700c to 650b conversion benefits...
07-24-18, 05:47 AM
#1
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700c to 650b conversion benefits...
Kindly enumerate the main benefits of 700c to 650b conversions.
07-24-18, 05:55 AM
#2
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Most frames can fit a larger tire in the 650b diameter than 700c.
Bottom bracket height is similar for road+ 650b and road 700c (650b x 47mm is similar to 700c x 30mm) if that's what the frame was originally designed for
650b wheels are lighter than 700c
650b tires are lighter than 700c
Bottom bracket height is similar for road+ 650b and road 700c (650b x 47mm is similar to 700c x 30mm) if that's what the frame was originally designed for
650b wheels are lighter than 700c
650b tires are lighter than 700c
07-24-18, 07:08 AM
#3
Full Member
I'm sorry but this has been discussed over a million times already. Just do a tiny bit of google-ing or even just search the forum.
700C to 650B Conversion, Road Bike to Gravel Rig - BIKEPACKING.com
700C to 650B Conversion, Road Bike to Gravel Rig - BIKEPACKING.com
07-24-18, 09:02 AM
#4
Jet Jockey
I’ve been thinking about doing this, but 650b is still kind of an orphan size, so tire selection is limited.
Otherwise, I like the idea for one of my bikes.
Otherwise, I like the idea for one of my bikes.
07-25-18, 08:06 AM
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Compass 3 or 4 models
Donelly Strada USH
Donelly MSO
WTB Byway
WTB Horizon
Panaracer Gravelking and Gravelking SK
Panaracer Pari moto
Terrene Elwood
Schwalbe G one Allround
Teravail Rampart
Maxxis Refuse
And I'm sure that there are others I'm missing.
07-25-18, 12:32 PM
#7
Jet Jockey
There's a pretty decent selection now IMO:
Compass 3 or 4 models
Donelly Strada USH
Donelly MSO
WTB Byway
WTB Horizon
Panaracer Gravelking and Gravelking SK
Panaracer Pari moto
Terrene Elwood
Schwalbe G one Allround
Teravail Rampart
Maxxis Refuse
And I'm sure that there are others I'm missing.
Compass 3 or 4 models
Donelly Strada USH
Donelly MSO
WTB Byway
WTB Horizon
Panaracer Gravelking and Gravelking SK
Panaracer Pari moto
Terrene Elwood
Schwalbe G one Allround
Teravail Rampart
Maxxis Refuse
And I'm sure that there are others I'm missing.
Likes For Banzai:
07-26-18, 07:45 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Got cha, thanks! But if so, following the stated rationale, wouldn't 559 (26") be even better than 584 (27.5")? I mean, there are wider amd more plus and fat tires for 559 than for 584...
07-26-18, 08:18 AM
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Two years ago I was able to convert a bike from 700c x 32 mm to 650b x 47 mm. Doing so transformed the bike and made it a joy to ride on all the local gravel and dirt roads that we have. The 650b x 47 mm tire though, is a little bit less in diameter than the 700c tire that it replaced. The geometry change is subtle, but I do notice the difference that it makes in steering and in bottom-bracket height. You would need to go very wide indeed -- and I have tried -- to get a 26er tire that would match the diameter of my 650b tire, much less that of the original, 700c tire.
07-26-18, 01:32 PM
#10
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I have a bad back and shoulder and other getting older issues. I switched to a 650 bike with 42mm slicks and couldn't be happier feels super smooth riding much more pain free than I have for years. Most surprisingly I'm probably only about 1MPH off my averages for the same routes as when I road a much lighter fancier bike with 700x23's on it. I ride with 60lbs for road and deflate to 40 for gravel.
07-26-18, 02:24 PM
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First - if you are putting 650 wheels on a bike that takes 700c, you will be lowering your bottom bracket. Check that this will not mess anything up.
I can't find any decent 26" tires any more, so that is a bummer. Selection is pretty limited.
larger tires tend to roll smoother because of the shallower impact angle. That's why mountain bikes do 29" tires.
There is a lot more, but its been said...
07-26-18, 02:47 PM
#12
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Fitter, happier
More productive
Comfortable
Not drinking too much
Regular exercise at the gym, three days a week
Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
More productive
Comfortable
Not drinking too much
Regular exercise at the gym, three days a week
Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
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07-26-18, 03:46 PM
#13
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Good questoin.
First - if you are putting 650 wheels on a bike that takes 700c, you will be lowering your bottom bracket. Check that this will not mess anything up.
I can't find any decent 26" tires any more, so that is a bummer. Selection is pretty limited.
larger tires tend to roll smoother because of the shallower impact angle. That's why mountain bikes do 29" tires.
There is a lot more, but its been said...
First - if you are putting 650 wheels on a bike that takes 700c, you will be lowering your bottom bracket. Check that this will not mess anything up.
