All The Six Fifty Bees Thread! (650b, 27.5 etc.).

new projects thread >>>>

4 seasons bike makes sense, not much point going custom though, plenty of bikes seem to have clearance for 35c/45mm guards now, get some paul racer mounts brazed on if you really want, pump pegs too and a respray.

Do all bike doesn't exist without some compromise, discs and switching wheelsets (700x35c road, 650x2.1 off road e.g. open UP) is about as close as you'll get.

interesting proposition indeed, which ones tho? Surly? The 'custom' wont cost custom money taps nose

Also what I dont like about macho man:
Mini V; great stopping and 'feel' but shit adjustability. (still not going disc)
More clearance than I want but limited by Mini V.
Wheelbase, I would like a shorter one if possible.
Cross routed cables

That was the case last year, now I have a shed (well sort of, need to start a CP thread for that too).

Kinda limit-free. Currently we have 6 between two of us, 4 are mine ;)

That was my point. Why a 4 seasons bike when you can have 4 one season bikes?

Well I am replacing that macho man with this .. so it fills the gap between mega posh MAMIL carbon bike, posh/instagram bike and pub bike. Basically semi fat (35c) tyres with drop bars and guards.

I am not after do it all bike at all, I am after a specific one ^

Although as per your idea I could get canti pounts brazed on a bit higher on macho man .. I doubt I'll be able to get Racer M though ..

Back to rim choice then 700c, 650b or 26"?

Summer bike with double, rim brakes and <28mm tyres. Winter bike with guards, compact, discs and >28mm tyres.

Both 700c. No fucking about. Done.

Winter bike with guards, compact, discs rim brakes and >28mm tyres.

Thats what I am thinking. If I could get away with 650b it'll be nice to have matching wheel circumference between summer and winter bike.

You already can get away with 650b if you stop being a luddite.

Thats fucking lovely. i want a build just like this for commuting/lazy days! Bullmoose are such nice bars!

Can I borrow some 650b wheels (ideally with 2.0 Tyres on) for a couple of days this week- starting Sunday? Won't be ridden at all- just need to do sizing calculations.

Would pay in beer/ Coffee/ Cake.

Anyone? Please- was due to have one delivered but is delayed.

disc? if not then you can borrow mine .. has grand bois hetre 42mm

Sunday night be a stretch, but in the evening at Stockwell? Got 48mm disc QR, 38mm thru axles and 38mm rim QR

@edscoble Have PM'd. Would be great to grab the disc 48mm.
@amey thanks- will hopefully grab Ed's but will be in touch if no.

Went for a nice ride around 'Het Westland' (greenhouse area between Den Haag and Rotterdam) yesterday to try out the 650b setup on my Grade. Lots of neglected cycle lanes and country lanes with crappy surfaces. Made for a comfy exploring type of ride. I can say for sure that the Panaracer GK 42mm didn't make me slower, average speed was the same as my other rides without pushing as hard (hr monitor zone 1-2 instead of 2-3).

However, I wouldn't advise this setup. Clearance between the chainstays is tight, 2-3mm now the tyres measure 42mm. Fine with me for a couple of rides because these wheels are going on an other bike soon and I'm never too far from home/ my wife can pick me up with my car. But 38mm would be safer, and then it would be easier and cheaper to just chuck a couple of Jon Bon Passes on the standard wheels.

So, fun yes. But the (alloy) Grade is not really a good 650b option imho.

1 Attachment

The Schwable G-One in 40mm would be apt, not as fast as proper slick 650b but report saying that it felt fast on the road and off road performance is top.

Ok I built this up for my wife a few years ago
and it's not getting a lot of use as she thinks the tyres are too skinny and would like a more upright position. So time for 650b conversion and bars with more rise.

1 Attachment

Rims:
http://sella-berolinum.de/shop-teile/laufraeder-und-felgen/810/650b-/-27-5-/-584-schuermann-yak-19-felge-v-brake-32l-silber-eloxiert?c=40

Just because they're cheap.

Dynamo front hub but what about rear? That's a nexus igh in there now but she doesn't like the coaster brake so will need either a new igh or a regular rear hub and a 1x8/9/10 setup. Recommendations? Should I f*ck off to CP instead of asking here?

Otherwise tektro long reach brakes and the rest can probably stay. Keep everything silver.

You got the clearance for it, another advantage is that the bike will be a little bit lower making it easier to put your foot down.

Tektro long reach will work on it.

Since she's your wife, and if you do her bike maintenance, then 1x8 would be ample? 8 speed is cheaper, last longer and come in a decent range, the jump between each gear is still smaller than the IGH, even with 11-34t (£8 on Ribble).

Alternately you can get IGH with roller brake instead, I reckon you can easily sell the Nexus as it is (if rims isn't too worn), and build a new one with roller brake.

Good shout about gear range/jump. Yes I do all the bike work in the house. Shimano rim brake hubs are almost free (€8 for an alivio at cnc) and easy to service. I imagine it'll be lighter too, those nexus hubs really are pigs. Otoh IGH is almost maintenance free... Hm. Leaning towards 1x8.

But the maintenance you do have to do on an IGH is quite a faff...

1x8 is really simple, put a 39t chainring and the whole gear range will be use right down to the 11t (this way the sprocket wear will be more even rather than the top/middle portion) unless where you are is pretty flat, then 42t sufficent.

Defintely lighter and felt a lots more direct in all the cassette range, only downside is not being able to shift while waiting in traffic, even the heaviest rear wheel is still lighter than the IGH.

Only disadvantage is replacing the chain and cassette a little more fequency than an IGH.

Agreed about IGHs feeling very disconnected in certain gears, but really awesome in others. They're heavy, but pleasingly solid and dependable. Sorting out the shifter indexing is vital!