Are 26er's still competitive?

[Skubarra]

Seems this debate will never end. Ride what you have. It's only as good as the person riding it.

I was so waiting for the "it doesnt matter just enjoy what you have" comment. No 26er vs 29er thread is complete without it...

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

I think they are. I bought a fatbike with 26inch wheels and I ride away from most mountain bikers that I used to ride away from before. Awesome bike so yes I think 26ers are still relevant. But I think the 27.5 inch bike are a good option too

[Shebeen]

How about keeping the high end 26er dual sus and getting a 29er hardtail...should cover most bases

[Shebeen]

If you can find tires for your 26" keep it.

 

I regred selling my 26' for a cheaper 29"

you can buy something better back...this is less than R10k and proper bikeporn

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/219038-yeti-26er-dual-suspension-mtb/

[intern]

Yes, but don't tell anyone. One way to rub it in subtly is to add 26" into your Strava name and then thrash hundreds of 29er riders on all your local segments. :-) 

I'm just working my way through all the local KOMs at the moment. Don't need to point out my wheel size, I let the strava do the talking. But just imagine, I hear you say, if you had a new 29er instead of your 2010 26er...well, I don't, I have an old 26er and the more I train the faster it goes.

 

Also, an old 26er is likely to feel not as fast as a new 29er not because of the different wheel size, but because bike technology has moved on a lot in 6 or 7 years. A brand new 26er (if you can find one) vs a brand new 29er would be a fairer comparison.

[Guest]

26" single speed- nuff said

[Hairy]

26" single speed- nuff said

PITCHA'S of the bike or it never happened!

[Guest]

Nothing fancy but loads of fun.

[Long Wheel Base]

Haha, exactly what i'm talking about, at least you didn't join 4 minutes ago. . . 

Hehehehe and as I said in about the 2nd or 3rd post of that thread it wouldn't last long and just like its was gone. Pity, was going to be a goodie.

[Jase619]

Hehehehe and as I said in about the 2nd or 3rd post of that thread it wouldn't last long and just like its was gone. Pity, was going to be a goodie.

I pressed refresh so I could continue laughing and it was gone

[Shebeen]

I would love to see how Nino would do against all the big wheelers racing a 26er again. My guess is he would still win. 

Nino raced 29ers this year because the focus was Rio. The Olympic course suited 29ers better than 650b, so he rode the 29er the whole year.

 

If he moves back to 650b, it would say quite a lot.

If he stays on the 29er, it wouldn't say as much because there is obviously the marketing element of them devoloping the Spark 29er and having two olympic champions on it is a clear way to shift some product.. 

[Rider3000]

I love my 26" ..... I have no need to go 29 !

 

You have what you have.... train hard and make the best of it !

 

***its the engine that makes you fast not the bike*** 

[Long Wheel Base]

[CraigCCW]

What does that have to do with a 26"?

Nino was actually on a 29er:

 

https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/the-gold-medal-bikes-of-the-2016-rio-olympics/

[Wil6]

Nino was actually on a 29er:

 

https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/the-gold-medal-bikes-of-the-2016-rio-olympics/

Yes, we know that....

[NGM]

All this "It's not your bike but you that makes you fast" is nonsense.

 

Yes you make yourself fast, but you would make yourself faster with better technology. 29ers are the better technology for XC riding. Heck they are even sneaking into DH now and are winning major enduro races too. 

 

Ride a 26" because you own it, wont get much value if you sell it, and because riding bikes is fun. But if you plan on winning XC races, you will make your job much easier with a 29er.

 

Bjorn Borg once tried to make a comeback with wooden tennis rackets when the rest of the world had moved on to Aluminium. It did not work out well for him.