#46
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AND I DO carry touring bikes, fenders, racks(front and rear), etc., much more than anybody else in the republic does. I am not a 'race bike' type shop. More than few customers get touring 'stuff' from me. I'd say that the 650b 'rando market segment is much smaller than the loaded tourer market is, and that segment is really small(touring bikes). I sure wouldn't recommend anybody do unsupported touring on a 650b bicycle. Cut a tire in BFE, AnyState or Country, and you will probably be SOL. Last edited by oldpotatoe; 09-06-2012 at 09:26 AM. |
#47
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(Yes, I'll carry a spare.)
__________________
Jeder geschlossene Raum ist ein Sarg. |
#48
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I understand where you are coming from. There is nothing inherently better about a 650B diameter vs a 26" IMO. If bikes with road geo were readily available in 26" with supple tires, then I would have a hard time choosing. However, I do notice a difference between fatty 700C tires vs 650B. After 32mm the handling feels a bit more sluggish. It might be because I'm a short guy so a smaller wheel size is perfectly scaled for me. I admit that the rush for people to turn their bikes for 650B is pretty silly. Every week I see threads about converting to 650B because they think it will make their bike faster. For me, the most compelling reason is to get the fat tire experience with quick race geo. However, it's different and fun so if people have time to kill and the $$$ to spend, that is what it's all about! Sorry for veering this thread off course. |
#49
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I've never riden one. Not for or against. Was just giving some info. I don't know anyone in my circles that rides 650B. On Brevets you can accept help from other participants. But your right that with a 650B you'd be SOL as most ride 700C. |
#50
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There are a few brands in the 650B road ring, although Grand Bois has a strong handle on it. Pacenti even has a flyweight tire, SOMA has a Pasela-esque tire. True, all those probably are made by Panaracer. Then there's a Hutchinson 32mm, some Schwalbes. Probably some euro-only stuff. Have you read anything from Jan Heine? Short of trying it yourself to see if you like, Jan does a nice job of relating his experience and attempts to be thorough and scientific, as possible. Here's a blog entry of his about fat 650B tires: http://janheine.wordpress.com/2011/0...de-650b-tires/ Granted, everything has pros and cons, I had a 650B fire sale and sold 2 complete 650B specific bikes, plus my extras and regret it. I'm looking forward to taking delivery of Gravelbike's rSogn within a week or two and riding some nice plush fat tires again. Last edited by 559Rando; 09-07-2012 at 12:36 PM. |
#51
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The second 650b market is the former road frame conversions to 650b. You have this nice 700c road bike, but it can't fit bigger tires and is rough to ride on the horrible roads and it hates to see dirt roads. 650b conversions with some long reach brakes can give some new life to an old road bike that didn't see use and make it much more useful. The third group is this threads topic: the low trail/rando type market which of course is very small. You aren't going to see any big brand jump on board with this type of bike because they are in to make money. They might say it is all about the bike, but it isn't. They are in business to make money. Bikes/models that don't sell get dropped and replaced with something else. A 650b road bike would be a very slow seller and everyone would say why do they make this bike for a weird obscure mostly French tire size? The bikes also are a bit more labor intensive to make with all the extra braze ons that are found on this type of bike. My 650b uses has fallen into the last two groups. I did want to give it a try so I converted a 72' Peugeot PX10 just for fun to see if I liked the big tires. I did and felt I didn't loose much (or any) speed compared to a 700c bike of the same basic build type (lugged steel and 20lbs +). I still own a couple of vintage/KOF lugged steel road bikes, ride them, and enjoy them a lot. They are fast, but not very comfortable with 23-25mm tires over bad pavement and I am limited to paved roads. When I ride one of those I have to drive somewhere and then get out and ride as I live in the sticks with a few miles of dirt roads before I hit pavement. The Px10 conversion game me some glimpses of the 650b magic so I wanted to build a built for 650b bike and build it right. I wasn't sure if I wanted to put down the money for a Boulder or BD Pelican so I opted for the cheaper Velo Orange choice. Rawland was not an option since the frames never seem to be in stock or he changes his mind on what the dimensions will be (referring to XL sizes only). I now have over 600 miles on my Polyvalent in the last month and love it. There are a few slight things I don't like as much, but over all I don't think I have been this happy about a bike purchase and build ever. I have a decent size stable of bikes including a vintage low trail 700c Nishiki touring bike set up as a rando bike, cross, full touring bike, vintage road bikes, newer road bikes, and two 29ers. I have always picked the Polyvalent to ride. |
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#53
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Sacrebleu!! |
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This was in Seattle's U district. The guy who rang me up was a little befuddled and asked what kind of bike it was going on . . .
__________________
Jeder geschlossene Raum ist ein Sarg. |
#55
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Wasn't someone in North Carolina supposedly continuing the Kogswell P/R design as a production bike?
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#56
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That was Longleaf Cycles. I checked in with Anthony a month or so back and he said it wasn't top priority at that point. I think it'll take a while, if it happens at all.
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#57
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Hetre is the reason
I just finished building up a custom 650B all rounder, built by Chauncey Matthews of NM. After just a few rides I'm almost convinced to sell off my 700c road bike and buy one of the new Rawland Stag's to have another. I don't know if it's the wheel size, the bike or the Hetre tires but I'm super impressed. I had it built with a geometry similar to the rSogn, but with a flat top tube and the Pacenti PBP crown. It was designed to range from the Hetre to a 2" knobby for tires and with rack and fender mounts.
I prefer riding from my door and pavement/dirt road mixed terrain rides, and this bike/tire is the perfect combination for that kind of ride. ~mike |
#58
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Is that the COHO you sold? Or are selling? How would the Stag be different from your Chauncey Matthew custom? Or it might be too early to say since Sean/Rawland has been (rightfully) only dropping a few details at a time on the Stag. He's blessed/cursed with a vocal group of bike know-it-alls as owners, although he might be wise to bring some of the more prominent voices in as collaborators. The Stags sounds like a righteous bike. I hope he keeps it in production! Daniel |
#59
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still considering
After riding the Matthews 650B I was so happy with the ride I was thinking I should sell the Coho. I need to take my time and make sure. Funny thing is that the Matthews was designed to be more all-rounder than Rando bike but it really fly's and I seem to climb in much higher gears. I need to ride both for a while before I make a decision.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3734700...in/photostream Mike |
#60
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Rawland Stag
forgot to answer the Rawland question. The key difference is tubing, my custom is OS ( 28.6mm and 31.8) tubing. Mine is also True Temper OXPlat tubing which has a higher tensile strength than the CroMo the Stag would use. The Geometry and features are pretty close otherwise
The Stag is a lightweight Taiwan built 650B bike that is ends up similar to the Jeff Lyon bike showcased in BQ this month. Mike |
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650b |
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