless advancements in mountain biking technology over the past 20 years, because they effortlessly enhanced my experience on the bike, but for the type of riding that I enjoy, larger wheels don't offer anything I need. It seems wheel size is analogous to side-cut and width on skis, and that once this fad has run its' course the strengths and weaknesses of each wheel size will be matched to riding style and terrain. There will always be a niche for bikes that maximize agility and feel on technical terrain, and wherever that leads is where I'll be going.
  • 1 0
 My DH rig is so old it has a 24" rear wheel. And I have plenty of fun it. I don't need 5 more inches (that's not what she said lol)

If I get rich and need a new bike, that's one thing, but everything is 26" specific, and I don't make boukous of cash. So 26 I stay to keep my wallet happy and pedals under me
  • 3 0
 Soo much 650B marketing I feel as if I been shoved 650B wheels down my throat and shitting out 29ers out my ass every morning
  • 1 0
 I too love my 29er.

I think its about a couple of things. Design, rider proportions, and rider intent.

At 6'4", my Tallboy LTc rides fantastic as a trailbike. So much so, i use it for everything on the shore except for the steeper, more freeride stuff.

To me, this is natural evolution. Ride what fits you and what feels good. And stop bitching, because this is where evolution comes from, practice and experimentation.
  • 1 0
 Out here in Arizona, bike shops sell mostly 29ers. I went into the Specialized dealer and there was not a single 26 inch wheel bike in there. To each there own! In my opinion 26 is pretty much the go to wheel size for most riders and shouldn't be ousted. According to many companies, the 26" wheel is faster over short distances and 29ers are faster over long distances.
  • 2 1
 It seems so ridiculous, "it rolls easier over terrain" if you dont like riding over bumps, go buy a road bike. The whole thing with a standard wheel size, ie 26", is the challenge for each rider to move their bike around the terrain, what sets one rider apart from another is there ability to do that.......so bike companies decide cheating is the way? It would be easier for lewis hamilton to win formula 1 if he had 300hp more than his competitors, but thats not fair, so its down to his individual skill as a driver to push his car and himself. Comparing 650b to 26" in competition is rubbish of course theyll roll easier,simple physics, but will they change tracks to make it more challenging for 650b? Will fork technology change and perhaps become lazy because big wheels will reduce the need for small bump compliance? It aint broke so why fix it?
  • 1 0
 I'm buying 2013 Stumpy FSR Expert EVO. I'm also building a bad ass SS.
BOTH tire sizes will be 26". BTW, I do own a 29er Carve Pro. Yeah, it's different
and fun, but I spent over 20 years mashing a 26er. It's in my blood I suppose.
  • 2 1
 I see new the new wheel
size like I see new developments in frame geo, or tweaks to the travel ratio etc. every company brings out new bikes every year, it hasn't ever forced everyone to buy new bikes. That said, I didn't know if R&D will be spent on making 26" bikes any better. Makes me a little tiny bit sad that the 26" will probably go away(10-15 yrs)
  • 1 0
 That trend is exactly why I just bought 26" Norco Truax frame and building it. This is probably last worthy 180mm 26" left in production by any reasonably good manufacture.
I absolutely agree there is not going to be any hi end components left for 26" in 3-4 years. So buy yours now if you love it.
  • 1 0
 really don't know what the fuss is about, 26 has been around for years and it will be for many more. I'd even be so bold as to say that people will still be riding 26 when I'm old and gray and can't even ride anymore (a sad day). As a mechanic I find this comparable to the V8 engine, everyone thought it was dead and fuel ineffecient technology at the end of the 90's. But low and behold its still around, live and strong with cylinder on demand and fuel mileage out the ying yang. look at it this way, all this 650B/29er tech will only make the companies that are 26 loyalists wanna make their product even better!!!!!
  • 1 0
 i gotta admit each wheel has benefits, 29er can eat up technical terrain with much less travel thus ride a 29er, thus a long travel niner is gonna be more awkward than a fat girl entering a bueaty pagent, personally im riding a 29er ht with 120mm travel sektor with 20mm do, its a sick bike (kona taro) that ive even rocked at creek and raced enduro at windham, its fun, that being said 26 still owns it for dh, while ive tried a few 650 models ranging from the boring jamis, to the trail worth norco sight and the ripping pivot firebird, 650 let's you factor in more travel and a slacker geo to lay waste to technical terrain, each size has a place and intended usage,
  • 1 0
 also why can't you just pop a 3 inch 26 tire/wheel in a 650b frame/fork n get stoked on more clearance? the size difference between 26 and 650b arent a whole lot, in fact compare a 26 2.5 to a 650b 2.25 i doubt its that much bigger.... next theyll say fat bikes are an unfair advantage... just get out and ride....
  • 1 0
 I think its that we don't mind the fact that the larger wheel sizes are being introduced,its just we still want the choice to stick with our beloved 26" wheels too.....but the bike manufacturers are saying "stuff you" this is what your going to ride in future.
  • 1 0
 If I had to get another frame, it would be the Ibis Mojo HDR. I could swap over my 26" wheels or go 650B down the road if I want to (I don't): www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/mojo_hdr
No one makes anyone buy a 650B when there are lots of bikes to choose from. As for parts, I'm not worried that they'll ever stop making 26" rims and tires, and the 26"/650B tubes are interchangeable.
  • 1 0
 Just admit they are shiiiittt they might give you more speed on a straight bit but whoever enjoyed straights anyway, I can see why they've built it, but dirt jump bikes will never have it and hopefully it's just a phase in downhill, although unfortunately its probably here to stay on XC and All Mountain bikes as well as enduro. Soon we will look back on it remember how bad it was!
  • 1 0
 It should only be 26 and 29 ... The 26 handles all the DH/FR/AM/XC riding , and the 29 handles the AM/XC riding ... Both wheels do their jobs just perfectly , rather then trying to compensate somewhere learn to be a better rider , smoother , better lines , and proper technique, then any wheels size wont matter after that .

