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26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:51 pm
by Max Effort
I’ve been a bit of a fan of 26” wheels since my first Muddy Fox Courier, back in the ‘80s.
I still have a 26” Thorn Sterling and love it!
Does anyone else still use a bike with 26” wheels?

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:05 am
by ScotRoutes
Absolutely. In fact, I've just bought a new 26 incher.




26x4" is a minimum requirement for the winter.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 7:50 am
by voodoo_simon
Wot he sez ^^^

26x3.8 for me on occasion

29er or 700c for everything else :-bd

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:28 am
by Alpinum
Yes indeed. My winter/snow bike is 26". Building a bike up based on a custom ti frame for 26".
26 × 4.8
:lol:
Outside diameter of such tyres is about 30 - 31".
I went from 26 straight to 29 and have not for a single second looked back. All my bikes, except for the fat bike, are 29ers.
I'd probably go 26" for dirt and pumptrack, but hardly ever visit those places.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:33 am
by whitestone
ScotRoutes wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:05 am Absolutely. In fact, I've just bought a new 26 incher.

26x4" is a minimum requirement for the winter.
Oh Colin! You're so behind the times, don't you know 26" x 4.8" is where the cool kids are at these days :wink:

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:49 am
by restlessshawn
It's still alive on the back of my bike just not the front.

Given I can still get some 27x1 14 tyres for my old road bike I don't think we need to panic just choice will diminish over time and new tyres probably won't appear.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:59 am
by Fat tyre kicker
My Salsa runs either 26 x 3.8 ( Larrys or endos) or 26 x 2.5 ( extraterrestrials) :-bd

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:20 am
by RIP
Absolutely not here (why are you not in the least bit surprised :wink: ). 13 year old P7. Still love it to bits and it does the job. Had a momentary flap when someone decided that an inch makes the remotest bit of difference to the fun, and bought eight tyres to see me out. Not used any of them yet and the rubber'll probably give up the ghost first.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:22 am
by voodoo_simon
whitestone wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:33 am
ScotRoutes wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:05 am Absolutely. In fact, I've just bought a new 26 incher.

26x4" is a minimum requirement for the winter.
Oh Colin! You're so behind the times, don't you know 26" x 4.8" is where the cool kids are at these days :wink:
Haven’t the Uber-cool kidz moved to 27.5...

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:24 am
by psling
My main and most ridden bikes are 26". Have always done the job, never seen the need to change them (they are nice bikes mind!).
Have a couple of 700 shod bikes on the road.
But... I do have a 650 bike too. Just the one.
The only time I have dipped into the 29" wheel size is on the front of my root beer Trek 69er singlespeed :cool:

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:37 am
by Max Effort
Ok, when I was asking about 26ers, I wasn’t really referring to fat bikes.
Just “normal” sized tyres. Sorry, I should have made that clear 😉

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:38 am
by Bearbonesnorm
I had some great trips riding an old 26" inbred. Built the thing from whatever bits I had or found cheap and painted it matt black - kind of mad max, apocalyptic rat bike. The brakes were dire, the gears kind of worked and it was probably 2" too big but it was great and never once detracted from my enjoyment and pleasure .......

I see many threads (especially on FB) where someone posts pictures of a trip, could be walking or riding and 9/10 the first half dozen replies won't be "that looks great", "where did you go?", they will be "what tent's that?". As though having the same tent will ensure those asking of having a great time.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:51 am
by RIP
'matt black' - superb! Reminds me of my pal Mad Mel from Stockport, who once bought an old bike and painted it all matt black. And when we say 'all' we mean All - frame, bars, spokes, tyres, bell, the lot. He then waited for a pitch black night, donned his pure white boiler suit and velocipeded the streets of Stockport at a smart clip. There were some very strange reports the next day apparently :wink: .

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:18 am
by Max Effort
RIP wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:20 am Absolutely (why are you not in the least bit surprised :wink: ). 13 year old P7. Still love it to bits and it does the job. Had a momentary flap when someone decided that an inch makes the remotest bit of difference to the fun, and bought eight tyres to see me out. Not used any of them yet and the rubber'll probably give up the ghost first.
Ha ha! Good lad!! 🙂👍

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:23 am
by Max Effort
Bearbonesnorm wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:38 am I had some great trips riding an old 26" inbred. Built the thing from whatever bits I had or found cheap and painted it matt black - kind of mad max, apocalyptic rat bike. The brakes were dire, the gears kind of worked and it was probably 2" too big but it was great and never once detracted from my enjoyment and pleasure .......

I see many threads (especially on FB) where someone posts pictures of a trip, could be walking or riding and 9/10 the first half dozen replies won't be "that looks great", "where did you go?", they will be "what tent's that?". As though having the same tent will ensure those asking of having a great time.
Sage words indeed.
It’s not about the bike, not really....honest.

I too had an original 26” Inbred. It was fantastic, right up to the day when the frame snapped!!! 😳
I’d post a photo of it, if I knew how 🙄

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:05 am
by benp1
I've gone backwards and acquired a 26 inch bike

It's a Surly Big Dummy with 2.5" tyres

So now I have 4 bikes - 700c, 29", 26", 20"

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:16 am
by RIP
Backwards? 26 is the new forwards Ben :-bd

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:30 pm
by jay91
Heading out on my 26' inbred tonight for a blast around the woods
It's my main bike and it's bloody ace

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:33 pm
by Max Effort
jay91 wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:30 pm Heading out on my 26' inbred tonight for a blast around the woods
It's my main bike and it's bloody ace
Excellent!!! 🙂👍

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 7:45 pm
by Rasta
Big trips abroad, especially 3rd/Developing World, only 26er. A huge gamble (foolish) with anything else.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:08 pm
by Max Effort
Rasta wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 7:45 pm Big trips abroad, especially 3rd/Developing World, only 26er. A huge gamble (foolish) with anything else.
Excellent point! 🙂👍

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:10 pm
by Gregsie
Built a 'new' secondhand 26er up earlier in the year.

Great thing is because they are a bit out of vogue with the folks who have to have the newest and shiniest I could get the frame and forks etc at a reasonable price.

Love it to bits and brings a big smile to my face every time I ride it.

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:28 pm
by fatbikephil
Another inbred 26er fan here. I keep meaning to build mine back up as its the ultimate weapon for tight twisty trails. In fact I may just start doing that this weekend :-bd

PS, in response to Bobs post, I also have 26x4.8, thats how cool I am

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:05 pm
by jay91
Thought about changing mine for something more modern but can't see the point
It's currently ss,dropper,100mm fork

Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:29 pm
by Alpinum
Rasta wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2019 7:45 pm Big trips abroad, especially 3rd/Developing World, only 26er. A huge gamble (foolish) with anything else.
It's not 1980 anymore.