Originally Posted by
Grand Bois
Is there any advantage to a 650B conversion if a 700X38-42 will fit? It's an expensive conversion.
I'd say the advantage is slight if you can fit that wide a 700c tires, but that's usually a specific sort of frame (Surly LHT?). 650B conversions can be done on a fairly wide range of frames in terms of geometry. Also, the most popular 42mm 650B tire, the Panaracer Hetre, gets raved about much more than any 38-42mm 700c tire, at least on the interwebs.
Neal