I called it - 27.5" is going to DIE.

[Damian Sanders]

Check out the comments here:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/greg-m...ike-check.html

If 29ers take off for downhill and enduro, that means there really isn't a spot for 27.5 anymore.

26" will always be the best for dirt jumping, bike park riding, freeride, all mountain and fun trail riding. Now that 27.5+ and 29+ plus bikes are really struggling in the market, with most REAL feedback being poor, 26" plus bikes will the next logical push by the industry - a return to 26". But in reality 26+ will just be a 30mm internal sub 500g rim, with a 800g 2.6" tire on it - that's pretty much what "all mountain" bikes have been running for the last 15 years, because it ACTUALLY WORKS.

29er = Competition

26" = FUN



27.5 = DEAD.

[TahoeJ]

27.5 has already replaced 26. Face reality. Move on.

[skaredshtles]

Seriously, Don Quixote. That ship has sailed.

[Damian Sanders]

27.5 has already replaced 26. Face reality. Move on.

Not if the bike industry can't sell it. I heard Giant had like 40% holdovers this fall, 27.5 that isn't selling.

Nobody wants 27.5!

[detrusor]

Who cares. I have never thought about my wheel size while actually riding.

All the tires/rims/tubes are available.

[TahoeJ]

Not if the bike industry can't sell it. I heard Giant had like 40% holdovers this fall, 27.5 that isn't selling.

Nobody wants 27.5!

That probably has more to do with all of the changing standards (BOOST, etc.) and people being gun shy to drop $3 - $6k on a new ride that will be semi-obsolete in 2 years.

[skaredshtles]

Not if the bike industry can't sell it. I heard Giant had like 40% holdovers this fall, 27.5 that isn't selling.

Nobody wants 27.5!

Could you please report the sales numbers/percentage differences for 26" bikes?

[Sirshredalot]

Not if the bike industry can't sell it. I heard Giant had like 40% holdovers this fall, 27.5 that isn't selling.

Nobody wants 27.5!

I will sell you a 26" giant trance x with a blingy build for $3,000.00. I can box it up and get it to you as soon as today.

[bagtagley]

27.5 has already replaced 26. Face reality. Move on.

And if 27.5 were to go away, they sure as hell aren't bringing 26 back.

[Skistack]

Check out the comments here:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/greg-m...ike-check.html

If 29ers take off for downhill and enduro, that means there really isn't a spot for 27.5 anymore.

26" will always be the best for dirt jumping, bike park riding, freeride, all mountain and fun trail riding. Now that 27.5+ and 29+ plus bikes are really struggling in the market, with most REAL feedback being poor, 26" plus bikes will the next logical push by the industry - a return to 26". But in reality 26+ will just be a 30mm internal sub 500g rim, with a 800g 2.6" tire on it - that's pretty much what "all mountain" bikes have been running for the last 15 years, because it ACTUALLY WORKS.

29er = Competition

26" = FUN



27.5 = DEAD.

Why can't you die?

[ACH]

Not if the bike industry can't sell it. I heard Giant had like 40% holdovers this fall, 27.5 that isn't selling.

Nobody wants 27.5!

False

The inventory problem the industry faced over a year ago has more or less passed.
If sales are down or flat (which currently they are for Q1 ) wheel size is not the reason.

Time to move on.

[bsavery]

[El Chupacabra]

Damian, perhaps you would be so good as to elucidate -- at length -- on each and every one of the other wheel sizes:


Fractional ISO Applications
36 inch 787 mm Unicycles, some novelty bicycles
32 inch 686 mm Unicycles, some novelty bicycles
29 inch 622 mm This is a marketing term for wide 622 mm ("700C") tires.
28 x 1 1/2 635 mm English, Dutch, Chinese, Indian Rod-brake roadsters
(Also marked F10, F25, 700 B)
622 mm (F.13) Rare Canadian designation
28 x 1 5/8 x
1 1/4 Northern European designation for the 622 mm (700 C) size
27 x anything except "27 five" and 609 mm Dutch 630 mm Older road bikes.
26 x 1 (650 C)
571 mm Triathlon, time trial, small road bikes. Old Schwinn S-4
26 x 1 1/4 597 mm Older British sport & club bikes
26 x 1 3/8
(S-6) Schwinn "lightweights"
26 x 1 3/8 (E.A.3) 590 mm Most English 3-speeds, department-store or juvenile 10 speeds
26 x 1 1/2 (650B) 584 mm French utility, tandem and loaded-touring bikes,
a very few Raleigh (U.S.) & Schwinn mountain bikes.
26 x 1 3/4
(S-7) 571 mm Schwinn cruisers
26 x 1, 1 1/8 High performance wheels for smaller riders, common on Cannondale bicycles
24 x 1 520 mm High performance wheels for smaller riders; Terry front
24 x 1 1/8 520 mm or
540 mm! Caveat emptor
24 x 1 1/4 547 mm British or Schwinn Juvenile
24 x 1 3/8
(S-5) Schwinn Juvenile lightweights
24 x 1 3/8
(E-5) 540 mm British Juvenile, most wheelchairs; common on women's utility bicycles in Japan.
20 x 1 1/8
20 x 1 1/4
20 x 1 3/8 451 mm Juvenile lightweights, BMX for light riders, some recumbents, some folding bicycles
20 x 1 3/4 419 mm Schwinn juvenile
18 x 1 3/8 400 mm British juvenile
17 x 1 1/4 369 mm Alex Moulton AM series
16 x 1 3/8 349 mm Older Moulton; Brompton & other folders, recumbent front, juvenile
16 x 1 3/8 337 mm Mystery tire
16 x 1 3/8 335 mm Polish juvenile
16 x 1 3/4 317 mm Schwinn Juvenile
12 1/2 x anything 203 mm Juvenile, scooters
10 x 2 152 mm Wheelchair caster
8 x 1 1/4 137 mm Wheelchair caster

