Larger wheels ????????? I must be old

[Mick F]

Do people mourn the passing of 27" when we all went to 700C?
My wheel/tyre combination on Mercian has more in common with a 26" tyre than a 27" one when it comes to diameter.

[rjb]

Given that 29 is better because it's bigger - why not 30, or 31?

The industry will be pushing those next year then the other a couple of years later.

[jeremy1]

It's like wide screen TVs then flat screen then LED then 4k then 8k, then, then, and yet many people buy just because they think they need the latest newest

[mercalia]

It depends on what type of riding you do. Larger wheels also means a longer wheelbase. This can improve stability but reduce maneuverability. They are also a bit heavier and therefore accelerate more slowly. But they will roll over rough ground more easily than a smaller wheel.
Whilst some swear by them and others swear at them there is a reason for them, it's not just fashion.

ah for the fahionista "off road " cyclists for whom off road means a canal path like the lee and stort

This is from a report on UCI world cup cross-country race. "While most were on 29ers, a few were sporting 27.5 wheels" The winner of the race Julian Absolon was riding 29" wheels. You are of course free to ride whatever you wish but do you need to make derisory comments about people who chose different wheels?

you are a touchy so and so- you happen to be one of them?

[iandriver]

Always say the same thing here. If I was in need of a new MTB , I'd look at 29ers. Am I going to bin my great mountain bike with 26 " any time soon, nope. You don't have to buy it. When I go to MTB centres , I see lots of old bikes still. Not sure that many really give a rats in the MTB world.

[jeremy1]

Ok then I will ignore being told I should update my bike and stay with what I have

Thanks all

[Cunobelin]

700c was unpopular because the MTB fad fuelled the idea that a 26" wheel was stiffer, less prone to damage and more rugged due to the smaller size.

There was a need for a new marketing ploy to increase sales and of course going back to 700c would be unacceptable in case people relaised it had been a con

So the brilliant marketing people took the 700c wheel, and called it a "29er" thus making it something new and exciting



... and lots of people who would not consider a 700c wheel ended up buying them

[mercalia]

By the time you put a fat tyre on a 26" wheel it aint 26" any more?

any one know of any readable research into this matter of terrain quality and wheel size and tyre size?

I am not convinced about what whoof says. I remember riding my Dawes Horizon on rough ground (700c) and cant say I liked it

[blackbike]

By the time you put a fat tyre on a 26" wheel it aint 26" any more?

any one know of any readable research into this matter of terrain quality and wheel size and tyre size?

I am not convinced about what whoof says. I remember riding my Dawes Horizon on rough ground (700c) and cant say I liked it

I've ridden quite a few MTB courses on 700c wheels over the last 20 years or so as I've taken my tourers round the less demanding routes at MTB centres.

When I used to enter MTB races at place like Sherwood Pines where the terrain is not that difficult there were often a few competitors doing the race on 700c cyclo-cross bikes.

[Roadster]

My old bike was sporting 27" wheels. My recent bike is sporting 700c.
I myself am sporting the same old pair of legs but they're not as sporting as they used to be.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Given that 29 is better because it's bigger - why not 30, or 31?

Coming from someone that's still uses BMX sized wheels maybe you are going the wrong way
Mind you I picked up another folder today, hub gears an all

[[XAP]Bob]

Hi,

Given that 29 is better because it's bigger - why not 30, or 31?

Coming from someone that's still uses BMX sized wheels maybe you are going the wrong way
Mind you I picked up another folder today, hub gears an all

I'm not off-road though - although of course it feels like it at times...
I shall be interested to see how well I go on the Rapto - still one 406 wheel, but 26 at the rear.

[atlas_shrugged]

Just a plea for folks like myself that know little about cycle mechanics to also use the ERTO size to nail down the actual wheel size being talked about.

In this thread there is reference to a 700c tyre being 29". But I also know from a thread on a German velomobile forum I am following that 700c is referred to as 28". So is it reasonable to also include the ERTO reference when talking about 28" or 29" or 29er?

[Cunobelin]

Just a plea for folks like myself that know little about cycle mechanics to also use the ERTO size to nail down the actual wheel size being talked about.

In this thread there is reference to a 700c tyre being 29". But I also know from a thread on a German velomobile forum I am following that 700c is referred to as 28". So is it reasonable to also include the ERTO reference when talking about 28" or 29" or 29er?

The CTC (sorry!) CUK dies a page on the subject that is reasonably understandable


One reason to use the ERTRO is it easier to compare tyres. The 20" tyre in imperial size range from 406 mm to 451 mm in diameter, hardly a standard size, whereas the ERTRO sizing is unequivocal

The 622 mm wheel size used to be considered compatible to 28"

However when the 29ers came along the requirement for a new gimmick raised this to 29"

28", 29" and 700c are all the same 622 mm size

[[XAP]Bob]

There is the question of what you are describing - erto is rim size, but the width (and depth) of tyres has a significant impact on the eventual wheel diameter...