Commuting - Why is it so hard to find commuting bikes with 26" wheels?

Looking around lately in the bike shops for a good commuting bike and seems like the vast majority of commuting bikes are built around a 700c road tire. This doesn't really make any sense to me. In my mind, a 26" wheel is far more appropriate for the majority of commuters.

A 26" MTB wheelsize is more maneuverable. Smooth tires are no longer difficult to find for 26" MTB sized wheels. In fact, you can get really wide fat tires that can handle any city pothole type riding, plus it would be ooh so comfortable. And with a rear rack on a bike built for 26" MTB rims would mean a lower center of gravity. 26" tires and tubes are far more available than 700c tires and tubes, especially in developing countries. Better tires, more comfort, better for use with a rack. What's not to like? Can someone tell me why commuting bikes are so hard to find commuting bikes w/ 26" wheels?
:rolleyes:

Because 700c wheels are designed for road and speed? And, 26" is smaller... a larger wheel size is equal to greater tangential speed I believe... vt = r*omega, where vt is tangential velocity, r is radius and omega is angular velocity. Radius is proportional to speed.

I guess the thinking is that a commuter should be a comfortable road bike meant to handle paved roads as opposed to warzone terrain. What they don't take into account that most of the paved roads around here is warzone terrain.

Looking around lately in the bike shops for a good commuting bike and seems like the vast majority of commuting bikes are built around a 700c road tire. This doesn't really make any sense to me. In my mind, a 26" wheel is far more appropriate for the majority of commuters.

A 26" MTB wheelsize is more maneuverable. Smooth tires are no longer difficult to find for 26" MTB sized wheels. In fact, you can get really wide fat tires that can handle any city pothole type riding, plus it would be ooh so comfortable. And with a rear rack on a bike built for 26" MTB rims would mean a lower center of gravity. 26" tires and tubes are far more available than 700c tires and tubes, especially in developing countries. Better tires, more comfort, better for use with a rack. What's not to like? Can someone tell me why commuting bikes are so hard to find commuting bikes w/ 26" wheels?
:rolleyes:

I think it's hard to say what's appropriate for the majority of commuters since individual situations vary so widely. I also think that by the time you put a big wide tire on a 26" rim, you've eliminated any increase in maneuverability and significantly reduced the advantage in center of gravity. If you include the tires when measuring there isn't much difference in the diameter between my road bike wheels and my MTB wheels.

Yeah, I'd like to make it to work on time, but it's not like I'm in a race. I mean, I don't think that most people buying commuting bike are evaluating two different size bikes going, "hey which one is faster?" That just doesn't seem like that would be realistic.

There is one thing though. MTB smooth tires are ALOT more comfy than road tires. You can get the MTB tires alot wider and fatter which makes them alot more comfrotable. Seems like commuters would be more interested in comfort than speed.

I like how Surly does it with the Long Haul Trucker. 26" wheels on the smaller frame sizes and 700c wheels on the larger frame sizes. Makes sense to me.

Some of the boutique brands have 650B wheeled commuter style bikes. Those wheels are similar to 26 inch MTB wheels (with street tires). I'm not a 650B fan, but they do address the OP's issue.

Edit: 1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters. Find a nice used Specialized Hardrock or Rockhopper.

Looking around lately in the bike shops for a good commuting bike and seems like the vast majority of commuting bikes are built around a 700c road tire. This doesn't really make any sense to me. In my mind, a 26" wheel is far more appropriate for the majority of commuters.

A 26" MTB wheelsize is more maneuverable. Smooth tires are no longer difficult to find for 26" MTB sized wheels. In fact, you can get really wide fat tires that can handle any city pothole type riding, plus it would be ooh so comfortable. And with a rear rack on a bike built for 26" MTB rims would mean a lower center of gravity. 26" tires and tubes are far more available than 700c tires and tubes, especially in developing countries. Better tires, more comfort, better for use with a rack. What's not to like? Can someone tell me why commuting bikes are so hard to find commuting bikes w/ 26" wheels?
:rolleyes:

It's just a matter of looking. What you describe is a Breezer Town bike to a "T"

http://www.breezerbikes.com/index.cfm?CFID=45580115&CFTOKEN=58479677

[QUOTE=bellweatherman;6694285Can someone tell me why commuting bikes are so hard to find commuting bikes w/ 26" wheels?
:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Where are you looking? They're all over the place.

There is one thing though. MTB smooth tires are ALOT more comfy than road tires. You can get the MTB tires alot wider and fatter which makes them alot more comfrotable. Seems like commuters would be more interested in comfort than speed.

