On Nov 5, 9:30 pm, Tim McNamara <
[email protected]> wrote:
> bfd wrote:
> > "John Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> On 2007-11-05, bfd <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >>> 650b (584mm) is so new and rare that its going to be hard to find
> >>> good "cheap" wheels.
>
> >> 650B has been around for decades already, just not much presence in
> >> North America until recently.
>
> > Right, there's a "society" in France and I believe some riders in the
> > northern parts of Europe like Sweden that use this size tire.
> > Basically, 650B has always been a fringe size that has not been
> > popular.
>
> That's not quite correct. 650B was one of two very popular standard
> sizes used, particularly in France, for decades (the other ultimately
> being 700C which was originally a very wide tire; 700A was the skinny
> tire). In the late 1950s into the 1960s, as roads got better after the
> damage of WWII and the replacement of cobblestones with asphalt,
> skinnier and theoretically faster tires became more popular. However,
> 650B bikes were still manufactured and sold in France at least until the
> end of the 1970s. With the ascendence of the "racing" bike, however,
> 650B fell out of favor with the masses. 650B (by different names) was
> also used in other countries such as England, Sweden, etc, but not as
> popularly as other sizes.
>
I think we saying the same thing. However, in England, 650A (590mm)
and not the French 650B (584mm), was the most popular size. Of course,
there's also 650C (571mm), but that size is popular mainly with
triathletes and tires are only available as wide as 26mm.
> > However, Grant Petersen/Rivendell has popularized the size in its
> > effort to be different. The results are very impressive as there are
> > now a number of tires, rims and frames being made for this size tire.
> > The *big break* might be lead by Kirk Pacenti has he pushes forward
> > with his new "27.5" (650B/584mm) mt bike size tires. We'll see how
> > many companies adopt this *new* size.
>
> Until Trek adopts it, it'll be fringe. Good luck to Kirk and Grant and
> all, but until Trek uses this size it will be doomed to being a
> precarious niche product. (I say this rather harshly, and I think that
> 650B is a pretty good idea after having ridden a few bikes with that
> size wheel).
>
The problem with getting Trek, Specialized and C'dale to adopt 650B
(584mm) is its dealer network. I believe it was Mike J, a Trek dealer,
who stated that LBS shop owners are oppose to adopting yet another
size and having to take time to train its employees and educate the
consumers. Good Luck with that.
Nevertheless, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for 650B
tifosis because of the Kirk Pacenti-led "27.5" (yes, its 650B/584mm)
mtb tire movement. THAT, might actually work as many mtb riders have
really gotten into the whole 29er thing. Of course, a mtb 27.5/650B
tire is not going to do much for the 650B roadies....
>
>
> >>> Probably your "cheapest" option is to find a good builder who can
> >>> do it cheap.
>
> >> "Good builder" and "cheap" are usually mutually exclusive
> >> characteristics. 
>
> > Well, the OP is trying to get rid of his extra "stuff" for a set of
> > 650B wheels. Good Luck with that!
>
> There might be a hobbyist wheelbuilder interested in the task and who
> might be interested in the barter end of things. I could build him the
> wheel, for example, but I have no use for any of the stuff he has up for
> barter. But there are lots of other people who can build wheels in
> these newsgroups.
The OP is really not offering much. Then again, the labor cost to
build a wheels ranges from around $30 up to $65 per wheel. Here, in
the SF Bay Area, the range is more like $40-65 per wheel.
Of course, today, many roadies buy pre-built/boutiques, and when
you're spending $800-1200 or more for a set of wheels, they have to be
better, right?!#*$
