Mountain Bike Wheel Size Debate

Tyre options were initially a problem with 29er s history being in the xc world we were seeing fragile fast rolling tyres that weren t man enough for the job in hand if fitted to a capable trail bike.

Mountain bike wheel size debate. Which is the best wheel size for a mountain bike. The traditional 26 inch wheel the 650b 27 5 inch size or the larger 29 inch wheel. 27 5 or 29er. 26 inch 27 5 inch often called 650b and 29 inch and put simply the size of wheel you choose will alter everything from your riding position to your riding style and how you feel on the bike.

29ers once reserved for taller riders and cross country racing have since evolved to fit smaller frames while 27 5 mountain bikes have never looked. First the 29 mountain bike wheel commonly called 29 ers and more recently the goldilocks middle standard wheel size of 27 5. While the original standard for mountain bikes was 26 several new standards have emerged over the past few years. 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.

There is no right answer for every mountain biker so let s take a look at the 26 vs. Most mountain bikes today are offered in one of two wheel sizes. Let s take a look at the pros and cons of each size. This article was originally written in 2011 and has now been updated to include the 650b wheel size.

27 5 vs 29 mountain bike wheels the wheel size debate. Well there are actually quite a few reasons. 27 5 vs 29 wheel size debate nerd edition your questions answered duration. Not so many years ago 26 inch wheels were a.

The extra stability this wheel size gives along with the increased wheelbase is often translated into lack of agility. In the mountain biking world wheels seem to have settled on two main sizes 27 5in. To help you choose which wheel size is right for you we ll take a look at the following. 29 x 2 0 27 5 x 2 4 29 x 2 8.

The global mountain bike network is the best mtb youtube channel. Mountain bike wheels are most commonly referred to by their diameter in inches. You can see the addition down below. And each of them have benefits that may or may not match your riding style.

It s immediately obvious that i ve got a lot more bike underneath me both in wheel size and. Not long ago mountain bikers didn t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes 26 inches was pretty much the only option. 27 5 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes. But once 29 and 27 5 inch wheels hit the market the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since.

29er mountain bike debate and see where it shakes out in my opinion. Gmbn tech 100 179 views.