Dual wheel size bikes. Do you actually switch them?

[bicycletricycle]

People have been getting bikes built that are designed around multiple wheel size compatibility. Usually something like 700x30 for the road and 650x47 for the rough stuff. I am curious if people who have bikes like this actually switch their wheels that often. I have been thinking about getting a bike like this to replace a couple bikes in the fleet, also I just think the concept is interesting. I am interested in your real world experience with this type of bicycle.

[p nut]

My mountain/fat bike. 26x4.0 in winter and 29x3” in summer. Switch twice a year and it’s fairly pain-free. If I had to do it more than that, I’d get a second bike.

[lukeheller]

I have a China ti Waltly that i run 700x38 on primarily, sometimes 650x48 slicks, but can run 650x2.35. This is kinda version 2 for me after a prior custom elephant NFE. I do occasionally swap to the 650 but not frequently enough to keep the tires inflated tubeless because the goop would just dry out. Maybe it'll be different in winter when I aspire to riding more dirt and gravel. If I had to minimize to one bike, I could do it with this. As it stands, I a have several others in the rotation.

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[cuda]

yep.

on my Open I have a 650b with Maxxis Ikons 2.35's for places where need greater stability and cush- trails at Arcadia and Burlingame for example.
If I know the whole ride is going to be unpredictable and borderline "dont I need a mtn bike for this" terrain then this is the preferred set up.

My other wheel set is 700c that has some 38c Vittoria Terreno Drys. This set up is great for "exploring" where I know I'll be connecting tarmac and unpaved or wide open trails when I know I'll want to go fast and would rather than pushing the 650's around.

[keevon]

Personally, no. When I built up my NFE, I laced up two wheelsets. Intent was to run 650bx42 with fenders, 700x32 without.

I used both wheelsets for a year or so, but switching between the two was a pain. The fenders were the biggest time suck, but readjusting the disc calipers took some time as well.

The NFE is all 650b with fenders now. The smooth 42's roll great on the road. I suppose if I didn't have fenders to contend with or if I went off-road more often, the dual wheel thing might make more sense.

[Jaybee]

All my bikes except the townie have multiple wheelsets.

The Checkpoint is my only curly-bar bike and goes between 700x32, 700x43, or 650x2.2 as the ride merits.

The fat bike runs 27.5 x4.5 in the winter and is a 29x2.8 hardtail otherwise.

My Hightower almost always runs 29x2.5, but I do have a 27.5x3 option that I almost never use. Probably going to offload those wheels.

Swapping is made much easier by the fact that all but one of those wheelsets is on DT350s or the fat equivalent. Takes about 20 seconds a wheel, no rotor or shifting adjustments needed.

That's it. That's the whole stable. Three bikes that are kinda 5 because of wheel swaps.

[.RJ]

I've done this with a lot of bikes - most recently a steel hardtail that would go between 27.5+ and 29 depending on the ride.

At the end of the day, I'll usually settle on one wheelset that feels 'right' on each bike and then never change it. I wish things were more interchangeable to make that easier across bikes, and that's probably been the biggest detriment to keeping the wheel swapping going - too hard to find/maintain a couple of compatible wheelsets/freehubs/cassettes/hub spacings/etc.

[ergott]

I routinely do. Last weekend I rode with 700X30 one day and 650X48 the next. This bike does so many things real well.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cycling/The-bikes/i-qWnNS6g/0/fc3cc951/X2/IMG_20200822_092011-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cycling/The-bikes/i-G93SRT6/0/c3db5742/X2/IMG_20200823_144931-X2.jpg

[austex]

I swap three sets - 700x28, 650x42 and 559x54, but I am about to go to two. The 559 tires are Compass(Rene Herse) Rat Trap Pass; I like the width and size (smallish frame), but I want a bit more aggressive tread. I am planning to swap the 650 tires to RH Juniper Ridge, 48mm.

I have spent time shimming the disc rotors so as to not tweak calipers each swap. Hubs are three different brands, two C/L and one 6-bolt...

