I think the 650 size fad has passed... - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

At least for the men. There is just not enough air volume in the tire
to be a reliable wheel. I can understand the women riding them because
of the size and the their lighter weight. But overall, tooo many flats
and just not enough advantage to justify the hassle. Even Kestrel has
changed the Airfoil to be available in 700 now.

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/gay16.jpg

<img src="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/gay16.jpg">

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

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"Tacguy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] m...
> At least for the men. There is just not enough air volume in the tire
> to be a reliable wheel. I can understand the women riding them because
> of the size and the their lighter weight. But overall, tooo many flats
> and just not enough advantage to justify the hassle. Even Kestrel has
> changed the Airfoil to be available in 700 now.

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

"Bob Schroedter" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

A few random thoughts - but first a quick point... both 700 and 650c
wheels work fine for most people.

There are four "advantages" brought up by Dan in the column linked
above that I thought I'd provide some balance to...

1) Wheelbase. As he said, this isn't much of an issue any more.
2) Lower bar position. While this is no doubt true, when you see that
most 650c bikes are shipped (and ridden) with lots of spacers under
the riser stem, you realize that it's not really a big advantage for
most riders (there are exceptions of course - especially in the
smaller sizes).
3) Toe overap. This one is really just not an issue, IMHO -
especially since most 700c tri bikes have longer front centers (due to
the relatively steep seat tube) and slacker head tube angles (placing
the front wheel further away from the crank as well). Besides, who
ever goes slow enough on a tri bike to be ABLE to generate toe
overlap? ;-)
4) Speed. I dunno, but it should be pointed out that the hour records
have pretty much all been set on bikes with 700c wheels. I suspect
the difference between the two is "in the noise" one way or the
other... (not that THAT keeps it from being the subject of long
exchanges on r.s.t. every so often).

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:

> "Bob Schroedter" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> A few random thoughts - but first a quick point... both 700 and 650c
> wheels work fine for most people.
>
> There are four "advantages" brought up by Dan in the column linked
> above that I thought I'd provide some balance to...
>
> 1) Wheelbase. As he said, this isn't much of an issue any more.
> 2) Lower bar position. While this is no doubt true, when you see that
> most 650c bikes are shipped (and ridden) with lots of spacers under
> the riser stem, you realize that it's not really a big advantage for
> most riders (there are exceptions of course - especially in the
> smaller sizes).

OK, wild idea time, anybody ever used a 650 on the front with 700 on
the rear for better aero?
Van

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

You're joking, right? This setup was used in the eighties, with "funny
bikes".
http://banjo.boya.to/images/bike-005.gif

--
--------------------------
Andre Charlebois
AGC-PC support
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
BPE, MCSE4.0, CNA, A+

"epson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:Xns9548D84CA36E6vanlew@24.25.9.41...
> Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:
>
> > "Bob Schroedter" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> >>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> >
> > A few random thoughts - but first a quick point... both 700 and 650c
> > wheels work fine for most people.
> >
> > There are four "advantages" brought up by Dan in the column linked
> > above that I thought I'd provide some balance to...
> >
> > 1) Wheelbase. As he said, this isn't much of an issue any more.
> > 2) Lower bar position. While this is no doubt true, when you see that
> > most 650c bikes are shipped (and ridden) with lots of spacers under
> > the riser stem, you realize that it's not really a big advantage for
> > most riders (there are exceptions of course - especially in the
> > smaller sizes).
>
> OK, wild idea time, anybody ever used a 650 on the front with 700 on
> the rear for better aero?
> Van

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

"Andre" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:rSyUc.1772300$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].ne t.cable.rogers.com...
> You're joking, right? This setup was used in the eighties, with "funny
> bikes".
> http://banjo.boya.to/images/bike-005.gif
>
> --
> --------------------------
> Andre Charlebois
> AGC-PC support
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> BPE, MCSE4.0, CNA, A+
>
> "epson" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:Xns9548D84CA36E6vanlew@24.25.9.41...
> > Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
> > news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:
> >
> > > "Bob Schroedter" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > >
> > >>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> > >
> > > A few random thoughts - but first a quick point... both 700 and 650c
> > > wheels work fine for most people.
> > >
> > > There are four "advantages" brought up by Dan in the column linked
> > > above that I thought I'd provide some balance to...
> > >
> > > 1) Wheelbase. As he said, this isn't much of an issue any more.
> > > 2) Lower bar position. While this is no doubt true, when you see that
> > > most 650c bikes are shipped (and ridden) with lots of spacers under
> > > the riser stem, you realize that it's not really a big advantage for
> > > most riders (there are exceptions of course - especially in the
> > > smaller sizes).
> >
> > OK, wild idea time, anybody ever used a 650 on the front with 700 on
> > the rear for better aero?
> > Van
>
>

I remember it. They needed a rule change to do this because Tri-Fed
required that both wheels be the same size.

Showing my years again...

rsquared

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

"Andre" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:rSyUc.1772300$Ar.256593
@twister01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com:

> You're joking, right? This setup was used in the eighties, with "funny
> bikes".
> http://banjo.boya.to/images/bike-005.gif
>

Wow, LOL, it was just a thought I had but now that I see one it does look
pretty screwy doesn't it. :)

Thanks for the pict.
Van