On Sat, 2009-08-22 at 09:43 -0700, Brewster Fong wrote: > On the Serotta board, someone pleaded for people to "invest" in Kirk > Pacenti's Pari-Moto road tire (584x38). The poster stated Kirk needed > 200 pairs pre-ordered by 8/15 at a cost of $118/pair. Does anyone know > if Kirk made it? > > I'm curious as to the size of the 650b market. If there's "growth," is > it mainly mtb (27.5")? I have a buddy who just build up a custom Rock > Lobster 650b bike, but its an mtb. He said Paul Sadoff has only done a > few of these and all mtbers. My buddy is only 5'7 or 5'8, but he loves > the ride of his new bike! > > What's the demand for road 650b?
There are many top-tier custom builders who can make you a magnificent 650B randonneur or all-arounder. To name just a few that readily come to my mind: Peter Weigle, Bilenky, Tournesol, Ebisu. I am not a MTB guy, so I can't speak to that market. I do have 3 650B road bikes; one is set up as a porteur, one is a touring bike and the third is a rough stuff randonneur. They all perform their jobs magnificently. Those custom builders aren't making 559 all arounders, randonneurs or touring bikes. You might call that a niche, but it's a mighty important one IMHO. If you have never ridden a supple 50 psi tire that's 42mm wide like the Hetre on a gravel road you simply do not know and can't have any idea. > For example, 650b seems to make > sense for making older "racing" style bikes more useful, i.e., you can > take basically any old racer like a Masi or Colnago, put on 650b > wheels and run 32 or 35mm wide tires. Alternatively, 650b seems to > work for those with shorter legs too. That's all true. However, none of my three are conversions, all are purpose-built 650B bikes, and all are 60 or 61.5 cm in size. My 700C bikes are 59 or 59.5 cm. > But, is there really that many people demanding road 650b or is it > just another fading fad? It isn't fading, and it never was a fad. Hula hoops were a fad. 650B was and is a niche market. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
