Originally Posted by
bellweatherman
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?
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.