You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I'd like to get some bigger volume tyres for my Croix de Fer to increase comfort & off-road ability. Any reason not to try some 650b wheels to increase the clearance available? Thinking some Schwalbe G-One Bites would be great in 40mm (or 54mm if they'd fit!).
Don't see why not, but might be worth contacting Genesis to confirm its ok? I have a Jamis Renegade Expert, was thinking of doing the same thing and chucking on some MTB wheels and 45mm tires.
I thought i'd need to find a gravel bike specific pair of wheels at first but then noticed a lot of manufactures are using WTB or American Classic MTB wheels, so there are loads of choices. (the Jamis is 12mm front and 12x142mm at the back).
lol, I've emailed them a few times in the past & never got a reply so don't think I'll waste the energy!
Might be worth trying to borrow a set of wheels to see if they fit. The main issues will be clearance at the chainstays and, depending on your CDF model year, the fork crown. Going from 700x30mm(ish) to 650bx40mm will lower the whole bike, so you're more likely to get pedal strikes on rough ground and when cornering. I have a Norco Indie which is very similar to the CDF and I couldn't fit a big enough rear tyre to make it worth the cost of new wheels and tyres. 🙁
Just do some research and make sure your 650b tyres will fit in the frame, or it could be an expensive learning curve. I went from 700c wheels with 35c tyres on my GT Grade to 650b wheels (stolen from my mtb) with 47c tyres (which = same overall diameter as a 700c x 28 tyre anyway). Only downside I can see is that my mtb wheels + bigger tyres = more weight . On the plus side it's way more comfortable
I know a guy who has Horizon 47s on a 2012 Croix de Fer, fwiw
Good shout. Just had a look and there's not much extra room there! Might just about fit 45-47mm in there, although that might be fine, anyone have an idea what the sweetspot width is for comfort?The main issues will be clearance at the chainstays
good to know, ta, I'd prefer something with a bit of knobble though really, like the G-oneI know a guy who has Horizon 47s on a 2012 Croix see far, fwiw
I run Hope XC wheels on my Cannondale Slate. Pananracer Gravel King SK fit fine as do Surly Knard.
I bought the tyres from On One who currently have these which could fit the bill
https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/TYCLMPXTRF/clement-mxp-tubeless-ready-folding-tyre-650b
^^^ those on-one tyres are narrower than what I’ve got on already!
I’m running 650b x 47 byways on my Vaya, have a set of Soma Cazadero tyres ordered from Italy to give them a try, they get great reviews so byways will be up for sale
Also quite tempted to try a set of 650b wheels on my Gisburn (Whyte sell the same frame with 650b as the Glencoe I think) be interesting to hear how you get on with it.
There are rumours that a hardtail mountain bike might be a better option.
After this evening's ride I think a gravel bike is the better option. Much quicker than my hardtail mtb with 29" wheels.
There are rumours that a hardtail mountain bike might be a better option.
Better for what? I have both and each has their advantages and disadvantages
Not sure it's worth it. I doubt you'll get more than a 47mm in there, and you can already get a 42mm 700c in a CDF, and I reckon a 700x40 rolls as well or better than a 650bx47
Are you running tubeless?
THanks @legometeorology
That clears that one up for me, the Jamis Renegade has a 42mm limit so switching to a 650B is pointless.
I went from 700c wheels with 35c tyres on my GT Grade to 650b whels (stolen from my mtb) with 47c tyres (which = same overall diameter as a 700c x 28 tyre anyway).
Was your GT Grade an 11 speed? Did you have any issues to get that working on your MTB wheel?
I really am looking at getting a set of 650b wheels for some of the riding I do, and am trying to get all the beta I can on peoples setups. I'm on a 2016 GT Grade Alloy X, and my LBS said it wouldn't fit 650b with 47mm tires... but I'm pretty confident they'll go on.
Thanks for any info
11speed road and MTB cassettes have the same spacing, road 11 speed cassettes just need a wider freehub as the largest sprocket cannot 'overhang' the hub in the same way as MTB ones... so you can run MTB wheels with an MTB 11 speed cassette with 11speed road mech and shifter, but you then just need to watch out for rear mech compatibility with the larger sprockets... Something like a 'road link' may be required.
I run an MTB 11-40 cassette on my GT Grade, running SRAM rival mech and shifter, and all works perfect.
I tried some 650b wheels and went back to 700c. The 650bs were slightly more comfortable, as said, but in every other way - rolling, speed, weight etc. - they were worse.
Having said all that, I prefer a rigid 29er to a gravel bike. Not much in it on the road and much better performance and fun offroad Each to his own and all that.