Originally Posted by
wgscott
I've been riding gravel for several years with 700c x 38mm tires, and just recently acquired a 650b wheelset, and the improvement in handling, as well as the ability to use a bit wider set of tires, has been transformative.
This. "Gravel" here is dirt roads that may even be graded once a year. No comparison to the rocky stuff I see in other areas. Even so, there are washouts, accumulations of loose dirt, creek crossings, etc. For someone of my limited skills, even 42mm is marginal. I had much more confidence riding the 2.2 inch mtb tires. I'd certainly consider 650b if it enabled a wider tire.