Mountain Bike Wheel Size 26 Or 29

If you regularly ride tight twisty trails you might prefer the feel of a 27 5 in.

Mountain bike wheel size 26 or 29.

Bike is more flexible due to the elongation of the frame that comes with the larger wheel size. This all started to change around 2010 when 29er mountain bikes came onto the market and even more recently in 2013 when 27 5 mountain bikes also became a. There are advocates for both 26 inch and 29 inch wheels and the debate continues in manufacturing and competitive arenas. That wheel size has mostly been abandoned and is now seeing duty in kids bikes and dirt jump bikes.

In terms of mountain bike wheels 650b is a standard 27 5 wheel and 700c is a standard 29 wheel. 27 5 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes. We ll now just refer to the 26 tire as the size dedicated to walmart bikes. These widely used measurements refer to the tire s diameter and are typically paired with a tire width in inches when written out i e.

While 26 inch wheels are still considered the standard for mountain bikes 29 inch wheels are fast on their heels. This can result in a bike that feels harder to handle in tight turns. Mountain bikes have traditionally used 26 inch wheels but the introduction of the 29er. If all three have a 15 frame there will be a height difference between them due to their wheel size.

As of 2016 the 26 wheel is seeing its way to the remember when category. 27 5 wheels have essentially taken over that market to the point that you rarely even find a 26 tire on a long travel bike. You can find them with 26 wheels 27 5 wheels or 29 wheels. And right behind those big 29ers are wheels of yet another size.

These size labels come from an old french sizing standard which we ll cover in more detail in the french sizing section. But have no fear the new mountain bike wheel sizes are better in every aspect described above compared to the trusty 26er. In mountain biking choosing a wheel size is akin to choosing a sports team. 29 x 2 0.

Wheels retain a lot of the snappy feel of the original 26 in. If you haven t shopped for a bike in quite a while chances are your last mountain bike had 26 wheels. Bike frames are measured from the middle of their bottom bracket to the end of their seat tube. 26 mountain bikes have for decades been the standard size for most mountain bikes.

The latest forks wheels and tires are no longer available for the 26er wheel size so one must upgrade to either 27 5 or 29.