Sunday, February 03, 2013

650b--Whatcha' Think?

Nino Schurter's World Cup victory in 2012 sent ripple effects through the world of mountain biking. He rode to victory on the new 'tweener-size 650b wheels. Is the 650b (27'') wheel a new industry standard? Is this a technological breakthrough that will make a difference in the overall handling and speed of the mountain bike? Or, is this another industry trend that will run its course? Is the 26 inch wheel a thing of the past? Anyone riding on 650bs? Can we get a conversation started on this?







Photo Courtesy of Hugh Jones

6 comments:

Gary L. Nebeker said...

A couple of links to prime the pump:

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/product-tech/2012/11/26/650b-freight-train#.URKFPBwxX58

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Trek-fuel-ex-rumblefish-stache-2013.html


Rusty Car said...

I am waiting for the 28" wheel to come out before deciding if I should bail on the tried and true 26'r.

Kind of reminds me of the greeting card companies inventing "holidays" to sell more cards.

I am slow on the 26'r and the only way I will get faster is with a motor not a different wheel size.

Gary L. Nebeker said...

Always great to hear from you! My hunch is that the old adage rings true: "95% rider; 5% bike."

dale said...

I haven't ridden a 650b so I don't know how much of a difference I can feel. For the vast majority of riders, I'm guessing the 650b won't make a big enough difference.

I ride only 29ers and the 650b is going the wrong direction for me and my riding style/tastes. I'm looking forward to trying a 29+, i.e. Krampus.

If the 650b becomes a standard, I think the 26er will fade away or end up with only a couple tire offerings. It's amazing how fast the 29er has displaced the 26er on number of bike models available.

Gary L. Nebeker said...

Dale,

Is there anything you can't do on a 29er that you could on a 26er? Some have said that tight switchback ascents put a 29er at a disadvantage--fact or fiction?

Mountain Bike said...

Great Post... I wait for the next article.