vintage motor
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Posts: 1,595
Bikes: 48 Automoto, 49 Stallard, 50 Rotrax, 62 Jack Taylor, 67 Atala, 68 Lejeune, 72-74-75 Motobecanes, 73 RIH, 71 Zieleman, 74 Raleigh, 78 Windsor, 83 Messina (Villata), 84 Brazzo (Losa), 85 Davidson, 90 Diamondback, 92 Kestrel
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Another option for a smaller diameter wheel is the 650A, also called 26x1-1/4. The rim diameter is 590 mm, which is just a bit larger than the 584 mm diameter of 650B. It will give you extra space for fenders and larger tires, and the brake reach is a bit less than for 650B. The Sun CR-18 rim and Panaracer Col de la Vie tire are both made in this size, they are affordable, high quality, and good-looking. The tire's actual width is about 35 mm. The downside is that the CR-18/CdlV combo is about the only decent option in this wheel size, but if that works for you, then you don't really need anything else. I have two sets of these. The first was for an English 3-speed, which is what they were originally designed for. The second set is on my Motobecane Grand Record, and I decided to get the 590's because the CR-18's were half the price of the cheapest 650B rims.