26 & 29 is all thats needed , anything else is just a gimmick and waste of money .
  • 1 0
 The main point is that bike components should be AFFORDABLE and not skyrocket into stratosphere with their price tags. In that case everyone will be able to experiment and chose for themselves what platform they will use. It if it is a matter of 2+ k to switch from one bike type to another, of course it will create raging debates. AFFORDABLE everything is the answer. God bless CRC!
  • 1 0
 29 sit like lead in shops. Price freefall. This wheelsize is dead. Good. 650 is doing slightly better. The stores are full of underspeced cartwheeled bikes that they cannot shift. The wheelwar was one of the dumbest marketing ploys and group think ever. New 26 bikes are in the pipeline everywhere. Just hold out till next season.
  • 1 0
 thats why specialized offers the enduro in 26'' and 29'' there will always be that option for die hard 26 fans with some companies but times are changing and when that new bike comes out that we all haft to have we will buy it no matter what wheel size is on it
  • 1 0
 The majority of riders here on Pinkbike are downhill and enduro riders, so I'm not supprised with the results of the poll. However, from an XC rider's standpoint, I like 650B. It doesn't feel as "wagon-wheeled" as a 29er, so I can see the 650B application making sense in mid-travel, more "aggressive" riding style bikes. However, in downhill, I think 26" wheels are here to stay because you need a strong wheel that can handle a lot of jumps and drops, and 26" wheels are the strongest because the hub-to-spoke legnth is the smallest.
  • 1 0
 Thought bike industry is one of the environmental wise industry after watched the Life Cycles..
But now i think otherwise..
Imagine all carbon, aluminum, steel, brake fluid, suspension fluid in a wasteland because of this decision. Many years from now our grandchild maybe gonna ask "What did you do in your young era gramps?" Can we all said "Debating about wheelsize because of the industry force us to do so and pile hazardous leftovers in the wasteland".
Have you ever heard any manufacturer that accept their old frame/fork/tire or any other old parts being recycled?
For enviromental sake please be wise with your customers and materials my dear bike industries..
  • 1 0
 Everybody seriously needs to calm the hell down about wheel sizes. They all have strengths and weaknesses that are not just universal for the size. There are rider and bike variables that create a different ride experience for each person. There was the same debate when 29 debuted, and look we still have both. 650b is a new option. 26 will still exist. As a 6'7" rider i love my 29er for AM, my 650b frankenPivot for gravity, and my 26" dirt jumper. All are perfectly fine bikes. Quitcher bitchin
  • 1 0
 there was a nice write up i read a few days ago. the rider demoed the slash 650 and compared that to his 26" slash. he compared every aspect of the ride. he hit the climb the rough the acceleration the jumps and did so very well. he compared side by side each bike on each aspect of riding. the slash 650 impressed the rider on every thing and the bike out shined the 26" bike in everything except for the jumping he could not clear jumps like he did on the 26". in the end he was not sold just yet to upgrade the bike.
i demoed the slash and i loved the bike i mean loved the bike. i didnt like the specialized enduro the evo either. i hated the trance sx.
i hate hate hate the wheel sized thing its silly. i love my 26 bikes. i would never have looked for a new bike but my old bike got ran over when i got hit by a damn driver this got me on a few new bikes all i can say is demoing the slash was amazing had me rail and smiling every pedal stroke i took. i actually hate hate hate that the wheel size thing came about but now i am in search of a small slash 650b i am going to have to put 26 stickers on the wheels so my every day hard core 26 inch riding buddys dont give me shit, but 650b here i come

