650c wheelset recomendations and steel options

[Eden]

How tall are you/what bike size do you take.... Smiley tries to tell everyone (well at least everyone female) that they need 650's whether they do or not.... You *can* get one a Rod with 700's - a teammate of mine actually has one of these rare birds. She's a fitter and a PT and knows what she needs. She basically had to tell him my way or the highway, but he did as she asked.

In my experience 650 rims and tires are getting to be harder to find. The selection, which was always smaller than 700's, has been shrinking even more. If you would fit 700's, I'd go with them.

Customs don't have to be expensive. I get the wheels for my rain bike hand built and they usually cost me something around $200-300 for the pair (I do usually get inexpensive, heavy rims as on that particular bike I'm interested in durability over weight). If you can find a local shop that has a good wheel builder and buy from them. If that is not an option I know that there are a few people here who have had good experiences with their online builders.

[hid558]

I am 4' 11". I am considering getting the steel bike due to proper fitting. I have short inseam and long arms. Have not felt comfortable with the bikes I have had even being small. I do have the toe overlap problem. I do need an online builder. Don't have any builders where I live.

[emily_in_nc]

I am 4' 11". I am considering getting the steel bike due to proper fitting. I have short inseam and long arms. Have not felt comfortable with the bikes I have had even being small. I do have the toe overlap problem. I do need an online builder. Don't have any builders where I live.

At your size, I would definitely agree with going with 650c wheels. I wish I understood why there is such a stigma associated with them.

[goldfinch]

At your size, I would definitely agree with going with 650c wheels. I wish I understood why there is such a stigma associated with them.

I find it very irritating that it is hard to find tire options for my 650c wheels. Not a lot of choices. Some choice in 23s. One choice in 25s (Panaracer Pasela) and I think one in 28.

[Eden]

At your size, I would definitely agree with going with 650c wheels. I wish I understood why there is such a stigma associated with them.

Yeah, at that size it might be hard to find a 700c bike that works - especially if there are toe overlap problems. That said The guy who builds Rodriquizes really does seem to try to force them on everyone..... (Like my 5'6" ish teammate who has several... And has recently finally switched all of them for bikes with 700's)

I have bikes with both. If I didn't race it might not be a big issue, but I definitely notice the difference in selection and availability of 650c rims and tires. Even tubes are getting harder to find. Interestingly, I actually fit my 700c bike better, even at my small size (I'm 5 even). I don't have any toe overlap issues, but I do have small feet.

[Koronin]

Like Eden I'm also 5 even and my bike with 700's fits better than the one with 650's. I do have a bit of toe overlap with mine, but it's not bad. Come to think of it I have toe overlap with both bikes and it's about the same on both.

[nuliajuk]

Given that 26" wheels have been so common since mountain bikes entered the market in the early 80s, I've always wondered: why 650c? Why didn't bike manufacturers just make a narrower version of the 26" wheel? For a while it was possible (maybe still is) to get 1.25" slicks for mountain bikes, how hard would it be to go just 1/4" narrower? Why introduce an almost-but-not-quite identical European size?