Wheel Size

[JimB]

Can I ask another really stupid question?

No, that wasn't it

When a wheel size is quoted as (say) 26" is that;

1. The diameter of the wheel without a tyre on it or....

2.... the size including the diameter of the fitted tyre?

JimB

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Can I ask another really stupid question?

No, that wasn't it

When a wheel size is quoted as (say) 26" is that;

1. The diameter of the wheel without a tyre on it or....

2.... the size including the diameter of the fitted tyre?

JimB

You wont relate exactly 26 inches to much size wise on the wheel or the tyre.
Its mainly just an easy way of separating wheel sizes for the consumer.

In fact the rim will measure roughly 22" :/
You might just about get 26" measuring the furthest point on the tyre edge to edge.

All you need to know is that when you need a new tyre you ask for a 26" at the bike shop

Regards
Martin

 

[Alan Quay]

Roughly speaking the outside of the tyre, although mine are about 26.5".

 

[JimB]

Thanks Martin.

It's a bike I'm trying to decide on rather than a tyre (I'd just read the tyre size off the old one).

It's just that I read here folks opining that 26" wheels are a bit small, and I've been looking at a bike that's listed as having 26" wheels and having measured the ones on my existing push bike I find the diameter rim to rim is 25" as near as I can get without taking the wheel off (tyres btw are 700 x 38c -28).
The 700mm of the outside diameter of the tyre is roughly 27.5" so does the bike with 26" wheels have bigger, or smaller, wheels than mine?

If it's 26" to the outside of the tyre treads then they are clearly somewhat smaller than what I have now.

If these numbers don't relate to wheel or tyre sizes BTW, what do they refer to. If they exist to create an easy way of separating wheel sizes for the consumer I still can't relate it to my present bike if I don't know what to measure on my existing bike in order to make the comparison.

Told you I was stupid

JimB

Edit: crossed with Mike Higgins' response.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Thanks Martin.

It's a bike I'm trying to decide on rather than a tyre (I'd just read the tyre size off the old one).

It's just that I read here folks opining that 26" wheels are a bit small, and I've been looking at a bike that's listed as having 26" wheels and having measured the ones on my existing push bike I find the diameter rim to rim is 25" as near as I can get without taking the wheel off (tyres btw are 700 x 38c -28).
The 700mm of the outside diameter of the tyre is roughly 27.5" so does the bike with 26" wheels have bigger, or smaller, wheels than mine?

If it's 26" to the outside of the tyre treads then they are clearly somewhat smaller than what I have now.

If these numbers don't relate to wheel or tyre sizes BTW, what do they refer to. If they exist to create an easy way of separating wheel sizes for the consumer I still can't relate it to my present bike if I don't know what to measure on my existing bike in order to make the comparison.

Told you I was stupid

JimB

Edit: crossed with Mike Higgins' response.

Jim,

Your old bike is 700c (28" in size relating terms) therefore your old wheels are bigger than the new bike you are looking at.

28" is more biased toward road riding as the wheel will literally cover more distance than 26" when rolled in a complete revolution. 26" is more steered towards off road riding. (Excuse the pun)

Each has their advantages and disadvantages. That said it is common these days to have a 26" wheel with a road orientated tyre. For example the Leeds Tour..
Link here - Leeds Tour - The Leeds Tour is the rugged big brother to the Dover, and is the Raleigh top of the range eBike.

By using the 26" wheels it offers easier manouverability and lighter steering, but with the road orientated tyres it rolls fast on the road too. A good compromise for some.

By the way the tyres on the Leeds tour are the Schwalbe Big Apple tyre, fast rolling resistance but also is specially designed for ebikes to take the shock away from the road. They work really well.

Hope this ties up your confusion. The gist of it is 28" wheels are BIGGER than 26"..

Put the tape measure away

Regards
Martin

 

[JimB]

Thanks Martin.

Excellent explanation!

JimB

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Thanks Martin.

Excellent explanation!

JimB

No Worries Jim, good luck in your ebike quest..

I could go on to talk about 12,14,16,20,24,26,27,28,29'er, 650b, 700c etc wheel sizes.. Let alone metric and imperial widths.. But ill stop now.
Its a confusing world out there for the consumer!

Martin

 

[mountainsport]

Can I ask another really stupid question?

No, that wasn't it

When a wheel size is quoted as (say) 26" is that;

1. The diameter of the wheel without a tyre on it or....

2.... the size including the diameter of the fitted tyre?

JimB

Hi jimB,

Please do not ever feel stupid or silly when your on this site,beacuse people on here have put up alot with me over a year and a bit now. Once i'm on here just remember you'll never feel stupid

Mountainsport.

 

[BAH48]

The ISO system simplifies tyre sizes. Using the Bead Seat Diameter and the width - tyres can be accurately described.
Most mountain bike tyres are 26" = 559
modern 29", 28" and 700C = 622

Lots more info here :-
sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

 

[oigoi]

I think 26" wheels are a good idea on an ebike as they tend to be stronger than 700c wheels and so better able to cope with the heavier weight of the bike. An ebike can weigh twice what a similar sized road bike would weigh and so for it to have the same road bike 700c wheels doesnt make sense to me. Better off with stronger 26" mountain bike sized wheels and put smoother road going tyres on them

 

[103Alex1]

I think 26" wheels are a good idea on an ebike as they tend to be stronger than 700c wheels and so better able to cope with the heavier weight of the bike. An ebike can weigh twice what a similar sized road bike would weigh and so for it to have the same road bike 700c wheels doesnt make sense to me. Better off with stronger 26" mountain bike sized wheels and put smoother road going tyres on them

It's strange - I actually prefer riding on the larger wheels and frame and ironically feel more stability and balance with heavy load on the road, but that's maybe down to geometry. I really never worked out why for sure. The XXL Agattu eBike for really heavy loading for example is a 28". Provided the wheel spokes are up to it and there's a decent rim I don't think it makes much material difference between the two strength-wise. Guess it must translate to what it would be like if I was 30kg heavier than I am (still back down at 58kg after losing a stack ). I'd still veer towards a 700C Dutch bike over a 26"'er if I was heavy or carrying lots of stuff - so 85-90kg on the bike.

