I own two custom 650b bikes. As a smaller rider, I chose this tire format for the range of performance tires in the 28-38c range. 650c tires were too skinny and I didn't like the kludgy feel of mtb "road" tires.
It's a minority opinion, but I DO wish there were a few more options in the narrow, "performance" range of 650b tires. Aside from the Grand Bois Cypres, there are no options out there for 650b x 28 (or narrower) tires. I'm wishing I had invested in a few more pairs of Michelin Megamiums or Axial Raids before they disappeared off the market. If anyone has a spare pair, let me know. Regards, Lesli Larson Eugene, OR On May 11, 10:33 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com> wrote: > The discussion about the new Pacenti 650B tires momentarily ventured > into commentary on "the future of 650B". I thought this was worth a > discussion of its own. > > Two or three years ago we had 650B bikes at Hiawatha Cyclery from at > least three manufacturers: Rivendell, Kogswell, and Rawland. Now > Rivendell does 650B only on smaller sizes of certain models, Kogswell > seems to be on an indefinite hiatus, and Rawland's new models have > been displayed at various venues with 622 and 559 wheels (with disc > brakes, 650B will still be an option). > > To the extent that 650B has gone mainstream, it is by and large in the > 27.5" wheel size for mountain bikes. It seems like new disc-specific > rim and fat-knobby tire options are proliferating, but the 650B rim > and tire options for road bikes have not expanded much, if at all, > since I first read about 650B in the Rivendell Reader. There are some > small importers/manufacturers like Jan Heine with the Gran Bois and > now Pacenti with his Pari-Moto, but they have yet to get their tires > into the QBP catalog or on any Treks. I was pleasantly surprised to > see another of my mainstream distributors pick up some 650B stuff, but > again, it was mostly of the MTB variety. > > I'm not sure Rivendell and a few custom framebuilders can sell enough > 650B bikes to support much expansion, or even maintain current levels > of the 650B rim/tire selection and availability. Unless the 650B size > gets picked up by Trek or some other major player, I think its future > will be at best as a niche item with limited selection and spotty > availability. I'd encourage 650B bike owners and aficionados to > stockpile an extra set of rims and a couple sets of favorite tires, > just in case. > > -- > 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-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- 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-bu...@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.
