So, this 27.5er thing.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Oh. And to clarify...

 

I currently ride a 26" 170mm travel Giant Reign X, what is commonly referred to as an "all mountain" or #ENDURO®© bike. I got it 2 years ago when 650b was still in its infantcy, and long travel 29ers hadn't yet made that much of a splash (except for the SC Tallboy LTC and a couple of other botique brands)

 

I like long travel bikes. It suits the type of riding I do. 

 

Buying new, I would buy a 27.5 purely out of practicality. Local importers are increasingly ignoring 26" and the abundance of new 27.5 & 29" tech is coming along nicely. Plus there are now more options in my chosen segment in the 650b side, than there are in 26". So, purely a practical viewpoint. 

 

The ONLY 29er that I would buy would be the Spaz Enduro 29er. Not because I don't like 29ers (there are some brilliant ones, jsut as there are some kaaaak 26ers and 275's) but that's the only one that really fits my chosen style of riding.

 

To close. It's got sweet feckall to do with the wheelsize. It's all about what I like to ride, and what sort of bike I want. That pre-determines 26" / 650b, and of those 2 I'd choose 650 as that is where the market has moved to.

 

As for Giant getting egg on their faces, what about all the other manufacturers that have jumped firmly on the bandwagon? Scott, Paragon, Spaz, GT, Cannondale, Santa Cruz etc etc etc. Is there going to be an industry-wide facepalm?

[Daniel J Méssem]

I'm old and overweight, here is my 5" 29er

[shaper]

So had better not ask opinion on the 27.5/26 combo option

 

27.5 front with 26 on the rear...  

 

http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/27-5-650b/717404d1345119844-650b-front-wheel-anthem2012gandysgullyx.jpg

[cpelser]

Anybody want to buy a 29er(or 3). Looks like I need a smaller wheel sized based on this. 

 

On a serious note; This might work as a rule of thumb for noobs or the uneducated (no its not the same thing). But you cannot just apply it across the board like that. 

 

Think you guys got me wrong.

 

All I'm saying is that, if someone could be analysed with all factors considered, your performance should be optimal with bike attributes very specific to your abilities, geometry and potential.

 

My earlier post was just an example, not something I tried to state as fact.

I'm more talking mathematics than biking here.

[Jimmy 2.0]

20" wheel for bmx and trials

24" wheel for street trials

26er for downhill, dirt jumps, 4x, slope style and street trials

27.5" wheel for trail riding,marathon cross country, enduro and maybe downhill

29er for marathon and cross country

 

seems like the smaller wheel size the more fun the ride?? i think 26er and 27.5 have a wider range of use. 

[Odinson]

Oh. And to clarify...

 

I currently ride a 26" 170mm travel Giant Reign X, what is commonly referred to as an "all mountain" or #ENDURO®© bike. I got it 2 years ago when 650b was still in its infantcy, and long travel 29ers hadn't yet made that much of a splash (except for the SC Tallboy LTC and a couple of other botique brands)

 

I like long travel bikes. It suits the type of riding I do. 

 

Buying new, I would buy a 27.5 purely out of practicality. Local importers are increasingly ignoring 26" and the abundance of new 27.5 & 29" tech is coming along nicely. Plus there are now more options in my chosen segment in the 650b side, than there are in 26". So, purely a practical viewpoint. 

 

The ONLY 29er that I would buy would be the Spaz Enduro 29er. Not because I don't like 29ers (there are some brilliant ones, jsut as there are some kaaaak 26ers and 275's) but that's the only one that really fits my chosen style of riding.

 

To close. It's got sweet feckall to do with the wheelsize. It's all about what I like to ride, and what sort of bike I want. That pre-determines 26" / 650b, and of those 2 I'd choose 650 as that is where the market has moved to.

 

As for Giant getting egg on their faces, what about all the other manufacturers that have jumped firmly on the bandwagon? Scott, Paragon, Spaz, GT, Cannondale, Santa Cruz etc etc etc. Is there going to be an industry-wide facepalm?

 

What sets Giant apart is that they have committed their entire future plans to the success of 27.5. To my understanding, they have halted all R&D on 29ers and focus solely on the development of 27.5. Giant is telling the biking community that for most disciplines (bar BMX and the like) 27.5 is the only wheel-size you will ever need. 

 

Spez and the other manufacturers still have a diverse line-up of wheel sizes. They haven't jumped face first into the 27.5 pool like Giant.

 

Edit: Spelling

[arendoog]

I agree.

26 is pretty much dead.

But in a few short years when they are simply nowhere to be found.

Some major bike company will make a bike with 26 inch wheels.

It'll be the greatest thing since sliced cheese

Fat bikes are 26 .Right?

[Odinson]

Fat bikes are 26 .Right?

 

Yes, but the height of the tyres brings the size up to appropriately 29". So the bikes handle more like 29ers than 26ers.

[banna]

20" wheel for bmx and trials

24" wheel for street trials

26er for downhill, dirt jumps, 4x, slope style and street trials

27.5" wheel for trail riding,marathon cross country, enduro and maybe downhill

29er for marathon and cross country

 

seems like the smaller wheel size the more fun the ride?? i think 26er and 27.5 have a wider range of use. 

I recently sold my Zula and bought a Tallboy. I was kinda worried that the TB would feel sluggish and truck like (i.e. less fun and nippy) in singletrack compared to the 26inch Zula, but I was pleasantly surprised. Really can't say that there's much of a diff. So I don't know about other 29'rs, maybe the TB is just a very sorted bike.   

[Hairy]

What sets Giant apart is that they have committed their entire future plans to the success of 27.5. To my understanding, they have halted all R&D on 29ers and focus solely on the development of 27.5. Giant is telling the biking community that for most disciplines (bar BMX and the like) 27.5 is the only wheel-size you will ever need.

 

Spez and the other manufacturers still have a diverse line-up of wheel sizes. They haven't jumped face first into the 27.5 pool like Giant.

 

Edit: Spelling

And Spaz said they would not be doing 650b's

[Dirkitech]

Today is Friday. Yesterday was Thursday.

tomorrow is D-DAY 

[canfan]

And Spaz said they would not be doing 650b's

Thats what they said initially. But they are now building 650b bikes. Example:

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/stumpjumper-fsr/stumpjumper-fsr-expert-carbon-evo-650b

[Dirkitech]

I think

 

Short people ( <1.60m) should always ride 26er

Medium length people (>1.6 m < 1.8m) should ride 27.5er

Tall guys (> 1.8m should ride 29er)

Hemelbesems (>2m) should get a 31.5er

 

Why should MTB'ing be any different to every other activity on earth where there's a custom size piece of equiptment that fits specific people.

 

Answer - it wouldn't make sense to stock 10 different size frames/wheels for each person's needs...

no. this is all wrong. Length is accommodated by frame sizes. Wheels accommodate for application of said frame size.

[Skott5]

Bikes have different size wheels ... when did that happen ???

[Gandalf]

 

 

But a 27.5 Hardtail race bike just doesn't make any sense at all. The 29er hardtail race bike would always be better than the 27.5 equivalent.

 

 

Have you ever heard of Nino Schurter? 

[BarryH]

Nee hel !!!!!!

 

First I get told I can not ride in Majic, now Meerendal is in the balance and now I hear 26er is out.

 

Flip someone wants me to quit MTB'ing.

 

I just put lekket fat 2.35 hans dampfh tyres on and now I am close to 27.5 in any case, or at least as close as my frame will allow me, and I have a semi fat bike, just like me.