• 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:50 pm**

Alpinum wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:29 pm
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.

Very observant!
What’s your point?
Anything other than 26” or 700c (maybe), is unheard of in these parts.

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:22 pm**

Own travels to remote places. Friends travels to remote places.
Just about any region you can think of.

You wouldn't believe where you even would get fatbike tyres nowadays...

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:28 pm**

Alpinum wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:22 pm Own travels to remote places. Friends travels to remote places.
Just about any region you can think of.

You wouldn't believe where you even would get fatbike tyres nowadays...

So you can find them as easily as 26ers?
You can’t even do that here!

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:28 pm**

Alpinum wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:29 pm
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.

What about Outer Mongolia?

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 9:49 am**

Max Effort wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:28 pm So you can find them as easily as 26ers?

I knew somebody would make that up.
Where did I say that?
I thought I might have to add, that I'm not stating that 29 (or 27.5) are easier to get than 26. It's just not that huge, foolish gamble.

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:28 pm
Alpinum wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:29 pm
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.
What about Outer Mongolia?

I'm going to go there with a 29 or 29+ bike in a not too distant future and let you know

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 10:25 am**

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.

Having not gone to the developing world to ride a bicycle, can you explain why?

In my head, going out with a 29er would make more sense as if wheel issues arise, a 29 or 650 or a 26 inch would fit into the frame, whereas a 29 replacement wheel wouldn’t fit into a 26 frame.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 2:47 pm**

'26....not 1980 anymore' - yep and things are a lot worse in many other ways too

.

I love these wheel 'discussions', we all get soooo strident

. <img>tinypanda</img>

.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 6:23 pm**

I didn’t mean to start an argument.
I just wanted to see if I was the the only 26er fan on here.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 6:59 pm**

and a perfectly good thread it was too

.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 7:00 pm**

It's not yet reached 'argument' stage, it's still very much a debate .... I'm not pulling the panda card just yet.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 7:15 pm**

We don't do arguments Here, Max, just friendly rivalry

. Mostly

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I saw a comment once saying 'oh these 29ers roll over obstacles so much more smoothly than 26ers' to which my response was 'well where's the fun in that?!'

.

Posted: **Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm**

Well that's a shame. It was just getting good.

Max Effort - you're such a trouble maker.

Posted: **Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:42 pm**

Rasta wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm Well that's a shame. It was just getting good.

Max Effort - you're such a trouble maker.

Oh, I’m not stopping you, just dodging the blame

Posted: **Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:28 am**

I still ride regulaly ride my '94 Kona Kilauea / Pace RC30 forks for knocking about town or going out on 50-60 mile rides with a group of older riders on a Thursday. I rarely ride it properly off road anymore but it is great on canal paths and lighter off road. Besides riding it in Moab once I also did my first 100 mile ride and 200km rides on it.

I also have a Solitude singlespeed which gets less use these days but great if I want a couple of hours locally or occasional outing to Cannock. With Pace RC31 forks, Middleburn cranks, Spot hubs and White Industries freewheel it is really light. I tried to flog it on here about 3 years ago and no interest at all as everybody had moved on.

Posted: **Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:33 am**

Blackhound wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:28 am I still ride regulaly ride my '94 Kona Kilauea / Pace RC30 forks for knocking about town or going out on 50-60 mile rides with a group of older riders on a Thursday. I rarely ride it properly off road anymore but it is great on canal paths and lighter off road. Besides riding it in Moab once I also did my first 100 mile ride and 200km rides on it.

I also have a Solitude singlespeed which gets less use these days but great if I want a couple of hours locally or occasional outing to Cannock. With Pace RC31 forks, Middleburn cranks, Spot hubs and White Industries freewheel it is really light. I tried to flog it on here about 3 years ago and no interest at all as everybody had moved on.

Sounds great!
I wouldn’t sell it.
People don’t know what they’re missing.

Posted: **Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:29 am**

Blackhound wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:28 am I also have a Solitude singlespeed which gets less use these days but great if I want a couple of hours locally or occasional outing to Cannock. With Pace RC31 forks, Middleburn cranks, Spot hubs and White Industries freewheel it is really light. I tried to flog it on here about 3 years ago and no interest at all as everybody had moved on.

I wonder what Alex is up to these days? Lovely frame, lovely bike.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 8:54 am**

It is a lovely bike. Last I heard Alex had got a job at GCHQ. He couldn't tell me what he was doing or else he would have to kill me. Surprised not to see him around though.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:35 am**

Son was (occasionally

) riding a rebuilt Tin-bred last year. The subsequent growth spurt means he can now comfortably fit on my 29er.

PT bike is 26 but I haven't done anything on that in a longtime.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:43 am**

Still ride my 26 inbred as my town bike, currently SS. I really enjoy it because it's tough, fast and agile, and it's a practical bike so I ride it in normal clothes and no helmet. My boy loves going on the Yepp mini on it too. It's also running my treasured 4 pot M755 XT brake on the front, which I bought new in 2004 and have probably only bled 3 times.

I much prefer 29ers for my main off road bikes, but I plan to keep this going for as long as possible, and i'll be taking my son on longer trips on it as he gets older.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 1:19 pm**

I have quite a few 26ers.

some of my favourites..

'92 Trek 7000 - Utility and Bear carrying vehicle (bear pictured with duck)

'95 Kona AA - SS Hack converted to disc (pictured in winter boots)

'97 GT Tequesta - my first proper MTB, bought at Uni in '96 with a large portion of my student loan.

Not pictured: '98 GT LTS2000. will dig one out if anyone is interested.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:04 pm**

Marvellous! That filth-covered Kona gives me the 'orn and no mistake. A right workhorse that, just look at it. Got to love those stems too - I'm sure the bars are actually in front of the wheel on one of those sexpots.

PS> And of course you're "never alone with a rubber duck"

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PPS> "if anyone is interested" - yes

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Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:17 pm**

You've set me off now, sigh. Psssst, ya wanna see some real under-the-counter filth? Yeah? OK, Dawes 26er 1986-style. My mistress. She's still in the shed. Special occasions only.

filth

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:37 pm**

haha, you dirty bugger! glad they're appreciated..

Here's the LTS;
relaxing at home..

in the woods..

I'll try to find some pics that show off the true majesty of those long 90's stems for you Reg. utter utter filth.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 3:12 pm**

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:04 pm Marvellous! That filth-covered Kona gives me the 'orn and no mistake. A right workhorse that, just look at it. Got to love those stems too - I'm sure the bars are actually in front of the wheel on one of those sexpots.

PS> And of course you're "never alone with a rubber duck" .

PPS> "if anyone is interested" - yes .

Same here. I've much love for many (not all) Kona's.

Kona has played a big part in bike history and continues to do so.

That Kona reminds me of my KHS (also ssp, rigid, and similar looking shape/tube dimensions etc.) from which Greg thought or asked if it was a Kona - just to close the circle.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 3:35 pm**

I miss my old 90s Marin with its massively over engineered frame, its long neon yellow stem, bar ends, 1.95 x 26 tyres and 60mm of coil suspension (which hardly worked). It would have made a good bike packing bike though probably with a new fork.

26 isn’t dead....is it?

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