I'm tempted to try a 32er

Classic ol'reliable

I bought a 26" new a couple of years ago (well, a dirtjumper), one of my all time favorite bikes!

All bikes are cool, this one too

The only uncool bike is an unridden bike!!

Thanks!

Or a broken one ;)

That one sure is!

my 26er turned 22 this year.
it’s quite similar to yours. and it’s still amazing, the power transmission is just neat for my body, i get good acceleration, awesome control and smooth cruising.

Very cool, other than being hard to find parts for :(

Is there an anti-26 sentiment that i don't know about?

Just a lot of bike brands don't have any 26ers anymore.

I find 27.5 fits, but not as nimble for me. 29 I can hardly stand flat off the saddle.

That's impressive! This guy is 9 years old. I've been putting off replacing the whole drivetrain (from wear) and lubing the bottom bracet.

You're right, the right tires make it cruise so smooth.

Thanks!

I mean, at least both unridden bikes and broken ones have great potential, if cared for!

Sure, at least mine is.

Just the bike industry trying to convince everyone you need something new and special like "all you friends from downhilling". Money making is the aim. I would stick with 26ers.

I've had this 26er since 1996. Still rolling.

https://pixelfed.social/p/murph/829746628566310743

(alt text - old cannondale bike standing up propped up by helmet on the side of a PA road the stretches off into the distance.)

Depends on how it was broken:

Epic downhill crash? Cool broken bike.

Ran over by grandma? Lame broken bike.

That’s to do with the changes in modern geometry. 27.5 and to an even more extent 29 are much smoother rolling than a 26 because the larger contact patch lets you roll over larger holes and bumps. 26s are still great but nowadays are used more for pump track or trick bikes since they tend to be lighter and more maneuverable.

Anyone who has ridden a larger wheelbase can tell you you’re wrong. 27.5 and 29 are much smoother than 26 because of physics. Smaller wheel size falls into holes easier and you feel every bump.

Hell there are even 32 and 36 for taller riders starting to show up and some enduro riders have considered swapping to 32 for the added smoothness.

Sure, going to put 32" on my city cargo bike haha. Smoother rides can also be achieved with more rubber like a higher tyre. Doesn't it?

For sure but you’ll often run into issues putting wider tires on. Most frames only accept a narrow range of widths. I ride a 27.5 with 2.8” tires which makes the outside diameter just about the same as a 29x2.3” but with more cushion. My old bones can’t handle the impact from a bad rim hit any more.

Love my 26" XC. Easy to store, easy to transport, easy to ride!

Love the different colors

The last owner was a pro racer who had it custom built then repainted to make it lighter XD

Was going to say, we’re 27 and we’re cool 😭
Nah we talking about bikes, yeah ofc any and all bikes are fucn cool, but we’re still cool yeah? 😭

The penny farthing is coming back.

Oof me being older than 30 😂

Aaaaaaaa sorry 😭 😂
Can we ask what do you mean by 26’? Like the wheel size we’re guessing? We only ride city bikes and never really thought about the wheel size tbh

Yup, 26" wheel size. Road bikes are typically 700c, which you be slightly larger than 27.5 or 650b

I have an old Gary Fisher Kaitai (it was first an mtb, but they used the name for a hybrid after that) I bought at a swap meet a few years ago. I don't ride it much, though, I'm a roadie and rarely make it to the trails.

I tried to take it on some mtb tails in Durango, Colorado when I visited there in 2018. I live very close to sea level, and Durango is at 6,000 ft. My attempted ride did not go well. I was barely a quarter mile up the trail (a trail marked "easy"), bent over the handlebars, wheezing. There's just no oxygen there! I couldn't even pass a guy walking two dogs. I still laugh at the memory.