I have just been dvised by my local bike shop that the bike I have been given and intend to ride LeJog on next year is unsuitable. A friend heard of my intentions and gave me his Al Carter bike. It is essentially a mountain bike but I considered that with the necessary alterations it would be the ideal set of wheels. however, this is where the bike shop say it falls down as to do such an expedition requires a bike with at 700mm rims. Mine has 26 inch rims (mich smaller in diameter) and he has therefore advised me not to use it on such a long ride. Is he right, or is he just tying to get me to buy another bike?
good advice?
- Thread starter jimlad
- Start date
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middleagecyclist
Call me MAC
- Location
- Prestwich, Manchester
Bleedin nonsense.
26" wheels fine for touring and the choice for a lot of long distance cyclists. Just use the right tires.
26" wheels fine for touring and the choice for a lot of long distance cyclists. Just use the right tires.
Cardiac
Über Member
- Location
- Nr Huntingdon, Cambs
If you're comfortable over a long distance then why change? The rim diameter hasn't got much to do with it (within reason). And BTW, 700c rims are not 700mm in diameter - more like 622mm which is the tyre bead diameter which means that the tyre diameter ends up very close to 27" or so. I think they were just trying to get you to spend some money with them.
Useful link - http://sheldonbrown....ire-sizing.html
Useful link - http://sheldonbrown....ire-sizing.html
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
Total bollox.
My perception of constitutes a touring bike was radically altered this summer as I pedalled along the Eurovelo Six route in France, Switzerland and Germany. A lot of the bikes used for cycle touring on the route were mountain bikes and hybrids, a lot of them with 26" wheels.
A lot of expedition bikes use 26" wheels.
All you need is a suitable rack and slick tyres assuming that everything els on the bike is in working order. It might be prudent to change the cables.
My perception of constitutes a touring bike was radically altered this summer as I pedalled along the Eurovelo Six route in France, Switzerland and Germany. A lot of the bikes used for cycle touring on the route were mountain bikes and hybrids, a lot of them with 26" wheels.
A lot of expedition bikes use 26" wheels.
All you need is a suitable rack and slick tyres assuming that everything els on the bike is in working order. It might be prudent to change the cables.
hubbike
Senior Member
- Location
- Edinburgh, Scotland
LBS wants to sell bike, not exactly a shocker...Do your lejog on whatever bike you happen to have lying around.
But as there hasn't been a coherent explanation yet so I will attempt one.
700cc refers to the volume of the tyres typically used on 29 inch diameter rims. They are typically found on bikes used mainly on road, such as road racers, fast hybrids and tourers. They are also becoming more polular with cylcocross and some mountain bikes.
The advantages of big wheels are that they roll more easily and the bikes are generally faster (all else being equal). On the other hand, smaller 26 inch wheels are stronger and so are the weapon of choice for mountain bikes, and bikes based on mtbs. Expedition tourers will often use 26 inch rims because it means that gravel tracks in far flung places are a possibility. Additionally, because of the proliferation worldwide of cheap chinese mountain bikes. It is often easier to find spares for 26 inch in exotic climes.
But as there hasn't been a coherent explanation yet so I will attempt one.
700cc refers to the volume of the tyres typically used on 29 inch diameter rims. They are typically found on bikes used mainly on road, such as road racers, fast hybrids and tourers. They are also becoming more polular with cylcocross and some mountain bikes.
The advantages of big wheels are that they roll more easily and the bikes are generally faster (all else being equal). On the other hand, smaller 26 inch wheels are stronger and so are the weapon of choice for mountain bikes, and bikes based on mtbs. Expedition tourers will often use 26 inch rims because it means that gravel tracks in far flung places are a possibility. Additionally, because of the proliferation worldwide of cheap chinese mountain bikes. It is often easier to find spares for 26 inch in exotic climes.
middleagecyclist
Call me MAC
- Location
- Prestwich, Manchester
Yep. What Hubbike said.
memoman
Active Member
- Location
- Tiverton, Devon
He must have been struggling for sales. 26" wheels are fine. It's ultimately your decision. If you you feel comfortable riding them then why bother changing?
growingvegetables
Guru
- Location
- Leeds
Fwiw - I've done a few 150-200 mile trips with son #2; me on 700s, him on 26in wheels. He outstrips me very time, and has done since he was 14 
.
