How to resist 26" deals?

[Jehosefat]

Your post had me wondering ... even slightly worried .....

 

 

We spent a good bit of cash re-doing a 10 year old Mongoose ..... Maritz needs 2cm more inseam, then he can shred this beauty.

 

 

But after your post I wondered about the geometry ....

 

 

I measured up the following:

- 10 year old Mongoose, 26''

- 4 year old Merida, 17,5''

- last years Titan, 26'' (which Maritz is currently riding, very happily with no issues)

 

Turns out the "new" Titan has more AGRESSIVE geometry than the Mongoose.     Fork 1-degree more upright, distance between front and rear axles 15mm shorter on the Titan (okay, that it probably just the difference between the XS and the M frames).  The Merida fork angle came in smack bang in the middle of these two.

 

Punch line, when he gets onto the "old bike" in a few months he is getting better geometry ..... uhm, ja .... guess that in itself is a whole different topic ..... "aggresive" vs "long and slack" geometry ....  

 

 

PUNCH LINE ....from this small sample of bikes 10 years of "progress" has not resulted in "massive changes" in these bikes.

 

 

PS - I do prefer a bike with a slacker angle than these three bikes ..... The Merida is my commuter, and I am always amazed at the quick reactions to steering input, as compared to my MTB with a 4 degrees more on the fork angle .....  So did the designs change so much over the years, OR is it a matter of having so many more options now ?

 

I'm not sure what the old Mongoose is but I as far as I know, the new Titans are very much "XC racing" oriented and as such, still have very steep head tube angles.

 

And I don't think that the "progress" in geometry can be compared across bike types. E.g. an XC bike today will very likely have a steeper head tube angle than any Enduro style bike from 10 years ago even though it may well be slacker than XC bikes from the same era.

[BMXER]

26ers now have a sole purpose in the circus, clown bikes.

[Mook]

BMXER,

Just finished the 36ONE Half(180km) on this circus bike. Not bad for a clown on a 26" HT with rigid fork hey

Keep it real I'd say

[Underachiever]

26ers now have a sole purpose in the circus, clown bikes.

Rich from a BMXer....that rides a small little bike...

[Underachiever]

BMXER,

Just finished the 36ONE Half(180km) on this circus bike. Not bad for a clown on a 26" HT with rigid fork hey

Keep it real I'd say

See you were riding with one of my old school buddies... 

[Mook]

See you were riding with one of my old school buddies... 

Possibly, there were about 100 riders doing the 180km. Met up with 2 loners from Douglas and Welkom. They wanted to ride with me an my mate. Probably saw the small wheels and thought it a bargain in terms of speed.

My team mate was on a 29er S-Works dual suss

[Shebeen]

It seems I can get a 26" downhill bike + 26" dirt jumper + 26" dual suspension XC for the price of one modern 29" trail bike? Each one of those would provide a purpose made experience, and should be truck loads of fun doing what they're made for.

 

If your only goal with riding a bike is to have fun, would it not be worth it to go 26inch? Fun in this case not measured by times on Strava or competing against others, just you and the outdoors.

 

It's a bit like playing old video games, do old games become less fun because new games are better? Or is it just our perception that changes?

 

 

[Underachiever]

Possibly, there were about 100 riders doing the 180km. Met up with 2 loners from Douglas and Welkom. They wanted to ride with me an my mate. Probably saw the small wheels and thought it a bargain in terms of speed.

My team mate was on a 29er S-Works dual suss

Mr Goussard??

Edited November 20, 2020 by Underachiever

[Mook]

Mr Goussard??

Small world 

 

Yep, we go back about 15 years. Done mega miles as a team over the years.

[Louis for real]

Purchased a 2012 giant reign from a guy.

one size larger than normal.

Stuck a 650b mrp fork on it. Ordered stans 26er arch rims 26er tyres and a 650b front wheel from germany picked up a minion 650b from a local guy.stuck a works components angle set in the headset mulleted the thing and a bolt through rear axle from dt. HA at 65.5° 150mm travel front rear...all that for R12k.

Locally you can still get schwalbe MM plus a couple more options from maxxis,chaoyang etc

Fun to value 200% - afterall is fun not the reason we're all riding?

[BMXER]

I have a 26er in my shed, xt groupset and a sid fork. The bike offers a great ride but a 29er is just an all round better experience.

There is nothing wrong with driving a 1978 Ford escort but aircon and power steering simply improve the driving experience.

Yes, I still ride a bmx. Lots of fun with the kids and a great tool to teach the kids to jump and control a bike.

So I wont be doing a marathon on a bmx nor a 26er, same way my Ford escort won't be my daily drive.

[Uphill battle]

Sounds like a jol

 

Purchased a 2012 giant reign from a guy.

one size larger than normal.

Stuck a 650b mrp fork on it. Ordered stans 26er arch rims 26er tyres and a 650b front wheel from germany picked up a minion 650b from a local guy.stuck a works components angle set in the headset mulleted the thing and a bolt through rear axle from dt. HA at 65.5° 150mm travel front rear...all that for R12k.

Locally you can still get schwalbe MM plus a couple more options from maxxis,chaoyang etc

Fun to value 200% - afterall is fun not the reason we're all riding?

[Underachiever]

Small world 

 

Yep, we go back about 15 years. Done mega miles as a team over the years.

We go back 35...

 

I was a juvenile/junior racer with his elder brother.  Trained a lot together in my early years.

[Louis for real]

Sounds like a jol

its a hoot.

[Dirkitech]

while everyone is discussing '26" bad', I'm looking for a replacement s-works epic frame... hit me up