Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

26" Wheels & Tires vs 700c?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

26" Wheels & Tires vs 700c?

Old 07-03-17, 07:05 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,019

Bikes: Diamond Back Apex, Mongoose IBOC Aluminum Road Bike, SR road bike

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 515 Post(s)
Liked 166 Times in 116 Posts
26" Wheels & Tires vs 700c?

I thought about the differences for city and touring bikes. Even did a small bit of searching on the subject.
What are your thoughts?
An interesting read on he subject can be found in the link below.
Wheels for Cyletouring - 700c vs 26?
Ballenxj is offline  
Old 07-03-17, 07:26 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,019

Bikes: Diamond Back Apex, Mongoose IBOC Aluminum Road Bike, SR road bike

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 515 Post(s)
Liked 166 Times in 116 Posts
A bit more searching did reveal a thread on BF about this too.
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/58...c-vs-26-a.html
Ballenxj is offline  
Old 07-03-17, 10:29 PM
  #3  
Mostly harmless ™
 
Bike Gremlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,424

Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1105 Post(s)
Liked 213 Times in 127 Posts
In my experience, roads are far from perfect in my city and around it - 26" wheel will have a slightly wider tyre than a 28" one in order to be comfortable enough. Apart from that, pros and cons IMO, 26 vs 28:

- smaller diameter and overall bike size - easier for placing the bike in elevators, carrying over tight stairways
- takes wider tyres usually, so winter cycling first choice for me
- rides a bit slower than a 28" wheel
Bike Gremlin is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 03:03 AM
  #4  
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No difference for commuting at all.
26" bike is more compact than 28"
boxguide is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 05:11 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,298

Bikes: 2017 Salsa Carbon Mukluk frame built with XT, 2018 Kona Rove NRB build with Sram Apex 1,2008 Salsa El Mariachi, 1986 Centurion Ironman

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 286 Post(s)
Liked 100 Times in 65 Posts
I ride 26" and I'm quite happy with it.

You'll get stronger wheels for the same build, but you'll have a lesser selection of tires. I'm fine with the latter, as I'm partial to Schwalbe, and they make almost all their tires in 26". The exception to this is that some of their higher end tires, like the One, are 700c only.
revcp is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 07:29 AM
  #6  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
-559 vs -622 isn't that big of a deal.

Schwalbe make most tires in both sizes.
acidfast7 is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 08:30 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
JonathanGennick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131

Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times in 37 Posts
A lot of this is down to preference. The size I'm liking these days is 47 mm tires on 650b rims. I've both my urban bikes set up with that combination. The outer tire diameter looks and feels right to me given my body size and bicycle frame size. The wide tire width lets me ride comfortably on rough pavement and my county's seemingly endless supply of gravel road and double-track.
JonathanGennick is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 01:48 PM
  #8  
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Most of my commuting is on 26" wheels with 1.75" tires. Not because I did a lot of analysis beforehand, but 26" is what came with the old mountain bike that I converted to fixed gear, and the ability to run those fat tires with fenders is really great.

Every so often, I'll commute on my 700C road bike with 28mm tires on a nice day for a change of pace.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 01:55 PM
  #9  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
to be honest, this isn't a question about tyre diameter/width, it's really about frame geometry.

with the correct frame it's quite easy to run 47-622 or 47-559 and disc brakes.
acidfast7 is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 01:57 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Six of one, half dozen of another
bikemig is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 01:59 PM
  #11  
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
to be honest, this isn't a question about tyre diameter/width, it's really about frame geometry.

with the correct frame it's quite easy to run 47-622 or 47-559 and disc brakes.
To a point. The geometry on small frames gets really jacked up if you insist on those tall wheels all the way down. That's why Surly and some other brands only offer the smaller wheel sizes in their smallest frames.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 02:01 PM
  #12  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
To a point. The geometry on small frames gets really jacked up if you insist on those tall wheels all the way down. That's why Surly and some other brands only offer the smaller wheel sizes in their smallest frames.
We're not riding in the TdF, we're commuting to work (mostly.) I doubt that we'd notice the difference day-to-day. Unless, the larger diameter tyre shielded us from elbows.
acidfast7 is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 02:25 PM
  #13  
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
We're not riding in the TdF, we're commuting to work (mostly.) I doubt that we'd notice the difference day-to-day. Unless, the larger diameter tyre shielded us from elbows.
Those elbows will get ya!
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 07-04-17, 06:01 PM
  #14  
Señior Member
 
ItsJustMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
For touring especially in multiple countries, I think 26" is the logical choice. Anyplace that has bicycle tires at all will have 26" tires. 700C, not nearly the case. Some countries it may be very difficult indeed to buy 700c tires.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Old 07-05-17, 01:27 AM
  #15  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
For touring especially in multiple countries, I think 26" is the logical choice. Anyplace that has bicycle tires at all will have 26" tires. 700C, not nearly the case. Some countries it may be very difficult indeed to buy 700c tires.
I can only speak for EU, Americas and SE Asia/coastal China but every bike shop with a 26"/559 will have a 28"/29"/622/700c tyre.
acidfast7 is offline  
Old 07-06-17, 09:17 AM
  #16  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
We're not riding in the TdF, we're commuting to work (mostly.) I doubt that we'd notice the difference day-to-day. Unless, the larger diameter tyre shielded us from elbows.
No, I disagree. The problem is that with a large wheel it can be impossible to get the handlebar low enough for a smaller rider. Though in many cases the smaller rider in question doesn't notice, and/or claims s/he doesn't care, they still end up riding in an inefficient position that leads to discomfort.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
rhm is offline  
Old 07-06-17, 09:53 AM
  #17  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by rhm
they still end up riding in an inefficient position
Like I aforementioned, we're not riding in the TdF here, we commuting to and from work.
acidfast7 is offline  
Old 07-06-17, 11:01 AM
  #18  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
Like I aforementioned, we're not riding in the TdF here, we commuting to and from work.
Yes, I know. I do this every day.

In order to get on the bike every day, to look forward to riding the bike, whether it's for a shopping trip, commuting to work, or indeed racing, the bike has to fit. This is one of the most important requirements of any bike.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
rhm is offline  
Old 07-06-17, 11:12 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
I can only speak for EU, Americas and SE Asia/coastal China but every bike shop with a 26"/559 will have a 28"/29"/622/700c tyre.
No that's not necessarily true in the US. if you're bike can only take a tire as large as 700 x 32c, you can have issues finding this tire in many small towns. 26 inch tires are more readily available as are fatter volume 700c tires.
bikemig is offline  
Old 07-06-17, 07:37 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
hermanchauw's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Singapore
Posts: 470

Bikes: Voodoo Hoodoo, Linus Libertine

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 9 Posts
Originally Posted by rhm
Yes, I know. I do this every day.

In order to get on the bike every day, to look forward to riding the bike, whether it's for a shopping trip, commuting to work, or indeed racing, the bike has to fit. This is one of the most important requirements of any bike.
Totally agree. A few millimeters makes a noticeable difference, even for just a few minutes ride.
hermanchauw is offline  
Old 07-07-17, 11:45 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
baron von trail's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,509

Bikes: 3 good used ones

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
My old Schwinn Continental (or was that a Varsity?) had 27" tires. So, I never even gave it a second thought when the newer road bike came in 700mm.
baron von trail is offline  
Old 07-07-17, 01:41 PM
  #22  
Señior Member
 
ItsJustMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by acidfast7
I can only speak for EU, Americas and SE Asia/coastal China but every bike shop with a 26"/559 will have a 28"/29"/622/700c tyre.
Bike shops, maybe. But not every town has a bike shop. If you shred a tire, you need one now. I've never seen 700c tires in Walmart for instance.

The touring journals I've read indicate that when you get down into little villages in Mexico and South America, you'll almost certainly not find 700c tires. Bigger cities will have a proper bike shop that may carry 700c tires.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Old 07-08-17, 02:58 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Posts: 2,457

Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times in 241 Posts
I now have an old bike now with 590/ 29 and 584/ 37 rear SA 3, just over 26". Not bad at all, maybe a bit slower. Many new bikes and girl bikes still have them. Nice for city traffic really. I always have and always will consider 559 to be a clown size, that is now finally dying out.
GamblerGORD53 is offline  
Old 07-09-17, 05:57 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 38 Posts
700c
- Faster
- Handles bumpy roads better, rolls over stuff 26" has trouble with

26"
- Turns faster, which is never a problem in commuting
- You can find an older cheaper 26" bike used easier
- Slightly smaller to fit into your trunk

I would not buy a new 26" bike unless it was the kind of thing where I wasn't going to ride it often and it was super cheap nowadays. 700c is just superior.
PaulRivers is offline  
Old 07-10-17, 06:01 AM
  #25  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: England / CPH
Posts: 8,543

Bikes: 2010 Cube Acid / 2013 Mango FGSS

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1053 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
Bike shops, maybe. But not every town has a bike shop. If you shred a tire, you need one now. I've never seen 700c tires in Walmart for instance.

The touring journals I've read indicate that when you get down into little villages in Mexico and South America, you'll almost certainly not find 700c tires. Bigger cities will have a proper bike shop that may carry 700c tires.
I can't speak for SA as I haven't cycled around it that much. However, everywhere in Asia carried both 26"/-559 and 28"/700c/-622.

I can't remember the last time I was in a decent-sized town (bigger than 50k or so) in the US, without a bikeshop.
acidfast7 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.