Keep us posted on what you find out. I'd love to give Xterra a try next year, but I'm on a 26er.

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Travis Rassat
Vector Cycle Works
Noblesville, IN
BikeFit Instructor | FMS | F.I.S.T. | IBFI
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It's for safety reasons. It was the same when I raced xterra.

Have never heard of this in any Xterra race I've done, but then again, I'm on a 29".

Xterra races, even at their WC in Maui, are pretty much a run-what-you-brung affair and I've never seen or heard of anybody having any sort of bike checked for any sort of technical compliance.

Why are 26s less safe?

I'm not seeing this listed on other races in the series. Seems odd. I have a 29er so no big deal for me but it doesn't make sense.

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Formerly DrD

I recently raced a local Xterra sanctioned event (Granite Bay, CA) and it is consistent with the comments, a relaxed approach with no bike inspection.
As for the safety aspect, I'll wait to see what response Xterra provides for the 27.5 -29 only but I would find it very hard to agree that the larger wheel size can be justified on safety grounds.
I understand the whoel physics aspects on larger wheels rolling over things more easily but ultimately the largest factor in safety is the rider.

I was working that race. Boy you were lucky this year the water was way warmer than normal.

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

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Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

That seems like a typo. The rule document for the 2015 series lists 26", 27.5", and 29" as allowed, and I expect there would've been a formal announcement of a significant rule change like that.

http://www.xterraplanet.com/...CompetitionRules.pdf

To echo others though, I've never noticed anyone checking equipment...except for one time at Charlottesville when the bike section was moved to the road for weather reasons, someone had a road bike in transition and the race director let them know that wasn't allowed.

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Alex Modestou | Elite Off-Road Triathlete
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Thank you Amodestou, you found the key document I was looking for- I looked and found the American Tour rule but missed the Competition rules.
I agree this is most likely a typo in the race info package- all the same I shall keep a copy of the rules with me at check-in just in case!

cheers
Clive

Xterra races are usually pretty hard up for entries. I don't think they would bother anyone as long as they have the money for the entry fee.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

There is no safety difference between 26er and 29er. Whoever says there is has completely lost their mind.

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_________________________________
The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.

tell that to all the downhillers running 26ers because they handle better! (somewhat counter to the xterra suggested relationship)

I actually sent a note to the team running the event, as I thought this was either the most awesome trolling of 26ers vs 29ers ever, or it had to be a mistake. Here is the word for word response I received on April 17th:

No... 26" bikes are allowed. Sorry for the confusion. I'll mention this to those responsible for that document. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Good to know people actually read that thing. Ha!

That could be confusing too if someone was reading it out loud:

No 26" bikes are allowed
No, 26" bikes are allowed

Commas are really important :)

jaretj

You're right.......commas are important.

Let's eat, Grandma.

or

Let's eat Grandma.


Commas save lives!!!!

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I helped my uncle Jack, off a horse.

I helped my uncle Jack off a horse....

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Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes

If you're into punctuation:

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I talk a lot - Give it a listen: http://www.fasttalklabs.com/category/fast-talk
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The above poster has eschewed traditional employment and is currently undertaking the ill-conceived task of launching his own hardgoods company. Statements are not made on behalf of nor reflective of anything in any manner... unless they're good, then they count.
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They also prevent awkward party scenarios!

Although off road wheel sizes are confusing, there is an attempt to prevent cyclocross bikes @ 700 cc from being used...quite an advantage...the industry is all over the place on standardization of wheel sizes...

I'm guessing it was a mistake in writing the rules.

The basic rule is, you have to be on a mountain bike. No cross bikes allowed etc.

I would guess they forgot to add 26 when writing the rules.

But, give it a couple of years and it won't matter.

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Jimmy Archer

Semi colon after Strippers in the second example.
We invited the strippers; JFK and Stalin.

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I talk a lot - Give it a listen: http://www.fasttalklabs.com/category/fast-talk
I also give Training Advice via http://www.ForeverEndurance.com

The above poster has eschewed traditional employment and is currently undertaking the ill-conceived task of launching his own hardgoods company. Statements are not made on behalf of nor reflective of anything in any manner... unless they're good, then they count.
http://www.AGNCYINNOVATION.com

Thank you all for the responses.
As I started this thread I felt obliged to give the final outcome.
Rules update- The 26in was an omission- someone was kind enough to have them fix and update so rules were straightened out.

Xterra is relaxed- Consistent with other observations- this is Xterrra racign, far more relaxed than the road stuff, noone was checking wheel sizes- they did check and fix any missing barend plugs but that is safety.

The race: I raced my 2009 26in bike and it worked just great- there was one long deep sandy canyon section which the 29ers smoked me on- the 29in wheel is superior in deep sand (and or at least the riders were better than I in deep sand). Otherwise I posted a decent time for my age group.

One final note, if any of you are thinking of racing Xterra then get out and try it. After many years of racing IM and 70.3s of various organizations around the world Xterra is by far the most relaxed and fun group I have come across.

Thanks for the update. I'm racing my first Xterra in July after 3 years of doing 70.3's and IM. It's only a sprint, but I'm still super nervous as I know I have a long way to go with my mountain bike skills. I've been told it's one of the easier courses on the Xterra circuit, so I'm excited to give it try.