Mountain bikers have never had so many wheel and tyre options to choose from. Rim diameters and tyre volumes come in a wide range of flavours to suit pretty much every scenario.
Starting a decade ago, the steady roll of fat bikes into the market opened the gates for “plus” bikes to follow suit. If you’re new to the concept of plus bikes, the name refers to bikes shod in 2.7-3in wide tyres. They offer some of the Velcro-like traction of fat bikes in a lighter, more nimble package.
First on the scene was 29+, followed shortly thereafter by 27.5+. With the trend toward standard 27.5 and 29in and “plus” wheel sizes, it seemed like the traditional 26in wheel was ready to take its place as an index fossil in mountain biking’s formative period, but several companies are attempting a 26in revival by bringing plus to the once-standard mountain bike wheelsize.
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Surly Bikes, aka the crass little company that can, pushed 26+ concept with the introduction of the redesigned Instigator in 2013.
This slack hardtail came equipped with 26x2.75in tyres on wide rims. This was about the widest the company could go at the time, since boost spacing wasn’t a thing yet and suspension fork manufacturers were not designing fork crowns to clear 3in-wide tyres.
Why 26+ matters
Which is right for you?
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