650c wheelset recomendations and steel options

[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?