Originally Posted by corwin1968

I absolutely plan to let the builder design the bike based on my riding style. My input will be primarily in reaching a certain "look" while maintaining the ride characteristics he has designed. I've been doing tons of BikeCAD renderings but that's primarily for my own entertainment and to give him an idea of the aesthetics I prefer.

I'm not concerned about wheel durability as I'm riding a set of custom built 700c wheels right now with no problems. The 26" wheels are something that I've somehow never experienced in my 18 years of riding and it's something I want to pursue before making a final decision. I picked up a 1995 Trek 820 yesterday and will get that tuned up and the tires replaced with something smooth and make it my primary bike for the winter. So far, my impressions of the 26" wheels is very positive. I like the fact that they are designed for the fat tires I plan to run and that their smaller diameter makes them a bit easier to maneuver in tight quarters. Jan Heine has concluded that 26" wheels feel the best with wide tires and plus, the fat tire/26" wheel combo just looks right.

How cool looking is this?