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650b “Road Plus”… Is it fab or fad?

  • This topic has 24 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by CXR94Di2.
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  • May 25, 2018 at 1:12 pm #28554
    Fibblesnork

    First time posting (though have a lot of time lurking) and I wanted to guage opinions on 650b road plus…

    Bit of background, my usual road ride is a very nice, highly marvelous, extremely attractive, Dolan Ti which I have lovingly owned for the past three years.  It’s been great…  However, the last couple of years have seen a steady decline in my local road quality and cycle paths.  So much so that on a ride of any distance, I feel as though I’m doing cobbled classics instead of comfy cruising.

    Being the solitary sort, I tend not to group ride and I had my eyes caught by a Whyte Glencoe in an lbs last week…  Interesting stuff I think and on digging a bit more, there are other options and some good choices and I believe that this may well prompt me saying goodbye to my skinny road bike and hello to something a bit more cushiony..

    And then there’s gravel riding and bikepacking, two things that I’d quite like to get into. Yes I could keep the Dolan but I’m not sure I would get much use out of it but what should I be looking out for?

    Pitfalls and problem I will have no doubt missed..  I’ve looked at the Whyte, I don’t mind steel (Vitus Substance on offer at Chain Reactions), I like the idea of tyre changing to MTB tyres, I also would refer 1x and I think I am already sold on it… I don’t have budget for a 3T Exploro, weight isn’t critical…

    Will gladly hear the opinions of those with greater know….

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  • May 27, 2018 at 7:33 pm #920139
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    BBB

    You don’t need a specific

    You don’t need a specific 650b bike to run 650b wheels and any bike can be coverted to x1 setup unless you need a dinner plate size cassette.

    I don’t know how wide you want to go but most of latest allroad type bikes with700x40 ish clearance will take even wider 650b tyres. Spesh Diverge, Pinnacle Arkose, Genesis CDA, Charge Plug and quite a few more bikes would be great candidates.

    The same bike can be a racer, backpacker or gravel cruiser depending on the wheels and tyres fitted. Just like my Charge Plug 🙂

     

    P.S. Whether it’s a fad or not is irrelevant. Some people simply don’t get it.

     

    May 26, 2018 at 6:52 pm #920137
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    matthewn5

    IMO, fad. Periodically the

    IMO, fad. Periodically the bicycle industry has to invent a new niche, so they can sell new bikes. Basic capitalism. Create desire for new things you didn’t know you wanted.

    It goes something like this:

    1970s – 10 speed ‘racing’ bikes

    1980s – BMX

    1990s – Mountain bikes

    2000s – Flat bar road bikes

    2010s – Gravel bikes, 1x, etc

    Etc, etc.

    These are as distinct from mere innovation and improvement, which brought us STIs, dual pivot brakes, alloy parts and then carbon, etc.

    Back in the 1970s, I never knew I wanted a 10 speed until I saw one in the LBS.

    (ducks for cover)

    May 26, 2018 at 10:53 am #920135
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    Luv2ride

    Go for the Vitus Substance

    Go for the Vitus Substance 650b Apex1 bike. I think it’s a bargain at that price (and presume can get BC 10% discount, plus cashback on top).

    I’ve just converted an Arkose singlspeed “adventure” bike to Apex 1×11 and it’s great.  I’d also love to try 650b wheels but I’m told my early version frame doesn’t quite have the necessary clearance, despite it running 700×40 WTB Nano tyres.  Agree with the tubeless comments, makes a lot of sense on bigger tyres.  And, yes, clutch rear mechs absolutely rock!  Can’t beat a silent drivetrain…

    Think that Vitus would have been just what I was after, before I sunk cash into the parts for the Arkose!

    May 25, 2018 at 10:52 pm #920133
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    bikercat

    First post, I have a pinnacle

    First post, I have a pinnacle pyrolite 650b road bike from Evans. Brought end of February after several crashes over winter. The bigger volume tyres, WTB Horizons, are great for the poor roads and occasional off road foray. They have made my commute far more enjoyable not having to watch for ever crack, pothole or other hazards. Smooth, relaxed and puncture free over 1300 miles. Would happily recommend this wheel size even though the bike itself is rather heavy at 11.5+kg.

