Looking for a truthful answer

[bluerider]

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]

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]

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]

Brok...

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

[annie]

I am 5'1. I've been riding a Trek Project One WSD, 50 cm. frame for 3 years. It has 650 wheels or I wouldn't be able to ride that size frame, which fits me in every other way. I LOVE the 650 wheels, 'cause I have never have to worry about toe overlap. Ever. And they are not a problem in any way. They accelerate quickly. I have not noticed any difference as far as keeping up speed. Just by virtue of being smaller, they are lighter weight.

I make sure to always carry my own tubes and a patch kit, as it is less likely that anyone else will have a tube that size to loan. There aren't as many tires out there in that size. You have to really look around to find what you like, but it is certainly possible. For me, the advantages outweigh any little inconveniences.



annie

[DirtDiva]

I'm not a roadie, so I can't give you an informed opinion here, but surely the ease of getting up to speed and maintaining that speed has more to do with the size of your cogs/chainrings than the size of your wheels..?

[DeniseGoldberg]

tlkiwi is right. Your gearing is a function of the size of the wheels, the chainrings, and the rear cluster. It is possible to have the same gearing on a bike with 650c wheels as with 700c wheels.

As an example, I have 3 bikes - a diamond-framed touring bike with 700c wheels, a Bike Friday Air Glide set up as a touring bike with 406 (20") wheels, and a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket set up as a road bike with 451 (20") wheels. The two touring bikes have identical gearing, despite the different wheel sizes. The other difference between the two bikes is the size of the chain rings. I have much larger rings on the little-wheeled bike. And my little-wheeled road bike (deliberately) has higher gearing than both of the touring bikes.

That said, I still can't answer your question about 650 vs. 700 because I have no idea how the manufacturer configured the gearing. It is very possible that the gearing is the same - but that would depend on either the chainrings or the cluster being a different size since the wheels are already different.

[cindysue]

I make sure to always carry my own tubes and a patch kit, as it is less likely that anyone else will have a tube that size to loan. annie

Great point Annie! 650 is a rare breed - please be prepared for anything!

[pkq]

The linear velocity of the wheel is the product of the wheel radius and the angular velocity (rpm's) of the wheel.

speed = wheel radius X revolutions per minute

So far cranks turning the same rpm with the same gearing, the 700c wheel will be traveling at a higher speed than the 650c wheel.

This can be overcome with gearing, which is what bikefriday does. But the root for needing to overcome this begins with the wheel size.