650 x 25 tires

[goldfinch]

Not all tires are made the same. I'd ask the folks at Terry to put some calipers on an inflated tire and give you the exact measurement. I'd never make the assumption that all 28s are the same width.

Thanks! Good idea.

[Kathi]

I'm assuming you have the stock wheelset that came with the bike so how about a handbuilt wheelset? When I was comtemplating this when I built my custom frame. I searched and discovered from a wheelbuilder's website that 650c are approx. 25% stiffer than the same 700c wheelset build.

I was riding on some pretty crummy road today and remembered the days of riding chip and seal in Indiana on an aluminum frame, my whole body suffered from the vibrations and I would get pretty worn out from the beating. On my Serotta and the handbuilt wheelset I barely felt any road buzz. The only thing I can't get rid of is the breaks in the pavement.

Even my 650c American Classics, supposedly built for small riders, are a harsher ride on my ti/carbon Serotta than my custom built wheels.

I tour on my bike and ride all kinds of conditions and I'm sold on handbuilt wheels.

[goldfinch]

If I went the handbuilt wheel route how do you go about finding someone to build the wheels?

[Kathi]

My builder's here in Denver.

I got my wheels when he lived in Santa Fe, NM. I called him and ordered the wheelset over the phone. He shipped them to me. I'll PM his info if you want. He also makes and sells his own hubs.

It was very important for me to find someone who understood the needs of a ultra lite rider. This was my second set of handbuilt wheels. The first my lbs did and were so overbuilt that an elephant wouldn't destroy them. Although lighter than the original wheelset that came on my bike they were stiff and unforgiving. I still have them stored in the basement.

Some LBS's build wheels, too. I'm sure others will chime in with their builders.

[NbyNW]

Rodriguez puts hand-built wheels on their bikes and they make lots of 650Cs. You might give them a call. I think there is more stuff in their brick and mortar store than there is on their website.