Is 26er dead?

[PhilipV]

In terms of the Bike in your own garage that you still ride, it's not dead. 

But in terms of new bike sales, it is dead as a dodo 

[Rolf Hansen]

4 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

In terms of the Bike in your own garage that you still ride, it's not dead. 

But in terms of new bike sales, it is dead as a dodo 

The top spec bikes yes. The reputable brands have reintroduced 26" in the lower end of their ranges. 

[PhilipV]

57 minutes ago, MudLark said:

I tend to the view that while commercially, for the time being it's 'dead' that it won't stay that way forever. There are times when I really wished I was on a 26er instead of a 29er - on some quite technical trails and some events. I think it's only a matter of time until a new generation of younger bikers - who grew up with 29ers - rediscover the joy of a 26er on a tight and difficult trail. Then it will re-commercialised again.

I don't see that happening. There may be a resurgence of 650b trail bikes for the purpose you describe, but don't think that these will come to SA where people are marathon bedonnered. 

[nathrix]

As dead as a dildo, can still take it out, dust it off and ride it to reactivate some memories of the good old times.

[PhilipV]

8 minutes ago, Rolf Hansen said:

The top spec bikes yes. The reputable brands have reintroduced 26" in the lower end of their ranges. 

I'm willing to eat humble pie on this. I reckon the 26inch bikes you see will be the absolute entry level, and kids bikes. 

 

And I reckon 26ers are an important step in kids bikes. So much so that I've kept both my wife's old 26ers and have a couple of nice wheelsets and forks in storage to build and maintain killer 26ers for my kids. I will probably have to make a plan to get decent tyres one day, but we'll figure it out. 

 

[ThePubSA]

u can be as great as people were on a 26 ... its not the bike ....  blahblahhatcoat

Edited October 17, 2021 by ThePubSA

[Zebra]

5 hours ago, nathrix said:

As dead as a dildo, can still take it out, dust it off and ride it to reactivate some memories of the good old times.

I believe the expression is….”as dead as a DODO” (extinct flightless bird).

never heard as dead as a DILDO, but went to a Government school, so I may have been wrong all this time?
 

 

 

 

????

[Hairy]

Newer Gen 29'ers are not what 29'ers used to be ....... I would even say they are more capable on tighter and techy trails, unless you a person of smaller stature, then a 650b may be a better bike to man/women handle on techy trails.

[RobbyB]

That's where 27.5 (650b) wheels feel like the ideal wheel size. The slightly smaller wheel is ideal for the twisty tight trails but still have the size to get over the small hollows. My 29" just feels too big for the tight stuff - but geometry of (HA) Head Angle does play a part...

Edited October 17, 2021 by RobbyB
Added info...

[Zebra]

No, 26’er’s are not dead: My own 26’er was reincarnated as an e-Bike; basically was an S-Works alu, my point being it had a very good spec of components (back then) and would not have realized much money had I sold it.

having previously done a couple of Epics, Sani’s and other events on it, I have a slight emotional attachment to it, and it now does good duty as an e-bike, so was a win for me.

cheers, Chris

Edited October 17, 2021 by Zebra
Context

[Patensie]

3 hours ago, Hairy said:

Newer Gen 29'ers are not what 29'ers used to be ....... I would even say they are more capable on tighter and techy trails, unless you a person of smaller stature, then a 650b may be a better bike to man/women handle on techy trails.

Agreed. I, a hobbit, was in the never 29er camp. My new bike is a long travel trail 29er, but corners better than my 2015 Santa Cruz 5010 650b. And it's poppy and fun. My laaitie will probably fit on it before he's tall enough to stand over on the 5010. But... I'd like to ride an up to date geo 650b at some point again, maybe a transition scout. Just to compare.

[robbybzgo]

What determines a good bike is MORE about it's geometry than its wheel size.

Most old bikes are more upright and have steeper HA's and that's where they mainly fail as compared to modern relaxed geometry (as compared just to wheel size).