700c v 650 wheels

[DeniseGoldberg]

I would much rather have 700c wheels, but alas, this height challenged biker (4'10") wanted a bike that would fit and couldn't afford custom. It is nice having a bike that fits, so I guess I can't complain, but I do feel, at times, that I don't cover the same ground that someone with 700c wheels cover if I ride side by side with them, without expending more energy...

But - you actually can have the same gearing as someone with 700c wheels. Gearing is dependent on 3 things - the size of your wheels, the number of teeth on the chainrings, and the number of teeth on the rear cluster. It's entirely possible that manufacturers are not changing the chain rings or cluster to give you the same gearing on a 650c wheel as you would have with a 700c wheel - but it should be possible to configure a bike that matches.

For example - I have a touring bike with 700c wheels and another touring bike with 406c (20") wheels. And the two bikes have identical gearing.

--- Denise