Originally Posted by
Six jours
FWIW, I see certain advantages of 650b for touring/randonneuring bikes. It's a good way to get a fairly fat (30-40mm) tire without having to really jack the geometry around to make it fit. (650x38 ends up being essentially the same outer diameter as 700x23.)
The point has been made that 26" wheels would accomplish the same thing, and it would be a lot easier for tire manufacturers to tool up to make lightweight 26" road tires. On the surface, this would be true, but the reality is that the makers of 26" tires haven't done it, but the makers of 650b tires have, so there you go.
Just bought a 26" tire for a garage sale Schwinn Collegiate that fits the bill, an S-6 26 x 1 3/8" (37 x 597mm). Paid more for the tire, $13, than I did for the $10 bike. Any Schwinn dealer should have 'em. They've been around for a while. Around even longer are the tried and true EA-3 26" x 1 3/8 (37 x 590mm) that was/is standard for a zillion and one English (and some American) three speeds