26 inch bicycles: selection and comparison with other sizes

Bicycle as a transport has long and firmly won the love of fans who do not imagine their movement during the working day or at the weekend. Two-wheeled constructions have a lot of obvious advantages: they are much cheaper than a car, you don’t have to stand in traffic jams for hours, and, most importantly, the owner of such a vehicle will always be in good physical shape. Therefore, choosing a model of bicycle technology, you need to decide which one you need: just for moving around the city or for extreme skiing.

Choosing the right bike depends on the following criteria: age and gender of the rider. It is clear that all designs will differ from each other depending on who will ride the bike: man, woman or child.

Any bicycle can be conditionally divided into only two components: the frame and the rest of the attachments, which include wheels, speed switches, pedals and chains. Experts recommend paying special attention to the diameter of the wheel.

A couple of years ago, 26-inch bikes were the most popular and in demand. Thousands of such designs have established themselves as excellent running models, including universal, mountain and pleasure models.

These are strong, professional designs that still have their fans. Consider the example of a quality bottom diameter mountain bike. To make it clearer, the diameter in centimeters of such a wheel is 66.04. With these wheels you can overcome mountain trails, it is easier to bear various bumps. Smaller bikes cannot guarantee such a comfortable ride.

In general, size is not always an exact thing: for example, if you use a highly professional tire on a 26 inch wheel, you can experience the same sensations as with wider wheels at 27.5 inches. It is due to the considerable circumference of the bicycle wheel that the structure itself becomes more stable and rolls better along rough roads. The developers claim that the wider the diameter of the bicycle wheel, the larger its surface is in contact with the road surface (clutch stain) and provides quality movement.

For many years now, there has been a debate among fans of cycling - what is better to choose, is the 26-inch model better than the 29-inch? New design standards appeared relatively recently, but have already won a lot of fans who believe that it is the latest model that surpasses the previous in all respects.

Of course, time changes, addictions and requirements of athletes and lovers of a healthy lifestyle change.

Consider the benefits of proven standards over the years.

Pros of 26-inch tires:

• shorter and stiffer wheel spokes give guaranteed rigidity to this model;
• for such a bicycle you can always find failed parts - for many years the market for components has been filled with parts - from the most budgetary to expensive ones;
• those who rode such a model can confidently say that maneuvering on it is easier than on 28 or 29 inch wheels;
• precisely because the circumference is smaller than that of competitors, a bike with 26-inch wheels accelerates faster.

The disadvantages of the model:

• if we compare with 28-inch tires, then a bike with 26-inch wheels is less amortized by small shaking and significant bumps;
• traction is inferior to the 29-inch model.

Summing up the pros and cons of the “26” model and comparisons with others, we must admit that 29 wheels are ideal when you need high speed, a long marathon or competitions in hard-to-reach mountainous areas. Bicycles with 27.5-inch wheels are more maneuverable.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a model and independently choose the required tire size, you must put the bike in an upright position. Using a tape measure, we measure the distance from the center, that is, the axis of the bicycle to the floor. Divide the resulting number by 2.54 and get the radius of the wheel in inches. To get the diameter, we multiply the radius by 2 and do not forget about rounding. For example, a wheel diameter of 40 cm is divided by 2.54 and we get a tire size of 16 inches.

By this principle, it is clear that 26-inch wheels have a wheel diameter of just over 66 cm. This bike is perfect suitable for both adults and adolescents 13-14 years old, whose height is about 164 cm. But mountain bikes with 29-inch wheels, the so-called liners, are suitable for people with a height of at least 180 cm. Riding lower will be inconvenient to drive.

Consider the top best mountain bikes, as they can not only make crossings on steep hills, but also quickly get to the necessary place, for example, to work.

• Model Giant Rincon LTD 26 suitable for beginners who have recently mastered mountain trail riding. The price is quite budget, up to 19 thousand rubles. The bicycle frame is made of aluminum, the brakes are mechanical, which is not entirely ideal for mountainsides, but just for rugged terrain and the city.

• Bicycle TREK 820 (2018) intended for adults.Light weight (15 kilograms) provides an ideal ride on dirt roads, ergonomic seat does not cause discomfort when driving. The frame is made of aluminum, 21 speeds of movement, the wheels are reinforced by aluminum rims and tires. The brakes are quality, the speed is reset instantly.

• Forward Apache 2.0 Disc 2016 - A model for beginners. Firstly, due to the aluminum frame, the weight of the bike is acceptable - up to 13 kilograms, the budget price is 11 thousand rubles. The steering wheel is made using special technology that prevents it from warping. The disc brakes are installed, the speed mode is 21, and they are switched using special levers.

• Universal model Forward Sporting 1.0 (weight - 16.5 kg) Ideal for both men and women. The wheel frame is steel, the saddle and steering wheel are very well located, when driving on bumps, there is no discomfort. Perfect braking system and presentable look.

• GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc - An interesting and technically advanced design. It is convenient to ride both on dirt roads and on city streets. The frame is made of aluminum, the pedals are made of plastic. If necessary, you can adjust the suspension, giving it the desired position.

Choosing a suitable model among a huge assortment, decide how you will use it - for sporting achievements or just for the convenience of moving around the city.

We pay attention to the suspension, suspension forks, frame and wheels. The frame is better to choose from steel, it is stronger and more wear-resistant. There are options for aluminum frames, titanium and several alloys simultaneously. Aluminum alloy significantly reduces the weight of the structure, and this is important for long trips.

Depreciation forks are:

• spring oil, it is a rather expensive pleasure, but universal for mountain trails;
• oil-airgood for damper;
• spring-elastomericare more often present in low-cost models.

An overview of the Aspect Stimul MD bike with 26 inch wheels is presented below.