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

Nice mixte! FWIW my usual bike is 1x8 with a 42T up front. Unless she's doing 100+ miles a week you'll get 18+ months out of that setup. I do almost 75miles a week on mine and I remain unconvinced by the IGH option. Can't see the benefits.

18+ months before you change the chain and cassette you mean?

IGH still gonna outlast it, but can understand your sentiment.

Indeed. But to me, for low mileage bikes, the costs of IGH vs traditional derailleur don't stack up.

Yeah they're expensive. Although I just found a freewheel nexus 8 on cnc that's only €49.

Right, tire size. Probabaly been covered loads of times, but anyway. Currently can't fit wider than 23 mm on the 700c/622mm rims, and even that's a bit tight with the mudguards, expecially in the front. http://www.bikecalc.com/wheel_size_math says this equates to 668mm wheel diameter. Switching to 584mm/650b wheels with 35mm tyres (these:http://sella-berolinum.de/shop-teile/reifen-/650b-584mm-reifen/1046/650-x-35b-michelin-world-tour-35-584-schwarz) gives a wheel diameter of 654 mm. Should get me some more clearance for mudguards and not make mounting them such a pain in the arse. Will I most likely need new 650b mudguards? If so I'm thinking about using berthouds again, are there other classy options?

You can get away with 700c mudguard up to a degree, the height is fine and wrap the wheel nicely, the problem is the width, ideally 45mm is needed.

I have tried 700x45 SKS mudguard and it work fine, just a bit of bending is all.

Too late, ordered 40mm 650b berthouds in the same order just now :-). They claim to work for <37 mm tyres so hopefully will be ok. The 700c ones that are on this bike now can go on my fixed when autumn hits, I've been trying to kid myself that an ass saver is good enough but I'm too old for that crap.

Should work fine, you got another choice of tyres which is the Kojak in 35mm if you find 37mm a bit tight.

Is there any difference between the 2014 Arch EX rim,
and the 2016 one?
The fact sheet here says: no .

https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=59499;menu=1000,2,302,303

Is there something else I should know?

So anyone want some 60mm rubber?
They are just too big for my frame- Schwalbe Big Ones (60 ish mm or 2.35).
Cost £70, and are brand new.
£50 picked up.

Just bought some rubber sadly,
2.35 at 500 g claimed is Grand Bois /Compass league .
http://www.schwalbe.com/fr/tour-reader/schwalbe-big-one.html

They're lovely. I really wish they'd fit.

Did you fit them to the rims? If so how'd they measure up? Just interested as I might get a pair if they sound like they'll fit (700c version)

any one know who stocks the WTB Horizon 650b x 47, my google fu has failed.

Looking for them myself. Website says release in July so prob available soon.

What's readily available in 38c-ish in the UK? So far I've tried Grand Bois Lierre (not convinced by the tread design) and Compass Loup Loup Pass (very disappointing, especially for the money).

Kojak a bit small but 35mm sufficent?

I guess that could work, only 16 euros at bike24 too. Ta.

Might not be cheap with the weak pound.

this is interesting, if you can read French (or google translate)

http://confreriedes650.org/actions/

Panaracer Gravel King

CRC now list them at £35.99 , but no stock yet,

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/wtb-horizon-tcs-road-tyre-2017/rp-prod151650

I would have thought the gravel king to be very similar to the Loup Loup considering they come from the same factory. They might be a bit less supply though if they have a puncture band in them...
Pacenti are available from Velo Vitality too...

Gravel King and Loop Loop are two very different tyres.

Tread pattern is pretty similar between Loup Loup and the Panaracer GK. And the Panaracer still seems pretty light? can't be that much different apart from that puncture protection layer @edscoble unless I've completely got my wires crossed?
Considering them for the daily bike so would be intrigued if they are very different to the Compass, which I'm beginning to become used to in terms of suppleness. Are the sidewalls thicker on the Gravel King?