How wide do you really need? You can get plenty of 37-45mm 700 tires. My "mountain bike" tires are 1.75" = 45mm. Personally I don't find big tires to be more "comfortable" than my 25mm tires on pavement. I have some 38s around I can swap in for gravel or off-roading.

Where are you looking? They're all over the place.


That's weird. I haven't seen hardly any 26" wheel commuters in the bike shops. Most of the bike shops have 700c commuters. What brands have a 26" wheel purpose-built commuter?

Trek has 700c commuters
Specialized 700c commuters.
Swobo 700c commuters
Electra 700c commuters
where are the 26" commuters?

Oh and really wide 26" tires are good. I tried some Schwalbe fat apples in a 26x2.3" and they are sooooo comfy. Floating over any rough pavement is a breeze.

My Breezer has 26" tires that are 1.5" wide. I have a small frame size so it feels just right for me.

Some 26" wheel bikes.

Cannondale European Series (http://de.cannondale.com/bikes/08/ce/model-8TK1.html)
Surly Long Haul Trucker (In the smaller sizes)
Thorn Cycles (http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/models.html)
Masi Soulville (http://www.masibikes.com/cycles/soulville.php)

Having ridden 700cc and 26" wheels, I can tell that you can cruise better with the 700cc and high pressure tires. However, if commuting in an urban area with repeated stops due to traffic control, intersections, and no shoulder, etc. it minimizes the speed factor. I think 26" wheels are better for climbing, quick-evasive moves, and accelerating from a stop. Also, as far as, small stature riders (like me :)) riding a frame with smaller wheels helps to give a better geometry. Small frame bikes with 700cc wheels all to often have to move the seat tube to a more vertical point where you hip placement to the pedals causes you to lose power, IMHO.

Masi Soulville (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2964/soulvilleuv3.jpg)

I like how Surly does it with the Long Haul Trucker. 26" wheels on the smaller frame sizes and 700c wheels on the larger frame sizes. Makes sense to me.

Some of the boutique brands have 650B wheeled commuter style bikes. Those wheels are similar to 26 inch MTB wheels (with street tires). I'm not a 650B fan, but they do address the OP's issue.

Edit: 1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters. Find a nice used Specialized Hardrock or Rockhopper.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/August06048.jpg

Edit: 1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters. Find a nice used Specialized Hardrock or Rockhopper.

What they said

My commuter is a '93 Marin, all steel, no shocks, 1" slicks pumped up to 95-105 psi. Heavy compared to a road bike of course, but it's under 30 pounds with rack. I can live with that....long as there's a granny ring on there!!:D

that's one hot looking Masi, I also like that old Rockhopper. Well, now I'm torn between getting a 700c commuter opposed to a 26" wheel commuter.

I guess I like the fact that you guys say that 700c wheels are alot faster than the 26" smooth MTB tires. And seems like some of you guys think that 700c tires are just as comfortable. Ugh. Was I wrong initially to want a 26" wheeled bike?

The Bianchi Milano is a 26in wheel bike, now that I think about it. My mom has one. Nice bike.

1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters.
So are '80s road bikes [on 27" tires in this case]:

http://trancelab.com/bike/DSC02657.JPG

I started commuting on this guy. Put several hundred commuter miles on it. Very comfy and reliable, and 26" tires. Eventually moved on because of the front suspension, upright seating, and short gearing.

http://trancelab.com/bike/DSC02652.JPG

Both of the above were purchased used for well under $150 each and are great commuters.

What brands have a 26" wheel purpose-built commuter?


Well, if you say it like that...

I would counter though, with the question of how many of us are riding "purpose built" (by the manufacturer) commuters.

I guess I was thinking that basically any 26" hybrid or rigid MTB was a commuter.

Off the top of my head, I'd say Breezer and the novara transfer qualify.

The Electra Balloon 8 is right there. You're probably better off that they've chosen not to include their crappy lights/fenders.

Electra commuter (townie) 21

Retrovelo/Velorbis if you're feeling rich.

Biria

Old rigid mountain bike + slicks + rack == win.

Or you can do what I did and just pick up a cheapo frame from Nashbar and build your own.

Both my commuters are 1980's steel bikes with no shocks. Both are single speed conversions with fenders and racks.

The summer commuter is a lower-end Raleigh road bike with straight gauge chromolly tubes. I rode it for a couple years on the original 27 inch wheels until I got tired of replacing broken spokes. Now it has 700c x 28 wheels. It has clipless pedals.

My Winter commuter is a Specialized Hard Rock with straight gauge cromolly tubes. It is geared lower than the Raleigh, has wider tires, and has platform pedals.

