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-   -   purpose of 650 wheel (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/378895-purpose-650-wheel.html)

data 01-13-08 09:07 PM

purpose of 650 wheel
 
so whats the purpose of these wheels. I guess I could understand if it was a super small bike for a really small person, but sometimes I see 650 fronts with 700 backs on normal sized bikes. Or I'll see a normal sized bike with a fork that can only handle a 650.

kidtwisty 01-13-08 09:11 PM

barspins.

or i guess the rider wants a more "aero" position so they set their rides up accordingly
for a slightly downward-sloping top tube and a more aggressive headtube angle.

deathhare 01-13-08 09:11 PM

For jackass points mostly.

blickblocks 01-13-08 09:13 PM

It was originally intended for use with balloon-style tires, but some track racing team decided to use them with skinny tires on the track to tuck down further in a paceline. Slightly better for drafting, and that's about it.

rodri9o 01-13-08 09:14 PM

if i had to guess a few:
-it allowed bike designers to have the front end of a bike lower, which meant lower handlebars so riders could get more aerodynamic.
-there was also a theory of the wheel being smaller and giving off less turbulence, but it spun faster than a 700c wheel....6 or 1/2 dozen.....:rolleyes:

jdms mvp 01-13-08 09:25 PM


Originally Posted by data (Post 5977300)
so whats the purpose of these wheels. I guess I could understand if it was a super small bike for a really small person, but sometimes I see 650 fronts with 700 backs on normal sized bikes. Or I'll see a normal sized bike with a fork that can only handle a 650.

pursuit bikes which are meant to be super aero.

i like to think of them as drag cars =P

DieselDan 01-13-08 09:42 PM

650c is good for small road bike frames with traditional geometry, and for the odd ball geometry of triathlon bikes that won't allow for 700c wheels.

marqueemoon 01-13-08 09:52 PM

To annoy dutret.

c0urt 01-13-08 10:27 PM


Originally Posted by deathhare (Post 5977321)
For jackass points mostly.

i resemble that comment!!!

actually they are being phased out of the tri world as frame design is improving and 700c bikes are closing the margin. at one point in time there was a scant weight gain since you had a smaller wheel base and smaller wheels and less spinning mass.

but i like my 650c bike and it still gets looks, even with it's oddball geometry

TimArchy 01-13-08 11:00 PM

That whole 650c/Tri thing was just a horrible moment for cycling. I'm so happy it's mostly dead

jdms mvp 01-13-08 11:09 PM

i'm going to use two 650c wheels on my 43c fuji track bike =P

~Stuart~ 01-13-08 11:11 PM

real men ride 650

operator 01-13-08 11:12 PM


Originally Posted by TimArchy (Post 5977923)
That whole 650c/Tri thing was just a horrible moment for cycling. I'm so happy it's mostly dead

+1

operator 01-13-08 11:13 PM


Originally Posted by ~Stuart~ (Post 5977971)
real men ride 650

Uh, heh. Sorry I don't swing that way.

schnee 01-13-08 11:29 PM


Originally Posted by data (Post 5977300)
so whats the purpose of these wheels.

It's yet another a reason to laugh at yourself when you're showing your pictures to your grandkids.

jon148 01-13-08 11:47 PM

tiny little people

evictionsurplus 01-13-08 11:58 PM

I roll 700c in the front 27 in the rear only because I had a flat on my 27" front and was too lazy to patch it. I grabbed a front wheel from my road bike. It actually makes my bike ride much better and I rather like the geometry change. Go figure. Maybe it was a desperation move like mine that started the trend. Or at least I can only hope...

c0urt 01-14-08 12:16 AM

did i mention my 53cm bike has no toe overlap on 170 cranks
and i love the weight distribution

picture time!!
http://stupidhurts.org/gallery/album...1/IMG_0124.jpg

snafs 01-14-08 12:46 AM

You go faster since you are always riding downhill.

