Schurter off to a good start - 650b content...

[Kirk Pacenti]

Go Nino! :hello:

http://thegreatescapemtb.blogspot.com/2012/03/nino-schurter-wins-on-650b-275er.html

Cheers,
KP

[HenryA]

650B rules!

[bfd]

Go Nino! :hello:

http://thegreatescapemtb.blogspot.com/2012/03/nino-schurter-wins-on-650b-275er.html

Cheers,
KP

Its good to see that 27.5" is making in-roads in the mtb world. But has 650b caught on in the road world, e.g., are any of the big 3 or 4 mfrs ever going to come out with a 650b road bike? Or will this size be relegated to a niche market? Good Luck!

[Kirk Pacenti]

Its good to see that 27.5" is making in-roads in the mtb world. But has 650b caught on in the road world, e.g., are any of the big 3 or 4 mfrs ever going to come out with a 650b road bike? Or will this size be relegated to a niche market? Good Luck!

As goes mountain bike development, so goes road bike development.

Cheers,
KP

[Kirk Pacenti]

Here's a pic of Nino and the bike. Reportedly a Scott 650b prototype. I was more interested to see the Dugast tubular tires. I'm assuming those are carbon wheels, but don't know for sure.

http://pedalmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WC-Pietermaritzburg_Schurter-650b.2.jpg

Cheers,
KP

[jh_on_the_cape]

Last year I bought a second hand 650b front wheel and tire from a local rider. Put it on my turner 5 spot just to try it. It fit fine in the fox fork.

Huge improvement. I think if more people tried 650b front and/or rear they might like it. It's not for everyone everywhere, but it's for some. But you almost have to get a new custom wheel just to try it which is $$. There is very little used out there compared with 26 or 29.

In fact, I am thinking of replacing my fork. But I want to go to a thru axle. which means a new front 650b wheel. my xtr hub cannot be converted.... which means more $$... not alot of lightly used qr15 650b wheels out there. so i am waiting.

A chicken and egg problem. I think if some of the big companies offered 650b, then it would be out there enough for people to try. Trek did the 69er for a while, but I don't think they sold so well.

[Fixed]

the whole race is on you tube someone on v.s. posted the link yesterday
cheers

[dauwhe]

But has 650b caught on in the road world, e.g., are any of the big 3 or 4 mfrs ever going to come out with a 650b road bike? Or will this size be relegated to a niche market? Good Luck!

I have three 650B road bikes in my house right now.

:banana:

[pitcrew]

650b for me :beer:

[Kirk Pacenti]

Great article about the bike in question with a little insight from Thomas Frischknecht here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/nino-schurter-wins-world-cup-1-on-650b-wheels-33467/

Cheers,
KP

[Liv2RideHard]

Here's a pic of Nino and the bike. Reportedly a Scott 650b prototype. I was more interested to see the Dugast tubular tires. I'm assuming those are carbon wheels, but don't know for sure.

http://pedalmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WC-Pietermaritzburg_Schurter-650b.2.jpg

Cheers,
KP

yes mate those are carbon wheels. As far as I can tell prototypes for him. Sick wheels. My buddy has a few sets, not the 650's, and they are amazing. Cycling news profiled the bike.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/nino-schurter-wins-world-cup-1-on-650b-wheels

[Kirk Pacenti]

"We had some tests here in South Africa in December when we had the 26, the 27.5 and the 29er all built up exactly the same with the same wheels and everything," Frischknecht told BikeRadar just prior to the start of the race.
"We tested them in a group of three pretty intensely over 14 days and we came to the conclusion that the 27.5 feels like 26 in tight, technical and slower stuff but rides more like a 29er on faster singletrail and gives you almost the same safe feel. Our conclusion after those tests was that it's not a compromise – it combines the best of both worlds and we're totally convinced this is the way to go."

- Thomas Frischknect

[bfd]

Go Nino! :hello:

http://thegreatescapemtb.blogspot.com/2012/03/nino-schurter-wins-on-650b-275er.html

Cheers,
KP

According to Jan H, Schurter might NOT have been riding 650b, but 650c (571mm):

http://janheine.wordpress.com/

Good Luck!

[DRZRM]

Yeesh, 17.4 lbs. for a MTB with a susp. fork, wow!

[Kirk Pacenti]

According to Jan H, Schurter might NOT have been riding 650b, but 650c (571mm):

http://janheine.wordpress.com/

Good Luck!

It's speculation, but certainly a strong possibility. The Swiss national team have been racing on carbon tubular wheels forever. Way before there were any 26" carbon wheels available, and in an era when 650c was still common. I have seen pics of Frischknecht from the mid-late 90's on tubular tires with carbon rims; 650c is the only logical conclusion (though he was also racing 700c x 45 before there where "29ers" too...) I would be willing to wager a fair sum of $$$ that Nino did race on 650c wheels last weekend.

That said, the CN article also clearly pictures TF on Stan's wheels and Schwalbe tires, which are without a doubt 650b's. This is what will be offered to the buying public, so there is no incentive for Scott to muddy the waters by pointing out the fact (???) that what Nino actually raced were 650c wheels.

Cheers,
KP