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You been testered... Well, in this case I've been testered. What are the benefits of 650b over 700c then in your opinion, tester? Or aren't there any?

Better fit for shorties.

with the same spoke count they are stronger, benefit for luggage packed bikes

^^ mainly that. They should also be lighter as well, but I doubt that makes a massive difference.

As Ed pointed out 700c vs 650b is basically about getting big tyres without having a "big wheel".

Pretty much, plus it fit me better, and ridiculously comfortable with very low pressure (37psi F&R)

27.5"/650B has a mix of charateristics of 26" and 29". I.e one is easier to accelerate, one is lighter, one rolls better, one holds it speed better, one is stronger, one has a bigger contactpatch and so on. 650b sits somewhere in the middle.

I think one of the manufactures main reasons was that full suspension bikes are to hard to build for people in all sizes with 29" with a decent suspension travel. Proper downhill bikes was not possible to build with the big hoops.

Wo-wo-wo!

We're strictly dealing with 700c vs 650b. I think we can all agree that in the case of 650b vs 26" the whole thing is a marketing fad.

Oh dear. I shall go to the garage and shank myself.

Is this a cyber-bullying trap?

Better fit for shorties.

↑This, mostly. Generally, bigger wheels are better until they start getting in your way. With fat tyres, 700C/29" starts getting in your way when you're around 5'6", but you don't really need to drop all the way down to 26" until you're below about 5'2". That puts most women in the gap, so you can see why the middle size has taken off. Fully grown men (i.e. people over 6'0") certainly don't need dinky little wheels for the kinds of cycling where the wheels nearly always stay on the ground.

Are you saying that 650B sales have taken off due to women consumers?

I expect marketing hype and cost control (1 size to rule them all is very good for manufacturers) is what actually drives sales, I'm saying 650B/27.5" makes most sense for women simply because so many of them are the right size to find middle sized wheels optimal. By 'taken off' i really meant adoption by manufacturers rather than consumers, although obviously mass market consumers just suck at whichever teat is put in front of them.

Originally I was going for 700c but the short top tube of 53cm and wanting to keep a standard geometry (73 degree HT) make 650B more idea especially with mudguard.

Thomas Voeckler's Colnago C59 Italia - YouTube

From the classifieds

That is such a good deal when you start breaking it down, it's perfect sized for JB as well, he should buy it. Absolute stunner.

http://d4nuk0dd6nrma.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/botb_look_695_o-nev_9963-e1377223095456.jpg

more photos here http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/08/bikes-of-the-bunch-look-695/

That is such a good deal when you start breaking it down, it's perfect sized for JB as well, he should buy it. Absolute stunner.

One reason why he won't buy it.

I almost went 650B on my cross/road thing from talbot being only 5'7" but the lack components but my off

needs drops

black hoods and maybe

I quite like em pink.

I like everything below the top tube.

aliexpress special?