Transfixed06 01-14-08 06:39 AM

is there a thread with pics of frames with 650 wheels on them? or can someone post some in this thread? i keep reading about these things, and would like to see what they look like on a track frame. thanks.

dobber 01-14-08 07:43 AM

Fits 650 tires

deathhare 01-14-08 07:55 AM


Originally Posted by c0urt (Post 5977778)
i resemble that comment!!!

actually they are being phased out of the tri world as frame design is improving and 700c bikes are closing the margin. at one point in time there was a scant weight gain since you had a smaller wheel base and smaller wheels and less spinning mass.

but i like my 650c bike and it still gets looks, even with it's oddball geometry

Well, its one thing to have a bike that requires and was designed for 650c wheels. Its quite another to have a bike made for 700c wheels and then toss a 650c wheel on the front for stupid **** or looks.
Just my honest opinion.

Commuter8 01-14-08 02:11 PM

Which 650 are you talking about.
 
There are three 650 sizes, which one are you talking about?

26 x 1 3/8" E.A.3 590 ISO 650A English 3-speeds, others
26 x 1 1/2" 584 ISO 650B
26 x other fraction 571 ISO 650C triathlon, time trial

Reportedly the 650A has been around for a _long_ time.
So has the 650B, a traditional european general use/touring tire.
The 650b has been making a comeback as of late with serveral purpose built bikes.
650c as has been mentioned is used primarily by tri-athletes.

And, I bet, if you know, googled one of these terms 650b, 650a, or 650c the magic box would tell you even more about them..

God, why do I sub to this forum?!

bonechilling 01-14-08 02:15 PM


Originally Posted by Commuter8 (Post 5980975)
There are three 650 sizes, which one are you talking about?

26 x 1 3/8" E.A.3 590 ISO 650A English 3-speeds, others
26 x 1 1/2" 584 ISO 650B
26 x other fraction 571 ISO 650C triathlon, time trial

Reportedly the 650A has been around for a _long_ time.
So has the 650B, a traditional european general use/touring tire.
The 650b has been making a comeback as of late with serveral purpose built bikes.
650c as has been mentioned is used primarily by tri-athletes.

And, I bet, if you know, googled one of these terms 650b, 650a, or 650c the magic box would tell you even more about them..

God, why do I sub to this forum?!

Why did you post this? Everyone here knew exactly what he was talking about, but that didn't stop you from wasting the time and effort just to nit-pick and show off your knowledge of European tire sizes.

c0urt 01-14-08 02:18 PM

so one more thing. and i am not sure how true this is. but in the tri world 650c bike at one point were faster on long descents than 700c bikes due to a smaller front profile. but thanks to things like intergrated headsets and intergrated bar/stem combos and what not i dont think thats really the case today


and i am just giving you grief deathhare

c0urt 01-14-08 02:21 PM


Originally Posted by Transfixed06 (Post 5978777)
is there a thread with pics of frames with 650 wheels on them? or can someone post some in this thread? i keep reading about these things, and would like to see what they look like on a track frame. thanks.

look for my bike in the post your pics thread and as far as i know there are only about 1-3 other people who are regular posters who have bikes that built with 650c rims front and bike on them.

mander 01-15-08 10:36 AM

One thing that bears mentioning is that a lot of stayer's bikes (built for motorpacing) have sub-700c front wheels to get the rider deeper into the motorcycle or car's draft and hence to allow them to go faster. This may not be directly relevant to the op's question as I don't know whether these bikes have commonly used any of the 650 standard wheels.

bonechilling 01-15-08 10:47 AM


Originally Posted by mander (Post 5985691)
One thing that bears mentioning is that a lot of stayer's bikes (built for motorpacing) have sub-700c front wheels to get the rider deeper into the motorcycle or car's draft and hence to allow them to go faster. This may not be directly relevant to the op's question as I don't know whether these bikes have commonly used any of the 650 standard wheels.

Stayer bikes are all sub-700c. I believe they use a 24" (or 600c) wheel in front, but I'm not certain.

jim-bob 01-16-08 03:14 PM

This bike was designed around 650c wheels :
http://entirely-adequate.com/holland...ullholland.jpg

No, seriously, no way a 700c wheel's gonna fit in there.
http://entirely-adequate.com/holland/noclearance.jpg

c0urt 01-16-08 03:26 PM

nice, that bike looks awesome

hows it ride with those bars. looks like your geos are similar to mine

I almost dump my self on my face when ever i put my drops on mine
http://stupidhurts.org/gallery/album...1/IMG_0069.JPG


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