Comments on: 650b is coming http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/ Mountain Bike Reviews, News, Deals and How Tos Fri, 25 May 2012 04:53:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: bloody tongue http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-114708 bloody tongue Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:24:42 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-114708 Ineresting read! http://bikebizbabe.blogspot.com/2007/09/650b-experiment.html Ineresting read!

http://bikebizbabe.blogspot.com/2007/09/650b-experiment.html

]]> By: bloody tongue http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-114503 bloody tongue Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:01:45 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-114503 I just hear a rumor that Haro will have two 650B wheeled "Werx Xeon" all mountain” rigs at the Outdoor Dirt Demo. I just hear a rumor that Haro will have two 650B wheeled “Werx Xeon” all mountain” rigs at the Outdoor Dirt Demo.

]]> By: SomaStan http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-113908 SomaStan Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:14:38 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-113908 > I mean it fits certain people better (not all). One example is for taller people, bigger tires means more stability when railing around corners. It is the opposite feeling you might have when you are trying to rail around a corner on a folding bike with 16" wheels vs using a road bike with 700c wheels. Also it may fit certain terrain or rider styles better. For the most part, you'd think that 29ers would not climb as well as 26ers, but in some unique cases they seem to climb way better. > Partially true. What I meant was I think tire manufacturers would find it easier to create, market and sell more 26" tires than to push a whole new size concept. It means dividing up marketing and manufacturing resources. And riskier for sure. Though Gary Fisher and other early makers of 29ers were pretty valiant in pushing the new tire size, it was really the customers that evangelized this movement from niche to mainstream. If customers make enough noise, that's when the manufacturers will move its butt. >
I mean it fits certain people better (not all).
One example is for taller people, bigger tires means more stability when railing around corners. It is the opposite feeling you might have when you are trying to rail around a corner on a folding bike with 16″ wheels vs using a road bike with 700c wheels.
Also it may fit certain terrain or rider styles better. For the most part, you’d think that 29ers would not climb as well as 26ers, but in some unique cases they seem to climb way better.

>
Partially true. What I meant was I think tire manufacturers would find it easier to create, market and sell more 26″ tires than to push a whole new size concept. It means dividing up marketing and manufacturing resources. And riskier for sure.

Though Gary Fisher and other early makers of 29ers were pretty valiant in pushing the new tire size, it was really the customers that evangelized this movement from niche to mainstream. If customers make enough noise, that’s when the manufacturers will move its butt.

]]> By: Jim http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-113890 Jim Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:17:32 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-113890 How does the bike fit better with a 29er? Is my high school geometry failing me? No doubt the rolling resistance is less and the tire patch longer (not sure about wider). Hard to deternine the climbing trade-off between lower rolling reistance and higher momentum and mass, but maybe someone's done it. I would think the tire manufacturers would like it. More products to sell. Certainly a head ache for small shops and distributors when a customer comes in and asks for something they don't have. It would be interesting to revisit this topic in a few years and see what the market and marketeers end up with. How does the bike fit better with a 29er? Is my high school geometry failing me? No doubt the rolling resistance is less and the tire patch longer (not sure about wider). Hard to deternine the climbing trade-off between lower rolling reistance and higher momentum and mass, but maybe someone’s done it.

I would think the tire manufacturers would like it. More products to sell. Certainly a head ache for small shops and distributors when a customer comes in and asks for something they don’t have.

It would be interesting to revisit this topic in a few years and see what the market and marketeers end up with.

]]> By: SomaStan http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-113887 SomaStan Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:43:18 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-113887 Arleigh, you hit the nail on the head regarding different tires sizes for different sizes of riders. Tall riders have "lived with the faults" (quoting Fred) with 26" because there was no choice. But with the introduction of 29ers, tall people have discovered something they like better. Part of the discovery is the rolling performance benefits, but part of it relates to "bike fit" Tall riders finally felt they were sitting "in the bike" instead of being "on top" of a bike. Fad or not. 29ers work fantastic for many riders. That has been proven. 650b is offering another fitting option. Just as with 29ers, riders won't know they like it better than what they have until they try it. In a time, where bike enthusiasts more than ever are smart enough to know a custom fit makes a huge difference, introducing a third tire size makes a lot of sense. I am really surprised that consumers are complaining why we need it. I would've thought that it would mainly be the tire and wheel makers who would be sighing "here we go again". Arleigh, you hit the nail on the head regarding different tires sizes for different sizes of riders. Tall riders have “lived with the faults” (quoting Fred) with 26″ because there was no choice. But with the introduction of 29ers, tall people have discovered something they like better. Part of the discovery is the rolling performance benefits, but part of it relates to “bike fit” Tall riders finally felt they were sitting “in the bike” instead of being “on top” of a bike.

