Originally Posted by
sloppy12
When it comes to "scrounging" its definitely easier to find old or even new big box store 26" wheels. Nothing you really mention matters for a scrounger any of those standards will work its not hard to cold set a frame bigger or smaller. free wheel, cassette doesnt really matter either. derailleurs don't care. I see very few 29" wheel MTBs on craigslist, in dumpsters, drainage ditches, on the curb, or at the scrap yard.
I have never once seen a railroad hobo on a 29'er. They ride clapped out 26" MTB's with seat post mount racks and milk crates.
Again false dichotomy.
First of all, Are those hobos riding bikes from 1990? No, they are mostly riding low end bike that are likely no more than half that old. Most hobos do not cold set their frames.
All the arguments you are making for ease of finding 26” wheels apply just as much (more so, actually) to 26” HTs from the late 90s on. Those won’t require cold setting anything, and the hubs will all take practically any cassette you have on hand.
You make it sound like they stopped making 26” bikes in 1992.
Fwiw, I live in a fairly isolated area and had no problems finding a qr 29er wheelset, with options ranging from low end and free on up.