Originally Posted by crank_addict (Post 19201404)

No doubt there's trade-offs but some feel piggy on the road. Plus the extra weight of the carcass is not something I desire. Anyways, I might go that direction but then again the Stumpy is an experiment, even considering going tubeless.

Originally Posted by gugie (Post 19201443)

I have a bike with 42mm Hetre tires, another with the 50+mm Rat Trap Pass 26". The 50+ is definitely squishy on the road, but excels on rough gravel.

Originally Posted by bikemig (Post 19201458)

Which bike are you running the 42 mm tire? Which one the 50 mm tire? From the posts here, it looks as if many 650 conversion bikes top out at 38 mm tires.

Originally Posted by crank_addict (Post 19201404)

No doubt there's trade-offs but some feel piggy on the road. Plus the extra weight of the carcass is not something I desire. Anyways, I might go that direction but then again the Stumpy is an experiment, even considering going tubeless.

Originally Posted by gugie (Post 19201537)

The UBI bike was purpose made for those tires. I doubt there are many, if any vintage non-MTB frames that would accept them, but converting a steel MTB from that time period to drop bars is pretty standard, and easily done, since they're already designed for 26" fat tires.

Originally Posted by Sir_Name (Post 19202059)

I didn't realize you wrapped that up with paint. The decal and build look great. Are there more pics on the build thread?

Originally Posted by otg (Post 19202246)

1Mule, the tires are Pari-Moto 38's. Thanks for the compliment. I haven't put more than about 8 miles on it, but I really think it's going to be nice for long rides. I have a Sugino triple, 46-36-26 up front with an 11-34 9 speed cassette. I've only ridden on flat ground and hoping to get out on some hills tomorrow morning if the weather holds up.

Originally Posted by gugie (Post 19202286)

Try here.

Originally Posted by crank_addict (Post 19202085)

Certainly the fun is in experimenting and of course was advised to build two sets of wheels. I'll see what becomes available for budget wheels and then bump up for the rubber. Great suggestions here.

Originally Posted by Tim_Iowa (Post 19193940)

[MENTION=302603]bikemig[/MENTION],

I have a spare set of 650b Synergy rims laced to 36 hole Phil Wood FSA (130/freewheel) hubs. They don't get any use since I built another set of wheels (650b Pacenti PL23 to 36 hole dynamo front and VO rear cassette).

In fact, the last time they were used was when I loaned them to [MENTION=251447]ThermionicScott[/MENTION] last year, for his 650b fit test.

Anyway, they're located in Cedar Rapids any time you want to borrow them. If you like them, you can make me an offer.

Regarding 650b rims: The Weinmann ZAC19 rims have too-deep wells that tend to capture the tire and prevent the bead from seating easily. Synergy rims have a similar problem, but not to the extreme of the ZAC19s.
Mounting a tire on the ZAC19 rim takes lots of manual wrestling to get the tire bead up out of the valley.
I have two sets of the Uglyrm ZAC19 wheels. They're very inexpensive and the hubs have been reliable, but the mounting frustration lessens their value a bit.

My Pacenti rims seem to be a bit tougher to get the tire onto at first, but once mounted the tire goes right into its proper place up on the bead.

Originally Posted by Paramount1973 (Post 19202744)

What if you doubled the rim tape on the Zac19 rims? Is it possible that it would help keep the tire bead up out of the valley? FWIW, I have a 26" wheel with a Zac19 rim and the 42mm Panaracer T-serv tire I mounted on it went right on without any problems.

Originally Posted by rhm (Post 19203040)

I think the problem isn't exactly the valley, but definitely some detail in the way the bead of the tire meshes with the hook of the rim. I'm sure there is a way to fix this, adding just the right amount of material at just the right place on the rim, but it might not be as simple as an extra layer of tape.

Originally Posted by Paramount1973 (Post 19202744)

What if you doubled the rim tape on the Zac19 rims? Is it possible that it would help keep the tire bead up out of the valley? FWIW, I have a 26" wheel with a Zac19 rim and the 42mm Panaracer T-serv tire I mounted on it went right on without any problems.

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott (Post 19205167)

My '88 Bianchi Premio doesn't quite have good enough clearance under the front brake caliper for a 700x28C. Even with a true front wheel and a true-to-size Pasela, it gives a "ziiip-ziiip" sound when riding out of the saddle. Maybe I should make a 650B roadie out of it. :D

Originally Posted by rccardr (Post 19207510)

Rode the Pelizzoli withh 650B's this past weekend in AZ on El Tour. Loup Loup Pass 38's on Velocity A23's with Record hubs.

'Twas like riding on a cloud, surrounded by flying unicorns farting rainbows. Seriously smooth.

Originally Posted by gugie (Post 19201537)

My UBI bike with Rat Trap Pass (52mm measured):
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5695/3...3ff9caf8_b.jpg

The UBI bike was purpose made for those tires. I doubt there are many, if any vintage non-MTB frames that would accept them, but converting a steel MTB from that time period to drop bars is pretty standard, and easily done, since they're already designed for 26" fat tires.

Originally Posted by gugie (Post 19201537)

Originally Posted by bikemig (Post 19188297)

There are some older threads on this but nothing that has been kept up-to-date.

I've been thinking of doing a 650b conversion for long distance endurance riding. I know that's kind of an in thing at this point and I like the idea of fat cushy tires for a long day on the road. I'm sitting on a 1978 Trek 510 (it's a full ishiwata 022 frameset) that would make a fine 650b bike and I'm fence sitting on whether to do the conversion or not.

I'm curious who's done a 650b conversion, your experiences in making the conversion, and pics, of course, are always welcome, :). Details please as to what worked and what didn't is helpful as well.

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy (Post 19208070)

Have you seen this? 650B Conversion Guidlines