When the 650B wheel was reintroduced a few years ago, the model we were following was the randonneuring and cyclotouring bicycle built in the French tradition. Many of us had spent considerable time studying these old French machines, and we could see how these marvelous bikes would be practical in everyday use. The large volume 650x38B tires were meant to carry the rider comfortably over a variety of road surfaces. The bikes were equipped with lights, fenders, and luggage systems for extended journeys and practical use in all conditions. They had a combination of attributes that made them unique and versatile, and they were beautifully executed.

A few years ago when we first started doing the 650B conversions we didn't have a lot of information about which bikes might work on the wider 650B tires. There were many older bikes that were determined to work, but most of the newer bikes and frames were space constrained. So we went around measuring and test fitting wheels in various newer bikes and frames. Some of the shop guys thought we were wacky, and well, we probably are. But once you get that 650Bug it's energizing, and there are about a million 650B convertible bikes out there waiting to be transformed into something amazingly versatile and comfortable.

Here's our little 650B Monster Crosser. With 650B 2.0 knobby tires on disc brake wheels, I'd say that this is pushing the envelope for 700C to 650B conversions. And all we did was swap the wheels! Really, it was just that simple - we pulled out the 700C disc brake wheelset with the 700x31 cross tires, and put in a pair of 650B wheels with the new Pacenti Quasi-Moto 2.0 tire. Yes, disc brakes are good like that!

650B Wheels in 26" Suspension Forks - Things To Consider
Now that the 650B mountain bike wheel has gained some popularity and press, more people are calling us to get a set of wheels to put in their 26 inch mountain bike. If you have already done some studying, you'll already know that a 650B tire doesn't always fit in 26 inch suspension fork - here are things to keep in mind when considering a wheel upsize...

In a few days the mountain bike world will be introduced to a new wheel size that cuts the difference between the standard 26" wheels and the new trend of 29" wheels. The 650B wheel will take center stage at Interbike in Las Vegas on several new mountain bikes, including the Carver Killer B. Before most of the world even hears about the new wheelsize, Bikeman has already built and tested a set.

In the last few 650Blog articles I've introduced the 650B wheel and shown a few bikes configured with them. Perhaps now you're curious, and thinking about cycling from a different perspective. Maybe you're wondering about that dirt road that you've always passed-by, or that alluring gravel path that runs down by the river... maybe you'd just like to explore some new roads and keep right on going, whatever the weather or surface conditions become. You're thinking about having your own "650B experience". But you aren't yet ready to buy a new 650B specific frame and build it up. Well Dear Reader, this article is for you.

In the 650B Conversion Guidelines article recently posted to this blog we showed you some preliminary photographs of a new Soma Fabrications Speedster frameset sitting on 650B wheels. We've just finished assembling and testing that bike, and I'd like to tell you more about that project in this article. I've been looking to identify and prove a few new 700C production bicycles for conversion to 650B.

In this edition of the 650Blog, I'm going to review my recently built Kogswell P/R, and provide some background information on a relevant topic that many of you have probably never considered; front end geometry.

Last week we introduced the 650B wheeled bicycle, and provided a brief overview on the background for this wheel format. In this week's installment of the 650Blog we're going to discuss the conversion of modern production bicycles to 650B. There's a lot happening in the world of 650B bikes right now, and I'll try to bring you up to speed quickly, so this article will have a lot of information.

Hi, my name is Ed Braley, and I'm the author of Bikeman's new blog, the 650Blog. I'm wild about bikes, all kinds of bikes, but I have a special passion for a special kind of bike: the fat-tire, all-roads bike, the 650B-wheeled bike. Over the coming weeks and months, the Bikeman 650Blog will introduce you to the world of the 650B-wheeled bicycle. So lets start rolling with an explanation of the 650B wheel...