Last person riding 26" bikes?

NIGHTHAWKRSX said:
Anyone on this site race xcountry on a 26er? Two of the guys I ride with still rock a 26er and they also happen to be the fastest of the group. Go figure! SoCal trails are not all smooth and speedy. 650b and 29er geos offer better clearance over rocks that is common sense. Of course if you are a 26er rider you will disagree it is only natural. Lol.
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So if the bottom bracket height on a 27.5 or 29 is 12.9", and the 26er BBH is 12.9", where am I missing the extra ground clearance Clarence? More serious question, I'm honestly curious if you can name one trail around where you are worried about clearance. I've never had a problem around here.
 
jcampbell said:
So if the bottom bracket height on a 27.5 or 29 is 12.9", and the 26er BBH is 12.9", where am I missing the extra ground clearance Clarence? More serious question, I'm honestly curious if you can name one trail around where you are worried about clearance. I've never had a problem around here.
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Hummingbird, there are many a rock with chainring tattoos.
 
scan said:
Know the weight on these tires
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I should edit the post. They are Team Issue XR3s not XR4s. Specs below.

Weight: 605 grams (2.2) 650 grams (2.35)

Per the Trek website.

jcampbell said:
So if the bottom bracket height on a 27.5 or 29 is 12.9", and the 26er BBH is 12.9", where am I missing the extra ground clearance Clarence? More serious question, I'm honestly curious if you can name one trail around where you are worried about clearance. I've never had a problem around here.
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The Gnar is back I am telling you. Lol.
 
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Tonight I took the 9er out on a nice single track loop. The 9er climbed very well. The twenty six cuts switchbacks 2' radius shorter, the twenty six leaps from side to side of the trail. The 9er did not cut those corners close, I did some sweet tail swags to make the corner tighter. It cannot make lightning fast side changes. The 9er was fast and stable as I rode the twisty turning single track. This 6 mile portion is smooth and is always climbing, dropping, and turning the entire way. The trail is narrow 12-18" and has maximum exposure on one side. We flew on that part because it is so stable, I never felt like I was drifting off to the side
Happy trails in the waxing crescent moon.
 
NIGHTHAWKRSX said:
I sold my 26er a few weeks ago and to be honest I kind of miss it. The geo was perfect and the bike railed harder than any of my other bikes. I only sold it because the value of the bike or should I say 26er seems to be dropping fast. I ride a 650b rig now and it is great. It has almost all of the positive attributes of a 26" rig plus better clearance over rocks but not overly tall like a 29er.

Let me know if you need any 26er parts...anyone! I have the following up for grabs.

(2) Bontrager XR3 Team Issue (Ridden Once) $20 each
(2) 2014 DT Swiss Tricon XM1550 Wheelset 26" (New) $400 MSRP $1k...
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Hey NIGHTHAWKRSX,

I may be interested in that wheelset. I messaged--started a conversation with--you the night before last about it--please respond--thanks.
 
NIGHTHAWKRSX said:
650b and 29er geos offer better clearance over rocks
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Nope. Bottom brackets are often lower on those two wheel sizes than a 26er - not because of the wheels per se, just because "modern" geometry is all about low bottom brackets - too low in most cases. Fortunately, the 1x11 craze happened along with the lower BB height, giving chainrings a fighting chance at survival. Pedals and crank arms are still doomed. Only late model, high end 26er trailbikes (2012-2014) were built with low BBs.

If you mean that bigger wheels roll over rocks, ledges and roots easier, then, yes.
 
Good point Herzalot but I am having trouble finding data that supports this. Show me the data. Lol. Across bikes of the same mfg and model I found that bb heights between 26, 27.5 and 29 in most cases is left unchanged. A lift of 1.5 or 3 inches off the ground does make a difference in roll over....rocks, ruts or hikers. Yes that is what I meant. Haha.

Sworks Epic 29er 332mm
Sworks Epic 26er 331mm
Sworks Enduro 29er 351mm
Sworks Enduro 26er 351mm
Sworks Stumpy 650b 327mm
Sworks Stumpy 26er 338mm
Sworks Stumpy 29er 338mm
Trek Fuel EX 26er ?
Trek Fuel EX 29er 33.4cm L 34.2cm H
Trek Remedy 26er 35cm L 35.9cm H
Trek Remedy 29er 35cm L 35.9cm H
 
I'm planning to keep my 2011 Knolly Podium v1.0 Canadian made frame as a collectible. It's 26 :)
 
Hay mine are the same 35.1, I knew that. Anyways but lifting that front wheel will help not striking that chain ring. I still miss the 42 chain ring, my top end has suffered tremendously. In math you would find that the greater distance between wheels (29 vs 26) would equate to a lesser bottom bracket clearance when expressed in terms of arc. (a radius is described by 3 points on a common plane). Of course you do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that.
Happy bumpy trails
 
Was talking to a kid who's on the mountain biking team at La Canada High School. Not to further throw a dagger on the 26, but they all either have a 27.5 for all mountain fun or race on their carbon fiber 29er's. I asked if a carbon 26er could compete on a XC race, looked at me like he never heard of a 26 LOL, not really he just said it would get smoked. :(
 
+1 still riding 26.
2007 Intense 5.5. It's the beginning of the end for this frame, as distressed paint around the lower headset cup suggests the headtube is starting to ovalize.
Bigger wheels might help me as a rider, and I'm sure I'll find out someday...
But the things that have helped my mountain biking the most are:
--Running shoes
--Kettlebell weights
--A dirt bike
And I don't consider myself a "holdout." I still have a 26er that works and is pretty dialed. So I'm gonna keep riding it.
 
I was at Montrose Bike (in Montrose) and finally bought a Park stand for wrenching. I asked the sales guy about 26er's and he said they have one in stock---..."a Rockhopper, if some kid wants to get into biking" I asked, kid? He said. "Yeah, you know sometimes parents just buy their 9 or 10 yr. old a bike thats not much money"

Anyways, yes I still have 2 26er's myself selling them I wouldn't get 1/16 of what I paid, so I'd rather crash and let it fall down a 200 foot drop than to sell for pennies to the dollar. I feel the same way about my car.
 
I have decided to hook my 26 as a dedicated night rig and do twilight on the 29 with just the helmet light at least until the time changes
 
Here's what I did to lower my less than getting a flu shot enthusiasm away from my 26er dinosaur. I strung up a 650b WTB rim and American Classic 20mm hub & bolted it onto a XC/Trail White Bros 650B fork. Now this wasn't easy to find because nowadays most 27.5 forks are tapered and of course the head tube on this relic is 1-1/8. However the match is awesome because 27.5 isn't that much of a stretch from the 26er but enough to make a difference than a 26er. Try it, you'll save money by not having to buy another bike.ssss.jpg ssaq.jpg ssss.jpg ssaq.jpg
 
I decided to take the plunge to 27.5 after all. I pre-ordered a carbon Warden (hopefully early 2016 delivery).

I also picked up a good deal on a DVO Diamond in preparation. DVO Diamond.jpg
 

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