Never been sure of fatty’s….that vid makes me want one verrrrrry much

Nice one, thanks will check it out

Some great points on here, I mean that genuinely! I also believe in live & let live therefore my frustration is with those posters whom haven’t ridden 650b but still deride it and reckon those that do are idiots. I bought mine inspite of the wheel size because I liked all the rest of the features, it feels better & I do ride faster on it…but I will never convince you of that by writing on here a thousand times.

Next time you’re in the market for a new bike I recommend you try them all with an open mind and see what suits you best, but until then enjoy your 26 & let us enjoy our clown wheels.

Is it DH bike territory only or would a 160mm AM cope? Cheers

All opinions are good, you are assuming yours is correct and insulting all others…that’s the difference

Dearest Rusty Spanner, thank you for your comments, I am neither gullible nor an idiot, but thank you for letting me know. May I enquire as to what you ride? I presume a horse given your dislike of innovation of all margins?

Up front – I have a 650b which was bought because of the bike not the wheel size, it was nearly a deal breaker because I was worried it may die out in a few years and I couldn’t get parts – decided the bike was worth the risk.

I’m glad I did as it is very good, now if I had the choice between the two (exc 29) I would stick with 650b because it does feel better for me. I’m not really a cynical chap but of course, if they find something that is marginally faster (even if only by 0.00001%) then it will be promoted and companies will go for it. Of all the new improvements on my new bike over the old one (08 spesh enduro to cube stereo) the best thing is the weight saving of all the carbon, next best is the better suspension (not hard), after that I would say it’s probably the wheel size. The tapered head tube isn’t a big notice (caveat: the E150 forks were ridiculously stiff) but the least noticeable is the X12 rear axle but that’s being snapped up around the place.

I’m afraid it’s the world we live in, road bikes have less to improve because the terrain is much more uniform – though look at debates over sportives & now disc brakes. It’s not just MTBing.

It’s not the new Betamax because it is slightly faster and therefore the big bike companies will go for it as that is more their goal, once they go for it the others have to follow suit.

Please note I say faster not ‘better’ or ‘more fun’, that is in the eye of the beholder. So smaller companies may prefer nimble & agile over outright rolling speed & therefore will feel bullied into it. I think that’s your issue – the pursuit of speed as everyone’s goal on their MTB.

Now on a personal note, I like speed on an XC route and a DH route but I also like jumping & big drops so 650b fits very nicely for me as a balance. I wouldn’t go 29er as my only bike because I like doing dodgy landings off big drops but if I could afford two I would have a big DH bike in currently 26 but either that or 650 would be fine & then a 29er for XC.

What I really dislike is the self righteous attitude that argues anything other than 26 is rubbish, chill out man and look at the positives of all the differences from 20” up to 29″, innovation is very cool!

Glad you like it, I’ve just had my 34’s back from TF tuned following a service, they weren’t using all their travel as the damper was overfilled – all sorted now.

Also bought a 32 tooth race face narrow-thick chain ring so also 1*10 with no device and is working a treat- no dropped chain at all

Best thing about this bike – walloped it round Cwmcarn XC route twice last Saturday & been at tidworth free ride park doing 6ft drops on it all week!

My apologies, you’re are absolutely right, didn’t look close enough! The one I was thinking of was the 2012 with 36’s and SRAM X0

Bellefied +1

The strive is a lovely bike but the spec now isn’t as good as the one in that pic, I nearly went for it before I saw the cube

I’m currently riding 160mm 650b (which is awesome), at next bike purchase I’ll probably go to a 120mm 29er for Xc duties & a big old DH bike for playing on (been riding for 20 years etc etc blah. But for a jack of all trades the 650b does the trick just fine

Picked up a 32 from CRC, coupled with an 11-36 seems perfect, I’ll spin out on fast DH but fine for climbing!

3rd the cube, love mine (650b, 160 version)

Gone & bought a race face narrow wide – thanks for the tip!

I’m depressed now…my bike has fox forks, press fit bb, internal routing, 650b & made from carbon! No avid or SRAM though

deal breaker was that it must be 150 mm plus travel & stiffer forks than 32s

Very nice too, what chainring is that? I want to 1*10 with my XT crank set but wasn’t sure what ring to use without a device?

Some good points above on this page, 26″ won’t die out of course, far to wide spread and in use, we forget that we are a minority of all bike users on the planet. It is just another adjustment in the world of bikes…I think 29ers will remain for XC, 650b will be for trail bikes and 26 will be for trials and DJing…DH is the one I can’t work out but I am pretty confident it will go to 650b in the end just may take a moment or two! But we are at the top end of MTBing so no it won’t change the majority of bike owners for many years. Entry level bikes still come with V-brakes and we aren’t complaining there.