For off-road 26" MTBs feel easier to handle regardless of the tyres - for me anyway. The comfort factor isn't an issue given some comfy grips .. you're all over the bike and up/down on the pedals etc. Unless I wanted to race competitively, I'd not want to take a 29er off-road for example. Maybe if you're taller it's different but big wheels & off-road = challenge to me.

Bit off-topic but town riding, road touring or longer rides on non-700C non-Dutch style bike now feels like relative torture to be honest. Straight hybrid bike style handlebars 'like a normal bike' are uncomfortable for long rides too, the regular riding position does your back no favours and all for next to no impact on top speed. If it's a regular tootling around or commuting eBike (i.e. not for off-roading, seeking hill-climbing advantages or trying to race with a minimalist e-assist setup) the "normal looking" hybrid-type bikes make little sense to me as eBikes, whether 700C or 26".

Can understand sacrificing the significant benefits of 'comfort bikes' for a specific purpose (like unpowered road biking speed benefit or sport riding/off-roading). Or if you want for some reason to wear lycra kit and pose as a regular cyclist, since you'd look a bit silly wearing it on a "Dutch bike". Or maybe similar story if you want to leave your bike unwashed, wear baggies and pretend you're a mountain biker back from the trails !

The popularity of hybrid bike-style eBikes seems to be something down to wanting to be on a bike looking like all the other bikes and not stand out, or maybe image and what other people say / think taking precedence over regular riding comfort, since relative speed benefits not really a significant issue on an eBike carrying battery & motor. Shame if it's the latter - a lot of people losing out on some really big benefits if it is ! The looks of amazement when I overtake most of the local commuters bar hardened roadies in town on my Agattu say it all really - you're getting speed and as much comfort as you can get on a bike. No-brainer combo really.

 

[50 Hertz]

It's strange - I actually prefer riding on the larger wheels and frame and ironically feel more stability and balance with heavy load on the road, but that's maybe down to geometry. I really never worked out why for sure.

This will be down to an effect known as gyroscopic couple as defined by a Swiss gentleman called Leonhard Euler (pronounced Oiler). He also had a marvellous hair do.

As the wheels turn about the axel they produce an effect which resists any attempt rotate them about the other two axis; 1) steering when turning the handlebars and 2) roll about an imaginary line running the length of the bike from the front wheel dropouts to rear wheel dropouts. This resisting force is known as gyroscopic couple.

Gyroscopic couple is derived from functions of wheel diameter, mass of the wheel and its speed of rotation. The wheel diameter and its mass are dominant parameters, so an increase in wheel size will result in an increase in resistance to steering and to an increase in the bikes resistance to roll about the imaginary line described above. Hence a 27" wheeled bike will feel more stable and sluggish to directional change, whereas a 26" wheeled bike will feel slightly more skittish. Making a 26" wheel bike slightly more suitable for mountain biking where the rider needs rapid directional changes to pick their way through tricky terrain.



FPO

 

[RoadieRoger]

From a practical point of view 26 in tyres are more freely available , with more choice and cheaper prices .

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

From a practical point of view 26 in tyres are more freely available , with more choice and cheaper prices .

Actually its about to change, with the introduction of 29er and 650b tyres the 26" tyre market is going to slow down and less 26" tyres produced, manufacturers looking into more development with the new tyre sizes. Whereas the 700c market is sticking. SO there will actually be more 700c tyres available than 26", also as for price most 700c tyres although bigger are the same price as 26". For example, Schwalbe Marathon tyres are the same price whether you buy 700c or 26".

Confusing I know but the market will eventually split and the 26" will become small, the idea being..

29" Wheels used for all XC Mountain Biking
26" Wheels just used in the DH market
650b Used in all Freeride.

The 700c market will stay for Roadies/Trekking/Hybrid bikes as is.

Annoying as it is for us dealers it makes sense to bring something new to MTB, the MTB market has slightly dropped over the past few years, with Road bikes kicking off in the scene after the Olympics etc. This variance of wheel size is picking the MTB market back up with more choice and the need to upgrade for current MTB'ers.

We have already seen it with manufacturers like Specialised for example, who now only really offer 29" MTB's the same as Kona now have more 29'er hardtails than 26"ers. Most manufacturers are moving this way with more 650b models appearing next season.

That said I am not sure how long all of this will take to catch on to the eBike market.. I myself am still a true believer in the 26"er MTB!

Regards
Martin

 

[flecc]

That said I am not sure how long all of this will take to catch on to the eBike market.. I myself am still a true believer in the 26"er MTB!

Regards
Martin

Ditto, 26" for me. Rider height plays a part in this. The earlier days of cycling tended to feature larger wheels like 28", but as utility cycling spread more widely immediately following WW2 when personal cars were rare, 26" dominated among the generally shorter population at that time.

The wider use of 700c has roughly paralleled the growth in width and size of cars as the population has grown larger over the last half century!

Conversely, the famously taller Netherlands and German general populations have always favoured the larger wheel sizes.