650b conversion. Mostly done with 135mm hubs?
03-30-20, 05:18 PM
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650b conversion. Mostly done with 135mm hubs?
I've got an '87 Trek Elance 330. It's been modernized, but n+1 has taken hold and the 330 doesn't get much love anymore. I need to give it a purpose, a reason to live, a role that it can be proud of.... It seems like the perfect candidate for a 650b conversion.
I have a spare set of Tektro 559 brakes. I'd like to go back to older style drop bars instead of the slick carbons it has now. And I've got a nice mid 2000's silver Sora 8 speed groupset. I've got a spare set of fenders that didn't fit another project bike.
These things were easy to choose. I have these parts already, they match in color, and would look great.
However, I don't know much about 650b wheels. I assumed most are really just 584 MTB wheels with 135mm hubs. If so, I could cold space the frame out. Or do most people that have done 650b conversions use 130mm hubs? Are there good, Shimano hub based 650b wheelsets that don't cost an arm and a leg?
Just looking for a little direction. And hopefully, I don't start looking at dynohubs to really confuse me.
I have a spare set of Tektro 559 brakes. I'd like to go back to older style drop bars instead of the slick carbons it has now. And I've got a nice mid 2000's silver Sora 8 speed groupset. I've got a spare set of fenders that didn't fit another project bike.
These things were easy to choose. I have these parts already, they match in color, and would look great.
However, I don't know much about 650b wheels. I assumed most are really just 584 MTB wheels with 135mm hubs. If so, I could cold space the frame out. Or do most people that have done 650b conversions use 130mm hubs? Are there good, Shimano hub based 650b wheelsets that don't cost an arm and a leg?
Just looking for a little direction. And hopefully, I don't start looking at dynohubs to really confuse me.
03-30-20, 05:29 PM
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Are you at all inclined to build your own wheels? It can be a challenge, but pretty fulfilling, and would make the endeavor cheaper. I did this to convert my Motobecane to 650b using a 126mm rear hub.
03-30-20, 06:38 PM
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I've thought about it. Though, I've never built a wheel, nor seen one built. Therefore, I don't exactly trust my skills at this point
03-30-20, 06:40 PM
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Do you have room to fit the tires?
03-30-20, 10:01 PM
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03-30-20, 11:27 PM
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As the grass is always greener person. I thought 700 wheels have many more options. Why would you switch to 650b?
I have commuter bike Raleigh Redux 2 with 650b wheels with 47mm tires. I would like to run something like a 38mm but my rim is to wide.
I was pricing out new rims for my bike and I saw a lot more more options for wheels and tires in the 700 wheel set.
I have commuter bike Raleigh Redux 2 with 650b wheels with 47mm tires. I would like to run something like a 38mm but my rim is to wide.
I was pricing out new rims for my bike and I saw a lot more more options for wheels and tires in the 700 wheel set.
03-31-20, 07:23 AM
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As the grass is always greener person. I thought 700 wheels have many more options. Why would you switch to 650b?
I have commuter bike Raleigh Redux 2 with 650b wheels with 47mm tires. I would like to run something like a 38mm but my rim is to wide.
I was pricing out new rims for my bike and I saw a lot more more options for wheels and tires in the 700 wheel set.
I have commuter bike Raleigh Redux 2 with 650b wheels with 47mm tires. I would like to run something like a 38mm but my rim is to wide.
I was pricing out new rims for my bike and I saw a lot more more options for wheels and tires in the 700 wheel set.
Cushy ride. That old retro look of fatter, gumwall side tires. And once completed, use it more for my local randonneur rides.
Still, I'd like to know if most 650b conversions are using 135mm hubs or 130mm hubs.
Last edited by friday1970; 03-31-20 at 09:13 AM.
03-31-20, 05:10 PM
#8
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I'd probably do 130mm hubs as the chainline will be correct for the road crankset. Something like https://www.harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=4991 or pay for a custom build or build yourself. This is exotic enough that you're not likely to find anything super cheap. The bulk of 650b gravel bikes are running discs anyways, so a lot of the selection out there doesn't have a brake track.
