Baron

Much of the motivation for going with 650b in the first place was due to the height of team riders Schurter and Florian Vogel, who stand at 1.73m (5ft 8in) and 1.74m (5ft 9in), respectively.

Read the interview done in 2012 with Scott team director (and racing legend) Thomas Frischknecht at http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/nino-schurter-wins-world-cup-1-on-650b-wheels-33467/ When Nino tested the different wheel size they did not even had it in their mind to ditch the 26 inch wheels and was also not planing to have a production 650B, they only had the proto type Nino used.

I agree Nino win because he is the best rider, but the bottom line is for his build the 650B is his choice of wheel size. Scott did not had a 650B at the time and they did tests and he was faster on the 650B, if not he would have stayed on the 26 inch wheel as he did not like the 29 niner, for average riders 26, 27.5 or 29 inch wheel will make very little difference, see it each week at club rides, but for guys racing to win, first test the differed wheel size and see what suit your build the best. I see small guys and girls sell their 26 inch wheel bikes and buying entry level 29 inch wheel bikes that is as heavy as a tank and at the climbs and technical sections they suffer just to say they ride a 29 niner, that is fall for marketing, but for a small guy like myself I will rather go for a lighter more nimble handling bike with the smaller wheels. Checks the technical data from the research Giant did, I do not think their measurement of contact patch, and attack angle of the difference wheel sizes is not true. Contact patch 26 inch wheel = 6cm. 27.5 inch wheel 8cm and 29 inch wheel 9cm. Roll-over Increased wheel diameter decreases the angle of attack (the angle in which a round object intersects a square object). This is a good thing. A 29-inch wheel rolls over a 6-centimeter square-edge obstacle 14% more efficiently than a 26-inch wheel does. In comparison, a 27.5-inch wheel rolls over the same obstacle 9.8% more efficiently than a 26-inch wheel does Another way to analyze angle of attack is the degree of impact—where 26-inch equals X degree, 27.5 equals X-4 degrees and 29 equals X-6 degrees. Again, a shallower angle is better—so 29-inch takes the win, with 27.5 exhibiting nearly the same performance but without the weight penalty.

It is not just about diameter diffrence. Read the Giant press release and check all the technical data of the research they dit between the diffrent wheel sizes at http://www.pinkbike.com/news/650B-For-All-Giants-Elite-Level-Mountain-Bikes.html. All Merida, Giant and Scott pro riders will be on 650B next year, only way they will be able to match Nino Schurter on his 650B

I Converted my Merida 99 duel to 650B. I swop the Rox shock from the Merida 99 with the Fox shock from my Merida 3000 lite hard tail. I used the XT hubs from the 26 inch rims from my hard tail with the new 650B ZTR rims and fitted Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 front and Kenda Karma 2.0 at rear. Conversion cost about R 3000.00 that was for the ZTR 650B rims, new longer spokes, Tyres and labour of LBS to build the wheels. Bike cost new from LBS R 12 300.00 with sale Merida had on 26 inch 2012 bikes. With conversion bike cost R 15 300.00 New 650B duel or 29 niner with similar spec than the Merida 99 with Sram XO cost plus minus R 30 000.00 to R 40 000.00 The BB hight of the Merida 99 with the 26 inch wheels was less than on most 26 inch bikes and now with the 27.5 inch wheels it about the same as most 26 inch bikes. I Found that the Kenda Karma 2.00 is wider than the Cross mark 2.1 I had on the 26 inch rims and is also about 3mm wider than the 26 inch Conti Race king 2.2 that is fitted on my wife’s bike. The Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 is very light but not as strong as the Kenda Karma. With conversion bike weigh about 1 kg less due to ZTR rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Kenda Karma tyres that weight less than the Maxis Cross mark tyres I had on the 26 inch wheels. Did about 2500km with conversion with no problems

I Converted my Merida 99 duel to 650B. I swop the Rox shock from the Merida 99 with the Fox shock from my Merida 3000 lite hard tail. I used the XT hubs from the 26 inch rims from my hard tail with the new 650B ZTR rims and fitted Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 front and Kenda Karma 2.0 at rear. Conversion cost about R 3000.00 that was for the ZTR 650B rims, new longer spokes, Tyres and labour of LBS to build the wheels. Bike cost new from LBS R 12 300.00 with sale Merida had on 26 inch 2012 bikes. With conversion bike cost R 15 300.00 New 650B duel or 29 niner with similar spec than the Merida 99 with Sram XO cost plus minus R 30 000.00 to R 40 000.00 The BB hight of the Merida 99 with the 26 inch wheels was less than on most 26 inch bikes and now with the 27.5 inch wheels it about the same as most 26 inch bikes. I Found that the Kenda Karma 2.00 is wider than the Cross mark 2.1 I had on the 26 inch rims and is also about 3mm wider than the 26 inch Conti Race king 2.2 that is fitted on my wife’s bike. The Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 is very light but not as strong as the Kenda Karma. With conversion bike weigh about 1 kg less due to ZTR rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Kenda Karma tyres that weight less than the Maxis Cross mark tyres I had on the 26 inch wheels. Did about 2500km with conversion with no problems.

Who care what this guy say on Bikeradar, not Nino Schurter he just keeps on winning on his 650B. Even if the 650B bikes are not faster they just look so more in perspective and awesome. Check out the new 2014 Merida 650B hard tail and the Giant 650B soft tail.