i am like the rest hate the wheel size game. my mavic deetraks were amazing wheels that were like 8 years old lasted 4 bikes and only killed by a dam truck running almost me over and killing my bike and my wheels. i was sold to never buy a wheel set again till needed especially bigger wheels. i road the 650 bike now i am on board. have an open mind ride many many bikes and then decide
  • 1 0
 I lived through all the wheel size arguments/transition during my triathlon days. 20 and 24" wheels; 650 B, 27, 700c, other oddball sizes... BFD. The best woulda won on anything. It was all a scam to sell new bikes. And road bikes don;t have half the considerations that MTBs have. There will ALWAYS be 26" tires and you can get them all over over the world. Try finding an oddball size in Poduck, Alabama or on another continent. I hope you like riding on duct tape!
  • 1 0
 "That's bad news for diehard fans of the 26'' wheel who want to purchase a new bike,..." Really? We've been happy to keep our 26" MTBs-a V10c and Blur LTc, both with King wheelsets. I came across this article looking into new frames, and when I did't see any 26" bike on the Santa Cruz sight, I searched "who still makes 26" bikes", and this little piece came up. Same story last time I got curious-my money is being spent on other things besides new MTBs, so who's that bad news for? Interesting to compare this sport to another I love-offroad motorcycling. I can buy a really nice four stroke or 2 stroke dirt bike for what I spent on my V10c. Moto wheels are are 18 or 19" rear and 21" front, and look at the amazing things pros can do on dirt bikes. Go figure...
  • 1 0
 I just say I've tried 650b wheels and just going back to 26 for me 650 is crap, no playful one benefit is they are faster, cornering is shit in tight corners, jumping is easier and more fun on 26 wheels, for racing and time results 27.5 is big improvement but for freeride stuff and playing with bike or bike parks 26 is best !
  • 14 13
 People are so resistant to change.

"Oh my 3x7 works great"
"My rigid post has never let me down"
"The wheelsize I have right now is the perfect one"
"All these new standards are rediculous, my 9mm QR and square taper cranks were great"

Guess what? You can enjoy your old technology, but I'm tired of your whiny bullshit about new features of bikes. You can't argue that 650b doesn't have benefits. Bikes have evolved at a rapid pace in the last 5 years and it's an exciting time to be in the cycling industry. Having different wheel sizes for different jobs is simply logical. So stop talking about how gay 29ers are, how 650b is just a fad, and how you can shred so much harder on a 26er.
  • 7 2
 Actually people can argue that, and have. Different wheel sizes have strengths as well as weaknesses.
  • 6 3
 The point of the poll whether or not the change is being forced, not about the merit of the change. No need to be a condescending asshole.
  • 1 3
 Maybe if you read my other comment that I posted earlier, you would understand more clearly how much I am aware of this. Thank you.
  • 4 0
 Homie. I'm talkin to Carp
  • 2 0
 To be fair, square taper is easy to work on. I don't need three different crank pullers and a bearing press to change BB with square taper.
  • 1 0
 Friends don't let friends ride square taper.
  • 5 1
 So can we expext big discount on 26" wheels soon? Good news for me. Let me know, need to stock up!
  • 1 0
 just got my Haven carbons from Jenson for just over $1K.
  • 2 0
 Once again this poll goes great with the "are the trails becoming too groomed?" Discussion earlier. With these more groomed trails, 650b goes great as it "flows" better over them
  • 3 0
 maybe it´s faster... but we don´t compete... we ride just for fun... so, 26 is the best... other sizes just take the fun of it, makin it slow
  • 4 0
 2015, New wheel shape will be announced "The Square Wheel" 4 corners , 4 flat spots... the future is near.
  • 2 0
 Honestly, having ridden some 650b frames and forks with 26in wheels fitted, I'm not bothered if 26 frames 'die,' just get a 650 frame and jam your wheels and fork on it, the difference is so small nobody notices.
  • 5 1
 For me: 26= Downhill/ Freeride/ Dirt
27.5 = All mountain/ Enduro
29= XC
  • 4 2
 Yawn. I genuinely don't care. My next bike will be whatever is available and fits my budget, be it 26 or 27.5. I'll ride it and have fun. Articles like this promoting "discussion" on the subject are not needed.
  • 1 0
 You know what really pissed me off? That they didn't offer 9-speed clutch rear derailleurs when they came out, but instead put it on the "new" 10 speed standard, despite the fact that there is no good reason on God's green earth that you need 10 speed for downhill. How hard would it be to offer both 9 and 10 speed with the clutch?
  • 1 1
 9sp shifter with a 10 speed mech, its the shifter that controls the indexing not the derailleur .
  • 1 0
 I wouldn't change my bike because of the wheel size. I am totally happy with my Santa Cruz Blur Ltc. When this bike is "done", I could see myself riding 650b as my next bike. But the difference is so small, there is no use to change just because of that.
  • 1 0
 You all worry too much. If it`s truly a useless trend like elliptical chain rings and urethane bumpers for suspension and suspension stems, all of which were the "future" of mtb at one time, it will go away. I certainly am not jumping on the big wheel bandwagon but let evolution do it's thing and keep buying what works, the industry will eventually find a new great improvement that we can't live without.
  • 1 0
 So funny. People were ready to accept semi-integrated headsets, which offer no advantage at all, they readily accepted the demise of the good old quick release, which wasn't replaced by the obvious choice, the 20mm axle that already existed, but by a 15mm one (even worse at the rear end, 10x135, 12x135, 12x142,...). They also accept, that most frames now come with press fit bottom brackets, which are technically a step backwards (but can be installed faster by an unskilled Chinese factory worker, who would screw up the threading of a conventional bottom bracket), and there were no real complaints, when the industry replaced square tapered spindles with at least 3 different diameters. There also weren't any complaints, when 25.4 mm stems and handlebars where replaced by 31.8 mm ones, and a lot of people seem ready to try 35mm. Tapered fork shafts were accepted, unaccessible cable routing in the frame seems ok for almost everybody.