Whatever you're comfortable with - aye, but choose the right tyres.
.Whatever you're comfortable with - aye, but choose the right tyres.
middleagecyclist
Call me MAC
- Location
- Prestwich, Manchester
Jags
With respect it really depends on the ground you are covering, the tyres you are using and the load you are carrying.
As Hubbike said:
"The advantages of big wheels are that they roll more easily and the bikes are generally faster (all else being equal). On the other hand, smaller 26 inch wheels are stronger and so are the weapon of choice for mountain bikes, and bikes based on mtbs. Expedition tourers will often use 26 inch rims because it means that gravel tracks in far flung places are a possibility."
26" wheels are more than capable.
:-)
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
The question "What defines a touring Bike" is quite hard to explain. for years I used a Reville Romany touring bike, then on one trip the frame broke, so I used a Trek mountain bike on my next tour; 25 years on I am still using mountain bikes for touring, Ok they are built or modified to suit my riding style, but by far I find them more versatile when it comes to the type of countryside I am riding through, outside touring trips the bike has knobblies fitted, for touring the road slicks get fitted, or if I know I will be using lots of gravel tracks etc then I fit Schwalbe's Marathon XR, and fit depending on distance and time away rear and or front Racks
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
I'll also say that 26" wheels *should* be OK (assuming the bike is in good working order and fits you) so long as you have the right tyres (I run 1.25" Specialized Fat Boys and 1.75" Schwalbe Marathons -interestingly enough, I much prefer the wider Marathons, they seem to have less rolling resistance).
I think the general opinion is that 700c are faster, however, how much faster is open to question. If you are going with pals who are super fit and you struggle already, then maybe 700c is the way to go to just gain a little bit more. if you're touring for fun and everyone is going to stay together, again, 26" wheels should be fine. However, it doesn't take much (e.g. poor choice of tyre on a 700c bike, slightly unfitter rider) to equalize things out. All things equal, I'm not convinced wheel size makes that much difference to speed.
One other point: a frame can be noodly causing efficiency issues, so if your bike is noodly, I'd recommend a change. A noodly bike can occur regardless of the wheel size -more a function of bad design or materials or a heavier rider. Another thing: if you intend to carry pannier bags, it could be your current bike will give you heel strike, though to be honest most 26" wheel bike designs don't seem to have this problem. Theoretically, since a 700c wheel is larger than a 26" wheel, this should result in longer chainstays and hence less likelihood of heel strike. In practice however, I've never had a problem with heelstrike on any of my 26" wheel bikes.
FWIW, my tourer and commuter both have 26" wheels. My preference for 26" wheels goes back to the fact that i really dislike toe overlap -because of my height, some 700c frames give me overlap. While some people seem to have no problem with toe overlap, I do -again, it's what works for you.
Anyway, back to the original question, a 26" wheeled bike should be fine assuming it is capable in all other respects for touring.
I think the general opinion is that 700c are faster, however, how much faster is open to question. If you are going with pals who are super fit and you struggle already, then maybe 700c is the way to go to just gain a little bit more. if you're touring for fun and everyone is going to stay together, again, 26" wheels should be fine. However, it doesn't take much (e.g. poor choice of tyre on a 700c bike, slightly unfitter rider) to equalize things out. All things equal, I'm not convinced wheel size makes that much difference to speed.
One other point: a frame can be noodly causing efficiency issues, so if your bike is noodly, I'd recommend a change. A noodly bike can occur regardless of the wheel size -more a function of bad design or materials or a heavier rider. Another thing: if you intend to carry pannier bags, it could be your current bike will give you heel strike, though to be honest most 26" wheel bike designs don't seem to have this problem. Theoretically, since a 700c wheel is larger than a 26" wheel, this should result in longer chainstays and hence less likelihood of heel strike. In practice however, I've never had a problem with heelstrike on any of my 26" wheel bikes.
FWIW, my tourer and commuter both have 26" wheels. My preference for 26" wheels goes back to the fact that i really dislike toe overlap -because of my height, some 700c frames give me overlap. While some people seem to have no problem with toe overlap, I do -again, it's what works for you.
Anyway, back to the original question, a 26" wheeled bike should be fine assuming it is capable in all other respects for touring.
middleagecyclist
Call me MAC
- Location
- Prestwich, Manchester
and it was?my reply disappeared
