27,5 inch (650B) wheels on a 26inch frame?

[NotSoBigBen]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, main reason for wanting to make the change is that I can't seem to keep up with the 29ers, yet everyone says a 29er will be too big for me and might mess up my knees. Some people have told me that 27.5 will eventually take off here in SA, it's just a matter of time. I'll take it to my LBS and see what they say, maybe try fit a pair of new wheels before I buy anything. Thanks so much!

 

I think it has been shown by quite a few 'shorter' riders that a 29r is not necessarily 'too big' for anyone ..... Emily Batty and Andrew McClean amongst others so don't just accept that either. As many of the Hub experts have commented before it may well be worthwhile to try one out?

 

The other thing is and this is only in my personal experience (and I am clearly no expert), don't expect that by getting a 29r or even a 27.5r that you will 'automatically' be faster ........ perhaps more comfortable and enjoy the bike more and then ride more and so become faster.

 

I notice a short growth spurt on my bald head when I got one but since then they have fallen out again

[Dustbin Dog]

I think it has been shown by quite a few 'shorter' riders that a 29r is not necessarily 'too big' for anyone ..... Emily Batty and Andrew McClean amongst others so don't just accept that either. As many of the Hub experts have commented before it may well be worthwhile to try one out?

 

The other thing is and this is only in my personal experience (and I am clearly no expert), don't expect that by getting a 29r or even a 27.5r that you will 'automatically' be faster ........ perhaps more comfortable and enjoy the bike more and then ride more and so become faster.

 

I notice a short growth spurt on my bald head when I got one but since then they have fallen out again

 

What happens to your gearing. Your wheels are part of the drive train. Do you need to go to a smaller chain ring as they do on the 29r?

[NotSoBigBen]

What happens to your gearing. Your wheels are part of the drive train. Do you need to go to a smaller chain ring as they do on the 29r?

 

I haven't needed to ..... I don't think it has that much of an effect with the 27.5's but I may be wrong (small chance but possible )

[CAAD4]

I haven't changed gearing from 26 to 29, as I built parts across. I haven't noticed any more hair loss than usual and I still feel superior and higher up in the food chain....

[Swift01]

going 29er is quite a change/strain on the knees due to the extra effort. While this may not be a big problem for guys who normally have a more natural higher strength than ladies it can be a problem for them to adjust to the harder gearing. My sister took nearly a year before she had built up more leg strength to be able to handle the normal 3x9 setup on the 29er. Battles with sore knees. A year later she is styling on the bike and her technical abilities have gone through the roff from before she got the 29er. She just says she feels she won't go over the handle bars with the 29er so now does not mind drops off's etc.

Now for the old mith if your too short you can't go 29er. She rides a small Gary Fisher womans design paragon frame. looks like a BMX with large wheels. I think the woman specific helps a lot with stand over height etc. She is a whopping 153cm tall. That is a ball hair over 5ft...... So no they don't mess your knees up if you are prepared to buld up more strength.

I noticed a year ago guys and girls struggles up the hills on 29er's. 1 year later they are adapting and getting stronger and now doing the hills just as fast as a 26inch. Food for thought says the person still on a carbon 26inch HT..............

[Hairy]

going 29er is quite a change/strain on the knees due to the extra effort. While this may not be a big problem for guys who normally have a more natural higher strength than ladies it can be a problem for them to adjust to the harder gearing. My sister took nearly a year before she had built up more leg strength to be able to handle the normal 3x9 setup on the 29er. Battles with sore knees. A year later she is styling on the bike and her technical abilities have gone through the roff from before she got the 29er. She just says she feels she won't go over the handle bars with the 29er so now does not mind drops off's etc.

Now for the old mith if your too short you can't go 29er. She rides a small Gary Fisher womans design paragon frame. looks like a BMX with large wheels. I think the woman specific helps a lot with stand over height etc. She is a whopping 153cm tall. That is a ball hair over 5ft...... So no they don't mess your knees up if you are prepared to buld up more strength.

I noticed a year ago guys and girls struggles up the hills on 29er's. 1 year later they are adapting and getting stronger and now doing the hills just as fast as a 26inch. Food for thought says the person still on a carbon 26inch HT..............

 

Or you just ride in a lower gear.

 

I used to have a 32x16 setup on my 26'er SS and now run a 32x20 on the 29'er SS and would say that speed and feel is similar to a 18 or 19t on a 26'er ... I just got my 18t SS cog for the SS and would give this a spin soon, this I expect to be much closer to a 16t on the 26'er.

[Eugene]

I haven't read through all of these posts, but there was an article recently in Ride Magazine (or maybe Bicycling), they mentioned that some of the larger tyres put you very close to being 27.5inch anyway. So, what is the point of spending so much on an extra 1.5 inches which you may already have.

[Hairy]

I haven't read through all of these posts, but there was an article recently in Ride Magazine (or maybe Bicycling), they mentioned that some of the larger tyres put you very close to being 27.5inch anyway. So, what is the point of spending so much on an extra 1.5 inches which you may already have.

 

I like the thinking behind that.

 

The unfortunate flaw though is that you could also run a large volume tyre on a 650B wheelset and then that argument is negated, should your frame allow for this naturally.

 

So then people would argue that a 650B with high volume tyres would be equal to a 29'er again .... if that 29'er had small volume tyres and who want to run small volume tyres in any event ... 1.95" tyres are so 1996!

 

Here is a little insight from rather impartial reviewers.

 

http://twentynineinches.com/2012/07/23/thinking-out-loud-about-where-does-27-5-fit/

[NotSoBigBen]

I like the thinking behind that.

 

The unfortunate flaw though is that you could also run a large volume tyre on a 650B wheelset and then that argument is negated, should your frame allow for this naturally.

 

So then people would argue that a 650B with high volume tyres would be equal to a 29'er again .... if that 29'er had small volume tyres and who want to run small volume tyres in any event ... 1.95" tyres are so 1996!

 

Here is a little insight from rather impartial reviewers.

 

http://twentynineinc...-does-27-5-fit/

 

'twentynineinches' impartial

[Caltrigger]

Have a read here if you have a 2011 or 2012 26inch Scalpel...

 

http://www.roostersbikersedge.com/2012/03/29/cannondale-scalpel-650-6er/

[Redlight]

To cut a very long story short. 650 is neither here nor there. Just another money making scheme.

Wot most idiots here don't realise is that pros are told wot to ride.

Secondly they win because they are strong. Because they train.

[awesme]

Keen on doing this also, might have to borrow someone's wheel set sometime and see if they fit inside my forks etc.

 

G

[Agteros]

To cut a very long story short. 650 is neither here nor there. Just another money making scheme.

Wot most idiots here don't realise is that pros are told wot to ride.

Secondly they win because they are strong. Because they train.

there goes my bubble

[Hairy]

'twentynineinches' impartial

 

Actually yes ... even though the sites name would make one think otherwise.

 

edit: thumbs up added

[CJVDM]

Must say im now more confused than ever, was thinking of buying a 26er Scalpel and then convert to 27er with total cost approx R40k which is still a lot less than the 29er Scalpel option....

 

What should i do??????????

[NotSoBigBen]

there goes my bubble

 

Mine is still intact