But give people a slightly larger wheel size and the whining about the evil industry won't stop.
  • 2 0
 the difference is that most of the changes you mention are either cheap components of items which can be easily and cheaply adapted (spindle standards)
slightly bigger wheels involve massive costs to convert and render existing frames, forks, wheels etc useless, it's win win for the industry it kills the used market and brainwashes lots of people into buying the same bike as they already have only with less mud clearance.

friend of mine fr example is talking about selling a 7 month old commencal meta for the 2014 650 version without ever riding one. advertising is a powerful force.
  • 2 0
 “The doubters said, “Man can not fly,” The doers said, “Maybe, but we’ll try,” And finally soared In the morning glow While non-believers Watched from below.”
- Bruce Lee
  • 1 0
 I want roadies to get a bit of that hell. Bring on 32" road bikes! And Mike, if you mention physics, 29ers should be best bikes, because handling should not matter in physics Wink it is not measurable. oh and mentioning centilevers vs disc brakes by the side of wheel size debate? - c'm on.

Good write up anyways! Everyone has his own version of reality called opinion or point of view, I enjoyed reading your one.
  • 1 0
 I'm 6'5" and my XL 650b Bronson feels like a better balanced bike to me than my XL Mojo HD did. There are lots of differences between the two bikes besides wheel size, but for enduro-oriented guys in the L and XL size range it makes some sense to scale up the wheels along with the rest of the geo. Small female XC riders may also appreciate 650b over 29er for similar reasons. In any case, there are lots of amazing bikes on the market these days and most of the spare parts in our bins work across the sizes.
  • 1 0
 This is all hype just to sell new bikes, could be that like motor bikes the front and rear wheels could be different sizes, how long will it be before get bikes with 29er front and 26" or 27.5" rear wheels and sealed drive gearing?
Biggest problem I have found is that frame designs are not compatible with different wheel sizes
  • 1 0
 I think there is a place for all three sizes, but it fucks me off when santa cruze now only have the new nomad as a 27.5. There is no choice. I can't keep my wheels and forks and upgrade to a new frame. That is bullshit. A new nomad with both options and v 10 also. At least intense owners can just change the rear dropout.
  • 5 0
 Its all marketing
  • 5 0
 Planned obsolescence, that what it is. In a couple of years, there will be the 29,5", an then the 651,974252/3" will come along... So we all can continue to feed the machine. Consumption makes us happy, right?
  • 4 0
 26" is dead, long live 26"!
  • 3 3
 Whaaaaaat a bunch of plebs. Ride what you like and stop crying about a choice in wheel size. I am 6ft 3 and a 29 feels like its made for me compared to either of the smaller options. The large wheel size isn't quite as nimble as the 26 but its fast and inspires confidence with all the grip on the ground. It totally suits my style, jumping, railing a berm or riding uphill. Just ride what you like read only about your 26 and stop arguing about a moot point FFS. long live the 26, 27.5, 29 and whatever the hell else you wanna ride.
  • 2 0
 As a 650B sympathizer and previous owner, i would really appreciate if 650b and 29er's were not labelled the same by you. they are different things for different uses.
  • 2 2
 Guys, I know everybody is tired of this debate. But lets face it, it's hard to run away. I ride since was a kid, for many years reced dh, etc. Now I have a Spz Enduro 26" and was all against 29rs. Two months ago decided to give it a try, since I'm 1,88m tall, and I bought a 29" HT. I'm really loving it, fells more fitted to my size and rides like a charm. BUT is easy to fell the bike prefers a more behaved riding style. When I go back on the Enduro, it fells nimble as hell. So the conclusion is: the 29er rides better on easy stuff, and the 26er faces the rough stuff better. Since I'm not takin a HT bike to rocky trails, the 29er is a better option. But for a full suspension, regardless of the travel, I would never go more than 26 or 650b.
  • 4 0
 Well I can see that this poll brought out all the haters.
  • 1 0
 If I'm not on my downhill bike, I like 29er wheels. But that's because I'm 6'4" tall. I think every wheel size has it's place for certain people in certain situations. But I'm not sure what that place is four 650 B wheels.
  • 4 0
 Just ride bike enjoy repeat regardless of wheel penis size.
  • 1 1
 I've got a Giant Trance X 29er 0 and rode the 2014 (shorter travel) Trance 27.5 at Deer Valley last week. While some of the earlier 650B stuff that got rushed to market may not have been all that, now that there are better suspension offerings I don't notice significant losses moving from 26 to 27.5. The new bikes handle incredibly well, are great for trail use, and put the old 26" versions to shame. I don't miss my straight skis and I don't miss my old Cannondale, it's just the nature of gear evolving.
  • 1 1
 650b is here to stay. 26 inch bikes will not go extinct. Now the choice is greater. Good thing in my book. I still have 3 26" bikes in my garage but have been riding Jamis 650b for 2 years now and am on my second model. Did you notice 29ers taking up bike showroom floorspace for the last 4 years. Now more floor space will be taken by 650b. Yes that means less floor space for 26 inch bikes but change in the past has been good but resistance to change will never go away. Should we all go back to riding converted hardtail beach cruisers? Oh yeah many of those were 650bWink
  • 1 1
 The same etards bitching about wheelsize is getting tiresome. "oooh, im gonna what for size 28.5 to come out" . Whats the big deal? Who doesnt want options? Have you ridden a well designed 650b aka Norco Range. Or an IBIS Ripley 29? Im guessing no.

