650b on a road disc...
 

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[Closed] 650b on a road disc bike...Anyone done it?

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Hi All, I've currently got a Saracen Hack which is all fine but have been thinking about upgrading the wheels and sticking the existing ones in another cx frame I have hanging in the shed.

A thought occurred that now that there are a few 650b slick options about it could be an opportunity to convert it to 650b as there's only enough clearance for 700 x 32/35 really and I ride a fair bit of towpath on it and it might be nice for a few rougher rides.

Has anyone tried this? If so how did you find it and what tyres are you running


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 11:28 am
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Cannondale have with the [url= http://road.cc/content/news/154596-new-cannondale-slate-gravel-bike-will-have-650b-wheels-and-30mm-suspension-fork ]Slate[/url] so might be worth checking any reviews on that out. Though I do remember reading the tyres they used were rubbish in terms of punctures.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 11:48 am
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Been reading the slate reviews which kind of gave me the idea and there are a few more tyre choices out there now - Maxxis do a detonator in 1.5" and Schwalbe have a big apple clone too.

Just wondered if anyone out there had done it


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 11:56 am
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Is [url= http://www.wtb.com/collections/road-plus ]this[/url] ('road plus') of any use?


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 12:34 pm
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[url= https://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1771-650b-conversion-guidlines ]Read this[/url], but just ignore the bits about the brakes (it talks about caliper brakes not discs).


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 12:46 pm
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Cheers guys, next question is going to be what 650b wheelset....


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 12:49 pm
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And where to get 650b x 47 tubeless tyres (this side of July)


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 12:55 pm
 kimi
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Direct from Compass is a good bet or from Velovitality in the UK…


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 1:06 pm
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Interested in this as the wheels on my Pinnacle Arkose 2 are on their last legs and the 650b wheels may well work well for what I use the bike for.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 1:19 pm
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I put new 650b disc wheels on our 26" tandem- not really the same as your plan but the experience has been fine; the 36h Mavic EN519 rims have proven bomber so far. Hubs are Hope.
The relevant bit- TYRES are a mixed bag, having started with 42mm Grand Bois Hetre from ACycles in France, I dropped to 37mm ('Liere', I think) for the 3Pistes Sportive last year and they've proven a bit delicate; but hey, the tandem works it's kit hard. The larger size has proven stout enough and the skinwalls look great.
I don't remember anyone flaming us for using discs at that sportive and topping out at over 80km/h on the ski roads I was happy to have them.
However, I'm thinking of fitting warblades to my hubs for the Tour of the Highlands 3-dayer next month... Shame the stoker has withdrawn her services for that one, I'll just have to do it on my CdeFer.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 1:56 pm
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I have the same frame, and did wonder about temporarily fitting some 26" MTB tyres to it. You won't get a huge amount of extra width though, the Michelin 2.15 semi slicks I measured up won't fit in the rear end even with the drop to 26in (chainstay clearance). I think something like a 26in-47 might fit.

I would've thought you could get a reasonable amount bigger than the 700x35 tyres they come with in if you wanted to, particularly if you don't run mudguards. Even then a 35c tyre at lowish pressures should be comfy enough for towpaths etc.

Edit - p.s. sorry for questioning what you want to do in my final sentence there, I can't help myself.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 2:03 pm
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Hi Phil, no problem questioning what I'm doing - I have a few failed experiments to my name.

Mines a 2014 Hack and I think I have 32c tyres in at present without much clearance at the back. As I need to buy a new pair of wheels for another cx frame I have I was flirting with the idea of going to 650 x 42 to make it a bit more off-road capable.

I'll measure across the stays at the relevant point and see what the score is, I think 42 = 1.5/1.6"


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 2:34 pm
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Yeah, 42mm = 1.65". I only got to measuring at the relevant distance from the axle centres, 2015 model.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 3:50 pm
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Surly do a 41c knard in 650 and schwalbe are bringing out the G-one (G for gnarmac) in 650b as well.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 6:58 pm
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I've gone the opposite way and put some 650b wheels and 40c tyres on my 26" bike to use as a commuter and it's been fantastic. You don't even have to have disk brakes, there are certain v-brakes that have enough reach.


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 7:14 pm
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I put some Compass BabyShoe Pass 650bx42 tyres on my road bike. Used Arch EX rims.

Very tight fit on the rims and had to try the front out tubeless as I couldn't get the tube in without puncturing it.

Running fine tubeless and I'll probably do the rear soon.
I swapped the carbon fork for a Salsa Vaya one with more rake to keep the trail figure down.

Rids very smoothly.
Mudguards need a bit of fettling to get rid of the big gaps.

Front rack next for the Bicycle Quarterly wannabe look!

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1596/26318176316_e85f646da0_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1596/26318176316_e85f646da0_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/G6DwUC ]Moots Psychlo-x YBB with 650b Compass Cycles Babyshoe Pass tyres on Stan's Arch Ex rims. Very very tight fit! Front running tubeless. All great so far...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/46413317@N06/ ]Jones96er[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 8:47 pm
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well thats quite a thing


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 8:57 pm
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See I was wrong on the side of not bothering and then Atomiser posts that pic and sanername remind me that if it doesn't work I've got a spare 26" frame they can go in. Bum!


 
Posted : 26/04/2016 10:55 pm
 tomd
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Sheldon Brown approves http://www.sheldonbrown.com/650b.html

It might be worth checking the actual diameter of what you have now against your proposed 650b combo to make sure the BB height (hence pedal / ground) clearance would be OK. I know on my gravel bike thing I wouldn't be keen on dropping the BB at all for this reason.


 
Posted : 27/04/2016 4:57 am
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My BB was already pretty high being a CX bike originally. Smaller wheels brings it back to more road normal.


 
Posted : 27/04/2016 7:03 am
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So I finally got round to measuring the clearance I'd have across the stays with 650b wheels - turns out it's less than with 700c as they're curved in dramatically for hell clearance. Without guards looks like plenty of room for 700x 42 anyway


 
Posted : 07/05/2016 6:25 am
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Now I'm wondering how much clearance there is for a fat 650B on a Pompino. 🙂

Where this mod would be good is if you have a 1930s sport bike with 26"x 1 ?" (aka 650A with 590mm rim) or 26"x 1 ¼"wheels (597mm rims)

The recent availability of larger section tyres opens up a lot of options.

The brake positioning is much closer, so less hassle in needing long drop brakes, or if there's Resilion cantilevers, it's just a matter of shifting them down a wee bit.

I'm planning a 650B wheelset so I can ride these bikes without worrying about damaging irreplaceable parts such as ultralight steel 597mm rims.


 
Posted : 07/05/2016 9:04 am

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