I can't find any decent 26" tires any more, so that is a bummer. Selection is pretty limited.
larger tires tend to roll smoother because of the shallower impact angle. That's why mountain bikes do 29" tires.
There is a lot more, but its been said...
However I watched a guy (strong guy at that ) Suffer badly in a pain cave on a flat ride into the wind ride rolling on Rat Trap Pass tires. IMO 650 is the sweet spot.
07-26-18, 04:32 PM
#14
Senior Member
I'm sorry but this has been discussed over a million times already. Just do a tiny bit of google-ing or even just search the forum.
700C to 650B Conversion, Road Bike to Gravel Rig - BIKEPACKING.com
700C to 650B Conversion, Road Bike to Gravel Rig - BIKEPACKING.com
Hmmm ... very helpful response
07-26-18, 05:55 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
I suppose it depends on how wide one wants to get, and on what will physically fit into a given frame. I'm pretty happy with the 47 mm width for my gravel riding, and I like the outer diameter that I get from a 650b x 47 mm tire.
Two years ago I was able to convert a bike from 700c x 32 mm to 650b x 47 mm. Doing so transformed the bike and made it a joy to ride on all the local gravel and dirt roads that we have. The 650b x 47 mm tire though, is a little bit less in diameter than the 700c tire that it replaced. The geometry change is subtle, but I do notice the difference that it makes in steering and in bottom-bracket height. You would need to go very wide indeed -- and I have tried -- to get a 26er tire that would match the diameter of my 650b tire, much less that of the original, 700c tire.
Two years ago I was able to convert a bike from 700c x 32 mm to 650b x 47 mm. Doing so transformed the bike and made it a joy to ride on all the local gravel and dirt roads that we have. The 650b x 47 mm tire though, is a little bit less in diameter than the 700c tire that it replaced. The geometry change is subtle, but I do notice the difference that it makes in steering and in bottom-bracket height. You would need to go very wide indeed -- and I have tried -- to get a 26er tire that would match the diameter of my 650b tire, much less that of the original, 700c tire.
07-26-18, 06:51 PM
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EDIT: Found some photos! Check 'em out. The bike was originally a 700c x 32 mm model that I converted to 650b x 47 mm, then briefly to 26 x 2.3". The big air gap under the fender is evidence of how the 26er tires were smaller in diameter than the 650b tires I had been running for months to that point. And the frame clearance (second photo) was just barely enough for me to risk a couple runs up and down the block before I called it a day and ordered up the Gravdals.
Last edited by JonathanGennick; 07-26-18 at 07:07 PM. Reason: To add images
07-26-18, 07:06 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
I suppose it depends on how wide one wants to get, and on what will physically fit into a given frame. I'm pretty happy with the 47 mm width for my gravel riding, and I like the outer diameter that I get from a 650b x 47 mm tire.
Two years ago I was able to convert a bike from 700c x 32 mm to 650b x 47 mm. Doing so transformed the bike and made it a joy to ride on all the local gravel and dirt roads that we have. The 650b x 47 mm tire though, is a little bit less in diameter than the 700c tire that it replaced. The geometry change is subtle, but I do notice the difference that it makes in steering and in bottom-bracket height. You would need to go very wide indeed -- and I have tried -- to get a 26er tire that would match the diameter of my 650b tire, much less that of the original, 700c tire.
Two years ago I was able to convert a bike from 700c x 32 mm to 650b x 47 mm. Doing so transformed the bike and made it a joy to ride on all the local gravel and dirt roads that we have. The 650b x 47 mm tire though, is a little bit less in diameter than the 700c tire that it replaced. The geometry change is subtle, but I do notice the difference that it makes in steering and in bottom-bracket height. You would need to go very wide indeed -- and I have tried -- to get a 26er tire that would match the diameter of my 650b tire, much less that of the original, 700c tire.
That might depend upon the tire. I'm not sure I know enough to make any general claims. My one experience is that last winter for fun I swapped my 650b x 47 mm wheel and tires for a 26er wheelset running a 2.3" Nokian Freddie's Revenz studded tires. The Nokians do run narrow, and maybe that's why their diameter was less than the 650b tires. The frame clearance wasn't there for me either. I ended up running some 700c x 38 mm Gravdals for the winter.
07-27-18, 02:32 AM
#18
Full Member
It is actually, maybe the guy doesn't know that Google exists or you can search the forum. 
You do a google search and immediately get an 18 minute GCN video, an article from ridinggravel.com, bikepacking.com etc.
Seriously tho this is like SRAM vs Shimano or something. Beat do death.
I did link a nice article tho!
You do a google search and immediately get an 18 minute GCN video, an article from ridinggravel.com, bikepacking.com etc.Seriously tho this is like SRAM vs Shimano or something. Beat do death.
I did link a nice article tho!
07-27-18, 08:25 AM
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If 26x2.3" tires created enough additional drag to slow him down so much on top of the rest of his bike and his body, he's not that strong.
08-03-18, 04:25 PM
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