Custom Bike - 650 vs. 700 wheels

[GLC1968]

My road bike is 650's. It's a gorgeously proportinate bike, too. My previous two road bikes had 700's and they looked odd in comparsion (small frame, big wheels).

I love the 650's and have had really no problems getting tubes. In fact, my first flat on this bike happened as I pulled into a rest stop on a century. The SAG at that stop actually had a 650 tube for me, so I didn't even need to use my own.

If you want fatter tires, finding bigger tubes/tires IS harder. But for a road bike with 23mm tires - it's really never been a problem (in 2.5 years). I do not have fenders on that bike - it only gets ridden in nice weather.

Honestly, in comparison to my commuter that has one 700 and one 24", two 650's is a piece of cake. Of course, if you have wheel troubles, stopping by a fellow cyclists house to borrow a wheel could be harder. Unless, of course, it's my house.

[redrhodie]

Based on your pro and con list, I'd go with the 650s.

[coyote]

as an owner of 650's I would go for the 700. It is hard to find tires. All the cool or useful ones are never in my size. There is never a sale on them and they are never an 'overstocked' item.

[Eden]

I also have bikes with both 700's and 650's - I prefer the 700's. I don't find them aesthetically displeasing at all.....

Tubes - no problems finding 650 tubes, but then again I do live in the big city and have tons of shops to pick from. 650 long stem tubes for my deep V's are a little harder, but still not impossible. If you have to rely on chain stores you probably won't find much.

Tires - definitely less of a selection. My 650 wheel bike is my commuter and getting hold of good puncture proof winter tires was a bit difficult. They always are a special order and many models are not available at all. I had Kendas that I really liked, but they stopped making the 650 size and I went with Gatorskins, that I don't like as much, when I replaced them.

Rims - the selection actually is kind of sucky.... Yeah you can get high end tri wheels, and they are often cheaper than the same in a 700, (this came in handy for outfitting my TT bike, which is also 650) but try looking for a more heavy duty rim. Like I said my 650 bike is my commuter/winter bike. I found the selection of nice sturdy rims to be sadly lacking

As far as the cons of 700's

I don't find my 700 wheel bike to be odd looking or disproportionate
I don't find the handling of my 700 wheel bike to be twitchy or even any different from that of my 650 bike
I don't have any toe overlap.... (though I will admit to having very small feet)