I guess I like the fact that you guys say that 700c wheels are alot faster than the 26" smooth MTB tires. And seems like some of you guys think that 700c tires are just as comfortable. Ugh. Was I wrong initially to want a 26" wheeled bike?

I just don't know that it makes a lot of difference either way, unless now and then you want something you can put some serious off-road knobbies or seriously narrow road racing tires on. I doubt that 700c are any "faster" than 26", for the same width tire on (basically) the same bike.

I just don't know that it makes a lot of difference either way, unless now and then you want something you can put some serious off-road knobbies or seriously narrow road racing tires on. I doubt that 700c are any "faster" than 26", for the same width tire on (basically) the same bike.

For the same rotational input and width, the larger wheels are faster, because bigger radius = greater tangential speed.

For the same rotational input and width, the larger wheels are faster, because bigger radius = greater tangential speed.

We have this newfangled thing called "gears" to take care of that. HTH ;)

lol, well you did say that all else is practically equal, with the same bike and width.

Of course different gearings would affect speed, but then again what's stopping you from putting the same gear on the 700c?

May not be purpose-built, but how about add rack & fenders to one of these?

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/sport_urban/su20/

:thumb:

We have this newfangled thing called "gears" to take care of that. HTH ;)

A chain and cogs is too hard to maintain, and takes away from the pure riding experience.

http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/2006_08_06-pennyfarthing.jpg

the punters can have their "safety bicycles" (lol!)>

Fixed gear hipster.

Yeah, I'd like to make it to work on time, but it's not like I'm in a race. I mean, I don't think that most people buying commuting bike are evaluating two different size bikes going, "hey which one is faster?" That just doesn't seem like that would be realistic.

Well, that's what I did, but I guess that's just anecdotal evidence. It also probably has something to do with why I didn't choose any of the bikes marketed as commuters.

For the same rotational input and width, the larger wheels are faster, because bigger radius = greater tangential speed.

Only if you neglect tire diameter, tire thickness, tire pressure, contact patch friction, air resistance...

Under real world conditions, there is no way to reliably demonstrate that one size of wheel is faster than another. Too many meaningful variables, no good way to control for all of them. So, there are speed records held by bikes with all sorts of wheels, from very small to very large. Also, there are bikes available with all sorts of wheels.

Since I'm female and have short legs even for a woman, I have a preference for 26" or smaller wheels. Smaller wheels means it is easier to get good geometry for someone with my build. My dad is 6' with very long legs for his height, and he quite reasonably prefers bikes with larger wheels. Both of us *can* ride bikes built to suit the other's preference. In fact his 27" wheel road bike is a fairly small frame, so it fits me. And my mountain bike would probably fit him.

Still not sure why I don't see more of these.. :)

http://www.rei.com/product/760871

The 700x37 Continental Top Touring tires I have on my commuter/touring bike are amazing. I run them at a range of pressures from 40psi up to 75psi. At low pressure they are comfortable on rough fire roads and trails. At high pressure they roll nice and fast on the road, but are still very comfortable. I'd say the wheels and tires are every bit as durable as the 26" wheels I used to ride on my commuter that was converted from a mountain bike... only these 700x37s have less rolling resistance than a typical 26" mountain slick.

My wife's bike has 650B wheels with Panaracer Col de la Vie 36mm (or are they 38?) tires. These things are comfy! They can be ridden between 25 and 50 psi. I've been riding her bike a bit lately for a change (good thing we are the same size!), and 650b are just fantastic. If you're torn between 26" and 700c tires, 650B might feel like the best of both worlds.

That's weird. I haven't seen hardly any 26" wheel commuters in the bike shops. Most of the bike shops have 700c commuters. What brands have a 26" wheel purpose-built commuter?

Trek has 700c commuters
Specialized 700c commuters.
Swobo 700c commuters
Electra 700c commuters
where are the 26" commuters?

Oh and really wide 26" tires are good. I tried some Schwalbe fat apples in a 26x2.3" and they are sooooo comfy. Floating over any rough pavement is a breeze.

Well they do have 1 or 2 models.

Specialized:
Globe city: 26"
Globe centrum: 26"

Trek has the SU series.

How about the Novara Safari. I'm loving mine. Might look sluggish, but ask a few roadies I smoked the other day how quick it can be(panniers and all).;)

Um, KHS has a 26" commuter, the Urban X. Comes with kickstand, chainguard, rear rack, and fenders (though I would change out those fenders).

What about the Scott SUB 10? S'posed to come equipped either way, & has disc brakes....

I'd ride one if they made a big enough frame for me.

Edit: 1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters. Find a nice used Specialized Hardrock or Rockhopper.

