is there SHAME in riding a 26" HT
 

In my daily quest for a better riding experience all on a low budget...Just spent $ on new Kevlar tires/ light tubes Price point I often wonder when will the 26" be a burden? Or has that time already come. I lust for a new bike but never liked the look of a 29er....27.5 seems the sweet spot but no one in my part of the world has one in stock. So I ask what am I to do? :notamused:

Shame? I don't think so. At least I hope not...otherwise I'm screwed. :lol:

I know I'm saving up for a new bike and fairly certain it won't be a 26". I'll decide on the wheel size when I've tried out a bunch of prospective bikes. Hopefully some shops get some in soon. You got any Giant dealers near you? They ought to get some 27.5's in soon so you could at least get a feel for the wheel size.

Hara Kiri

Face it. We are ALL hopeless dorks tooling around on overgrown children's toys. Just ride.

you failed to mention the big bellys and tight clothing

The only shame is NOT riding your 26" HT.

I'm still riding a 26 HT but considering a 27 or 29 even though I've never ridden either. Most everything I see out on the trails is 29 so I need to be like the cool kids....

I think I'm still waiting to see how the 27.5 thing pans out. The 29s look huge and I'm ~5'9" so it seems the 27.5 would be a good compromise.

Anyway, there's no shame. I'm still happy with my 26 :) for now.

Yes the shame thing was tongue and cheek but I only see 29ers and now the 27.5. I am not very tall about 5'11 but a 29er feels he to me. The 27.5 idea seems to be the sweet spot....but I do not have $1200 to spend on toys. so I will ride head high and proud of my old school and dying 26 inch HT!!!!
'11

If you're a developed enough rider that you actually recognize a practical difference in your ride when you choose a wheel size that's suited to your style, then you should do that. Most of us who are still learning or riding recreationally will do just fine on a bike of solid quality, regardless of wheel size.

I started out on a borrowed 26er hardtail, and had so much fun I was ready to spend money even though I was hopeless on the climbs and clearly had no idea how to descend (flats were fairly okay). I tested a top-of-range full-suspension 29er for a full day on the trails, and my perception was that it was a bulldozer: unstoppable, but not what you'd call nimble. I had less fun than when I was (in my own mind) skilfully piloting the 26er through winding lines around obstacles rather than just plowing over them.

I ended up buying a full-suspension 26er, and it is very obviously more bike than I am rider; I haven't yet managed to ask it to do anything it wasn't capable of, but it has definitely asked me to do numerous things I wasn't capable of (climb that giant scree slope! ride off the edge of this four-foot drop! don't fall on your face descending this slick rock face!) At no point have I thought "I could do this bit if I'd just bought that 29er". Plus I'm really enjoying buying up all the cheap 26er parts (especially tires) that the fad followers are feverishly disposing of.

You think you have problems, The group I ride with call my 29er a clown bike.

What d said! The only difference between Men and Boys is the price of their toys! Riding and sweating and adrenalin rushes and a cold brew make me feel like a rich man. DONT DRINK SKUNKY BEER!