#26aintdead To celebrate the arrival of our new 2014 colour 26" hardtails, check out the latest Cotic video from Steel City Media showing why 26" wheels are ace.
Head over to Cotic Bikes now to check out the full range.
26" It brings the trails to life , in fact it always did! The big manufacturers had to do something to boost sales and different wheel sizes were their marketing ploy. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!! 26" for life!
Dude, you do realize that the only reason 26" is the standard is because it's what was available when MTBs first started being made. Just because it's the first doesn't mean it's the best.
im ok with the market showing us 27.5 and 29 inch wheels i personoaly would not ride a 29er but would try a 650b ! the only thing i dont like about these new options is the fact that they are replacements for the good o'l 26ers!!!
Having more options for different riding styles and different riders is a good thing. I am 6' 3" and mostly ride xc so a 29er works super well for me. The first time I rode the 29er I wasn't impressed but after a couple of rides I felt way more comfortable. A single test ride on a 29er should not determine your opinion on the wheel size. take it out a few times and you might be surprised at how well they ride.
Mnorris - yes! But I assure you that if industry went for 29ers as Gary wanted, we would still ride 26" DH bikes, just as ones like this one I am sure of it. It's just that it would be 26" wheels that would be a Fab not 650b
@carlosg - do you know the first thing about marketing and marketing forces? are you versed in physics? have you ridden, on numerous and extended occasions, multiple bikes across the "new" wheel sizes?
no? shocking...
guess what, buddy? the wizard of oz doesn't exist and not every company is involved in shady, capitalist conspiracy.
do you honestly believe a company as large as specialized (or their investors, for that matter) would throw in their lot for an immeasurable commodity? heaven forbid a collective of people want to make a living selling and spreading the word about something beautiful that they created - 26/27.5/29 - it doesn't f*cking matter.
the cotic brand is rad. for that matter, all well-made bikes are f*ckin' rad, irrespective of wheel size. if you can't have fun and/or rip descents on other wheel sizes (or let others do so w/out being made to feel like losers), maybe you should hone your biking skills instead of glaring angrily at the Enduro/Bronson/WFO9/Stumpjumper/Process like a meaty, closeted 29er-lover.
get outside, the world isn't always as sinister as you make it out to be.
None of the wheels sizes in question were created for mountain bikes. They are all re-purposed from other types of bikes. While there are 3 "standards" now, there are obviously many other sizes out there (over 24") that could have arbitrarily become standards.
@emsley Count to 10 and breath Oh and I'm not your buddy! you don't know anything about me yet because my comment is at the top of the page you decide to have a go. Internet warriors , pah.
It's "breathe". "Breath" is a noun. And I realize we're not buddies - it's called sarcasm. I knocked one out at you b/c comments like yours are about as boring as poor grammar/spelling.
It's not hype. If you actually learn how to ride a different wheel size, and take time to get used to it, you'll be surprised on the performance you'll get. For most of us, a 29'er would probably be a better choice, or a 650B. I used to be against the 29 craze, then I threw a leg over a BMC 29. I out climbed, and out rode my buddies after a couple of rides. Sure, it felt weird at first, but I took the time and put in the effort to learn how to ride the bike. I will NEVER go back to a 26". A 29 rolls faster, easier, and it overall a better bike if you are on the right rig.
do you honestly believe a company as large as specialized (or their investors, for that matter) would throw in their lot for an immeasurable commodity? YES, if there is one company to do it (and they did), it's specialized...
If 24" was standard or most popular, like 26" is now, and then companies started making 26" wheels shortly followed by 25" wheels, I wonder if the argument would be the same, and if people would find a 26" downhill bike as shocking etc.
Oh my gosh it is so nice to see a video of someone riding a hardtail like they are meant to be ridden! Could almost care less about wheel size, that now and rider were just fast af X)
I've never seen a hardtail trail video so sick. He throws the bike around like its a dirt jump bike, but rips pretty much as fast as any full suspension rig
yeah, not everyone can ride like this. I mean, sure, in the hands of a really expert rider they have some slight advantage, but the vast majority of bikers will be able to get down the trail faster and with more fun on a wheel that rolls over the little stuff and stays stable in the air.
That is so true. My local bike shop ONLY carries 29ers. There is literally not one bike with smaller wheels. I went in the other week and was blown away. If someone just getting into the sport went there they wouldn't even have a choice but to go 29.
@treesmoker, 26" is more fun than bigger wheels. heck even 24" my mate has a 24" identiti with a pike on it and it goes down trails in the most ludacris way but its sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun.I'm not a racer I ride for fun. I would prefer my trail to last longer and be more fun. 26" till death!
