Another 650B candidate?

Mr. Les said:

Is a 1974 Raleigh International a candidate fro 650B conversion?
Originally had centerpulls and is noted as having 'relaxed angles' and
'generous tire clearance' in the old catalog.

If it has "generous tire clearance", why would you want to convert to
650B?

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Quoted message said:

Mr. Les said:

Is a 1974 Raleigh International a candidate fro 650B conversion?
Originally had centerpulls and is noted as having 'relaxed angles' and
'generous tire clearance' in the old catalog.

If it has "generous tire clearance", why would you want to convert to
650B?

The only reason I see for this type of conversion is the 74 Raleigh uses 27"
rims and wide tires may not be available. In contrast, the allure or aura of
650B (584mm) is its comfort. I believe there are now a number of tires that
range from 31mm up to 41 or 42mm. Inflated at 40-60psi and supposedly the
ride is sublimed. Have you tried it?

bfd said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Mr. Les said:

Is a 1974 Raleigh International a candidate fro 650B conversion?
Originally had centerpulls and is noted as having 'relaxed angles' and
'generous tire clearance' in the old catalog.

If it has "generous tire clearance", why would you want to convert to
650B?

The only reason I see for this type of conversion is the 74 Raleigh uses 27"
rims and wide tires may not be available.

How wide do you want them to be? Good 27 x 1 1/4 tires are readily
available (e.g., Panaracer Pasela). If that's not wide enough, make the
sensible switch to 700C, giving slightly better tire clearance and a
very wide choice of tires.

Quoted message said:

In contrast, the allure or aura of
650B (584mm) is its comfort. I believe there are now a number of tires that
range from 31mm up to 41 or 42mm. Inflated at 40-60psi and supposedly the
ride is sublimed. Have you tried it?

I don't invest time or money in dinosaurs. IMO, most of the current
650B buzz is driven by Grant Peterson, who is peddling another "niche
bike" to the Rivendell Faithful.

Have you tried it? Your use of the word "supposedly" indicates the
answer is "no".

bfd said:

Quoted message said:

Mr. Les said:

Is a 1974 Raleigh International a candidate fro 650B conversion?
Originally had centerpulls and is noted as having 'relaxed angles' and
'generous tire clearance' in the old catalog.

If it has "generous tire clearance", why would you want to convert to
650B?

The only reason I see for this type of conversion is the 74 Raleigh uses 27"
rims and wide tires may not be available. In contrast, the allure or aura of
650B (584mm) is its comfort. I believe there are now a number of tires that
range from 31mm up to 41 or 42mm. Inflated at 40-60psi and supposedly the
ride is sublimed. Have you tried it?

Another thing to think about is that the Raleigh almost certainly has
decent clearance to begin with. If you changed it to 700c, you could
probably run 32mm or 37mm tires without changing much of anything. Much
large than that and you'll probably start running into issues with the
tire rubbing against fork/chainstays, which 650B might not help much
with.

650B really seems like the wrong answer to the question "What should we
do about modern frames that have such [censored] clearance?"

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
Real Time, adj.:
Here and now, as opposed to fake time, which only occurs there and then.

Dane Buson said:

650B really seems like the wrong answer to the question "What should we
do about modern frames that have such [censored] clearance?"

Well, get ready, Grant Petersen has another *solution* for both old and
new "racing" frames that don't have clearance for fat tires (i.e., 32mm
wide or larger) and fenders, he's currently soliciting funds to start
up the 603mm rim and tire size.

YES, 603mm is the middle ground between the current road size of 622mm
and the mtb size of 559 (or was it 650B 584mm size?). In any event,
Grant thinks the future is that all these "psuedo racers,
Lance-wannabes" are getting up in age and will eventually want a fatter
tire with fenders. This will make all these "racing" bikes more
versatile and 603mm will solve this problem.

Or, if you are in the market NOW, the Country Bike explosion is
happening. Rivendell now sells the Saluki, Bleriot, Atlantis,
Glorius/Wilbury mixtes, and the new Waterford-made A. Homer Hilsen.
These are all bikes that can fit fat 32mm or wider tires with fenders
and are design to be ridden both on the road and on trails. Other mfrs
like Kogswell and Hampsten Cycles (Cycle Tournesol) are getting into it
too.

Have you got yours yet? If not, DO IT ALL, DO IT NOW! What are you
waiting for?

"bfd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dane Buson said:

650B really seems like the wrong answer to the question "What should we
do about modern frames that have such [censored] clearance?"

Well, get ready, Grant Petersen has another *solution* for both old and
new "racing" frames that don't have clearance for fat tires (i.e., 32mm
wide or larger) and fenders, he's currently soliciting funds to start
up the 603mm rim and tire size.

YES, 603mm is the middle ground between the current road size of 622mm
and the mtb size of 559 (or was it 650B 584mm size?). In any event,
Grant thinks the future is that all these "psuedo racers,
Lance-wannabes" are getting up in age and will eventually want a fatter
tire with fenders. This will make all these "racing" bikes more
versatile and 603mm will solve this problem.

Or, if you are in the market NOW, the Country Bike explosion is
happening. Rivendell now sells the Saluki, Bleriot, Atlantis,
Glorius/Wilbury mixtes, and the new Waterford-made A. Homer Hilsen.
These are all bikes that can fit fat 32mm or wider tires with fenders
and are design to be ridden both on the road and on trails. Other mfrs
like Kogswell and Hampsten Cycles (Cycle Tournesol) are getting into it
too.

The Kogswell is the bargain of the bunch. Come on, $500 for a
frame/fork/fenders? That's a pretty decent price. QBP is offering a decent
selection of 650B wheels, some even pre-built with Shimano dynohubs. If one
were to shop Performance/Nashbar/Lickton's/eBay, etc, one could probably
build a complete bike for a grand or so.
I would still like to see a major manufacturer jump on the "Country
Bike" bandwagon. I was expecting Bianchi to build one under Sky Yaeger,
because it fit with their outside the box thinking. After the San Jose and
Castro Valley were successful, a 650B bike would not have been unexpected.
Maybe Trek?
The concept of the country bike is one that should appeal to lots of
people. Comfortable, durable, functional, multi-dimensional. Lots of boomers
are getting older and stiffer and are heading toward "comfort road" bikes
anyway. Why not sell them one that is really comfortable?

Mike