650b
Thread started by
Velocipede at 06.13.10 - 4:24 pm
What's all the fuss about 650b? I've been reading about 650b conversions and it looks pretty interesting. Would it be possible to convert a mtn. bike to 650b or a 27" frame? Is it just a brake reach issue or something else?
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If you were converting a mountain bike, what would be the benefits of a 650b wheel over keeping the 26" rims and throwing on some 1" or 1.25" road tread tires, which would allow you to keep the same geometry/brakes/etc.?
JB06.13.10 - 5:02 pm
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You set off my 650B alert!
650B conversion is more useful for road bikes, IMHO. It allows you to take a racing bike with no clearance for jack shit into a practical, fenderable fat tired 40 PSI 650B bike:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/650b.html
Here's my 650B conversion:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhvu/4581296824/
Now, it's not going to sing or do your dishes for you, but there's something really fun and different about a light bike with fat tires. You can keep up with 700C bikes just fine, and the smaller diameter means slightly faster acceleration. 650B wheels are also stronger with the same spoke count and you find yourself going over curbs and bad pavement just because you can. I haven't taken my bike on dirt yet, but I've heard 650B is great for fire roads and nontechnical off-road.
The tire selection is quite good too. You've got all the 650B MTB knobbies and utilitarian city tires. Plus there's also a slew of new light-weight, fast 650B tires meant for randonneuring that are, by accounts, a pleasure to ride.
cabhauler06.18.10 - 1:15 pm
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Fat road tires are the wave of the future, IMHO.
angle06.19.10 - 6:53 pm
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save your money and get some 26" road tires. Done.
rev106 responding to a
comment by angle
06.20.10 - 7:39 am
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That's exactly what I run—26 x 2.0 slicks. Best cure for rough pavement.
angle responding to a
comment by rev106
06.20.10 - 1:42 pm
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that sounds cool and easy :)
666 responding to a
comment by rev106
06.20.10 - 11:47 pm
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I threw some of these on my SS MTB conversion, and they've been pretty awesome.
26x1.25 - $14.99 per
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1070099_-1_1511003_1511000_400013
JB06.21.10 - 9:33 pm
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Those will do you right for awhile, but due to the shit conditions up here I got some MIchelins.
I'm a one-bike man for now, the EZ-1 recumbent has been hanging in the rafters since my little misadventure at Deep Creek.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by JB
06.22.10 - 12:58 am
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