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

New 1.5" Gravel Kings on, cheers @ElGato for the planet X tip off.

Very clean dude.

Thinking of changing anything in the near future?

So nice <3

@Tijs thanks buddy. Nothing really, other than rewrap the bars with some cushioning under the cloth tape. And also finally make the bag more secure on the front rack somehow.

Since building it I've just enjoyed riding it and made me realise you don't need the latest most expensive whatever. Did think I'd eventually fit Shimano hydro levers/calipers but now not sure I need to.

@heldring thanks. Still itching to take it on a few more adventures this year but nothing unfortunately on your scale!

Love that bike.

You’re welcome.
Bike looks great!

Soma Cazaderos for a decent price

caveat:not mine

Edit: only for one tyre, not such a great deal

Don’t get gravel king, they’re not as nice as the grand Bois despite being lighter, best ridden tubeless.

Now you tell me. Just come back from a pretty filthy rural ride and seem good enough to me but will see how they go.

Think I prefer 38mm to 42mm, I'm sure Mr Heine will disagree but felt maybe faster on smooth roads but who can tell.

Just come back from a pretty filthy rural ride

Kenneth williams.jpg

Ha, I've been rumbled!

Of all the bikes I've built up over the years I think this is my favourite, does make me want to ride an old 650b rando to see what it's like. Think I've bin scobled.

Think I've bin scobled

How does it feel?

You can experiment with tubeless with the Gravel King, as I learnt that the 650b version are all tubeless compatible, which make a lots of sense why mine felt lacklustre using with inner tube in comparison to the extralight compass 38mm version that use tubular casing (which is ironically 30g heavier).

It's grippy I give it that.

I actually know what you mean, my 650b bike are on 38mm as they're the perfect balance of speed, comfort and grip on the road.

I'm sure Mr Heine will disagree but felt maybe faster on smooth roads but who can tell.

In his type of riding, he's spending more time off road than on, currently on I think 48mm tyres.

How do the G-ones compare, that you had on the Elephant?

A pair of new Grand Bois for your buying pleasure

Would you like to buy my Grand Bois ?

i don't think that is true. as he doesn't post to strava or anything i can't be sure but many of the rides he talks about in seattle are mostly paved.

I'm thinking of building a 650b wheelset for my 90s mtb. id like a wheelset for the longer faster rides, but really I just fancy the experiment. Pretty sure there's clearance enough and will try and match 26X2.0 to 650bX42 so the geo isn't altered too much. What rims would you recommend? Disc brakes, so no need for braking surface.

get the wtb i25s for cheapz from planet x if they still have them.

for all the folk looking for silver 32h 650b rims for canti or caliper brakes -
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/RISXCDRR/sunxcd-32-hole-polished-aluminium-rim

I've got an unused wheelset doing nothing at home that you're welcome to borrow to give it a try, if you want, and buy if you like it?

Edit - actually they're disc and as such may not have a rim brake track. I can check once I get back to London on Monday evening.

Even comes in 650a! #ontrend

Thanks very much sir for the offer, I've now got my new tyres mounted and enjoying life. GLWS

Good for you sir and thanks :)

Very kind of you - I would like to try it out first before buying anything. but really I'd quite like a bit of project for the dark Feb evenings so would like to build them. But let me know what you've got on Monday as I'm sure I can find something to tinker with.