I think the whole marketing/nasty bike companies ripping us off is a bit of a cynical viewpoint, yes undoubtedly they see an option to bring out another range to boost their sales but this wasn’t developed purely for that. It does genuinely make a difference to rolling speed, more than a 26 but less than a 29. The majority of hardtails are used for trail/XC and so are likely to be 650b/29er as this suits their strengths the most.

Yep I did one in 2011, ignoring the last couple of posts my full story is here: http://ironmantd2011.blogspot.co.uk

I loved it and one of the best things I have ever done…will do another in a few years time!

Wear what you want, though Lycra is much more comfortable on a road bike & more efficient, plus it’s expected so as long as you never ever ever ever ever leave your bike while wearing it then its acceptable!

Try SPDs when riding slowly near a wall so if you fall you’ve something to lean against!

As for mileage…it all depends on your fitness but consistency is key, start with a 10 miler (30-45 mins) then build up steadily to 15, 20 etc, get plenty of little ones in and then after a month throw in a longer 30/40/50+ – you can’t beat time in the saddle

I store my stuff in a saddle bag – co2, tube, levers, multi tool, £10, patches
Then in my jersey pockets I stick my phone & food. Some people use modified bottles instead of saddle bags

I’m in Salisbury but heading to Swinley next thurs if you fancy a spin on it, thanks

Yes I have the race & love it!

Light enough for XC duties big enough for all else

Where are you based?

@gavstorie – what broke on yours?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/318432274 bit of a fun from the other day

sellers fault, stitched myself up sending a bike and the postage was £20 more than I estimated…wouldn’t dream of telling the buyer!

Cube stereo 160 mm – so far does everything though I haven’t hit Cwmcarn DH on it yet (will be soon) I am confident it will be up to the task though. The main difference is that its carbon so light enough for XC duties.

It has talas and the CTD function so you can almost lock it out. My main issue re the DH side of things is how the 34’s cope with flexing but we will see..hit some reasonable jumps and drops with no issues yet

I have the same bike & love it -agree with all you say.

I went tubeless straight away & solved everything puncture wise – so good!

My shifting also got really stiff, where the cable goes in to the frame it can get a bit bunged up, take the cable out, clean or replace it & put back in & problem should be sorted – made a big difference

Nope dead against it, for no other reason that it gives the driver an excuse to have a go at me…I don’t need that when I am out cycling its too dangerous.

He he…this was about 5 miles away and 30 minutes after my bush hiding..

‘In Wiltshire firefighters tackled a blaze in the roof of a house on Stonehenge Road in Durrington at about 18:30 on Monday.’ (from BBC)

Gulp…

Got caught it in too, I’m in Salisbury so probably hit me on its way to you…though surprised it had any rain left once it had ditched it on my head.

I was very brave and manly and hid under a bush…was a little nervous when it was right overhead.

On big tyres and carbon so probably would have just melted the bike..!

@ b45her – thanks for letting me know how I feel when I ride, and no I didn’t notice until I went back to 26 when I very much did notice, thanks

Surely everything is driven by the industry, that’s how it works.

Given that 29ers became popular, someone probably thought, hmm what if we had something with good elements of both 26 & 29 and came up with 650b…I very much doubt they all got together in a dark dungeon and plotted how to rip us off (or maybe they did) either way it works very well!

The restricted tyre choice did bother/worry me before I bought mine but it looks like the pros will use 650b in enduro & DH so us minions should be okay

I think hyperbolic justification is a touch harsh, you could apply that to many things in MTB world, for most of us I suspect that if it ‘feels’ better that is enough

I am totally biased though

Went for over £5k – massive love for the legend!

Stonehenge Cycles in Salisbury had a kili in yesterday

Don’t be a **** duffer….

Got a cube stereo 650b – love it, 160mm of travel but is carbon so very light, no trouble climbing and descends a treat, best bike I’ve ever owned! You’ll love it!

Guys who are hating I.e Mboy & b45er – just leave it, of course you’re entitled to your opinion but both pointless threads when the OP is obviously chuffed with his new bike/wheels – spread the love of riding

So good I wrote it twice

Prob both need changing really, mine were like that

Update, finally got round to replacing cable and all is well with the world, regreased and lubed it and it is light & smooth. The old cable was actually fine so just some lubing required actually! Didn’t adjust clutch at all

sorry for delay, have been away – it looks like this http://www.bike24.com/p235507.html

thanks

Sorry damaging the rim of the hub…not the wheel rim!

Not sure which hubs they are – off a 650b cube stereo & website just says custom for cube! 15mm QR if that helps and on the front!