Post #2400845
2026-04-28 20:34 UTC
30-40 years ago, the accepted wisdom was that touring bikes should use 26" wheels, because those were more available globally, so if repairs in some far-off place became necessary, you'd be more likely to find parts that would work.
In the late 2020s, I question whether that is still true. It's not the 1980s anymore, and 700c is the most common standard, with 650b experiencing a revival, especially with shorter cyclists, and 26" still holding on in the off-road market.
Replies (1)
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@gcvsa@mstdn.plus 2026-04-28 20:39
The number one sign that bicycling is a hobby is whether or not they own a car with a bicycle rack, especially one that is permanently mounted. I don't own a car with a bicycle rack, because my bicycle is literally my transportation. My bicycle isn't a hobby, so I don't transport my bicycle to where I ride it. I leave my house on my bicycle, and return to my house on my bicycle. That wasn't always true. I used to own an elaborate Thule rack system mounted to my 1993 VW Passat and 2001 Jetta.