Is the curator on the look out for new recruits or is 26″ here to stay? Depends what you are after really.

If you’re in the market for a new bike then yes, do it while it’s still worth some money, if you want to keep it for posterity or memories then obviously not. Likewise if you’re happy with your horse and have a heavy streak of Luddite in you then you will have already made your mind up.

But what if you want to take advantage of those small benefits that bigger wheels offer? What if you believe in better? What wheel size shall I get? Basically, get the correct bike before the wheel size. Make sure you’ve asked all the right questions including where, and what you ride, before you choose the wheel size.

Some of our favourite bikes this year are 29” – they include the 138mm Stumpy Evo, 140mm Intense Carbine, Enduro World Series winning 140mm Trek Remedy, the 150mm BMC Trailfox and the incomparable 155mm S-works Enduro. These bikes are the absolute cream of big wheels. For all year round riding I’d go 29” without any doubt whatsoever – offering grip and traction for that six months of the year where small wheels get sucked into a battle with the ground.

If you only ride in the Alps or Liguria then consider the 27.5 for they will take more punishment. Similarly back in this country if you’re riding is on 160mm but really you’re smashing out downhill runs most of the time. This is where tyres come into play because at the minute there’s few offerings in soft compound dry weather grip for the 29 brigade. Don’t underestimate the control and confidence that a ‘Super Tacky’ or ‘Vert Star’ offers. Also if you cannot go the distance money wise for strong 29 wheels then a 27.5 will be better for you.

Very simply if you’re in the market for a trail bike consider 140×29, a big hitting gravity weighted 160mm have a look at the Kona Process in 27.5 or even the super light Scott Genius LT. For downhill if you can bare the flack from belligerent/set in their ways DH racers then also head 27.5 such as the Intense 951 and Solid Strike.