The unofficial standard of bike tire and wheel sizes is about twenty-six inches in diameter. That being said, this will be a good starting point for the extreme athlete that stands six-foot or shorter and might want to consider a smaller frame.
Most advanced and professional mountain bikers over a height of six-foot will want to purchase a larger wheel size and possibly use that twenty-six-inch frame to keep the weight lower.
Overall, the twenty-six-inch tire will be enough for most bicycle riding, but it would be wise to upgrade to larger wheelbases when going into the mountain terrain.
What is the Best Rim Size for Mountain Biking?
There is going to be a debate over which will be considered the best size wheel for mountain biking, but most consider the twenty-seven-point-five and the twenty-niner-sized rims to be the best for the alpine trail.
This does not mean that the twenty-six-inch traditional size will not work in certain situations. If a mountain biker needs to hike to their location, this smaller wheel will be lighter and easier to pack in.
That being said, the larger two sizes will have an easier time traversing larger obstacles, rocks, and other obstructions that can block a trail. Not to mention the benefits of going uphill and traveling on those long straight portions of the trail.
Are Twenty-six-inch Wheels Too Small?
When referring to the benefits of the larger-sized wheels, the twenty-six-inch tire could be considered too small for mountain biking. In addition, the size will most certainly be too small for those people over a height of six feet.
There will be situations where the smaller twenty-six-inch wheel will be handy, including backpacking and other long-distance traveling situations in which riding a bike is not always an option.
In addition, the smaller wheels will be good for quicker turns and when agility is needed to make a maneuver happen.
Do People Still Ride twenty-six-inch Mountain Bikes?
Yes, a large number of people will ride a twenty-six-inch bicycle, but not many will be six feet tall. Most riders under the height of six feet will want to max out their wheel diameter at around the twenty-six-inch mark.
The size will be more than enough for a shorter person to traverse the mountain trails, but there is going to be the reality that the larger wheels do perform better than the smaller ones.
If strong enough, consider upgrading to the twenty-seven-point-five-inch wheelbase for better performance in the backcountry when riding.
What are its Flaws?
There is not much to consider a flaw of having a twenty-six-inch bike, especially when it comes to riding on the pavement.
However, when it comes to riding on the dirt, over the rough foothills, and into the heavier mountain terrain, the larger wheels will be the better choice, thus, making the smaller wheel a flaw.
There is going to be another reason to consider the smaller wheels a flaw, especially for the six-foot-tall crowd. As difficult as it would be for a short person to turn a larger wheel, the same applies when a taller person gets on a short bike; the ergonomics do not match up.
What are the Cons of it?
Taking the standard and looking at it from different perspectives will prove there are a few cons to having the twenty-six-inch wheel. The major cons, as mentioned before, will be for the taller person and the extreme mountain bikers that compete at the highest levels.
As the professional has the training and strength to use the larger wheels, even when shorter than six feet’ cut-off point,’ to compete. This will make it a con to have a shorter wheelbase when competing with the world’s best.
Final Thoughts on Are twenty-six-inch Wheels Good for Mountain Biking
The information is straightforward, and the standard bike wheel size will be twenty-six inches which are just that, standard. However, suppose a mountain biker is looking for the next level in performance or working on getting to the next level of competition.
In that case, they will want to go with the larger twenty-seven-and-a-half-inch or more wheel diameter.
It has been said many times, but the larger wheels will have the easiest time when going over larger rocks and natural obstacles than their shorter relative.
This will mean that, in order to be competitive or to have better performance, find a larger wheel size that works for you.