01/01/2026
Patrick Marshall siad it best: 26â bikes for 2026.
We couldnât agree more.
Before mountain bikes splintered into multiple (read: larger) wheel sizes, dropper posts, disc brakes, and electronic drivetrains, they were just bikesâmodified cruisers ridden hard by folks like Charlie Kelly, Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, and Wende Cragg bombing down mountains in Marin in the â70s. Then in 1981, Specialized Bicycles lit the fuse with the Specialized Stumpjumper âand mountain biking went mainstream.
When our shop opened in 1988, all-terrain bikes were already in our DNA. That soft spot never left. (Weâre building up an early Stumpjumper in the shop right now.)
Why 26â-wheeled bikes still matter: theyâre quick, lively, and connected. They have easily adjustable rim brakes and serviceable bearings. They were built to be usedâand many still are, decades later. Add the â90s era flairâwild paint, anodized bits, component jewelryâand suddenly the hunt is half the fun.
For 2026, weâre making these bikes an intentional focus at Bayou. Think RinglĂŠ, Kooka, Cook Brothers, Syncros, Salsa, Race Face⌠plus a serious stash of vintage Shimano XT and XTR. Weâll have it on display in the coming days. Come check it out.
And if youâve got an old 26er gathering dust: all it may take are a few smart upgrades (grips, tires, saddle) and a proper tune to make it fun (and safe) again. Trade-ins welcome tooâwe need to be selective given our storage limitations, but always happy to help point you in the right direction.
Case in point: Patrick M. rolled in with a vintage Specialized in full Saved by the Bell paint glory. He bolted on some Nitto bullmoose bars, SimWorks tires and cables, a Brooks England saddle, Paul Component Engineering brake levers, XTR drivetrain components, and rode out grinning ear to ear. Thatâs exactly why weâre excited to stock these vintage parts that still have so much life in them.
So yes. 26â bikes for 2026.
Weâre here for it. đ˛ And Happy New Year. đ¤