Prepare for the 650b Wheel-Size Revolution

[taprider]

Originally Posted by enduramil

Oh but it gets even better.

and you can even put a 700x35 cyclo-cross tire on a 29er rim
and it will fit in a 26er frame
the radius will be the same as a 26x2.4 knobby tire

[Oldfart]

Originally Posted by CraigH

Niner now makes an extra small 29er, with a 14" seat tube.
http://www.ninerbikes.com/

22.5 tt isn't that short. Santa Cruz small 26ers are typically a 21.5 tt as are most others. A short stem can cure that to an extent, but you can still end up with a bar that is too high relative to the saddle for pedaling. I'm a long limbed short guy. I can manage the medium Santa Cruz bikes with an alleged 23 tt ( I measure it shorter) but I do need a 75mm, -16 stem and a flat bar and it is still a touch higher that I like. I do run the fork at 120 though so dropping travel to 100 might solve that. A 29er wheel and fork is just that much higher. And if you run a tapered steer tube the head tube has to be at least 3.9 inches to fit the taper. Some of these companies will claim a 5'1" person can fit a small 29er. maybe, but can they fit it well? Yeah 5'3" Willow Korber can ride a 29er, then you see a picture of her climbing and her elbows are below her hands. OK that may work OK and the benefits of the big wheel for her racing may outweigh the drawback of a poor fit, but in my books, that's a poor fit.

It's funny. I really like how some of the Niners look. Pretty no nonsense look. But then I read the crap they spew and no way I can buy one. Crap like 30% larger contact patch. Or that really short people can fit a long tall front end bike just fine. Sure sitting way below the bars leaned too far forward with arms parallel to the ground.

[craw]

Aren't 29ers to tall people as 26ers are to very short people?

[nick]

taken from here

Not long ago I had the absolute pleasure to talk with Jason Schiers, the head honcho and founder of ENVE COMPOSITES. We laughed, we cried, get spoke of 650b. No seriously, we did. The folks at ENVE are hip to 650B. They've ridden it. In carbon. HUH, what? WHO? Yes. Carbon 650B hoops.
Jason spilled the beans, ENVE has some awesomely modular tooling allowing them to make 26" wheels & 29" wheels. Mr. Schiers said it was pretty easy to just split the difference and do a 27.5" rim. Back in 2009 or 2010, Kirk Pacenti approached ENVE to lay up some carbon 650B rims, so obviously SOMEONE was pretty serious and made some "prototypes".
As of right now ENVE does not have plans to add their half-brother 650B wheel to their line. They are going to wait it out, since their tooling is 650B friendly they are standing by, but with no commitment.
What do you think? Is 650B Ready for a kick ass carbon ENVE wheel? Leave your comments below. I bet ENVE has their ear to the ground on this potential.

[Buster Bluth]

Singlespeed 650b might be a hell of a lot of fun.

[xy9ine]

Originally Posted by awesterner

that really only leaves Pacenti, and Kenda Nevegal DTC at the moment.

i'd be all over trying a set of 650b's (i've got plenty of room on my current 26er ht) if there was a half decent tire out there. any proper tires on the horizon?

[nick]

schwalbe has some as well

[clarklewis]

the early-adopter/something unique part of me finds this intriguing:

http://forums.mtbr.com/650b-69er-new...ty-731083.html

not a terribly practical project, and not better or worse than any number of other bikes, but just different. the OP gives some good info, but skim through the nauseating over-analysis by some of the other posters.

[shirk]

Originally Posted by clarklewis

the early-adopter/something unique part of me finds this intriguing:

http://forums.mtbr.com/650b-69er-new...ty-731083.html

not a terribly practical project, and not better or worse than any number of other bikes, but just different. the OP gives some good info, but skim through the nauseating over-analysis by some of the other posters.

You still have that Ventana? You might be able to get a 650b rear end for it.

edit...you can get a rear end to fit. http://forums.mtbr.com/8466236-post335.html

[PUNKY]

Might be a 650b Norco Aurum around

[clarklewis]

sold the ventana last year. great bike, but would have been too high with bigger wheels, and stock shock was already pretty small (7.8x2.25).

for me the only successful conversions would be on bikes with low bb's to start with, or else bikes with plenty of travel (because you'll be reducing it), steep SA (because you'll be slackening it), and overall low leverage ratio (so you can run shorter shocks and still have room to tune them properly). that's what's appealing about the mojo, seems like it might actually result in good geo and a tuneable shock.

enduro with shorter shock would be good candidate except for the proprietary shock mount - people have jury-rigged aftermarket shocks to fit, but from what i recall, it seemed like lot of work.

santa cruz's all have SA's that are already too slack for my taste, so wouldn't be happy with them.

rocky's have nice steep SA's (maybe too steep?), but high leverage ratios with tiny shocks.

custom (ie. custom ventana or berg) would be great, but expensive, unpredictable result, and long lead time.

[FlipFantasia]

Originally Posted by PUNKY

Might be a 650b Norco Aurum around

now this is news that intrigues me

[shirk]

Originally Posted by clarklewis

sold the ventana last year. great bike, but would have been too high with bigger wheels, and stock shock was already pretty small (7.8x2.25).

for me the only successful conversions would be on bikes with low bb's to start with, or else bikes with plenty of travel (because you'll be reducing it), steep SA (because you'll be slackening it), and overall low leverage ratio (so you can run shorter shocks and still have room to tune them properly). that's what's appealing about the mojo, seems like it might actually result in good geo and a tuneable shock.

enduro with shorter shock would be good candidate except for the proprietary shock mount - people have jury-rigged aftermarket shocks to fit, but from what i recall, it seemed like lot of work.

santa cruz's all have SA's that are already too slack for my taste, so wouldn't be happy with them.

rocky's have nice steep SA's (maybe too steep?), but high leverage ratios with tiny shocks.

custom (ie. custom ventana or berg) would be great, but expensive, unpredictable result, and long lead time.

You've done your homework.

How would you ever survive not having 40,000 different tires to try?

[King of Fasia]

Originally Posted by PUNKY

Might be a 650b Norco Aurum around

There is a 650B Norco Aurum around

[PUNKY]

Originally Posted by FlipFantasia

now this is news that intrigues me

Originally Posted by King of Fasia

There is a 650B Norco Aurum around

Would you believe me if I told you it is of the Carbon Fibre frame variety?

I may or may not have some Oceanfront Nevada real estate for sale as well!