Dont BMX guys think 26 is retarded? Horses for courses.
  • 1 1
 i really don't care what size wheels they come up with as long as they work. but WHY WHY WHY do we have 26in, 29in and 650B. why are 2 sizes in inches and one size in some other mystery unit? whay can't we just call them 27.7in
  • 1 1
 I just bougt a 29er Kona Honzo and I can say that handles like a dream on trails.You 29er haters(I was one of them) should trie this bike.I am 6ft5, 200 lbs and I finally look like a normal person on a bike, not like a fuking urangutan on a kids bike
  • 2 0
 I'm 6'2 and I tried my buddys 29er for a day. Felt like driving a truck. Could not corner for $h!t.
  • 1 1
 When it comes to buying a bike you have to think about what kind of trails you're gonna be on. Not everyone lives 10 minutes away from Whistler and I think bike companies are just giving us more options of things to buy. I think that the closer you get to a Bike park like Whistler the more shops you'll find that have 26ers and the further you get from them the more 27.5 and 29ers you'll see.
  • 1 0
 Personally I will only ride 24" why?? 2 reason's

1 any rim bigger then 24" only lasts me a week
2 I have small legs and can only just touch the floor on a 650b never mind a 29er
  • 1 0
 The Imp
  • 1 1
 The fact of the matter is what works and what doesn't. If 650b is whats working in certain riding disciplines than its going to take over, kind of how 29" took over XC riding and racing. It's all about what works fro the pro athletes. If they want this and like that, then the company is happy to oblige in most situations. And a lot of the time it works out well for the consumer, think about all the changes for the positive most riders have had companies make on there bikes. Most of the time if it works for the pros, then it will work just fine for the average consumer.
  • 1 1
 There was a time when even 26" wheels didn't exist....how did the conclusion come to use that size? Time brings change and after decades of the 26" wheel, the 650b is bringing a fresh new idea to the scene. 29er's are great for pedaling around, but anybody that has ridden a 650 bike cannot deny that it does have a slight advantage over the 26" wheels for the generic/above average rider/racer. As for World Cup riders....very few of us could even understand how to ride a bike at that level with any wheel size...
  • 1 1
 I had my doubts as well. Then I tried a 650b and now I own one. Specialized apparently sells 7 times more 29" than 26" bikes. A local bike shop on the North Shore didn't even bring in any 26" bikes from Specialized. I instantly felt weird on a 29". I felt right at home on the 650b. Its subtle but noticeable difference. Climbing is fantastic on loose technical sections with the 650b. The bike is still very flickable on the descents. In fact I built up new wheels and the tires and rims weigh less then the 26" wheels.
A bike rep told me that Fox is dropping a wheel size in 2015. Hint its not one of the new ones. The consumers are the ones pushing for this with their wallets. So don't complain its being forced onto anyone. I chose to switch and many people are as well.
  • 1 0
 So the 650b & 29rs roll over things easier? Where is the fun/challenge in that? I give Specialized 6 years before they start converting everything to 650b. First they have to get rid of all of their 29er stock.
  • 1 1
 Ride my 26" HT downhill...wanted a bike that was a quiver killer...got myself a 650B all mountain...still go downhill, faster and with the option of pedaling back up...have more fun, keep up with the boys on the FR bikes and ride it everywhere. Where's the problem in that? If you want a 26", ride one...I will still rip it up with you on my 650B...don't see the problem. I can't keep up with the folks on the 29ers on the climb, but I'll make it up. And then I'll tear them up on the way down!!! Can't we all just ride together???
  • 1 0
 Still have yet to see either a 650 or a 29 r in the bike park at Whistler. And maybe a dozen in the last 40 rides on Fromme Seymour or Cypress. And maybe a couple more at Squamish. Nuff said.
  • 2 2
 I'm going to do 4 runs of a local DH track tomorrow. 2 will be on my 5.5" 29er and 2 will be on my 7" 26er. I have a lap timer fitted to the bars of both bikes and will be using them. The winner will be used for the upcoming race do that track.
  • 1 0
 where are you racing pana?
  • 1 0
 So who won? Clown or conventional?
  • 1 0
 Wagon wheels by 15-20seconds. It just carried speed better on the extremely rooty and rocky track.
  • 5 1
 Hey look everybody! Trek just paid Pinkbike for another advertisement!
  • 1 1
 If they are all three available, then why the F are you complaining, get 26, 27.5, or 29 and ride. Folks are friggen spoiled with all the options, but if something comes out that's too different you complain. Don't buy it, they wont make it............or Buy both and they'll make both...........companies want profits, they can only get that from "US" so........buy what you like and ride!
  • 1 0
 It's all about enjoying the ride! Hop on a Stumpy Evo 26, a Bronsen 650B, or even the Stumpy Evo 29 and tell me you didn't have fun. All these bike can be shred hard, so let the rider decide. Choices are a good thing.
  • 1 1
 Hate to break it to all the haters, but it has been several years since Kirk Pacenti got things rolling with the 650b Neo-Moto tires. People had been adapting/fitting them into frames and forks that had the space long before any major bike company got onboard.
There was no marketing, no hype. Just a worthwhile upgarde for anyone who valued better rollover and traction, while still handling like a 26" wheeled bike. The advantage is more noticeable if you ride a lot of rocks and roots...on a groomed jump line, it ain't going to make a bit of difference.
Still trying to understand all the venom over a wheel size.
And please, someone, help cyberhawk get laid!
  • 1 0
 I'm hoping the next few years are full of nice, heavily discounted, 26er wheels. That said, by the time I buy a full new bike I'll go with whatever is most popular just to make life easier (27" I assume).
  • 2 0
 Instead of "Tech Tuesday", Pinkbike will now be offering "Internet Fire starter Friday's" for all to get a warm fuzzy from. Enjoy the soapbox.
  • 1 0
 Honestly, i would be please to try a 650B ,doesn't mean i will get rid off my 26 - but 650B could probably push my personal limits and knowledge ! I love my 26, but time to try new things too
  • 1 1
