So, this 27.5er thing.

[canfan]

Have you ever heard of Nino Schurter? 

Lol, was thinking the same. Some how he manages just fine on those "small" wheels.

[Odinson]

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

 

True, but the manufacturer's are reacting to the marketplace. Specialized has done so very selectively. Everyone wants a piece of that 27.5" pie. 

 

However, not everyone has done what Giant has done and thrown out (almost) all of their 26" and 29" models for 27.5". Just think of all the years spent in time and costs R&D'ing 26er and 29er geometry, etc., which now lays by the wayside. 

[rudi-h]

The Spez Enduro 29er is currently one of their best selling, and most talked about bikes. So dont hold your breath. 

 

perhaps because they don't have stock of their enduro's and stumpies in 27.5" yet...  at least they didn't have stock a few months ago when I was looking.

[Fabian46]

I think this is Nino on the HT 650b...I think he uses the HT for XCO and the FS for XCM

[MTBeer]

I think this is Nino on the HT 650b...I think he uses the HT for XCO and the FS for XCM

wouldn't that work better the other way around?

[nolipoli]

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...

 

Short people ( <1.60m) should always Drive a Diahatsu Terios / Polo / Fiesta / 1-Series / A1

Medium length people (>1.6 m < 1.8m) should Drive a RAV4 / Golf / Focus / 3-Series / A3

Tall guys (> 1.8m should Drive a Prado / Passat / Falcon / 5-Series / A4

Hemelbesems (>2m) should get a Land Cruiser / Phaeton / Transit Van / 7-Series / A6(or A8)

 

Sounds a bit ridiculous to me.

[GoLefty!!]

Sorry that's not true: I am 156cm and I ride a 29er, fits me like glove

 

Edit - this was aimed at koening not your post Mayhem. Sometimes I hate Android.

 

 

 

 

not sure whats you're saying...

 

 

sh*t also sticks fits to a 29er wheel like a glove

 

and at 156cm youmore than likely fit between the wheels

do you ride underbar?

[nolipoli]

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 about the Niner WFO9?

[GoLefty!!]

I think this is Nino on the HT 650b...I think he uses the HT for XCO and the FS for XCM

  he uses both for both.

 

that means he always rides a 650b but swops between the HT and FS depending on the requirements of the course.

Mostly in 2014 he was on the FS

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

What about the Niner WFO9?

Yes, that too. Add to that the fact that Niner were leaders in Niner geometry... Hence the name. Only ever produced 29ers. Their Air 9 is beautiful, for a hardtail... 

[EmptyB]

have either of you two ridden all three formats yet or are you just firing away from behind your keyboards and coughing up what you read in the local "outstanding" cycling magazines we have in this country?

 

Yes, my first 3 bikes were 26'ers. Currently own a 29er and 27.5....what local "outstanding" magazines are you referring to, they all seem to punt the 27.5! Hope that answers what you coughed up from behind your keyboard....

[Fabian46]

wouldn't that work better the other way around?

Like GoLefty said, its a "horses for courses" thing. I know he was riding the FS at the Epic. 

[Hairy]

Yes, my first 3 bikes were 26'ers. Currently own a 29er and 27.5....what local "outstanding" magazines are you referring to, they all seem to punt the 27.5! Hope that answers what you coughed up from behind your keyboard....

So you have been through the various wheelsizes then.

 

All the local mags are very thin on info and are extremely marathon orrientated and tend to spew out the same info yearly .... they do however carry many glossy pages of adverts. No, they are not just "punting" the 650B (27.5" is not a true size to the wheel as this is not exactly half way between the 26'er and the 29'er) but also still aggressively pushing the 29er format and in particular the 100mm travel travel bikes.

 

Your comment of "27.5.....just doesn't cut it. A bit like kissing your sister! " please elaborate how this is not coughing up a big furball of note!

 

I have been on many bikes in the various wheel formats and there is a place for all of them.

 

My personal opinion on a 650B is that it rocks.....but then also consider that a wheelsize is one thing and a bikes geometry and build spec are another, no matter the wheelsize, if the latter is K@K, then the ride will be K@K.

 

My best cough from behind my keyboard after coming back into the office from riding my bike.

 

H

[VicanZA]

Got say 26er is for the hard cores only, so unless u can ride dropes, rock garden and down Everest get a 29er.

[Skott5]

but then also consider that a wheelsize is one thing and a bikes geometry and build spec are another, no matter the wheelsize, if the latter is K@K, then the ride will be K@K.[/font][/color][/size]

 

 

H

That pretty much sums it up. There are soooooooo many variables that determine the overall handling and percieved ride quality of a bike. To add to your list of Geo and Spec - Bar Width, Stem length, Tyres, Tyre pressures,fork and shock pressures, rebound and damping settings etc. These are components / settings that can make or break the bike.

Untill someone fully understands all these fundamentals of a bike, wheelsize is about as important as colour of the frame.

[Hairy]

That pretty much sums it up. There are soooooooo many variables that determine the overall handling and percieved ride quality of a bike. To add to your list of Geo and Spec - Bar Width, Stem length, Tyres, Tyre pressures,fork and shock pressures, rebound and damping settings etc. These are components / settings that can make or break the bike.

Untill someone fully understands all these fundamentals of a bike, wheelsize is about as important as colour of the frame.

almost true, red bikes are still faster. I had to sell my old 26'er red duallie because strava kept crashing from the speeds I was travelling at. Now I am just a below average rider on a bike.

 

So "Cough" technically and scientifically speaking, red bikes are faster.