Which is why you should learn how to ride a different wheel size. After learning how to ride a 29'er and a 650B, I'm never going back to a 26. It's a much more stable riding wheel size and bike if you find the right one.
Awesome video, best HT shredding I have ever seen! Now, I see not a single hateful comment, it's just idyllic, thank you Cotic for bringing us together. No WC recap, rider story or bike test has ever made it - Cheers!
wow 26 just looks more fun than other wheel sizes...ive ridden 29 and 27.5 and the 26 is by far the most excitiing/fun to ride. f*ck all the other sizes its all about my 26 inch d!
I really like my BFe. Big tires. Climbs. Handles well. I can ride over some pretty rough stuff, the same stuff as my FS bike, just need more body english. Feels like the frame will last forever. I have friends that ride fs bikes and I have to ride the brakes if I'm following. I always have a good ride, never wishing for anything more. 20+ years, 8 different bikes, this is the best trail bike I've owned. Why change what feels good, right? I'm not racing, have nothing to prove, don't mind rough stuff, can keep up with FS bikes. I don't need to turn over slightly heavier wheels to feel like I belong, I'm riding a modern steel hard tail with a 140mm fork, I don't fit in anyway. And that's fine with me.
- Man! That guy looks fast and seems to have fun ! - What ?? But he is not riding 650b ? How is it possible ? Is he not enduro ? - Shut up, marketing sucks !
Although I think that it's too early to bury and ressurect 26" wheels, the video is great! Love this kind of decent hardtail shredding with aggresive yet melodic music, please make more edits like that! 26" HARDTAILS (continue to) RULE!
ain't nobody on a 29 could ride like that. Something about them just don't look steezy. (And this coming from someone who has a 29 for XC - the bikes just can't jump for shit)
Awesome! Love my hardtail 26er... it's fast, responsive and fun as hell but it's definitely not a do it all bike.. there are places I ride on my full sus that would just be punishing and not fun on a hardtail.
If you ride to climb, you have forgotten the thrill of descent. It is NOT what you ride, it's how you ride. The rest is marketing. Visit Whistler on opening day and you'll witness the cock measuring. If you have fun on your bike, who am I to judge. But if fun for you is a 1:1 correlation with whatever 2014 is trying to sell you, then I think you've missed what it's about.
26 will always be more playful, will always allow shorter chainstays, will always allow stronger but lighter wheels and will always be able to generate more speed trough terrain than the bigger sizes!!!
650b and 29 can be built and sold also... i have no problem with that fact!!!
but noone should be forced to buy them just because the industry isnt producing 26 bikes or parts any more
for sure they will make more turnover when everyone needs to buy different rims, spokes, tires, frames and forks instead of being able to use existing stuff. and also there will be more broken wheels / rims.
i think another problem is, that older riders with an endurance- and comfort- riding style are the costumers which are responsible for the bigger part of the turnover because they have more money and buy complete bikes at the full price.
but maybe justice will win this battle and 26 will continue to exist... (maybe also in a scott catalogue )
right bro i like more 29ers and they are better when you are going over roots and rocks but 26 bikes are playfull, i ride a 29er and i think that the wheel size is good for me
I see the logic behind 650b and 29ers and I understand why different people would prefer to ride different wheel sizes, but lets all face it, 26 will always be the most fun!!!!!
but some people find 29ers sh1te... I have rode a few and only one I have ever felt comfortable on as all the others had seemed to lose there "nippiness". Despite all the others looking like great bikes on paper, I just found they were boring to ride compared to a 26" wheel version, therefore making them sh1te to me! So it does have something to do with wheel size...
Simply because you don't like the S-Works Enduro 29er does not make it a shite bike. In fact dozens of reviewers and several enduro racers will disagree with you. Calling the Trek Session a POS, simply because I don't like it doesn't make it true either. On the other hand if there have been technical reviews of the bike that consistently say a bike is shite by people who have a descent command of the english language and tell me precisely why it's shite (Poor performing suspension, steep HA for a DH bike, long CSs, etc) , I'd take them WAY more seriously than the someone who can't string more than 5 words together in a sentence when describing WHY they think a bike is shite. "The wheel size is 29", therefore it's shite, is absolutely laughable as to why a bike is crap.
Last year Cotic were pushing their Solaris saying it was great, making a video saying its the future,
Now this, stating 26 is the way forward.
Forget the wheel size, its still a bike, and the rider can shred it.
Both videos were sick so who cares !