Read the whole article before comment about it. Giant did extensive test and all their team riders was faster on the 650B bikes. The tests also show the weight saving with the 650B out weight the little better rolling of the bigger 29 inch wheels. The test also show the contact patch of the 26 inch wheel is 6cm for the 27.5 wheel 8cm and 29 inch 9cm. Will be interesting to see if some of the other world cup XC riders is also on 27.5 inch wheels if they will be able to give Nino Schurter on his Scott Scale RC 27.5 a go.

Can be a "seized" pivot bearings with the bike standing in garage for few years.

2014 Gaint range at www.pinkbike.com Giant USA released its 2014 bike lineup to the press and it comes as no surprise that mid-sized wheels play a large role in the brand's upper level mountain bike range. We were surprised, however, to discover that Giant will up-size all of its most important 26 inch all-mountain and dual-suspension trail bikes to 27.5 inch wheels, as well as down-size its 29er XC-racing hard tails and short-travel dual-suspension bikes to 27.5 as well. Can we expect to see 29 and 26-inch wheels eventually disappear in Giant's consumer-priced bikes in the near future? 26-inch for sure, but 29-inch will be dependent on market feedback. That said, if the market progresses the way we believe it will, 29-inch will be phased out in approximately two years....again, totally dependent on market feedback.

Event Name: Vrystaat Safari's When: 27 July 2013 Where: Kroonstad Free State Safari's Game farm, Freestate Category: MTB Price money and lucky draws Go to Event Page

Who care if a 650B is not a 27.5 My Merida ninety nine 2000 is now a 650B and I think this frame was design with 650B wheel in mind. Got it on special when Merida sold out all their 26 inch bikes, Got it brand new for R 12300. The wheels looked to small for me on the frame and now with the 650B wheels it look awesome, ride gravel roads, handle single track and technical sections just awesome If you want to buy a new bike, best prices in South Africa Saleys Kroonstad For excellent service try Buycycle, got the 650B rim and awesome service from them

fscycling did not load info but Kroonstad Race still on Price money, medals and luck draws enties from 8:00 and 50km race strart 10:00, 35km at 10:15 and 10km at 10:30 Contact Piet Wessels for more info at 0828577827 GPS Koordinate: S27.35.48.72 E27.8.31.56 　

<p>Race is still on fscycling did not load info. Entries from 8:00</p> <p> </p> <p>50km race entry R 100 start 10:00 prize money to both men and woman 1st R 500, 2nd R 300 3rd 200 4th R 100</p> <p>Category winners<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> R 120</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">35km race entry R 80 start 10:15 prize money both men and woman 1st R 300, 2nd R 200 3rd 100 4th R 50 Category winners <font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">R 100. </font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>10km race entry R 35 strart 10:30. Medals to all finishers and luck draws</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><strong><em>GPS Koördinate: S27.35.48.72 E27.8.31.56 Contact number Piet Wessels </em></strong><span>082 857 7827</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Event Name: Vrystaat Safari’s MTB Challenge When: 21 July 2012 Where: Kroonstad Vrystaat safari's Game farm, Freestate Category: MTB Price money and other prices Go to Event Page

Good go? He punctured on the penultimate lap and still win. Nino Schurter riding for Scott – Swisspower took victory in the Elite Men’s race in a sprint finish against Jose Antonio Hermida (Multivan Merida Biking Team), the pair 1 minute 49 seconds ahead of third placed Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic, riding for Specialized Racing. It was a dramatic race for victory after Schurter, who led alone from the gun, punctured on the penultimate lap as a thunderstorm changed the going from dry to rain-soaked. Schurter was passed in the technical area by Hermida but quickly rejoined and caught the Spanish rider. The two rode much of the final lap together, with Schurter beating Hermida in the final sprint.

The Ultimate MTB Wheel Size – 650B Most mountain bikes use 26” wheels. Some use 29” wheels. Our new 650B mountain bike takes the best from both...and does things even better. Bigger than 26” wheels, for better rolling and tracking. Smaller than a 29” wheels, so it weighs less. That’s why the new KHS sixfifty606 uses the new 650B wheel size. For the ultimate in mountain bike performance. • Better Comfort, Stability & Less Rolling Resistance than a 26” • Less Weight & Better Handling Than a 29” • Ride Performance You Can Really Feel 650B TEST RIDE Centers

Soon 29" wheels will be out dated The Ultimate MTB Wheel Size – 650B Most mountain bikes use 26” wheels. Some use 29” wheels. KHS new 650B mountain bike takes the best from both...and does things even better. Bigger than 26” wheels, for better rolling and tracking. Smaller than a 29” wheels, so it weighs less. That’s why the new KHS sixfifty606 uses the new 650B wheel size. For the ultimate in mountain bike performance. • Better Comfort, Stability & Less Rolling Resistance than a 26” • Less Weight & Better Handling Than a 29” • Ride Performance You Can Really Feel

Condolences to all the the families of Frank Nel, Magda van Lill, Jan Eloff. RIP From all cyclists in Kroonstad

I asked my Pharmacist why does rennie work for cramps and the answer is that rennies is have a lot of Magnesium

They have change the route around this year, the route can be flat but if the wind blow, the section back to town on the N1 is hard work.