Touring - 26inch wheels on sutra

simple question guys can i fit 26 inch stronger wheels on my 700c disk brake kona sutra

Are they much stronger and will i notice much slower riding

thanks in advance

You may need to fit shorter cranks.

any other comments on this topic guys

Why?

Because I think a lot of people are looking at your thread and wondering... why?

why???? thats a weird answer as i hear that they are stronger and more easily available in remote areas i want to find if this is true

Well.... that is not what you asked in the first place, is it?

Why don't you shoot off an email to the Australian Kona distributorshelp@groupesportif.com (help@groupesportif.com)

Or maybe Kona USA joe@konaworld.com (joe@konaworld.com)

I think this is going to be a problem into the future with disc brakes -- the assumption that you can move between one rim size and the other.

Of course, you can always borrow a set of MTB disc rims and put them on and try. You never know, you may have thought of something the Kona people haven't!!!!

With my scant knowledge, as far as I can tell, bicycle frames are usually designed with one size wheel in mind, or the other... but rarely both together.

The geometry of the bike has been designed so the bike's handling is (supposed to be) optimised with one particular wheel size or another. Things like chainstay length, fork length, trail. BB (or crank height) also has been mentioned above.

Ahhh, you say, what about the Surly????

Well, the Surly LHT (I think, because I don't take particular interest in Surlys) is offered in a 26" version in smaller frame sizes, and a 700C version in larger frame sizes... but the wheels are not interchangeable between the two (as far as I am aware). The 26" suits smaller riders -- it assists lower standover heights, and likely reduces the incidence of toe overlap

As to your speed differences, that will all depend on the width of tyre you fit to either 26" or 700C rim, and the pressure you inflate said tyres to. People go racing on wheels that are little different in diameter to 26" MTB wheels, but those wheels are narrower.

As to availability in remote areas... well, the sport and rec store in the nearest remote town probably won't have 700C wheels, but will have cheapo MTB wheels. But then, on my Perth-Adelaide trip in 1997, I wrecked a rear 700C wheel, and a bike shop some distance away from the town where I was sent a new one to me the next day via the car bringing drugs for the local pharmacy.

So, 700C wheels might not be easy to get, but then, a well-built 700C wheel will last a very long time on a touring bike unless you go out of your way to abuse it. And there are very few remote area shops I have seen that have anything other than knobbly MTB tyres.

I am just wondering also about Asia... I have a funny feeling there are probably more 28" rims running around on bikes over there than 26" or 700C.

Still, I might be completely wrong on all this. As I say, email the Kona people. They will have the definitive answers for you.

Oh, the other thing that changes is gearing. Not by much, probably, but enough to be noticeable.

Basically, as long as you have enough bottom bracket and crank clearance when turning you should be O.K. Geometry-wise it should only make a very slight difference, especially if you put 26x1.75 or larger tyres on it. As far as south-east asia goes, It is much easier to source a 26' MTB (ie: downhill) wheel than a touring-worthy 700c. Sometimes they have low-quality lightweight 700c racer rims but they are far too weak for any kind of load.

I would take a spare rotor and pads though, in case of need for disc brake repair. As a plus, it would be a very unique bike!