Fad or not. 29ers work fantastic for many riders. That has been proven.

650b is offering another fitting option. Just as with 29ers, riders won’t know they like it better than what they have until they try it. In a time, where bike enthusiasts more than ever are smart enough to know a custom fit makes a huge difference, introducing a third tire size makes a lot of sense.

I am really surprised that consumers are complaining why we need it. I would’ve thought that it would mainly be the tire and wheel makers who would be sighing “here we go again”.

]]> By: Arleigh Jenkins http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-111804 Arleigh Jenkins Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:03:59 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-111804 I think either end of this argument is correct. If you are a rider that notices small differences, than get a custom builder to build you something while throwing out any industry standard (or limitations.) If you are someone that likes to have things standard, & easy to get than I would say that a 26" is for you. I personally tell a difference between 26" and 29" I like the benefits of rolling over things with ease & a wider tire contact point. Then there are some folks that say they feel like clown wheels. Now do they feel like clown wheels because they have been riding 26" wheels for 8 years, and have the personality of change is bad? One fact I use to sell 29" bikes to folks over 5'9 is this... Childrens bike start at 12" & go up to 24" why shouldn't adult bikes? If you are between said 4 inches you fit this wheel size. No it doesn't make industry standards which bike companies and distributors need at this time but maybe having the right wheel & frame size would make you that much better of a rider. Just some thoughts. I think either end of this argument is correct. If you are a rider that notices small differences, than get a custom builder to build you something while throwing out any industry standard (or limitations.) If you are someone that likes to have things standard, & easy to get than I would say that a 26″ is for you. I personally tell a difference between 26″ and 29″ I like the benefits of rolling over things with ease & a wider tire contact point. Then there are some folks that say they feel like clown wheels. Now do they feel like clown wheels because they have been riding 26″ wheels for 8 years, and have the personality of change is bad?

One fact I use to sell 29″ bikes to folks over 5′9 is this…

Childrens bike start at 12″ & go up to 24″ why shouldn’t adult bikes? If you are between said 4 inches you fit this wheel size. No it doesn’t make industry standards which bike companies and distributors need at this time but maybe having the right wheel & frame size would make you that much better of a rider.

Just some thoughts.

]]> By: Fred http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-110014 Fred Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:34:57 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-110014 Forget about it! Fine for shuttle bunnies, but for those of us who like to climb, these are no help. 29 completely accepted. Give me a break. It's called a fad. Or is it a marketing fad! And 650 doesn't help short people who already struggle with even 26. And tall people (I'm one) can "live" with all the faults of 26! I realize that 29ers (and 69s) have advantages, but who needs another size and particularly one that doesn't work for a lot of people. I just got back from a group ride at Lake Tahoe and three of the eight were on small or extra small frames. I doubt market forces will leave these people behind. Forget about it!

Fine for shuttle bunnies, but for those of us who like to climb, these are no help.

29 completely accepted. Give me a break. It’s called a fad. Or is it a marketing fad!

And 650 doesn’t help short people who already struggle with even 26. And tall people (I’m one) can “live” with all the faults of 26!

I realize that 29ers (and 69s) have advantages, but who needs another size and particularly one that doesn’t work for a lot of people. I just got back from a group ride at Lake Tahoe and three of the eight were on small or extra small frames. I doubt market forces will leave these people behind.

]]> By: Miles Z. Sterrett http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-109885 Miles Z. Sterrett Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:00:56 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/08/27/650b-is-coming/#comment-109885 Good article and good links. Thanks for the leg work, fellas. Good article and good links. Thanks for the leg work, fellas.

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