Show Us Your 650B Conversions
#1101
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,200
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1840 Post(s)
Liked 1,726 Times
in
984 Posts
Ha! Just kidding.
The gist of it is more tire volume helps with a smoother ride over rougher terrain. Because of various geometry limitations of individual bike frame construction, the maximum tire diameter and width is restricted by some limitation. IOW bigger volume tires just won't fit in the frame. Besides, bigger tires would raise the whole bike up too high off the ground and have all sorts of knock-on effects with regard to the bikes handeling characteristics.
The solution is often smaller rims and taller tires so that the tire circumference the bike was designed around remains preserved, but the tire volume is increased.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
#1102
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 717
Bikes: 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa, 1985 Cannondale SM600 (24/26)
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 244 Post(s)
Liked 357 Times
in
195 Posts
***All conversation stops, room gets quiet***
Ha! Just kidding.
The gist of it is more tire volume helps with a smoother ride over rougher terrain. Because of various geometry limitations of individual bike frame construction, the maximum tire diameter and width is restricted by some limitation. IOW bigger volume tires just won't fit in the frame. Besides, bigger tires would raise the whole bike up too high off the ground and have all sorts of knock-on effects with regard to the bikes handeling characteristics.
The solution is often smaller rims and taller tires so that the tire circumference the bike was designed around remains preserved, but the tire volume is increased.
Ha! Just kidding.
The gist of it is more tire volume helps with a smoother ride over rougher terrain. Because of various geometry limitations of individual bike frame construction, the maximum tire diameter and width is restricted by some limitation. IOW bigger volume tires just won't fit in the frame. Besides, bigger tires would raise the whole bike up too high off the ground and have all sorts of knock-on effects with regard to the bikes handeling characteristics.
The solution is often smaller rims and taller tires so that the tire circumference the bike was designed around remains preserved, but the tire volume is increased.
#1103
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,703
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1307 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Liked 5,989 Times
in
2,333 Posts
And to give you some numbers, a 650b x 42mm tire diameter is just a bit less than a 700c x 25mm tire. If you approximate the tire cross section as a circle, and remembering "pie are squared" from high school math, you get nearly 3X the air volume between you and the road. The road buzz from chip seal goes away, well packed gravel feels like asphalt, and loose gravel becomes rideable. Modern wide, light, supple tires ride very nicely compared to the heavy "balloon" tires of my youth.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
#1104
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,721
Bikes: '38 Schwinn New World, ’69 Peugeot PX-10, '72 Peugeot PX-10, ‘7? Valgan, '78 Raleigh Comp GS, ’79 Holdsworth Pro, ’80 Peugeot TH-8 tandem, '87 Trek 400T, ‘7? Raleigh Sports, ‘7? Raleigh Superbe, ‘6? Hercules
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 772 Post(s)
Liked 1,643 Times
in
783 Posts
Also, as yet unmentioned, 650B conversions allow old fogies with aging/less absorptive joints to continue to ride the racy dream-bikes of their youths on disintegrating roads of our crumbling infrastructure (at least in the US....).
![Wink](https://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Last edited by ehcoplex; 05-24-24 at 10:26 AM.
#1105
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,652
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 514 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7414 Post(s)
Liked 2,615 Times
in
1,524 Posts
@Bianchi84, when your bike has rim brakes, you usually need to change the calipers to accommodate 650b wheels. It's possible, in some conversions, to do it with no changes other than brake calipers.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Likes For noglider:
#1106
blahblahblah chrome moly
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 2,104
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1231 Post(s)
Liked 2,753 Times
in
1,144 Posts
If you don't mind the bone-jarring ride of the high-pressure tires on your bike currently, if you don't mind denting your rims on pot-holes and not being able to ride off-road much, then you have no reason to upgrade.
But for me, 32 mm tires are just too limiting, I need 38 minimum preferably 48 mm. The comfort safety and reliability improvements are huge and cost you nothing in terms of speed, if you buy high-quality supple tires.
#1107
tantum vehi
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
Posts: 4,450
Bikes: More than I care to admit
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1171 Post(s)
Liked 999 Times
in
494 Posts
My first fender installation was on a ‘79 710. It probably took two hours per fender. And I have added a spring thing to make removing the wheel easier.
The link to the fender blog is probably the best one I’ve seen, and I’ve read Jan’s Honjo install with Peter Weigle in BQ as well.
I had to dimple the fender to get it between the fork legs. I had to simple it to snug it up to the fork. I have also used a recessed brake nut mates to the Daruma for extra clearance under the fork - it requires a bigger hole, but since you’re drilling your own anyway, not an issue. Eliminates the female connector to the Daruma and fender bolt. I used a longer brake nut one time for a bigger gap between fork and fender to maintain good lines.
wish I had photos, but I’m taking off in a plane. Check my bike links in my sig for some photos - desktop mode.
Lovely bike and great work so far!!
The link to the fender blog is probably the best one I’ve seen, and I’ve read Jan’s Honjo install with Peter Weigle in BQ as well.
I had to dimple the fender to get it between the fork legs. I had to simple it to snug it up to the fork. I have also used a recessed brake nut mates to the Daruma for extra clearance under the fork - it requires a bigger hole, but since you’re drilling your own anyway, not an issue. Eliminates the female connector to the Daruma and fender bolt. I used a longer brake nut one time for a bigger gap between fork and fender to maintain good lines.
wish I had photos, but I’m taking off in a plane. Check my bike links in my sig for some photos - desktop mode.
Lovely bike and great work so far!!
__________________
1970 Gitane TdF; 1973 Gitane TdF
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1985 Specialized Allez SE; 1988 Specialized Sirrus; 1989 Specialized Rock Combo
1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1985 Specialized Allez SE; 1988 Specialized Sirrus; 1989 Specialized Rock Combo
1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
#1108
tantum vehi
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
Posts: 4,450
Bikes: More than I care to admit
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1171 Post(s)
Liked 999 Times
in
494 Posts
I got a roller bearing headset that dampens it so I can usually ride no handed even with a front bag, but it’s still there. I just learned to descend with a knee on the top tube. It’s not the right kind of thrilling to be bombing down a mountain on an inky black night with a rock wall on your right, a cliff on your left and only an Edelux II for light when your bike tries to buck you off. (It’s not just two teenage daughters that caused me to go gray before I’m 50!)
Boy, we thoroughly highjacked this thread like we’re a bunch of iBOB’s…
__________________
1970 Gitane TdF; 1973 Gitane TdF
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1985 Specialized Allez SE; 1988 Specialized Sirrus; 1989 Specialized Rock Combo
1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1985 Specialized Allez SE; 1988 Specialized Sirrus; 1989 Specialized Rock Combo
1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chriskmurray
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
2
07-20-14 12:21 PM
CHAS
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
0
09-24-10 07:00 AM