Thanks Cotic that was an extremialy rad vid. No hate against any wheel size but I personally love 26. I'm not looking for the easiest way down just the most fun way for me. I ride with guys on all wheel sizes and guess what, we all have fun. Can you believe it? Props for no slo mo I think. Just fast music and riding. Now go out and have fun on whatever rig you ride....
ok enough of the wheel debating for just one post. lets just all agree that that video was an absolutely BRILLIANT ! And its made us all want to go ride like a spastic on coffee, and have shed loads of fun doing it!!
Anyone who has a problem with 29ers in general has their head up their behind, they definitely offer an advantage in some situations for many riders. It's all about offering consumers a choice so that people who prefer not to make the trade-offs for those advantages have the option of buying what they prefer.
I agree. Road = 29er/ 700c, mtb= 26. Big wheels offer improved ability to roll over cracks in the asphalt and that's it. Anyone who prefers them off road is a sucker who doesn't know how to ride. 29ers are to real mountain bikes as razor scooters are to skateboards: the only reason you'd choose them is if you can't ride a real bike. And we all know how razor scooters changed the world, what with everyone commuting to work on them and the off-road razor scooter race being hailed as the next olympic sport.
The planet where only dentists and lawyers who want to show off their new toys but couldn't bring themselves to get airborne if you held a gun to their head are basically the only people gullible enough to fall for the wagon wheel fad? AKA EARTH!!!
26 will accelerate fastest of the three wheel sizes but reach the slowest top speed. The bigger the wheel, the higher the speed and better the roll over, but with increased weight spinning round your axles and hanging on the end of your suspension. Bigger wheels have a fraction more tyre contact surface, but with a fraction more flexibility in the rim and tyre or more weight as the material is added to stiffen them. A bigger wheel cannot turn as tight a turn as the smaller, but will be stable at high speeds.
So it's a balancing act where you can build a bike to suit you and your style.
Ok such a sweet video. This is how i 'think' i ride my 26 hardtail, so inspiring, love the way it rips..... BUT i just bought my first 29er and guess what its still just as fun! Its like our last pinkbike survey said, its all about the rider, put this guy on a 29 and id guess we'd all be like "holy f*ck what a sick video"
The utter disdain for anything other than a 26 is unbelievable, you all sound like a bunch of whining babies. If you don't like what they're selling dont buy it. In fact that's probably a reason they're trying to drum up some business; when was the last time any of you purchased a new bike instead of sourcing used parts off of Pinkbike?
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!!
26" for life!
no? shocking...
guess what, buddy? the wizard of oz doesn't exist and not every company is involved in shady, capitalist conspiracy.
do you honestly believe a company as large as specialized (or their investors, for that matter) would throw in their lot for an immeasurable commodity? heaven forbid a collective of people want to make a living selling and spreading the word about something beautiful that they created - 26/27.5/29 - it doesn't f*cking matter.
the cotic brand is rad. for that matter, all well-made bikes are f*ckin' rad, irrespective of wheel size. if you can't have fun and/or rip descents on other wheel sizes (or let others do so w/out being made to feel like losers), maybe you should hone your biking skills instead of glaring angrily at the Enduro/Bronson/WFO9/Stumpjumper/Process like a meaty, closeted 29er-lover.
get outside, the world isn't always as sinister as you make it out to be.
Count to 10 and breath
Oh and I'm not your buddy! you don't know anything about me yet because my comment is at the top of the page you decide to have a go.
Internet warriors , pah.
www.pinkbike.com/u/fredbruens/album/49er
YES, if there is one company to do it (and they did), it's specialized...
Absolutely !
Nothing like a good fight between Brits, thanks for cheering me up on this dull winter day when I cant ride my bike!
I'm glad your cheered up though ;-)
Ride 26" HT:s they come hate free
- What ?? But he is not riding 650b ? How is it possible ? Is he not enduro ?
- Shut up, marketing sucks !
650b and 29 can be built and sold also... i have no problem with that fact!!!
but noone should be forced to buy them just because the industry isnt producing 26 bikes or parts any more
for sure they will make more turnover when everyone needs to buy different rims, spokes, tires, frames and forks instead of being able to use existing stuff. and also there will be more broken wheels / rims.
i think another problem is, that older riders with an endurance- and comfort- riding style are the costumers which are responsible for the bigger part of the turnover because they have more money and buy complete bikes at the full price.
but
maybe justice will win this battle and 26 will continue to exist... (maybe also in a scott catalogue )
So it's a balancing act where you can build a bike to suit you and your style.
Just please, don't stop making 26" frames.
Sounds like a cross between Zebulon and Zeke... anybody..?
Skinny Jeans = Spandex Tights. There is no difference between the two.
Can't shred, ride 29. Curtis Keene would Beg to differ.
Sell your soul, ride 650b. No, just go buy a new one.