qclabrat

Which of these current trends will last longer?

have a few 26r and a 29r already

one 26r is has 2.5 high volume tires, not fat, but still pretty big

for all year riding, 5 years later, would I regret getting a fat or 650b to replace one of my 26rs?

Jseis 

Given that I have two 27" Classics, 700C Road, 26" Hardtail MTB, my next bike really had to wow me and slot into a genre of riding I wasn't doing. I was leaning towards a Cross/Gravel grinder for logging roads (which we have in spades around here) but that that'd still leave the biggest open space recreational area inaccessible (beach). So a Fat was a no brainer, year round or not. My Framed Bike 3.0 Minnesota can also use a set of 29" wheels ($200 w/tires) which makes it a multipurpose terrain frame. I could put Blutto front suspension if I so desired. That kind of multi-terrain bike seems the best middle ground for the snowy/beach climes.

dminor 

TL;DR

Bacon.

jimc101

2 totally different types of bike, for 2 totally different purposes, 650B(27.5) has come about due (cynically perhaps) due to falling sales of 26", where as Fat Bikes were originally designed for snow, but seem to be used everywhere today. Neither of these are trends as such, as they are the only options in some areas, especially as the bike industry seems to be intent on killing 26" as quickly as possible for new bikes.

For 5 years time, maybe another wheel size will be introduced (unlikely), or we will be back to 26" (even more unlikely) or we will be where we are now with 650B.

Ride what you have now, and worry about replacing it when it's worn out.

Jseis 

LOL, you need that in the 509, all grain fed.

mrv 

the NEXT big thing will be 26in wheeled bikes.

bicyclelove

Fat I think is here to stay. It may get refined, but a fat bike fills a real need, to ride in snow, deep sand etc. the 650b is a compromise between 26 and 29. I want to ride one yet. My MTBs are all 26, the 29ers I've ridden feel sluggish to me; they can roll over a lot however.

ColinL

Fat is here to stay. It has amazing traction, and some people just don't give a damn about getting anywhere fast... they are equally slow on fat bikes, 26, 27.5, 29.

I do not have any plans to get a fatbike because I could not haul one on my roof rack. Also, my wife will probably flip if I buy another bike.

jsigone

depending what your 29er is, you might be able to run it 29er+

650b wheelset w/ 3.5" tires on a 29er bike and fork

Canker

You mean 27.5+. I was thinking about trying that on my surly karate monkey.

I have two 29ers and an old 26er that has never fit me, frame is too big. I really wanted to try out the 27.5er thing but I think instead I'll pick up a nice used 26er full suspension frame since they suck so much and are cheap now and move parts over from my old 26er. I don't think a 27.5er would be different enough from my 29ers to bother having yet another mtn bike.

The thing I like most about fat bikes is that they slow down the two super fast people I ride with that bought some so that I can almost keep up with them .

seat_boy

I think you would regret getting a 650B, since, in my experience, they feel basically the same as a 26er, no matter what Mountain Bike Action says.

Then again, you might regret a fatbike as well, unless you just like riding slow.

I think 29+ is the best new trend. Then again, I'm 6'3" and like riding fast on a rigid bike, so it plays well with me.

DMC707

Unless you live in a beach or where you get enough snow to make it worth it , the fat bike will go the way of the "fixie" in 5 years

26" wheels are dead on the showroom, and have been replaced by 27.5 almost across the board except for a few dedicated downhill bikes and possibly a few budget models

RoadTire 

Fat Bike trend will last longer because climate change is slower than marketing changes. We will have a need for Fat Bikes in snow for at least 5 years, maybe longer. And if everything turns to blowing sand dunes, Fat Bikes win again.

qclabrat

I don't plan on riding on sand much which which relegate the fat to a seasonal bike which is what would concern me the most.

Also don't see a big difference from 26 to 650b much either, the bike mfrs have done a great job of killing a perfectly good tire size (all about the money)

would more likely get a fat bike before a 27.5, but waiting for the trend to slow, I expect to see many for sale in the second hand market this summer, when folks gravitate back to lighter more agile bikes

bicyclelove

I think the prices of used ones will come down too. Not as much in the north as in the south. Right now a used fat bike is nearly as much as new around here, that is why I bought new.
You are right about the agility point. Fat bikes are like 29ers sluggishness magnified when it comes to handling.