Nice looking bike, werkin. :thumb:

What frame is that? Custom?

Thank you BluesDawg.

It's an off-the-shelf early model Ruben frame from Traitor Cycles with recent version fork.

Um... OK... so, it's a way to put fat tires on an old road frame. Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to convert a mountain bike, which can already take fat tires?

Or use a cross bike?

Sure. Unless you wanted to have a road bike frame.

650B is wonderful if tight singletrack is your forte. Better footprint and traction than 26" and better quickness than 29er.

It is a way to run wider tires with a similar rolling diameter as most road bikes were designed for. Not all mountain bikes can fit a larger rim also. I have an MTB with plenty of room for width, but the front suspension fork brace and the top pull front dérailleur prevent use of a 650b rim with a tire wider than 32mm/1.25 inch mounted. Overall diameter increases when tire width is increased.

...not to mention that most MTBs ride (and handle) like a truck on pavement. There's a lot to be said for a light, responsive bike with cush tires. Especially here in the land of chipseal.

SP
Bend, OR

Not necessarily. I wanted a Soma Buena Vista frame for my city bike. But wanted larger than 28mm tires for city riding,650b was the only size. On the other hand my touring bike can take big tires but doesn't work anywhere near as well in the city. It's really a question of fitting the tire you want on the frame you want rather than compromising.

Marc