Wheel size

[KDean]

Is anyone choosing a 26" on a new build ?

[WorldTourer]

Is anyone choosing a 26" on a new build ?

That would be rather foolish, considering that Schwalbe is already gradually phasing out 26" versions of its respected touring tires, and there are already parts of the world where LBSs carry just 700c tires and 26" is special order only.

"Get 26" tires so that you can find replacements anywhere!" was good advice at a certain point, but it is unfortunate that it often gets mindlessly repeated today when the world has changed.

[mickeg]

I have no plans to build up another bike, but I can think of one example where a 26 inch is better.  When I pack my S&S coupled bike in a 26 X 26 X 10 inch case, the tires can stay on the rims and still fit inside the case.  A 700c wheel is at the upper limit for an S&S case, especially if you use the hard case.  A 650b would be better than 700c, but a 26 inch is still better than 650b.

With 57mm wide tires, I do let the air out so that everything fits in the case better, but the tires stay on the rims.

For the photo, only part of the bike is in the case, but both wheels are in the case.

If I build up another bike, it will probably be a 20 inch folding bike.  I now have pretty much all the bikes that I need, have more than one for each day of the week.

[KDean]

I have noticed a couple of suppliers have just introduced ac 26" tyre Rene Herse for example .

[PH]

Unless you have a specific requirement for it, I wouldn't choose 26" now, though TBH in my large sized frame I've never been keen on the aesthetics.
The size isn't going to disappear, there's so many about that availability will be there as long as there's the demand, 650B never went away, 27" stuff was still findable, just not as easily or with the same choice.  I think that's what's happening with 26", volume producers won't put the effort into development and only produce those items worth doing in their production quantities.  So for example, the likes of Schwalbe haven't offered a 26" option in their latest tyres, and have probably decided the lower volume of sales warrants a narrower range.
My folder has 24" (507) wheels, I have no doubt I'll always be able to source rims and tyres, I think I have a choice of four tyres and every rim I've seen looks like the same one rebranded!  I doubt 26" will ever fall that low, it started from a much higher base.

I have noticed a couple of suppliers have just introduced ac 26" tyre Rene Herse for example .

Yes, all sorts of less common components, inc tyres, will always be available from specialist providers, but you can't pop into Halfords for them and the low production always carries a price premium.

[KDean]

I agree with the looks , I'm yet to test it against the Surly Ogre on any long routes but  the nomad does feel smooth , nibble & quite fast & I'm not convinced with the Surly Tuggnut gadget .

[PH]

I agree with the looks , I'm yet to test it against the Surly Ogre on any long routes but  the nomad does feel smooth , nibble & quite fast & I'm not convinced with the Surly Tuggnut gadget .

When you do some like for like testing, with numbers rather than impressions, I'd be very surprised if there was much difference, it might go either way depending on the ride.  That's been my experience going Ogre>Nomad, very similar weights, similar tyres, similar stats, very different feel.  The Nomad suits my riding better, that's not to say someone else might reach the opposite conclusion. The bottom line is there hasn't been a ride I couldn't have done and enjoyed on either.
Not sure what you mean about the Tuggnut? I found it did just what I was expecting, that is keep the drive side from being pulled forwards.

[KDean]

My Ogre has larger & wider tubeless tyres , I'm more concerned with comfort the ability to go over mixed terrain & energy used over long days

[KDean]

Is anyone choosing a 26" on a new build ?

That would be rather foolish,
I thought the idea of 26" was that they are stronger ?

[PH]

I thought the idea of 26" was that they are stronger ?

They are.  The relevant question is not which is stronger but which is most suitable for your use, of which strength should be a factor.  A 700c undished wheel, like a Rohloff, is already going to be stronger than a 26" derailleur wheel.  I understand that if someone was crossing continents with several days water and all the survival kit they'd want the strongest possible, but I'm not and I don't.  I've never had a wheel issue that a smaller size would have avoided. 

[JohnR]

Smaller wheels increase the clearance between saddle and rack or mudguard. This isn't an issue for those with long legs but for shorter folk this clearance can be a constraint on luggage options.

[WorldTourer]

I thought the idea of 26" was that they are stronger ?

They are. However, because younger riders today are increasingly adopting the “bikepacking” approach and taking much less weight with them than old-school tourers, they aren’t stressing their wheels to the point that there is a real-world difference between 26" and 27.5"/650B.

[martinf]

26" might be slightly stronger than 27.5/650B.

But the difference in tyre seat diameter is 584/559, so less than 5%.

I think that rim construction, wheel build quality and the tyre width are all much more important for wheel strength.

One thing that will change with wheel size is the ease of rolling on uneven surfaces. I've done survey work on paths and tracks with a Brompton, the small 16" wheels are stopped by potholes that I could easily roll over with 26" wheels. The 16" Moulton I used at the very start of these contracts was slightly better due to the front suspension and better rear suspension, but was much less convenient to use on trains, hence the Brompton.

Going back to 26" versus 650B, with the same nominal width and name of tyre (Schwalbe Supreme in the 50 mm width), my old 650B bike felt slightly more competent on sandy tracks and general off-road use than my 26" wheel bikes.

But putting 55 mm tyres (Marathon Mondial) on my 26" wheel Raven Tour utility bike made this more suitable for off-road use than the 650B bike with 50 mm Supremes, mainly due to the extra width, but the difference in tread pattern might make some difference as well. The wider tyres are also taller, reducing the wheel diameter difference between the two bikes to less than 2%.

 

[KDean]

Initially I'm preferring the ride on the Nomad with 2" Duremes compared to my Ogre with 29x 2.25 " but I'm yet to do any decent off road stuff ,I've been a bit busy this week but over the next 2 weeks I'll do some mixed track to routes .

[PH]

Initially I'm preferring the ride on the Nomad with 2" Duremes compared to my Ogre with 29x 2.25 " but I'm yet to do any decent off road stuff ,I've been a bit busy this week but over the next 2 weeks I'll do some mixed track to routes .

Be interesting to see what you conclude, though it takes me ages to decide if I really like a bike, though I can be quite quick to decide I don't.
There's so many variables it's often impossible to isolate what it is contributing to the differences, or maybe I should say it's very easy to attribute it wrongly, it's a trap I've fallen into many times.