26 isn’t dead....is it?

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Max Effort
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26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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?
ScotRoutes
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by ScotRoutes »

Absolutely. In fact, I've just bought a new 26 incher.




26x4" is a minimum requirement for the winter.
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voodoo_simon
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by voodoo_simon »

Wot he sez ^^^

26x3.8 for me on occasion

29er or 700c for everything else :-bd
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Alpinum
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
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whitestone
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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:
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
restlessshawn
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by Fat tyre kicker »

My Salsa runs either 26 x 3.8 ( Larrys or endos) or 26 x 2.5 ( extraterrestrials) :-bd
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RIP
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
Last edited by RIP on Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

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voodoo_simon
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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...
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psling
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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:
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
Max Effort
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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 😉
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
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RIP
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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: .
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
Max Effort
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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!! 🙂👍
Max Effort
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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 🙄
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benp1
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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"
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RIP
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by RIP »

Backwards? 26 is the new forwards Ben :-bd
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
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jay91
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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
Trying to ride bikes.
Max Effort
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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!!! 🙂👍
Rasta
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by Rasta »

Big trips abroad, especially 3rd/Developing World, only 26er. A huge gamble (foolish) with anything else.
Max Effort
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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! 🙂👍
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
Powered by crumpets.
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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
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jay91
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post by jay91 »

Thought about changing mine for something more modern but can't see the point
It's currently ss,dropper,100mm fork
Trying to ride bikes.
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Alpinum
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Re: 26 isn’t dead....is it?

Post 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.
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