No one decided on 26 inch wheels. They were the only tyres available is all – came from beach cruisers. Have you actually seen the bikes they rode then?

650B (in an MTB sense) came about directly because of the limitations of 29ers.

1) Are bigger wheels smoother over rough ground? – Yes
2) Do 29ers have geometry tweaks resulting in slower steering? – Yes
3) Does 650B address both of these issues? – Yes

650B is the biggest wheel you can design an MTB around without having to abandon traditional 26" geometry

650B/MTB wasn't thought up by a marketing department, but by Kirk Pacenti – A US frame builder – looking for a practical solution for sharper handling and towards the future of full-suspension bikes.

650B may not be a huge amount bigger than 26" wheels with FAT tyres, but that difference is worth something. Many people wouldn't think anything of spending 50% more on an MTB component just to lose 10% of the weight.

I would rather race on my 2.1" 650B tyres than roll about on 3.0" 26" DH beasts weighing 2kgs each – and declare the 650B rider a chump cos his wheels are only slightly bigger 😉

29ers, great in a straight line 🙂

I have to say though .. they are very quick once up to speed. Feel a bit weird in proper techy stuff though.

I just wish there was a size in between 29" and 26" .. to retain sharper handling .. but still get the benefits of a bigger wheel. Ho hum.

I never worried about carbon bikes .. everyone said I'd crack my Carbon XC bike (riding XC) with my rather balls-out* riding style.

I didn't listen.

Took 2 months before a 3 inch crack appeared in the BB/down tube.. do'h!

No crashes either.. and I weight 10 st.

*Just a bit gung-ho, no jumps or gnar skills

ATB will ship next day to the shop. they are obv. slackers

cheers chaps.. I tried using a road BB on a MTB chainset a while back and it didn't work – only I can't remember why!

Smaller axle is it? Hmm, MTB is 24mm? What's the road axle dia.?

Only have single ring so granny isn't a problem.

I spray a small amount of degreaser on a rag .. rubs the cack off – comes up lovely and white

The cynic in me wonders if the police's statement that Moat has theatened the wider public (but won't say what he said) Is simply spin/a big lie designed to instill fear & counter empathy among people who see him as some sort of flawed establish-bashing hero.

Why would he do a 180 on his "the public need not fear me" line? I mean he's in enough trouble 🙄

marin? that's a whyte e-120 isn't it? A marin in wolf's clothing maybe

Chameleon is 30.9

Very obvious contender is the MEZZO – supported by ATB (marin)

Folds down to much the same dimensions as a brompton but more gears, less flexy over longer distances.

Having sold folding bikes for many years I would say this:

1) Know what you want – if you want a folding bike – buy the bike that folds the best – DON'T expect it to do everything else well… But delight in the convenience

2) ALSO : Buy a known brand .. Bromptons and MEZZOs are awesome because they have the support of customer-focused BIG brands behind them. Folding bikes- as a rule use many many non-standard parts that wear/break – walk into a shop and they won't be able to help with BRAND "XYZ" – best case scenario is they can do a special order that could take weeks to come through cough*DAHON*cough.

3) It cannot be stressed enough how good Bromptons really are .. they fold so easily, so quickly that nothing else comes close. You will find that you start taking it everywhere – and ultimately wonder how you did without it!

I use one occasionally, the success of them does depend on set-up and the bar itself.. I got on with the WTB one best

You need the drops as high as poss. level with the saddle ideally … which makes the whole thing a bit of a steerer-stack-fest.

Good for smoothish tracks .. and climbing hills .. but from a physiological point of view you're asking a lot of your lower back to be pulling up over obstacles whilst in a bent-over position .. don't wanna slip a disc! 😉

I was once told by a man who professed to know things .. that calling presta the 'high pressure valve' is something of a misnomer – as (apparently) schrader valves are rated up to a much higher (400?) psi than presta – in other (industrial) applications

No doubt someone will soon weigh in with "Well.. I'm an engineer and.."

Not enuff weight saved to bother IMO

Is a different wheel size really classed amongst 'the most innovative bicycle products'?

Meh. I generally keep the hyperbole to a minimum 😉

I just fancied giving people the chance to try out 650B without incurring import charges and shipping headaches getting things from the states.

