Looking for a truthful answer

**brok** · 10-01-2005, 11:57 AM

I have a question for those "petite" women who ride a rode bike with 650 wheels. I have been given some many different opinions by the lbs people - mostly men, that I am unsure what to believe and what not to believe. My questions are 1)assuming you have ridden a 700 wheeled bike - is the ride on the 650's rougher? and 2) I understand the 650s are easier to get up to speed but is it also more difficult to maintain that speed? I ride with a group of "taller" cyclist who all ride 700 wheels and I don't want to struggle to keep up. I have a chane to by a Trek madone that has 650 wheels but thought I would seek out some expert advice/opinions from you ladies. Thanks for the input.

**cindysue** · 10-01-2005, 02:25 PM

sorry - I'm - not petite but thought I'd give you that "honest" answer you were looking for anyway........

I'm 5'10 and was recently fitted on a WSD w/ 650 wheels. Before that I had 700 wheels - and to be honest I don't think switching has made any difference. Here are my thoughts on the things you mention:

1) the ride actually seems smoother - but this is probably due to the fact that I now have a carbon seat stay and fork.

2) speed? hmmm, I haven't noticed any problem with maintaining higher speeds - but then again - I don't race - so being speedy isn't something I strive for. I like staying in the 15-20 mph range on the flats and haven't had any problems doing so.

Best of luck!

**bluerider** · 10-01-2005, 02:50 PM

Hi brok,

I am by no means an "expert" but I am 5'2 and ride a 47cm Trek 1500 WSD. Ah the Madone....*wiping up drool*...

I think if your bike is below 50cm you shouldn't be too concerned because it should handle just like a 700C wheel on a bigger bike. How tall are you? If you are petite like me, riding on a 650C would be more suitable.

I also don't think some bikes in smaller sizes can even accomodate the bigger wheels. Also, because it's a bigger wheel I would imagine the 750C moves over the road better but the 650C are more aero. I know lots of triathletes who are not petite that ride on 650C but they do so on a tri bike and not a road bike.

**brok** · 10-01-2005, 03:46 PM

I'm also 5'2. I currently ride a Specialized Dolce Elite 48cm with 700s. I like this bike but am also drooling for the madone. I would also need the 47cm - I just wasn't sure about the 650s.

**bluerider** · 10-01-2005, 04:43 PM

Hey brok,

Have you ridden the 650Cs? If you feel good on the 700Cs then you should stick with it. Although the Madone sounds mighty tempting...

Good luck and let us know what you end up deciding.

**bluerider** · 10-01-2005, 04:49 PM

Brok...

Is this the one???? I...MUST...HAVE...

**brok** · 10-01-2005, 02:44 PM

and I'm not a racer either. I just don't want to be dropped on any rides because of the 650s and it sounds like you don't have any problems. I like to be between that 16-20 mph range. I appreciate your input.

**brok** · 10-01-2005, 02:48 PM

also, just out of curiousity - what size wsd do you ride at 5'10??

**cindysue** · 10-02-2005, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by brok

also, just out of curiousity - what size wsd do you ride at 5'10??

56 - Orbea Dama Race

**carback** · 10-10-2005, 08:16 PM

I'm 4'11" and ride a 47cm Trek WSD 2200 with 650cc wheels. I LOVE the bike - it handles beautifully and is incredible responsive.
I have never noticed a problem with speed / keeping up; in fact, I feel more comfortable & confident on the bike than I ever did on the 43cm with 700 cc bike I used to ride (an engineering marvel if there ever was one).

**emily_in_nc** · 10-11-2005, 06:22 AM

I ride a 46cm Aegis Swift with 650c wheels and I have no trouble keeping up with other gals in our club (except for the A-paced riders; I'm not in their league, but that's not about the bike but the engine). I find that the 650 wheels accelerate fast, and the other nice thing about them is that they are lighter than 700s! Like Annie notes, I do have to carry my own tube and patch kit, but I've been lucky enough never to have a flat on this bike so haven't had to use it. I can't imagine riding a bike with 700c wheels at my size (5'2"), but I've never tried it so can't really compare - other than a Terry with a 700c in back, 24" in front, which was more of a pain b/c of the two different tire sizes, and it was a heavier bike, so I was slower on it.

I guess I just don't see what the big deal about 650c wheels is; this topic comes up again and again here, and I've heard so many gals, even shorties like me, say they just didn't want to ride 650c-wheeled bikes. I don't give a flying fig about what anyone else thinks (but I get tons of compliments on my pretty Aegis, even from the guys); I want to ride a bike that fits me and is not too much bike for me to handle - I even have a 20"-wheeled Bike Friday for touring and utility rides and love it!

Actually, I almost forgot: I have had a 700c-wheeled bike in the past; it was a hybrid and felt HUGE and ungainly to me, even though the reach to the handlebars was okay. I would never go back to a 700c-wheeled bike.

The way I look at it, 650c-wheeled bikes must be pretty fast because so many triatheletes use them!

Emily

**Blueberry** · 10-11-2005, 07:17 AM

Disclaimer - I do ride a 700c bike. HOWEVER, that's because I found a pre-owned one I fell in love with at the right price, I'm a smidge taller (5'4") and I can deal with toe overlap.

That said, I'm still looking lustfully at bike fridays... The Bike Friday folks actually have an interesting answer to the small wheels = slower idea. Take a look at http://www.bikefriday.com/LexiconFull.cfm?ID=53
Basically, their website says up to 16 mph, no difference. 16-33 mph - little difference. Above 33 - there's a difference.

I know that unless riding down a hill, I'm usually in the 16 and under category (or at least relatively close to it), so I'm not at all worried about the performance.

I've ridden with Emily and she dances up hills on her little purple bike (which is BEAUTIFUL)! Believe me, she was going faster than I was on my 700c bike. Methinks it's the engine, not the bike

**sarahkonamojo** · 10-11-2005, 03:12 PM

I have a Terry so I'm not afraid of the odd tire size. Seems 650c tires are much easier to find than 24". It would be nice to only have to deal with one tire size... (5'2" 28" inseam and short reach)

I got the idea Trek was dumping the 650c tire. I road a 47cm Pilot and it had 700c wheels.

Other than custom, which is becoming more appealing all the time, who makes road bikes w/ 650 wheels? I'd like to demo one. Cannondale. Litespeed. Others? (Of course. no Cannondales or Litespeeds in my neighborhood.)

SKM

**emily_in_nc** · 10-11-2005, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by sarahkonamojo

Other than custom, which is becoming more appealing all the time, who makes road bikes w/ 650 wheels? I'd like to demo one. Cannondale. Litespeed. Others? (Of course. no Cannondales or Litespeeds in my neighborhood.)
SKM

Hi SKM, I have an Aegis Swift with 650c wheels (carbon, made in Maine), but they are very hard to find. It's really considered a tri bike, but I don't have aerobars and use it as a club ride/road bike. I wanted to test ride one but could never find a shop in NC that carried them. I ended up finding a leftover 46cm frame/fork combo on Ebay for 2/3 off retail (but it was a 1999 frame I bought in late 2003), and I had my LBS build it up with Campy Chorus and a compact double crankset. A very sweet bike! I could never afford to buy one off the floor, but Ebay made my dream bike possible for me.

Their website sucks, but here you go:

Aegis Swift

Emily in NC

Thread: Looking for a truthful answer

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Looking for a truthful answer

bluerider

Thanks ...

cindysue

Just chiming in!

And another opinion...

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