The 650B adavantage! 0.55% Betterer!

According to this video featuring a certain Nico Vouilloz, using a 650B wheel over a 26 wheel equates to 1 SECOND in 3 MINS! That’s worth while then!

http://dirt.mpora.com/featured/dirttv-enduro-world-series-rd1-punta-ala-bike-tech-video.html

It will be if he wins by a half a second rather than losing by half a second.

check 2012 DH WC results if gee atherton had had a 1 second advantage he’d have won

But for mortals such as ourselves that 1 second makes sweet FA difference.

29er I understand. 650B… Not quite so much.

But for mortals such as ourselves that 1 second makes sweet FA difference.

Not for some! STRAAAAVAAAAAAA!!!!!

yacoby – Member
But for mortals such as ourselves that 1 second makes sweet FA difference.

29er I understand. 650B… Not quite so much.

Plenty of us mere mortals spending lots of cash swapping out perfectly good components for incrementally lighter ones for far smaller advantages. There’s an actual, tangible benefit to bigger wheels – in the context of everything else that goes on with bikes, why wouldn’t people want that, however small?

What I was trying to say is that the biggest weak point isn’t the kit (at least for me) and from my perspective I am not going to notice a 1% speed difference.

Maybe useful for the people a couple of seconds off the top at Strava or whatever, but in my view if I spent the £300 on a trip to the Alps I would probably end up much faster than if I bought new wheels. Or even just a couple of days riding somewhere in Scotland trying to catch faster riders.

If people want marginally larger wheels, go for it though *shrugs*

when Nico says “1 second” – he means ‘loads’

There’s an actual, tangible benefit to bigger wheels –

Is there? I’ve not seen any evidence that 1″ difference to the size of my wheels will offer me any tangible benefit at all. And, for me 2.5″-odd bigger was a hindrance.

It seems like the writing is on the wall, and we’ll all be on 650B in a few years. I’m just glad that it’s not very different to 26″.

That’s exactly the point it’s not really any difference, it’s a marketing man’s 26…

My next bike will have 29 wheels now that geo has been properly sorted.

But for mortals such as ourselves that 1 second makes sweet FA difference.

Half an hour wouldn’t make any difference to me !

Unless the cafe was closing ? 😀

Laughable how people go on about small advantages being insignificant for recreational cyclists. Of course not, but since when has that ever been the issue. Why not ride a Tesco bike then?

It’s about how it feels. Lighter feels nicer, 29er feels faster etc.

molgrips – Member

It’s about how it feels. Lighter feels nicer, 29er feels faster etc.

Yup. I’ve just switched to a slower bike because it’s more fun to ride, couldn’t care less about saving seconds except when I earn them. The article just shows the performance difference is irrelevant for most, so it goes entirely back to fun, feel, and cost.

Is the Hemlock a gonner?

Great ! Then I’d only be 19% slower than half my mates, the rest I’d still end up in the cafe queue before. Unless I needed faff time. 😕
Once again, unless he’s carrying a race number, bloke with the biggest grin wins.Unless……………. 🙄

I thought it was funny when someone in another thread turned up on his new 650b to find that someone on a 26″ had bigger outside wheel circumference than him, just because of the tyres.

I have 2.35s on my Remedy, my 650b has 2.2 Nobby Nics and the wheel looks and is significantly bigger.

And by “significantly” you mean less than 24mm.

[———————] < about this much (maximum).

i really hope 650b does win the clown wheel wars, there’s no real world difference from a 26er and it keeps the true clown wheels(29ers) where they belong, on cyclocross and shopping bikes.

I cannot understands peoples negative reaction to this. If you are a racer then any advantage will be good. Many people are not pros but still enjoy racing and so look at giving themselves an extra edge. It is correct that there are probably more cost effective ways of giving yourself and edge and there is nothing stopping you from following them.

Personally I am happy that the difference is so small as it means I will get much more time out of my 26″ wheels which I’m perfectly happy with and love riding. If I get an oportunity to change to 650b then I will certainly look at it, but I won’t lose any sleep over losing so little time in an event with riding them.

Agreed, I had one because I have not owned a 650b before, simple as… its just another bike to me, if I like it, i’ll keep it a bit longer than if I don’t like it….

wrecker – Member

Is the Hemlock a gonner?

Oh hells no 🙂 (*) But replaced my Herb with a 224 Evo- fair bit less good so far, but more of a laugh.

Is there likely to be a rocket in your future? Have you tried one or happy with what you’ve got?

Can’t afford it so won’t be testriding one, just going to tell myself it’s no good 😉 Nothing good comes of riding bikes that you might like more than your own!

i really hope 650b does win the clown wheel wars

I hope clown wheels win – that will make my 26er look even cooler than it allready does

I cant see me being on a 29er for at least 5 years as have 2 bikes with 26 inch wheels that are fine and it will mean a load of expense

after demoing yet another utterly awful 29er on the weekend i can’t see me owning one ever.

it was a five 29er FYI.

b45her – Member
i really hope 650b does win the clown wheel wars, there’s no real world difference from a 26er and it keeps the true clown wheels(29ers) where they belong, on cyclocross and shopping bikes.

My missus sometimes does her shopping on her 26er… she’s hardcore gnarr though 😉