Nate Knutson wrote:
> Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
> > Nate Knutson wrote:
> > > 26.0 is somewhat on the decline at the moment, in the sense that
> > > there's now a lot of 31.8-only stuff, a lot of it being fancy and of
> > > questionable worth.
> >
> > Agree with that.
> >
> >
> > Basically what's going on is that 31.8 is gunning
> > > for everything else (except 22.2, so far), and exactly how far this
> > > will go in the end isn't foreseeable, except to say that it probably
> > > will go far from all the way. I could certainly see it happening
> > > eventually that you couldn't get any of the really expensive **** at
> > > all in 26, and perhaps not more basic stuff in less common sizes
> > > (short, high rise stems, for example). 26.0 stuff could conceivably go
> > > the way of 25.4 road stuff, but it's quite a ways off, probably like 5
> > > years at worst if it happens at all.
> > >
> > > And this is all speculation, but I doubt there's anyone reading who can
> > > answer with real certainty.
> >
> > 25.4 stems and hbars for the road are still being made. 26.4 stuff is
> > still available after it stopped being made what a decade or more ago?
> > 26mm is going to be around for a long time and the assumption that 31.8
> > is somesort of 'new' standard is an exaggeration at this point. We
> > still sell LOTS more 26mm thatn 31.8.
> >
> > I agree that 31.8 is probably a good idea for carbon hbars but the
> > question is the value and frequency of carbon habrs...Aluminum is still
> > the 'standard'. 31.8 on aluminum is mostly marketing.
>
> Not to nitpick, but...
>
> I didn't say that 25.4 road stuff was no longer made. There are Nitto
> bars and stems, and some OEM-y bars. And that's about it. And it's
> totally conceivable that 26.0 could wind up with similar levels of
> product range. Not soon, perhaps not likely, probably not quite that
> little stuff, but it could happen. That 31.8 on aluminum is mostly
> marketing and has already been pushed to the level it has, in just a
> few years, just makes this more likely.
What I would like to see is some sort of standard between all the road
bar5s and MTB bars...say-26mm??
This 25.4(lowish end and MTB), 26, 26.4, 31.8 makes having the right
stem tough. Why MTB bars never went to 26mm mystyfies me.