+1. I've been using an early 90s Kona Fire Mountain (steel, hardtail) now for years.

My commuter is an older mountain bike. One of these days I'll finish removing the more aggressive parts of it. I bet the 700C wheels are quite a bit lighter, even the cheap ones. That's an advantage, especially when you're carrying it upstairs.

Also, most of the 26" hard forks are probably made with suspension adjustment now.

Surley Long Haul Trucker has 26" wheels in sizes up to 56 or so.

However, I don't agree with your premise that 26" wheels are better for commuting. It depends on your road conditions. My commute is on well-paved roads with few potholes or rough surfaces, and I am very comfortable riding a road frame with 700x23-28 wheels/tires. My route is also very hilly. For me, the speed and relative lightness of a 700c bike greatly outweigh any perceived differences in comfort. I've ridden my mountain bike to work a few times, and the ride is much nicer (and faster) on my road bikes.

I've been using my 2003 Giant Rainier and my 2005 Raleigh M50-DX for three years now. I do have a 2005 Fuji Sagres (700c), and while it is also much lighter than the other two bikes, the difference in speed and going up hills is absolutely tangible.

The Raleigh has these wheels (http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/viewimage.x/00000000/taibilllin/IMG_0859.jpg?vvid=64461692&sp=0&vsid=1&vgp=1&vimgs=IMG_0858.jpg,IMG_0859.jpg,IMG_0860.jpg,IMG_0861.jpg,IMG_0863.jpg,IMG_9635.jpg,Geofsblackbike1. jpg,GiantsBlackBike.jpg,GreatBlackBike.jpg,Jaysblackbike.jpg,Mikesblackbike.jpg,Nathansblackbike.jpg ,Popsbike.jpg,Richardsbike.JPG,RuisBlackbike.jpg,Spainishblacktubelessbike.jpg,Stevesblackbike_001.j pg,Tonysbike.JPG,bikeonsnow.jpg,coolblackbike.jpg) and Michelin TransWorld City 1.5" tires and it is almost as fast as my Fuji road bike. The wheels were purchased off of eBay and were merely novelty when I ordered them. Turns out they're built really well and roll like butter.

I still prefer my 26" bikes :thumb:

I have a mid-eighties Japanese sport touring bike, which has a lightweight steel frame, 26" wheels, and gearing that is midway between mountain bike and road. I'm really happy with it - the fact it cost $5 at a church bazaar is a bonus :D (We won't talk about the $200 worth of new parts.... heh.) Eyelets everywhere, and triple ring that saved my sorry ass in a hilly ride into a headwinds today...

lol, well you did say that all else is practically equal, with the same bike and width.

Of course different gearings would affect speed, but then again what's stopping you from putting the same gear on the 700c?

Because the result is a higher gear. If I have a 48x16 gear on my hypothetical bike with 26x1.25" tires, the result is 73.4 gear inches. The same gear on my hypothetical bike with 700x32c tires is 81 gear inches - more than 10% higher. That higher gear might result in higher speeds. Maybe. But if the gear is uncomfortably high, speed might suffer, particularly if there are lots of hills on the route. If you want to go faster with that 81 inch gear, you have to work harder. Besides, what's stopping you from gearing up on the 26" wheel bike? "Tangential speed" is pretty meaningless when there are gears to even things out. It's pretty silly to say that 700C wheels are faster "all things being equal," because there is no reason to imagine that we would ever keep things equal!

In any case, even if larger wheels did grant greater speed through size alone, I don't see how a greater capacity for speed makes for a better commuting bike. My commuting bike is my slow bike. Why do I want go fast on it? I can cruise along at 14 or 15 mph, and that works for me.

bellweatherman - I don't think you should be dissuaded from a bicycle with 26" wheels, which do make a lot of sense for commuting. There are lots of wide tires available and a great selection of tough rims. 26" wheels are great! Any speed difference due to wheel size is purely imaginary. 700C wheels are NOT faster than 26" wheels. However, most26" wheel bikes are slower than most 700C wheel bikes. 700C wheels are often found on road bikes, which are designed for speed. 26" wheels are generally on mountain bikes, commuters and hybrids, which are not so speedy. There are definitely fast 26" bikes out there and slow 700C bikes out there. An example of the former would be a road racing bicycle designed for a very short person. An example of the latter would be 700C hybrids like Trek's 7.X series. My parents have a couple of these. They have 700C wheels all right, and they are slooooow. My slow 26" commuter is faster! Just get whatever is going to best suit your needs. Don't worry about the characteristics assigned to wheels of most sizes. Most of them are pretty much imaginary.

