Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - 650Bs

I've been reading more about 650b wheels and was wondering if anyone has experience with them and long distance riding? I've been thinking about a 650b light touring/distance bike and am hoping for some input.

I've been riding an IRO Mark V that I converted to 650B. I wanted a single speed with fatter tires & room for fenders, and I wanted it cheap. It's comfy, though I don't know if there's much difference between a fat 650B and a fat 700c.


I've been reading more about 650b wheels and was wondering if anyone has experience with them and long distance riding? I've been thinking about a 650b light touring/distance bike and am hoping for some input.

I've been reading more about 650b wheels and was wondering if anyone has experience with them and long distance riding? I've been thinking about a 650b light touring/distance bike and am hoping for some input.

I've been wondering the same thing. Every post that comes up has very few responses. 650B looks to be on the fringe of acceptability, the outer fringe at that. It seems there is more talk than actual product out there.

Tim

.... the fringe of acceptability, the outer fringe at that.

To me, that can be a good thing.:) To many dittoheads in the world as it is.

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Go with Harris Cycles for your 650B needs....this is not an ad, just a fact.

I've been reading more about 650b wheels and was wondering if anyone has experience with them and long distance riding? I've been thinking about a 650b light touring/distance bike and am hoping for some input. 650B's seem to be the new h0ttness in randoneering circles. Bicycle Quarterly (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/) has been touting the benefits of 650B tries (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/VBQtiretest.pdf) for quite while, and a few randoneering bike builders like Rivendell (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/pdf/bleriot_bro.pdf) and ANT (http://www.antbikemike.com/newsandevents.html) are planning on intro'ing bikes built around the 650B wheel. Both the Riv press release and the VBQ article seems to be the best pieces covering the strengths of the size. It's still rather popular in Japan, and that nation is huge into cycling.

I've been riding an IRO Mark V that I converted to 650B. I wanted a single speed with fatter tires & room for fenders, and I wanted it cheap. It's comfy, though I don't know if there's much difference between a fat 650B and a fat 700c.

That's a very good looking Mark V.

Are those CdlVs?

Thanks. The tires are Panasonic Nifty Swifty's.


That's a very good looking Mark V.

Are those CdlVs?

Thanks. The tires are Panasonic Nifty Swifty's.

Have you read the BQ tire article?

Have you read the BQ tire article?

Great article - totally worth the entire cost of a year's subscription.

oh, almost forgot to point out when I posted previously -- if you're interested in 650B wheels, you should also check out the 650B bikelist mailing list (http://phred.org/pipermail/650b/). Fair number of 650B enthusiasts post there, including Jan Heine, the BQ editor.

Thanks guys, I still have a lot of deciding to do but this was very helpful.

I can see the appeal if you ride a 53cm frame or thereabouts and want a lack of toe overlap. Riv/Kogswell & others are certainly brave for bringing a long dead size back to life(save France).

You can't get tyres/tubes/rims over here in the UK. Availability is certainly something to think about if you want to use 650B for touring other countries.

Personally, I'm waiting for a 61.6cm 700c Kogswell PR to arrive. I couldn't buy one quick enough, Matthew ;).

Yeah I'm 5'9" with short legs so I might end up on like 51 or something with a longer top tube.

Dreaming custom...

Ankara?
I am currently putting together a Rivendell Bleriot 650b for the wife. I like the idea, but if you blow a tire or need a new wheel... exactly how will it take to get one
to Ankara? That would prob be a deal breaker for me.

Well, I'm studying abroad in Ankara and didn't bring my bike (holy crap do I miss it). I'll be back in Philadelphia in early January, so until then its all brooding over bikes and parts and deciding on one thing only to change my mind a week later. Maybe it's a good thing?

Let me know how the Bleriot goes, I love Rivendells but with my budget I'd rather have something made to fit me locally. Bilenky is my first choice but there are a few other builders around.

I was thinking 650b from all the hype about how the ride is but it seems hard to compare unless you had a bike with a 26" wheels converted to 650b with the same tires. I'm an engineering student; I need numbers! Right now I'm leaning towards the 26 but in 6 or 7 weeks who knows.

I'm also off to bed, in Turkey it's iyi geceler (good nights)

Well,
take a look at this...
http://parts.spicercycles.com/page.cfm?PageID=37&action=list&Category=680&type=T&startRow=61

Wow, thats a great deal but I'm just worried about my short legs and getting the right fit with enough standover clearance.

Well,
take a look at this...
http://parts.spicercycles.com/page.cfm?PageID=37&action=list&Category=680&type=T&startRow=61

Is that a real Rivendell or one they licensed to QBP? Rivendell did a deal with QBP and they are having a frame made in Taiwan just for QBP. At that price I can't see it being made in Japan or the US.

Tim

Riv's catalog says the Bleriot is made in Taiwan. The Saluki is another Riv 650B frame, made in Japan & around $900 more.



Is that a real Rivendell or one they licensed to QBP? Rivendell did a deal with QBP and they are having a frame made in Taiwan just for QBP. At that price I can't see it being made in Japan or the US.

Tim