[doomridesout]

I have a bike that goes between 650x42 and 700x30, but not very often. Most of our roads suck so 650 stays on most of the time. If I go somewhere with nice pavement I switch it to road mode. I don't have a pure road bike any more. If I did I'd quit switching.

[bicycletricycle]

3 sizes on one bike?

622 + 56 = 678
584 + 84 = 668
559 + 108 =667

I know this isn't exactly correct but those are all surprisingly close! I imagine the bike feels a lot different with each wheel size. Does it feel better with one wheelset or do you like them all?



I swap three sets - 700x28, 650x42 and 559x54, but I am about to go to two. The 559 tires are Compass(Rene Herse) Rat Trap Pass; I like the width and size (smallish frame), but I want a bit more aggressive tread. I am planning to swap the 650 tires to RH Juniper Ridge, 48mm.

I have spent time shimming the disc rotors so as to not tweak calipers each swap. Hubs are three different brands, two C/L and one 6-bolt...

[austex]

3 sizes on one bike?

622 + 56 = 678
584 + 84 = 668
559 + 108 =667

I know this isn't exactly correct but those are all surprisingly close! I imagine the bike feels a lot different with each wheel size. Does it feel better with one wheelset or do you like them all?

Yes it feels different with each, but not "a lot" and none are negatives for me. Not sure how to segregate what factor causes differences - wheel size, tire size, pressure (probably the biggest factor - 28s@60, 42s@40, 54s@25-30), wheel origin/rim width. As a long-time skinny-tire roadie, the Rat Trap Pass fatties have been revelatory in upping off-pavement fun.

Bike is a Gunnar Hyper-XX.

[rccardr]

Yep, I do.

The Pelizzoli takes 700 up to 32 but I usually run 25mm Vittoria Graphenes in that size. Also have a set of 650b’s in 38mm- that’s what is on there right now. Have to swap out brakesets when the wheels change, from DA 7700’s to Tektro 559’s. Only takes a half hour or so to swap out the bits and check the derailleur.

Definitely a different feeling between the wheelsets. Similarly fast, but a cushier ride in the 650’s. Better on gravel, too.

[Hilltopperny]

I have been doing this with my Drifter for a while now and plan on doing the same with my Parlee. I like the differences in feel as it does give the bike a different ride feel. I find that I do prefer 650b over 700c for off road excursions and even over rough roads some of the time. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200828/f1303e60140dcbb85fce8d17e436251b.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200828/bc51c2b9eb892a512891caac7b9eaa9c.jpg


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[Spdntrxi]

Parlee Z-Zero XD

700x35. Enve 4.5AR with Reneherse Bon Jon Pass
650X42 Enve G27 with Reneherse Pumpkin Ridge

[Hakkalugi]

2 Waltly frames (gravel and road), 4 wheelsets 700x28, 700x38, 650x40, 650x50. Yes, I swap them around based on the ride, conditions, etc.

[bicycletricycle]

rat trap pass fatties are super fun. I have a bike that uses them and it is always a good time.

Yes it feels different with each, but not "a lot" and none are negatives for me. Not sure how to segregate what factor causes differences - wheel size, tire size, pressure (probably the biggest factor - 28s@60, 42s@40, 54s@25-30), wheel origin/rim width. As a long-time skinny-tire roadie, the Rat Trap Pass fatties have been revelatory in upping off-pavement fun.

Bike is a Gunnar Hyper-XX.

[RJR]

I had two 650B sets with different tires. Never actually switched them so am selling off one wheelset.

Waiting on a custom and my plan was to swap 700 BJPs with 650 BSPs. I like the BSPs so much on other bikes I wonder whether it's even worth the hassle.

[blakcloud]

For my Trek Domane I use Rene Herse Chinook Pass 28 mm (700) and switch it up using Rene Herse Baby Shoe Pass 42 mm (650). The bike wasn't specifically designed as dual size but it works and the lower bottom bracket with the 650's doesn't bother me at all.

The bike actually fits 38 mm in 700 but since I already own the 650 wheels, why not?

[.RJ]

rat trap pass fatties are super fun. I have a bike that uses them and it is always a good time.

Yup, I have them on my Bridgestone MB-3 turned into a city bike