 I just got a 6 inch travel 650b bike. THE most fun bike I have ridden in years. Ive had 4 different trail/XC bikes over the past 5 years before this one and I loved them all. A couple of 5 inch travel trail bikes a 6 inch all mountain and a 29er hard tail. Everything I have ridden is a blast in the right place for it. I still have the 29er and ride it almost as much as my trail bike. I ride my DH bike with 26 inch wheels and love it. Now having said all of that, the 650b bike is amazing. it feels like a 26 inch wheel machine on turbo every where. I can manual and wheely much better on it. It turns on a dime and has great pop. But it also monster trucks through the rough and holds and off camber line like a 29er. The bike is unstoppable. When they come out with a DH bike with 650b that I like the design of I'll be over the moon. As far as I am concerned 26 is for small bikes, and dirt jumpers. But, every one go ride what you like. I am glad the industry keeps innovating and making the sport I love some much better. Cant wait to see what comes next.
  • 1 1
 guys, dunno why you are calling 27.5" wheels 650b, but just call them 27.5" wheels. To take advantage of these wheel sizes, low profile tyres are really needed in the industry, it would look so much nicer. Same with slamming the bike to the ground with lowering springs, travel isn't important, like wheel size, it's all about the image of your bike.
  • 2 0
 Bike manufacturers have learned a lot from razor manufacturers. Ever noticed how the shave gets closer and closer each year??Otherwise known as marketing bullshit.
  • 1 0
 Its darwins theory of natural selection. The strongest will survive. Never new biology could relate to bikes... Makes it more interesting
  • 2 1
 Different wheel sizes offer different ride qualities, but having a dialed bike that fits makes for the most enjoyable riding experience.
  • 1 0
 I don't want to have to upgrade my whole rolling chassis in a few years because 26" doesn't exist, when i never saw a problem before with 26" in the first place!
  • 1 0
 then don't. 27" road wheels and tires still exist and other than hand built custom frameshops, nobody makes good bikes for them anymore really but you can still order quality new tires and rims for them.
  • 1 0
 I dont understand why they are so many 29". I simply don't want them at all. It's big, ugly, and you feel no pleasure riding on them.
  • 3 4
 I work in a bike shop on the shop floor ( so selling bikes and accessories) and we see alot of 29er bikes being sold and the shop floor is predominately taken up by 29ers (full sus and hardtail). From my point of view 29 will be the future wether you like it or not. Currently i am riding a 26" wheel trek slash but i wish i waited a year to get the 650b version because it not only keeps the fun and skitter of a 26" but has some of the rolling power of a 29" wheel.
The future of biking is always going to change but i think that 29 has a good foothold in the market and is only going to grow with the influx of new tyres, suspension, geometry, etc. and therefore we shouldn't shun it but instead demo a 29er where you would normally ride a 26 and just feel the difference and then pass judgement as the biggest problem is trying to describe the benefits without actually having the customer try it first hand.
Just a few thoughts from me anyway!
  • 3 0
 Lets not even get started on how much better 27.625 inch wheels are....
  • 4 0
 One word...BIOPACE
  • 2 2
 Biopace was actually good as a piece of technology to improve the pedaling efficiency of regular consumer riders. The problem was they started out by forcing it onto professional racers who already had pretty efficient pedaling skills, and they complained, and the print media reported that complaining, so when the chainrings showed up at dealers on production bikes, consumers who read magazines went into it with a closed up mindset about the rings. There was good science behind the rings but they were marketed poorly. Had they done the development and then offered it as a lower/mid range groupset thing, then you'd have seen racers clamouring for a lighter version for them to use for certain events (like hill climbing stages of the TdF) and we'd probably still be seeing them in production today. Oddly enough, Rotor chainrings function similarly and are a VERY expensive high-end roadie thing today.
  • 1 0
 I remember riding Biopace many many years ago. I don't know if they offered me any advantage but they sure made it feel odd when pedaling. I didn't care for them at all.
  • 2 0
 I'm not sure which is better, 650b or 29. I'll wait till they come up with an in between size.
  • 3 0
 The only thing holding my 26" back is me!
  • 1 0
 Its a bit like having a manual transmission in a car. 26" wheels might not be the fastest, but they are light, tough, and more fun overall
  • 1 0
 I'm never going to change my 26. They should just cater for all sizes and stop these stupid debates. Ride what you want to ride and enjoy it.
  • 1 0
 I personally prefer my 26er but thats mostly because I ride dh and at 5 foot 9 I cant really reap the full benefits of the 650b wheels
  • 2 0
 There will be a lot of great used 26" bikes out there flooding the market soon. I'll be picking up one of those.
  • 4 0
 Just Ride
  • 1 0
 I think extinction is a harsh word to use. I see buying a bike becoming much like buying a car. You can already pick build kits, now you can pick wheel size too.
  • 1 0
 It simply depends on what type of riding you do- I'm happy with my 26s for now and I'm hoping my current bike lives long enough for all this to blow over!
  • 2 0
 Giant has just announced a total swing to 650B and will be phasing out 29ers in the next few years. I kid you not...
  • 1 0
 Capitalism means that the TRUTHFULLY USEFUL will EVENTUALLY be the top winner. That is why America and Canada are the GREATEST!
  • 1 0
 27.5 is the biggest load of BS ever shoveled by the Bike industries! It's not remotely new other than the 27.5 name ..... marketing BS for weak minds
  • 3 1
 when they start making 29'' DJ bikes the industry is going!
  • 2 0
 I was just thinking this. There is this huge worry and speculation that 26" wheels and parts won't be available in the future because of the 650b trend. From what we can gather by the trend is that it is, pretty much, isolated in the mid travel sector. Nobody has introduced and pushed a large wheel DJ or slope style bike and has yet to take a mainstay in DH. The larger wheel sizes don't seem to provide a real advantage in these particular market and will most likely remain in the 26" wheel size.

