26" wheels are obsolete!

[plume_mtb]

This whole time I was riding on 26" wheels I had no idea that they were becoming, (or are already), obsolete! It's a shame too because I just got a really nice new wheel set too, but apparently it has no value since the 700c wheels are perfect for everyone!

If you can sense the sarcasm, you win. I was talking to a sales rep and he mentioned why a certain line of bikes wouldn't be making a 26" single speed specific bike next year. My reply was that it is a shame. His retort? OH, they're obsolete anyway... and have you tried a 29er yet?

Yes I have. I didn't like it! Why is that a bad thing? other than the fact that I won't be buying your SS bikes? lol... I hope this isn't a trend though. I know c'dale is pushing their SS 29er big time, I hope that doesn't mean that they'll stop making the 26" version.

29ers aren't for everyone people! jeez!

[jerman]

Was that a Redline rep? I have heard they are doing away w/ 26" bikes. I think it is because their 29'ers have sold like crazy. I think 29'ers will be around awhile. But I dont think they are for everybody. I like mine and ride it almost exclusively but choice is nice.

[hophead]

My 1x1 is beyond obsolete. Not only does it have 26" wheels, but it also has rim brakes.:eek:

[tryandgetme]

I crunched another rotor the other day. I want rim brakes back.

[2dumb4gears]

I'm never going back to rim brakes, but I live in the mud capitol of the US.

And 26" wheels are obsolete, if obsolete means stronger, lighter, faster accelerating, and more maneuverable.

29" wheels are awesome for a variety of applications, and you can get quite used to riding them in situations where 26" wheels would otherwise be preferred. But the bottom line is that there is a trade-off; like all things in life, wheel size is a compromise, and to declare a "winner" is kind of stupid.

[ifrider]

One of my good friiends is a sales rep. He's wonderful. I couldn't imagine him saying something like that. There is another shop that I went to that's close to his. I must say I was very entertained browsing, simultaneously eve's dropping on what this salesman was telling people that came in to the shop. He was talking to an attractive young women, mid-twenties, looking for a road bike to buy. I could tell by her facial expressions that he was talking way over her head. He wouldn't stop, either. For at least 10 minutes he was rambling about so many things. I was entertained, and thinking, "Dude, just shut up and let her take it for a test ride." "Less is more, brother."

Yeah, 26" wheels are obsolete. Anyone with a crappy moots, willits, if, (insert many more lust worthy name brands) please get rid of them. Sell them to me, cheap, because no one will look at you as a legit and serious mtn. biker. Of course, it's your bike, and not the rider, rider skill, endurance, etc. I will remorsefully take those horrible 26" wheeled bikes off your hands.

twist my arm...

[cMc]

My 1x1 is beyond obsolete. Not only does it have 26" wheels, but it also has rim brakes.:eek:

Might as well junk it.

[nogearshere]

if you dont ride what i ride you probably suck.

the size of your wheels is only the first thing i notice while i pose at the gatehouse...

[plume_mtb]

One of my good friiends is a sales rep. He's wonderful.

see I just think that sales reps should be really careful about what they say. It's not like I'm offended by it at all, I'll ride what works for me all day long. I was honestly interested in getting on a different kind of bike besides a c'dale, but this company (no, not redline) has lost a sale because of their short sightedness. I could still get a geared version then convert it easily but not everyone would want to go down that path.

I may just throw a leg over another c'dale and say f' it...

they work just fine for me any way.

[Wazu]

Sales Reps are supposed to make money and REPresent what their company wants them to push. If the size of my paycheck hinged on the amount of 29ers I sold I'd probably say what it took to make the sale to the bike shop. It's business. It's cool. The conduit from the Rep to the customer is the local bike shop salesman. He is the key. If he wants the most repeat business he will direct the customer to the type of bike they want and then give them all the options within that kind, including wheel size and then let them decide. Let the sales reps blab away. As far as 26 inch vs 29 goes there is no good reasons for a 29 inch rear wheel in my humble opinion. It also increases the frame weight and even the chain. Of course the wheel and tire and tube weigh more too and are sluggish at best when you need a burst of speed. I've tried two 29'er bikes on two tough mountains. 29 in the front makes some sense though but I prefer 26 BIG TIME all the way around. I think 29ers dumb down your skills.

[plume_mtb]

Sales Reps are supposed to make money and REPresent what their company wants them to push.

right, but I could tell that was his own personal opinion. I found it funny more than anything and wanted to see what other people thought of that concept: SSing is only good on big wheels now.

I understand selling what the company has to offer but he could have done it in a more positive way I think. The rest of his pitch was fine. He also had a lot of great things to say as well, but that one comment put me off a bit.

And now that I think of it, his exact words were, "26" wheels are dead..." :)

[Wazu]

I was just sayin' that the guy has a job to do. He does sound like a (pee are eye sea kay) though! If 26 inch wheels are dead I guess I'll always be riding an old bike! I don't mind the 29 inch choice being out there. It's just not my choice. Ride on.

[nogearshere]

I don't mind the 29 inch choice being out there. It's just not my choice. Ride on.

i have no idea why there have been so many zealots when it comes to 29" wheels...we dont see the same amount of rhetoric and opinion sold as fact with other opposing camps: single vs geared, rigid vs sus, hardtail vs full sus...

it would be interested in hearing from the shop people here, how do you select the RIGHT bike for someone you dont know based on a 5 min conversation? thats what i like about niche sales...9 out of 10 times they have already decided 'what to buy' BEFORE they even come in, takes the pressure to 'choose' off me.