If anyone has any questions about frame-fit or anything else 650B feel free to ask me, I'll try and help you out.

cheers
dave

He rides an Indy Fab with proper sized wheels, that alone gets my vote

I ride 650B. I also run dinosaur bikes which offers a modest selection of 650B rims and tyres for those in Uk/Europe who want to try it out. I'm not going to link to the site, don't like overtly plugging things on here but not hard to find.

I don't get on with 29ers being 5'8"(ish) but 650B are a fair bit quicker than 26ers – esp. noticable when riding on the road for example. But you don't suffer any of the geometry modifications, toe-overlap or slower steering/longer wheelbase of 29ers.

29ers are quicker in a straight line, but for trail riding, techincal work & start/stop acceleration – i much prefer 650B.

From my viewpoint – I rode and was happy with 26"ers .. but rode with guys on 29ers and saw how they took off up hills .. so I wanted to get more of an edge – with sacrificing my preferred geometry/riding style or limiting my travel

Hey, if you're too tiny for 29ers .. there's always 650B 😀

They'll be a few 650B bikes at SSUK

I don't think they have changed the design at all .. same fork as ever.

I like em .. I've had 3 sets now.. but I don't notice the flex at 5'7" / 10.5st. although i do ride pretty hard.

Are we to keep hold of Bradford aka Bradistan?

Could turn it into a giant curry factory I suppose

I'd be interested in a set … for monster-cross purposes 😈

1300 for a S/H CD player???

What was it a CDX2? CDS3? 808?

good pic of the 17s here

Just bought the 11 deg. ones – very wide at 710 and nice feel to the bend.

17 deg ones probs over kill unless your running SS and need the leverage, Uncut the 17 deg ones will come very far back at the ends

Whoops! Just made it in 8)

I often draft people on my commute, usually when they've sprinted past me to make a point .. I hang right on behind them to make mine 😉

Don't mind people doing it to me either, can't see the harm really as long as there's a couple of bike lengths between us … I'm always checking the road ahead though, even while behind someone, so no nasty surprises.. I can't even recall an instance where I've had an 'incident'

I was gonna say.. sounds like a knack'ed freehub body

sure

26"? If I had to choose one tyre .. the Bontrager Mud X .. the best tyre for mud, still rolls fast.

Nobby Nics also very good !

Nev's far too slow and draggy for me!

stiffer innit

MarkyG82 – Member
gun range? nice.

I also like to see in the workshop. better still, have the maintenance area in plain view. shouldnt have anything to hide when working on bikes.

HATE IT ! Sometimes when you're working on a bike you may need to do something unorthodox with a mallet or (heaven forbid!) make a silly mistake and have to undo it … I hate having people watch me when I work on stuff.

Workshops are dirty places, staffed by dirty men with a packet of Jelly Babies lying next to him … And as soon as customers can see in .. some manager always decides that it has to look clean and professional now … which is a pain when there's grease and muc-off, mud and oil dripping from every component!

No point pricing things 'keenly' at a shop .. just do RRP and offer price-match … cos half the customers don't care that it's 15% cheaper on the net and those that do won't be impressed if you take 10% off (they can get 15% off on the internet yknow)

Good wheelbuilder essential – as is a Mechanic who can TALK to customers – it shouldnt come to it but it often does and some customers will downright INSIST to talk to the mechanic

Nice to have a bit of choice .. Don't just buy EVERYTHING off specialized or bontrager .. mix it up a bit.

Always helps to have a 'bling' cabinet with some King headsets/hope hubs to catch the attention of the odd middle aged man..

An old race frame on the wall would be sweet .. Old manitou / bradbury hanging from the rafters gives you kudos 😉

it's a sweet lid

^ Saddle height is fine, I find a lower height is better for my knees (higher = slacker!)

But I don't want to turn this into a thread about my knees 😛

Genuinely interested on SSers ST angles

8 miles each way .. 30 mins through central london though with 6000 sets of traffic lights.

Average speed?No idea, I'd guess 46 mph

thomthumb – you ride SS like that? what sort of ratio?

they do need a bit of tinkering and plus the plates in the lower leg are steel and (IME) prone to rusting up pretty good in the UK climate

Gearing is higher/harder on my roadie bike but I can put the power in as hard as I like and never/rarely have achy knees. The MTB has a 72.5 deg ST angle and the road bike 74.5

I notice dialled bikes have a nice steep 74 deg ST angle.

buy em direct from cracknfail i expect .. but beware — they COST!

A couple of years back I remember them being about £8-900 when I enquired

Always wanted these

Schweet! Will do mr.P