I know the difficulty here is that the majority of us here ride mainly trail or "all mountain" and this is where the changes are taking place. All I have to say is, take care of that 26" frame for as long as you can if your so dead set on 26ers. There will be plenty of wheel sets to go around for quite some time.
  • 1 0
 aslong as them big wheels stay to enduro and xc and keep away from downhill everyone will be happy i assume Smile
  • 3 2
 is this tendency of forcing people to buy only 27.5 against the antitrust law?
  • 1 0
 ah f*ck it. I'm holding out for 28 1/8". Coming in 2017. The tweener tweener.
  • 2 0
 20" 24" 26" will do me just fine.
  • 1 0
 People have and will always vote with their wallet. Companies respond to demand. The next few years will be interesting.
  • 1 0
 there should be poll to see who is tired of these lame "where is the industry going?" polls
  • 1 0
 Pink bike starting trouble with headlines like this , il gladly take everyone's "old" 26" everything
  • 1 1
 Everybody always whines about marketing ploys "forcing" them to by new bikes. What, you weren't ever going to buy a new bike?
  • 2 1
 It's ironic because most of the people who answered yes haven't ridden other wheel sizes.
  • 1 0
 I think this explains it pretty well:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY
  • 2 0
 Damn it bike industry....leave my 26" alone!!!!
  • 2 0
 26 inch bikes all the way. That's it!!
  • 1 0
 26 is way cheaper, most bikes are designed for 26, just stick with 26, its just easyer.
  • 4 2
 Size don't matter it's how you use it :-)
  • 2 1
 That's what she said.
  • 1 0
 Ideally they would start making the 26" versions cheaper in which case I'm all for the obese wheels
  • 3 1
 And BTW, KHS beat Intense to the 650b goal line.
  • 1 2
 KHS just buy catalogue frames dude, not that there's anything wrong with that. they were probably just offered the option sooner by astro.
  • 2 4
 KHS designs bikes which they have manufactured by other companies in Asia for them. That the same manufacturer then offers the model under their own catalog to other makers isn't unusual. Merida makes all of Specilized frames for them and you can see similiarities in models in Merida's catalog. Now as to beating Intense to the goal line, I assume you meant the DH bike goal line, because otherwise, Haro beat KHS to the 650B production bike goal line for hardtails AND full suspension.
  • 3 0
 This is stupid.
  • 3 0
 bla bla bla
  • 1 0
 oh so you say 29ers are faster? so what about riding a motorcycle or a plane? that would also be faster
  • 2 1
 so tired of pb bring this up.... STOP BEATING A DEAD HORSE I don't care what size my damn wheels are as long as I can ride!
  • 1 0
 Thank you Pinkbike, for consistently referring to this new wheel size in standardised nomenclature.
  • 2 1
 26" isn't going anywhere. there's just more choice.
  • 1 0
 Not from the major players. But plenty smaller companies that will answer the call of a niche segment.
  • 1 0
 I agree, I just bought a new 26" wheel bike; a Cove G-Spot. Why? I like the way it fits and I like the way it rides. The 26" wheel isn't dead.....yet.
  • 2 0
 Capitalism.
  • 1 0
 Why didn't they bother going 28" and then 30" to keep it simple.
  • 2 1
 a true mtn bike is 26" f*ck the bull shit 26 for life
  • 1 0
 Bs marketing. 26 will outlast other stupid numbers
  • 1 0
 Like meatloaf through a straw, so are the days of our lives.....
  • 2 0
 Damn you Kirk Pacenti!
  • 2 1
 There only getting 29' to compensate for some thing Wink
  • 1 0
 what about "no/who cares; pick a wheel and shredddd"
  • 1 0
 or unimportant discussion ?
  • 2 0
 On that track.
  • 5 8
 This really is getting gay! Gotten gay as a matter of fact. Why not just push some things out there and see how well it goes?

