This came up in another thread. Well, not exactly - but I've wondered about it.

I've heard that this happened as people said that the 700c diameter wheel offered better performance of some kind, but it sounds like a lot of crap to me. I've never felt "faster" when riding 27", 700c, or 26" even. It just seems to depend upon all the other factors than influence speed.

I know that wheel diameter should be proportional to height, etc.

Did they just move to 700c so everyone would have to buy bike shop tires at high prices?