650B for gravel is....out?
#26
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This thread has me wondering: what are the effective differences between, say, 650bx47 and 700x47 on the same frame, besides a higher BB?
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
#27
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650b wheel-sets are now considered so anti-trendy that they are hazardous waste and are a liability.
As a favor to everyone, I am prepared to dispose of your wheel-set free of charge. All I ask is that you pack them very carefully and pay for shipping directly to me.
As a favor to everyone, I am prepared to dispose of your wheel-set free of charge. All I ask is that you pack them very carefully and pay for shipping directly to me.
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#28
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This thread has me wondering: what are the effective differences between, say, 650bx47 and 700x47 on the same frame, besides a higher BB?
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
If you are really tall, you might prefer the large wheel/tire combination.
#29
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This thread has me wondering: what are the effective differences between, say, 650bx47 and 700x47 on the same frame, besides a higher BB?
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/...waAt_oEALw_wcB
27.5” MTB wheels
- Quicker and more playful handling
- The traditional choice for downhill riding
- Smaller wheels are generally lighter, stiffer, and stronger
- Good option for shorter riders
29” MTB wheels
- Rolls over rough terrain and obstacles more easily
- The traditional choice for cross-country racing
- Becoming popular for trail, enduro, and even downhill racing
- Good option for taller riders
- Who it’s for: Riders who want to maximize uphill and downhill speed for racing or crushing Strava segments. Riders who want to stay up-to-date with the latest tech.
#30
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This thread has me wondering: what are the effective differences between, say, 650bx47 and 700x47 on the same frame, besides a higher BB?
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
Curious because I used to have a bike built for 650b that made me fall in love with the rim size. It was sadly stolen and now I have a bike that could accommodate both tire sizes listed above.
The bike is much quicker and responsive in turns on the road rubber. I attribute most of this to the tread and width, rather than change in diameter - but that probably plays a bigger role than I realize.
My frame geometry doesn't work with 650b - the chain stays are hourglass so I'm guessing there's less clearance in 650b size than with 700c, but it would be interesting to try a 650b sized wheel on there with wide gravel tires to see if it retains some of that same feeling as the 700x28 road setup.
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#31
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I was thinking about this today more. I run 700x28 road tires on my CX bike, which can also officially handle up to 700x45mm, but I'm guessing 47mm is no problem. I've never used anything wider than 38mm on that bike, but there is a noticeable difference in handling when I swap between 700x38 gravel tires and 700x28 road tires. 700x47 would feel huge.
The bike is much quicker and responsive in turns on the road rubber. I attribute most of this to the tread and width, rather than change in diameter - but that probably plays a bigger role than I realize.
My frame geometry doesn't work with 650b - the chain stays are hourglass so I'm guessing there's less clearance in 650b size than with 700c, but it would be interesting to try a 650b sized wheel on there with wide gravel tires to see if it retains some of that same feeling as the 700x28 road setup.
The bike is much quicker and responsive in turns on the road rubber. I attribute most of this to the tread and width, rather than change in diameter - but that probably plays a bigger role than I realize.
My frame geometry doesn't work with 650b - the chain stays are hourglass so I'm guessing there's less clearance in 650b size than with 700c, but it would be interesting to try a 650b sized wheel on there with wide gravel tires to see if it retains some of that same feeling as the 700x28 road setup.
on 28 or 32mm tires, it handles pretty much like it is designed (OEM is 33mm).
If I put 50mm front, 40mm rear (maxed out both), it gives the bike more trail, handles more stable, and is better for hard core gravel and even single track. Maybe 10mm more trail, its not huge, but it makes a difference.
Oh yeah, toe overlap. That is a thing if I go big on the front.
Bigger difference is tire design A furious fred handles like a road tire with a nice rounded cross section. A Thunder Burt has squared off shoulders and significant knobs; it handles a LOT different in the turns.
Tread width can be the same - if I max out the pressure on a 40mm tire, the tread on the road isn't a whole lot different than a 28mm tire. I've done that, but it is horrible in that it defeats the purpose of having wider tires and makes the bike feel way too stiff for the type of riding I want to do on those tires.
#32
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You could include more and more "road" bikes, too. I dunno how many other people I speak for, but if I'd been able to fit 32mm tires and possibly fenders into the road bikes I had a decade ago, I doubt I would have pursued 650B at all.
#33
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In cross-country this is true, but 27.5” is still the preferred size for gravity riding as far as I know. There’s a vogue for a 29” front and 27.5” back wheel in World Cup downhill racing at the moment, but no sign that 650b is going away.