Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
Likes: 15
From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Yes. I can't speak for every era, but 26-inch wheels were the most common size for racing bikes in pre-WWII England. 27-inch wheels began to become available in the immediate post-war as the new "Continental style" took hold, but didn't really become the norm until after about 1950. Classic British Sports upright-bar bikes also use 26-inch wheels, commonly with a bit wider rims than the club and racing models.