650 c wheels- what is the tradeoff?

[Tri Girl]

I'm barely 5'3" if that helps.

[amymisk]

I'm almost 5'1" and ride a bike with 700s. I agree the large wheels can look a bit goofy on such a small frame, but I got over that quickly. My old bike had 650s but I can't compare them.

I agree with most, go with what fits well, who cares if it has 650 or 700.

[DebW]

My new custom Peter Mooney bike has 650 wheels and 26" wheels. I haven't noticed a difference in speed or acceleration relative to my older bike with 700s. I'm 5' 7" with a 32" inseam so could easily ride 700s except that my ideal top tube length and size 9 feet would have produced toe clip overlap with an ideal front end geometry. The handling of this bike came out so perfect that I wouldn't trade it for wider tire availability.

If you want versatility in tire width, then having both 650s (for 650x23 racing tires) and 26" (for 1.3" or wider touring/mtb tires) on the same frame is a good way to go. Switching wheels requires moving the brake pads up or down a couple millimeters. I was disappointed in the few options for 650 rims, since I built up my own on 28 hole hubs.

[Torrilin]

For most people, wheels are wheels, and as long as they're not flat, they do fine. The point where wheels matter is when you're stressing them. So for a race, bigger and skinnier can matter. For a bike tour or a heavier rider, you'd worry more about enough spokes. For ordinary riding, you can have fun on a bike with 16" wheels (like folding bikes) or on bikes with 29" wheels, and everything in between. So as long as the bike fits well, I wouldn't worry.

(I'm having fun with 26" wheels. No toe overlap, despite having big feet and short legs)

[mimitabby]

hmmm, there are a lot of us with big feet and short legs.

[Eden]

odd one out here - for a short person I have long legs and very small feet....
I'm 5' even, about a 28 1/2 or 29" bike inseam, size 4.5/5.5 feet depending on the brand....
I prefer my 700c wheel bike, and have no toe overlap on any of my bikes.

[piaadoll]

I'm five foot nothing with short legs and i've tried several bikes that I can get my hands on (Le mond, Trek, Felt, Specialized, Bianchi, Giant, Novarra.....).

This bike shopping has been so frustrating and has taken several months. Finding a bike store that has a small bike in stock to try was far and few between. I've had bike stores tell me straight out they will not order a bike unless I'm sure I want to buy it. Hello?!? How can I decide to buy a bike I haven't tried. Being short totally has it's disadvantages...Oh wells.

I am currently riding a borrowed Trek 1000 47cm and I feel a little stretched out, not to mention there is zero stand over clearance. But, I've gotten so used to it. At first I was a bit hesitant about the tiny 650c wheels on the 43cm Treks and Felt FW3 that I tried. I thought that perhaps I can get away with the 47cm bike - since some stores tried to sell me on them. I even considered the 44cm Specialize Dolce Comp (as I'm looking for a bike with at least a full 105), all cuz it had 700c wheels, but I just find it a little too pricey for the components. Wish I had snagged Specialized Dolce Elite back on 05 or 06 when the components were 105/ultegra.

Anyways, enough of that. I just ordered my bike my last Sunday. After a week of debate, I've come to terms with the 650c wheels and decided to buy a 2007 43cm Trek 1600 WSD with 650c wheels. I felt the bike just fit me much better and I got it on sale for $1080. Can't wait to get it!

[smilingcat]

My previous bikes

panasonic DX5000? DX6000? (no tunes though) whatever model it was (too long ago) had 700C wheels on 51cm frame. I liked it. Handled well, stable. Used it on death rides, tour of eastern sierra's ...

Litespeed Ti bike with 650C wheels. I loved it (too bad I sold it when I decided to quit riding.) I miss it. It accelerated really fast. Handled well didn't flex. Didn't have problems with running out of gears 39/53 and 12/21? cluster (counting the cog size and its not adding up right It was a freewheel not cassett). On really steep climbs, I swapped out to 12/28? or so. Great bike and wheels. CXP-33 with ultegra hubs. used it on redland classic, and fun rides climb the Kaiser, breathless in agony, sierra classic... great fun bike. Loved the 650C wheels too.

Current bike Orbea Dama Race with 700C wheels. bit more squirrly than my litespeed. Not crazy about (actually I hate) the low end campy groupo (Centaur) on it. Don't waste your time on Centaur. Use Chorus or Ultegra.
Otherwise great bike. Again doesn't flex much.

I'm just shy of 5' 4", 29" inseam, 6-1/2 or 7 shoes.

smilingcat