And based on what I've seen that's been pushed out there, there is no domination. 26" stuff is still winning more enduro's and DH races and I suspect will be for some time.

War and racing have one thing in common: they test design! So let's let 650b and Gay9'ers continue to be tested. Until then, just sit down and think of something else to write about.
  • 4 1
 Gay9'ers? Come on man.
  • 2 1
 Gay9'ers ...lol... in 10 years it will be the official name of the by then defunct Gay9' wheel size and it will be called that way because everyody will see that it was a shameless industry scam.

Well actually i think Gay9'ers have more reason to be than 476Bs as at least they might be the weapon of choice of fireroad dads who like a leisurely spin, i'd compare them to cyclocrossers - which exist, so why the Gay9'ers?

Who cares let them exist but don't break something that plain works, namely 26ers.
  • 3 1
 26 for Life!
  • 3 6
 I see the tinfoil hat brigade are out in full force in the comments. Fact people... if the ENTIRE pinkbike membership refused to buy anything but 26" bikes, it wouldn't matter one bit to where the industry is going as a site that represent 1% of the entire bicycle world market, doesn't speak for anything but 1% of their sales...
  • 3 1
 i think 5500 or so votes is a big enough sample group to determine how the bike riding public in general feel about the situation. numbers don't lie regardless of how much you try to belittle the community with childish insults.
  • 3 1
 Fact Deeight: 650 B is 1% of the bike world.
  • 2 8
flag deeeight (Jul 26, 2013 at 10:06) (Below Threshold)
 numbers don't lie indeed... which is WHY the bike industry is switching to 650B... people spend money, which are represented with numbers, far more often and in far greater numbers on bikes with 29" wheels than with 26" wheels. And the industry is predicting the same will happen with 650B. But I'm not surprised a couple tinfoil subscribers like you b45her and you saidrick were racing to me to comment. I will simply point at you and laugh, and continue to do so in the coming years where I'm proven correct and you're proven morons. 5500 votes from a community that doesn't speak for 99% of the bicycle world... yeah that's a sample group already... one that the tinfoil hat brigade members like yourself thinks will prove something here in make believe internet fantasy land applies to the real world.
  • 3 1
 Ah Deeight, you seem to use that which you belittle so much.

It is funny that when ever new products and updates come out, the companies seem to talk about problems and comments listed on Pinkbike/mtbr/etc...

The fox 34 CTD comes to mind
As does Scot Nichol talking about 650B beig rammed down people's throats.
  • 4 1
 i don't think you quite grasp the mathematics of the poll, around 5/6 people think its being forced on us for no reason other than it being an easy way to shift units, yes that's how the manufacturers make money etc. but please don't try to insult peoples intelligence by claiming 650b is what everyone wants.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

Joseph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister.

^^^ that's how advertising and marketing works, unfortunately it seems to work very very well in the USA and Canada, Europeans are a little harder to convince.
  • 2 5
 Yes... and on some crack-science web sites with message forums, 5/6 of the people who take polls firmly believe that vaccinations leads to autism, so its better to not vaccinate their kids and risk life ending diseases like measles and polio that used to affect far greater numbers than autism will ever affect, based on make believe science over what the real medical professionals tell them, because its really a conspiracy by drug companies to make money....

That's basically the same thing going on here by you tinfoil lot who think 26" wheels are being taken away for any reason other than what the sales figures already have been telling manufacturers. You know what 650B has really done? Its stopped a lot of models being turned into 29ers because that's what the majority of the actual BUYING market was clammoring for. Yes instead they're turning into 650B bikes, but they're also changing the direction the 29er world was going. Some bikes that were 29er offerings are now NOT offered in 29er anymore.

Also there's a rule on the internet that the first person to invoke nazis or hitler to defend their point of view in an argument, automatically loses. Congrats on losing this argument.
  • 2 0
 Was there an argument? I only noticed a few whiffs of smug.
  • 1 0
 I will give a damn when I am buying a new bike.
  • 3 2
 I love my 29er!
  • 1 1
 More wheel size talk... yawn.
  • 1 0
 ridiculous.
  • 1 0
 644 gays !
  • 1 2
 I think the 29 and 650 are for people who don't have a skils for proper riding.
  • 1 1
 do whatever you want but DO NOT mess with 26 DH bikes!
  • 1 3
 What does this poll prove? That over 7000 people see the banner ads each day... Right now I'm seeing one for Maxxis tires, who offer 650B versions of many popular models.
  • 6 7
 That Giant prototype looks pretty sick
  • 1 1
 yeah it does!!!
  • 2 1
 Looks like a wimpy version of my Reign :-)
  • 2 3
 looks like session
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