Is there a typical preference in wheel-size when it comes to what are commonly called "city bikes"? I understand "racers" usually have 700c, and mountain bicycles tend to come with 26-inchers. I wouldn't thought the latter are a bit more comfortable, and so preferable in commuter cycles, but most bikes of the sort I've seen have been sold with 700c.

Thanks.

I've been riding 700x38 Nimbus (Specialized) tires on a Specialized Globe 6 and have been very happy with the comfort, speed and their ability to handle rough streets. The tread has good water channeling.

Recently I rode my mountain bike to work a few days while the commuter was in the shop.... 26"x2.1" knobbies with full suspension... ugh!. Before my current commuter, I rode 27"x1.5" (old Schwinn) The smooth thin tires were just not good for the rough streets, water grates, pavement shifts and I ended up on my side one night when I hit an angled, wet-greasy spot. Bike just slid out from under me. Got a bit banged up from that... lost confidence in the bike and especially those tires.

Just a warning from experience...

A 700c wheel may actually be more comfortable given tires of the same width because the larger wheel will roll over obstacles easier. Traditionally though 26" MTB wheels usually have wider tires, hence they're the ones often associated with comfort. The downside to wider tires is they're a little bit harder to get movin, - so there's your tradeoff.

In any case, comfort has more to do with the tire than the size of the wheel and there's a large variety of tire sizes available for both types of wheel. So if it's comfort your concerned about, focus on the tires.

Thank you.

650b. The preferred size for city bikes according to retro snobbish guys like the Velo Orange guy.

It just doesn't matter.

I don't think there's much difference. With your eyes closed I doubt anyone could really tell much of a difference, unless you were comparing apples to oranges (meaning squishy fat tires to thin racer tires).

A thinner tire on a bigger 700c wheel can probably roll over bumps better than a thinner tire on a smaller 26" wheel, but usually you'll have big tires on the 26", and smaller tires on the bigger wheel, which will roughly even out. And if you keep the pressure in your tires really high, I bet you can't tell much of a difference at all, because neither will absorb much shock.

But really, the wheels aren't that different in size! Compare a 700c wheel to a tiny 16" folding bike wheel and you might see some big differences, but 700c and 26" wheels aren't worlds apart, as some would have you believe.

Yesiree! I'm not so much retro-snobbish as someone who likes the right tool for the job ... and 650b is perfect for commuting and long-distance comfort.

You get the momentum of 700c with the amazing comfort and safety of wider tyres, without sacrificing speed.

My Bleriot, clad in 42mm Grand Bois Hetre tyres, is my overall favourite bike.

What's "650b"? All I've come across are 26" ad 700c, the latter of which I understand to be "29"." Most of the so-called "commuter-bikes" I've encountered have been shown to come with "700X35" wheels, which, I believe, means they're twenty-nine inches by 1.5 inches, as opposed to the few I've seen in 26", which, too, are said to be 1.5 inches wide.

Round and with tires that hold air...FWIW my "city" bikes have wheels from 700c all the way down to 16"

I doubt there is really a huge amount of difference (regardless of the various arguments) I have found tire width is of more concern than diameter. A wider tire will cushion better and not be as prone to get caught in pavement cracks. FWIW I have the most miles on a 26x1-3/8" tire and wheel combo, and those were chrome steel rims

Aaron

650b(584mm) tires are fairly uncommon. They're about midway between the size of 700c(622mm) and 26"(559mm).

They are being used by a few bike makers who believe 700c doesn't work well for smaller frames/riders. If your bike store doesn't carry them (some don't) you'd probably have to find them on-line.

Sorry, Commando, I was just mentioning 650B as an aside. You won't find mass-produced bikes with that size in North America, but you will in some places around the world. It is nicely placed in between the two main sizes, and found on some bikes like the Rivendell Blériot mentioned here. All the old Raleigh 3 speeds and similar bikes have a similar size, 650A, which is a few millimeters bigger than 650B, but also right between the two popular sizes. If you need a smaller frame, stay away from 700c. Compromises in geometry must be made to make it work. That's why in bikes like the Surly Long Haul Trucker, the larger sizes take 700c, and the smaller sizes take 26. 26 inch wheels are a tiny bit more maneuverable than 700c, but don't roll quite as smoothly.

If I ever had the guy from Velo Orange make my dream city bike, he would make it with 650B, regardless of how tall I am.

700 x 35s for me
my backups in order of preference are:
27 x 1 1/4
26 x 2.0

Thank you, all. It seems, then, wheel-diameter isn't to be a very important factor in my bike-purchase.

Huh? It would be for me and it would be a 700c.

I'd focus on getting a bike you want to ride. The wheels will take care of themselves.

As has been referenced already, (in my opinion) wheel diameter does not seem to matter too much, with one exception: smaller frames for smaller riders can't accommodate larger wheels without causing major toe overlap or a shallower-than-normal head tube (to reduce toe overlap). Which is why many smaller women-specific road bike frames have 650c (571mm) vs 700c (622mm) wheels.