    May 25, 2018 at 10:23 pm #920131
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    Dr Winston

    I have every sympathy with

    I have every sympathy with your logic but I know nothing about those bikes. What I do know is that I’ve returned to cycling after twenty years and I’m shocked at the state of the roads and agree that riding  skinny tyres now is damned near dangerous…unpleasant at best.

    i’d agree with cmcg’s  advice…just go for the comfort if you can…

    May 25, 2018 at 9:55 pm #920129
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    Fibblesnork
    HowardR wrote:
    Things to consider….?

    Different wheel sizes have a range of advantages/disadvantages, many of which are related to you height & build. 

    The differnce between some sizes is less than marketing/trend monkeys would have you belive. Sometimes just changing the tyre would have a much more noticeable effect than changing the rim.

    what goes around comes around.

    Some rim sizes have many more available tyres than others. What tyres do yo want to use.

    Very true and as far as width goes?  Well, my current goes no wider than 25c which just isn’t enough.  Sure I could drop pressures but that’s perhaps not the point…

    What’s frustrating me most is the appaling state of the road surfacing that only seems to get worse year on year.  Crack, pothole, twigs and branches, nuts and bolts, gravel and rocks and if you hit the wrong bit of detritus at the wrong time it’ll have you off..

    I think my primary tear is tossing up ‘tween CX and wider.. I confess I like the idea of running wide so I don’t have to worry so much about the road surfacing..

    I’m aware that marketing has a part to play though.

    May 25, 2018 at 9:37 pm #920127
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    HowardR

    Things to consider….?

    Things to consider….?

    Different wheel sizes have a range of advantages/disadvantages, many of which are related to you height & build. 

    The differnce between some sizes is less than marketing/trend monkeys would have you belive. Sometimes just changing the tyre would have a much more noticeable effect than changing the rim.

    what goes around comes around.

    Some rim sizes have many more available tyres than others. What tyres do yo want to use.

    May 25, 2018 at 9:03 pm #920125
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    Anonymous

    It’s a brilliant marketing

    It’s a brilliant marketing ploy, we already had 650C(571) and 26″(557), there was no need to go back to the old french tyre size except if you wanted to get people to buy frames/bikes/wheels with the new size and say hey look we’ve got something that’s brilliant that fits your need.

    Either 650C or 26″ could have worked, all that was needed was to expand the tyre choice, nope instead just resurrect a long gone sizing which very few existing frames could accept which means as highlighted perfectly by the OP, buying a new frame/bike.

    I already have 40 and 42mm wide 700C tyres that work perfectly fine on my 18mm wide rims, my frame will accept 55mm wide 700C tyres if I so wished (sans guards, 48mm with) so I don’t need to buy another frame that is heavier, more unwieldy than what was being sold 10 years ago and to boot more expensive with lower spec components.

    If it fits your needs go for it, I just personally think it doesn’t add anything to the market that isn’t already covered by frames that accept 700C already, oh and there are no lowrider mounts on the Whyte nor many other 650b bikes which my 10 year old frame does not to mention the Whyte has ‘alloy’ forks, no wonder they need wider tyres!

    May 25, 2018 at 5:16 pm #920123
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    cmcg867

    I’m a big fan of them,

    I’m a big fan of them, especially for the type of riding you’re describing. If you’re not with a group there’s no need to worry about going slightly slower for the massive increase in comfort and control. 

     My main recommendation would be to go tubeless asap. It won’t stop everything, but it’ll go a damn long way to prevent those cold winter tyre changes. And if worst comes to the worst, just undo the valve and stick a tube in to get you home. 

    Also, clutch mechs are frickin great!

    Finally, watch out for tyre clearances. You mention wanting to run MTB tyres; while many will claim clearances up to 700×47-50, that doesn’t actually include room for tyre knobs/mud/etc that you encounter in the real world. The importance of big clearances if you want to go off road in Britain cannot be understated! Our ‘gravel’ ain’t no smooth American gravel roads!

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