Originally Posted by
Lascauxcaveman
I'm with you there. I should confess I've never ridden a bike with 650b wheels, but extrapolating from my own experience going from 700x23 to 700x28 to 700x35 on a bike or two, I can understand why the evangelists rave about the extra cushion you get with all that volume. And as someone who sometimes descends at unwise speeds on dodgy surfaces, I really like the idea of a big tire under me. But unless I get a frame that I can't max out the 700c tire to my satisfaction I'll probably never bother to go to 650 anything on a road bike.
Or, more likely as it usually happens with me, I'll find a cheap pair 650b wheels somewhere and say, "Aw, what the hell..." and go down a whole 'mother rabbit hole
When it comes to messing around with old bikes, its all good fun. "Gotta Catch 'em All!"
I go back and forth on the whole 650b thing. I like the idea because I can't stop tinkering with my bikes; I hate the idea because I have to deal with a whole new set of parts . . . .
I will say this. The beauty of fatter tires on a road bike is not oversold. They really do handle great; they really do accelerate nicely; and the lower air pressure is really more comfortable. The one bike in my tool kit which I ride regularly on all kinds of surfaces and which I find incredibly comfortable is my 1993 Bridgestone XO-2. It has road geometry but it was built around 26 inch wheels. Back in the day, 26 inches was the smart choice for an all roads bike since no one had dreamt up 29ers yet and 26 inch wheel MTBs were all the rage. The '93 XO-2 has the same geometry as the more famous XO-1 and it was sold with really nice Nitto dirt drop bars; it was and is such a well thought out bike designed by a guy, Grant Peterson, who wasn't scared to push the design envelope.