My bike, the Swobo Dixon, with 26":

http://swobo.com/catalog/product_info_b.php?cPath=201_204

I wish it were made here instead of Taiwan, but besides that, it's the cat's ass.

I guess I like the fact that you guys say that 700c wheels are alot faster than the 26" smooth MTB tires. And seems like some of you guys think that 700c tires are just as comfortable. Ugh. Was I wrong initially to want a 26" wheeled bike?

my two cents: 700Cs have a nicer ride in general. If my commute was all open road, I'd go with that.

26" are better imo for stop and go and weaving through tight traffic. People say they are stronger; I say they're lower to the ground and shorter in bike length, all other things being relative (my mtb has a long wheelbase).

in other words, horses for courses.....sometimes 700Cs are best, sometimes 26"s are.

Edit: 1980's steel rigid fork mountain bikes make good commuters. Find a nice used Specialized Hardrock or Rockhopper.

+1. My commuting/utility ride is an '05 Kona Smoke (before they went to "29s"), which is essentially a 1980s steel rigid fork mountain bike with modern components. In fact, I bought it because it reminded me of my 1990-or-so Fire Mountain which was my commute/ute for years in Montreal. Came with 1.25" City Slickers, but I may throw on something narrower at some point.

also - mtbs are big theft magnets - whether high-tech $$$$$ blingy recent models (stolen for perosnal use or resale) or low tech steel models with racks (stolen for restaurant deliveries).

One thing that will deter thieves, imo, is modding your mtb with a drop bar, or at least 1" slicks. The delivery boys want your mtbs for the flat bar/bar ends (to hang bags of food, or baskets from) and fat knobbies (for stability with heavy loads).

The narrow tires disguise your mtb - and they help you go faster!!:D

On the 700c v. 26" thing -- which is "faster" -- some of the comments above pretty much cover it. The answer, of course, is that it all depends. Take a look at Andy Blance's extended discussion of this on the Thorn Cycles website: seems to me a fair, balanced, and well-reasoned take on the issues. As implied above, a --inch gear is a --inch gear; it doesn't matter what combination of wheel diameter, chainring and cog you use to get there.
To the OP: there's lots of 26" bikes around now, not just mtb's (though an easy conversion to commuter), intended for use as commuter/on-road. Marin does three; Scott's SUBs; Trek's SUs (or whatever they're called this year); Giant has always done the Sedonas, and has added some new ones this year. Admittedly much more selection in Europe, but more and more available in NA as well.

26 inch wheel with a fairly common 2.125 is about the same circumference as a 700C X 25.

*shrugs* Same effective size if you ask me. I just get to soak up holes and can fearlessly smash into curbs with a 26 inch wheel. (I pay for that comfort in sidewall deflection when cornering and in weight, but hey I'm not RACING on my commute, so what difference does it really make?)

I don't think it is hard to find a commuter with 26s. Both of my commuters are 26ers.
Bianchi Milano
1985 Rockhopper (snow bike)

26 inch wheel with a fairly common 2.125 is about the same circumference as a 700C X 25.

*shrugs* Same effective size if you ask me. I just get to soak up holes and can fearlessly smash into curbs with a 26 inch wheel. (I pay for that comfort in sidewall deflection when cornering and in weight, but hey I'm not RACING on my commute, so what difference does it really make?)

I don't think it is hard to find a commuter with 26s. Both of my commuters are 26ers.
Bianchi Milano
1985 Rockhopper (snow bike)

700c wheels are better 'cause there's more room for spoke cards. 27" better still. Everyone knows that.

I personally like the 700c over the 26" for my commute. to me it was like night and day... maybe others feel the same?

As Leiniesred pointed out, if you put a fat enough tire on a 26, it'll be as tall as a skinny 700 tire. I noticed this one day when I leaned my race bike (700x23) against my beater (26x2.5). Those fat 26's sure do soak up the bumps and if you pump them up, they'll roll pretty well, but don't expect to accelerate or climb well.

How about the Novara Safari. I'm loving mine. Might look sluggish, but ask a few roadies I smoked the other day how quick it can be(panniers and all).;)

+ eleventy billion. Mine's my favorite bike. Commuting,grocery hauling,bad weather,polo;it's been put through hell and been stone axe reliable.

When I was using it to play polo,I was running 1.9" T&C's,and it was plenty maneuverable. Another advantage to 26" wheels is tire selection. Sure,you can get fat tires for 700cc wheels,but how many shops keep them in stock? I can walk into any of my local shops and pick up a set of skinny slicks or fat treaded/knobbies right off the rack. You want some 40+mm 700's,or even in some cases regular cross tires,and you're stuck surfing the internets and waiting on UPS.