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02-25-2005, 10:26 AM

One person asked:

> Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad
> adjustment?

Andy Muzi responded:

<Technically, yes, but then you're back to a poorly supported
size. Outside urban areas 650B is nonexistant. 26-decimals
(-559) at any XMart or hardware store, a compelling feature
for the sorts of bikes that were 700D. >

Its true that 559 (26") tires are more prevalent and thus, more common.
But there is a "movement" taking place to revive the 584mm (650B) as a
viable option. Rivendell and Jan Heine of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
are leading the charge. They believe this is an excellent size that has
been ignored too long by the bicycle establishment. Others have found
that by using 650B wheels, they can take "racing" bikes from the 70s
and 80s with no clearance for fenders and 700x28 tires and make these
bikes way more useful as this size allow fat 33-47mm wide tires and
fenders and allow the rider to ride offroad and in otherwise poor road
conditions. Several builders like Mike Berry at Mariposa and Steve and
Andy Hampsten (yes, THAT Andy Hampsten) of Hampsten cycles have jumped
on the bandwagon and offer bikes built around this size. Further,
there is a society in France with over a thousand members who also use
650B tires.

For shops, I believe there are wholesalers out there who sell 650B
tires. On the ibob list, J&B Importers supposedly carry a selection.
However, it maybe listed as 26x1 3/8 tires. According to Grant
Petersen at Rivendell there are at least 1/2 dozen tire manufacturers
who make 650B tires. Kenda, Michelin, Panaracer, Mitsuboshi and
Schwalbe offer tires in this size. Even Sheldon Brown appears to have
become a convert of 650B wheels:

http://sheldonbrown.org/iro/index.html

So, if you want to make that bike more useful, and you don't want or
need to "rebraze the brake mounts", get 584mm/650B wheels and enjoy!

02-25-2005, 10:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
bfd Guest Posts: n/a	Re: substitute for 700 D GT tires or wheels? One person asked: > Would not ISO 584-mm (650 B) wheels work with only a minor brake pad > adjustment? Andy Muzi responded: <Technically, yes, but then you're back to a poorly supported size. Outside urban areas 650B is nonexistant. 26-decimals (-559) at any XMart or hardware store, a compelling feature for the sorts of bikes that were 700D. > Its true that 559 (26") tires are more prevalent and thus, more common. But there is a "movement" taking place to revive the 584mm (650B) as a viable option. Rivendell and Jan Heine of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly are leading the charge. They believe this is an excellent size that has been ignored too long by the bicycle establishment. Others have found that by using 650B wheels, they can take "racing" bikes from the 70s and 80s with no clearance for fenders and 700x28 tires and make these bikes way more useful as this size allow fat 33-47mm wide tires and fenders and allow the rider to ride offroad and in otherwise poor road conditions. Several builders like Mike Berry at Mariposa and Steve and Andy Hampsten (yes, THAT Andy Hampsten) of Hampsten cycles have jumped on the bandwagon and offer bikes built around this size. Further, there is a society in France with over a thousand members who also use 650B tires. For shops, I believe there are wholesalers out there who sell 650B tires. On the ibob list, J&B Importers supposedly carry a selection. However, it maybe listed as 26x1 3/8 tires. According to Grant Petersen at Rivendell there are at least 1/2 dozen tire manufacturers who make 650B tires. Kenda, Michelin, Panaracer, Mitsuboshi and Schwalbe offer tires in this size. Even Sheldon Brown appears to have become a convert of 650B wheels: http://sheldonbrown.org/iro/index.html So, if you want to make that bike more useful, and you don't want or need to "rebraze the brake mounts", get 584mm/650B wheels and enjoy!