650s or 700s?

[mimitabby]

gosh all you guys have little feet.

(size 8-9)
mimi

[Bluetree]

gosh all you guys have little feet.

(size 8-9)
mimi

We have Happy Feet

(size 6)
Joy

[Lucky 13]

Hi. I've been riding a 650c on a Cannondale 2.8 aluminum R500, 43cm for the past 5 years. I'm told that it was not originally made for a woman, but for a small man or perhaps small teenager. I'm 5'2 and needed a quite a bit of adjustment from the handlebars, stem, and seat. It fits like a glove. As far as ride, I feel every pebble on the road. Because I am commuting now and need to sometimes roll through the pot holes of Boston, I switched to a hybrid with front shocks and a couch for a seat...a totally different beast, no comparison. I now feel like I am riding the Bismark!

I've done a handful of multiple day charity rides on the 650c and packed wisely. I always carried an extra tube and TIRE with me because I was told that the roaving bike mechanics probably wouldn't carry 650c with them. I remember one charity ride I did and found a woman close to tears because she kept getting flat tires. Come to find out the tire itself was cut and everyone that passed her was riding a 700....couldn't lend her a tire. She was ready to sag. I came along and saved the day(my claim to fame that day!) and gave her my extra tire. Away she went to finish the days ride...smiling.

Good luck

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi. I've been riding a 650c on a Cannondale 2.8 aluminum R500, 43cm for the past 5 years.....As far as ride, I feel every pebble on the road.

Hey Lucky,
You don't say what width 650c tire you are riding on. If you can put a wider (fatter) size 650 on your bike, you will feel a much cushier ride. You might want to find out how wide a 650 your fork and brakes can accomodate. Or just look to see if there is still some space and get the next width or two up from what you have and see how that feels. Even just 3cm could really make a big difference in the feel of the ride. Remember when your tire is wider, it's fatter all around, not just in width. That gives you a very slightly taller bike but more importantly gives you a lot more air to ride on. More air=more shock absorption.

[Lucky 13]

Hi Lisa.

Thanks for your suggestions. I currently have a 23-571 on. Yes, it's true that a wider tire would give a little more give. The fork is another issue.

Cheers.
Lucky

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Lisa.

Thanks for your suggestions. I currently have a 23-571 on. Yes, it's true that a wider tire would give a little more give. The fork is another issue.

Cheers.
Lucky

Well, it's the same for 650's as it is for 700's: a 700c x 23 tire is going to give you a much harder bumpier ride than a 700c x 28 or so tire. I'm proposing that it's more likely that you are experiencing a bumpy ride because of having 23c skinny tires than it is because you are riding 650's.

[Eden]

Well, it's the same for 650's as it is for 700's: a 700c x 23 tire is going to give you a much harder bumpier ride than a 700c x 28 or so tire. I'm proposing that it's more likely that you are experiencing a bumpy ride because of having 23c skinny tires than it is because you are riding 650's.

Ummmm there are a myriad factors that have their affect on ride - frame material/design, tire width, tire pressure etc. I have 3 bikes, 2 different wheel sizes, but all 23c width and 3 different materials. The ti/650 has the smoothest ride with the least road noise and most bump absorption, followed closely by the all carbon/700c bike and lastly of course the aluminum/carbon fork/stays/700c bike. Oh - I almost forgot the Marin - all aluminum, wide tires - 700 x 35c, rides like a tank......I can take it over any bump or through any pothole I want to but I feel it plenty. I think I need to let some air out of the tires

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

gosh all you guys have little feet.

(size 8-9)
mimi

Size 9.