[myron]

I tried to put some stinky roadie away on a hill climb on a paved road. Me with 26" wheels and flashy red "pimp hubs", he had some kind of new fangled 29" simple speed thing. Soon as I flipped him the bird, he passed me. Seconds later, some other dude with a clicky freewheel and 26" wheels passed me. Bottom line, I blame the hubs mostly. You see, it's not the man, it's the machine!!

[AM Radio]

I tried to put some stinky roadie away on a hill climb on a paved road. Me with 26" wheels and flashy red "pimp hubs", he had some kind of new fangled 29" simple speed thing. Soon as I flipped him the bird, he passed me. Seconds later, some other dude with a clicky freewheel and 26" wheels passed me. Bottom line, I blame the hubs mostly. You see, it's not the man, it's the machine!!

No worries, even round pods have won that hill. once, with a lead--and noone racing. Still, Phil Woods spirit's drag is gigante.. essque

[nogearshere]

funny you should mention your improper hubs...i have heard they (red phils) do not roll so fast when laced to short spokes. check the website, maybe theres a recall or warning.


today i raced an 8hr solo which easily becomes nearly 8.5hrs. anyway if i had 26" wheels the result would have been the same, but different.

[davkatreb]

650B is the new 29. You heard it here first.

[S. cerevisiae]

650B is the new 29. You heard it here first.

Nuh-uh. I heard it here (http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/).

Lookie-I'm only sayin' that I don't see the dumbing down of skills, poor acceleration, or extra weight (wienies). It's a bike...just go ride.

[plume_mtb]

I scored maybe one of the last 26" 1FG frames from cannondale.

I win.

For now.

:(

[mudnuts]

I scored maybe one of the last 26" 1FG frames from cannondale.

I win.

For now.

:(
Congrats on that!!!

I scored maybe one of first GF Hi-Fi Deluxe 29ers in the Pittsburgh area. I win too!!

And “zealots when it comes to 29" wheels…” LMAO!! I only hear whining from the 26er camp. I have yet to see a thread started by a hard core 29er guy crying about why do they even make 26ers..

Ride what you want.. I ride both, and I may decide that I like one better. That’s up to each of us to decide..

[sommerfliesby]

Does it seem even a LITTLE odd that guys in a Singlespeed forum are discussing new vs old tech? For chrissakes, we aren't even using DERAILLEURS!

[rockhound]

And “zealots when it comes to 29" wheels…” LMAO!! I only hear whining from the 26er camp. I have yet to see a thread started by a hard core 29er guy crying about why do they even make 26ers..


Have you ever been on MTBR. Without the 29er zealots, the place would be a ghost town.

A bike is a bike is a bike.

[tryandgetme]

Does it seem even a LITTLE odd that guys in a Singlespeed forum are discussing new vs old tech? For chrissakes, we aren't even using DERAILLEURS!

that eno freewheel is pretty new singlespeed stuff relative to wheels...just because we're foregoing a part doesn't mean the rest of the parts arn't new fangled fanciness...

[mudnuts]

Have you ever been on MTBR. Without the 29er zealots, the place would be a ghost town.

A bike is a bike is a bike.I have not, not really anyway.. I occasionally look at some reviews on the mtbr but that’s about it..
My mountain bike season is fix-n to start in 4 weeks and I hope we all get to ride what we want to ride:cool:

[plume_mtb]

Does it seem even a LITTLE odd that guys in a Singlespeed forum are discussing new vs old tech? For chrissakes, we aren't even using DERAILLEURS!

Hm, the lack of derailleurs doesn't mean that I'm not running up to date equipment on the rest of my set up.

got some fancy wheels and disc brakes on there...

[vladamir]

I rock a Draisine velocipede:cool:

With disc brakes of course...

[Johan]

it's the man (or woman) not the machine!

having said that, i ride singlespeeds. i built my first one in 1999, from my old gary fisher rangitoto frame. i later got a 1x1. last year, i got a karate monkey and swore off 26" wheels. i just replaced that with a gary fisher rig. i love the thing. it's perfect for me. 29" wheels are perfect for me.

what is perfect for me, may not be perfect for you.

find what is perfect for YOU and ride it!!!!!

[50 Mission Cap]

Well,

Although I'm not completely sold on the 29, but I was impressed when I road Mr. Myrons. I am ordering a coconino right now from Steve Garro, and am really debating whether to go 26 or 29. The traditionalist in me says 26, but I do dig the 29. (This is going to be my one nice bike that should last a long ass time) Seems to me that everyone is hyping the 26's handling over the 29, but when I was riding the 29, in some technical shit, I was just rolling over things... thus manueverability really doesn't seem to be an issue. And as an ss, it did seem like it was faster and could climb better.... point is, where are the flaws to the 29? Two as far as I'm concerned - it did feel a little clumsy - like I was riding Pee Wee Herman's bike and I'm concerned that it might be fad-ish; ala grip shifts. Thoughts?

[50 Mission Cap]

650B is the new 29. You heard it here first.

You can run 26 tubes in those right? And they are slightly smaller than a 29?

[myron]

You can run 26 tubes in those right? And they are slightly smaller than a 29?

26" tubes work in about everything,except rhinolites oddly enough...

[rockyrider]

Maybe what we need are Biopace wheels that range from 26" to 29" in diameter... that way we can include everyone from 26, 65B and 29". Of course we'd need mountain tubular tires instead of clinchers.