multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
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Wheel size, if you avoid the extremes and separate out the other factors, makes approximately zero difference.
That said, for a smaller rider, 29" wheels are extreme. I just don't see the point of such large wheels.
Now as for the other factors I mention, the big ones are "what tires are available" and "what rims are available.". These days the selection in both 650b and 700c is excellent, so there is really no big reason for a reasonably tall person to prefer one size over the other. Five years ago I had misgivings about riding 650b wheels too far from civilization, but the size is so common now I wouldn't worry about it.
I've been riding a Rawland xSogn lately. 650b x 48 tires, drop bar, steel frame, disc brakes, 1x11 drive. In the last couple months I've ridden it to the station every day, and a couple 125 mile recreational rides. Almost all my riding is on paved surfaces.
Last edited by rhm; 02-06-20 at 05:44 PM.