Gravel bikes - 650b or 700c for SA conditions?

[Tomik]

So, I'm about to pull the trigger on a Hakka MX gravel bike but am agonizing over which wheelset to start with. Options are 700c with 40mm tyres and 650b with 2.1" Thunder Burts.

 

I've read plenty of US based anecdotes but none really compare to SA, and in particular WC conditions. I live in Cape Town so Table Mountain trails, Kirstenbosch and the Constantia green belts will be my playing ground with plenty of road riding in between.

 

You see the conundrum?

 

Any advice from locals that have preferably used both sizes on a gravel bike?

 

I'd like to do the nearby gravel races too...especially Swartberg Gran Fondo. At race pace.

 

All stories appreciated.

[Jewbacca]

So, I'm about to pull the trigger on a Hakka MX gravel bike but am agonizing over which wheelset to start with. Options are 700c with 40mm tyres and 650b with 2.1" Thunder Burts.

 

I've read plenty of US based anecdotes but none really compare to SA, and in particular WC conditions. I live in Cape Town so Table Mountain trails, Kirstenbosch and the Constantia green belts will be my playing ground with plenty of road riding in between.

 

You see the conundrum?

 

Any advice from locals that have preferably used both sizes on a gravel bike?

 

I'd like to do the nearby gravel races too...especially Swartberg Gran Fondo. At race pace.

 

All stories appreciated.

I have both... 99% of the time I ride 700cwith 38c tires. 40c would probably be ideal but due to some incorrectly marked packaging, I landed up with 38c Panaracer Gravel king sk instead of 42c. Has it made a difference, I honestly don't know.

 

Otherwise I have 650b wheels and have tried the WTB 47c and some 2.0's.

 

Basically, a gravel bike is a rubbish mountain bike and a rubbish road bike, so the wheel choice decides which end of the spectrum you want to feel 'less disadvantaged'.

 

A typical loop for me includes any combination of some or all of the following; a mast trip, a Silvermine loop, Ou wa pad, hout bay gravel up to the nek to avoid climbing the tar, chappies, Smitswinkel, some atlantic road, rhodes mem, the greenbelts, the Constantia Nek to Newlands forest Kirstenbosch corridor and all the relative tar road pieces that link it all to Muizenberg.

 

Never once have I thought '650b wheels would be better hands down than the 700c' while riding the 700x38c wheel/tyrecombo, but on the flatter, faster tar bits I have definitely wished I had them when riding the 650b x 2.0 mtb tires.

 

As an aside, I am pretty sure the choice of rubber outweighs the choice of wheelsize. My 650b exploits have involved a more 'mtb' type tread than the Gravel King SK.

 

That said, I ride bikes to have fun and my gravel bike, which ever heel size I ride, puts a huge smile on my face.

 

Enjoy

[Tomik]

Thanks so much for the detailed response - exactly the type of stories I was looking for!

 

I think you've helped me make up my mind. Will start with the 700c and get some better tyres than the Schwalbe G-ones that come with the bike, which seem a bit more suited to manicured paths like in the US and Europe.

 

See you on the trails. Look out for a fireball red/orange Hakka in the next few weeks.

[Jewbacca]

Thanks so much for the detailed response - exactly the type of stories I was looking for!

 

I think you've helped me make up my mind. Will start with the 700c and get some better tyres than the Schwalbe G-ones that come with the bike, which seem a bit more suited to manicured paths like in the US and Europe.

 

See you on the trails. Look out for a fireball red/orange Hakka in the next few weeks.

Nice! The G-ones roll really nicely on tar and offer enough on the greenbelts. I suppose it depends how 'gnarly' you want to be with the bike. 

 

I have a bright purple Cotic Escapade. 

 

See you out there!

[AJG]

Jewbacca summed it up perfectly.

 

Expect to be surprised at how well the bike handles easy trails like the green belt but how rough it is riding the rocky stuff to the mast or on Table Mtn. I think guys get a gravel bike and have unrealistic expectations about how it’s going to feel.

 

After 5 different variations of gravel bikes I’ve ditched the 650b’s and gone custom build that runs 700 x 45 to 55. If you get the geo right there is no need for the smaller wheel size so one wheel set gives you gravel to MTB tyre range.

[Tomik]

Thanks Andrew. That's why the 650b's could work for me. I live in Sea Point so Table Mountain trails are the obvious connection to most places - especially coming back from the Green Belts. That being said, I still have my Pyga Stage Max so don't have to do the rockier stuff on the GG. 

 

You're right - it's all about managing expectations. I have a road bike too so think this new bike will be used mostly where it should be. It looks like a 45c might fit on the Hakka, so could put one on to get a bit more "suspension". 

[Jewbacca]

Thanks Andrew. That's why the 650b's could work for me. I live in Sea Point so Table Mountain trails are the obvious connection to most places - especially coming back from the Green Belts. That being said, I still have my Pyga Stage Max so don't have to do the rockier stuff on the GG. 

 

You're right - it's all about managing expectations. I have a road bike too so think this new bike will be used mostly where it should be. It looks like a 45c might fit on the Hakka, so could put one on to get a bit more "suspension". 

Just be careful of making it 'gravel friendly' and the an absolute tank on the road.

 

It's not a mountain bike, but putting big tires on it then makes it a really crap mountain bikeish and even more crap on the road.

[Longbarn Killer]

I've never ridden a gravel bike, but if one looks at all the reasons/advantages of having 29 inch wheels on a MTB, surely those advantages would hold true for a gravel bike with 700c.