[Gunder]

Its funny, After a year on my 6" travel 29er trail bike, I can't think of a single application where I would rather be on 26 or 27.5. The 29 climbs better, descends better, is faster on every trail and rolls over more shit then then any of my other bikes. I don't even ride my DH rig on the shuttle trails here anymore either, the 29er is just way more fun even on the super steep gnarly stuff.

[gravitylover]

I'll tell you when 29 sucks - when you need to ride a small frame and don't fit on the thing right. At the moment I have two small 27.5 bikes and they both fit and feel just the way I want them to. I truly hope that 29 doesn't become the primary option in the future...

[skaredshtles]

I'll tell you when 29 sucks - when you need to ride a small frame and don't fit on the thing right. At the moment I have two small 27.5 bikes and they both fit and feel just the way I want them to. I truly hope that 29 doesn't become the primary option in the future...

Yup. "Forcing" 29" wheels on small frames is dumb.

[kidwoo]

False

The inventory problem the industry faced over a year ago has more or less passed.
If sales are down or flat (which currently they are for Q1 ) wheel size is not the reason.

Time to move on.

Oh be quiet. You couldn't possibly know as much as a delusional shut in who thinks lynn woods is the end all be all of mountain biking.

[evdog]

26" will always be the best for dirt jumping, bike park riding, freeride, all mountain and fun trail riding.

That doesn't leave much for 29ers.

26 or 27.5 I could really care less, but I don't see both going away. All that effort to shift to 27.5 I imagine that will be what sticks around. If not I'm a step ahead since I still ride 26.

[XavierD]

29 will take over for many trail riders.
27.5 will stick around in several tire styles because they ride well and Damian needs it.
26x2.6 will be on a handful of unique bikes.

It's like dumb ass Damian can't think that perhaps people like options. I'd be willing to bet the market can support multiple wheels and tire sizes.

[Damian Sanders]

29 will take over for many trail riders.
27.5 will stick around in several tire styles because they ride well and Damian needs it.
26x2.6 will be on a handful of unique bikes.

It's like dumb ass Damian can't think that perhaps people like options. I'd be willing to bet the market can support multiple wheels and tire sizes.

The main problem I have is that the mainstream of the bike industry literally denounced 26" as inferior in a coordinated media campaign and refuses to support it. There are few 26" forks being offered and fewer frames. Wheels and tires are OK at the moment. Funny thing is, what 26" that is available is selling no problem, while overall sales of mountain bikes are in freefall.

[skaredshtles]

<snip> Funny thing is, what 26" that is available is selling no problem, while overall sales of mountain bikes are in freefall.

So... I'm just going to assume you're completely making this up?

[bsavery]

Wheels and tires are OK at the moment. Funny thing is, what 26" that is available is selling no problem, while overall sales of mountain bikes are in freefall.

Citation needed.

Look. You (and the all the posters on pinkbike) might have a point of 26 being left in the dust with no support. But that's not the same argument as to whether 27.5/650b is a better format.

[El Chupacabra]

Hey Damian-

I need new wheels and tires for my car, but there are so many options. What are your thoughts on the following wheel sizes?

13"
14"
15"
16"
17"
18"
19"
20"
22"

Personally, I'm leaning towards 16.5" split rims, because those were the best, back in their day. What do you think? I figure "why mess with a proven thing?"

[pureshred]

I bet Damian is still going to recommend 26"

[El Chupacabra]

I bet Damian is still going to recommend 26"

Oooh!

Does that come in "boost" size?