Switching Appaloosa from 700 to 650b

[Friend]

Hey Friends,

I ride a 62cm Appaloosa and love it.  When I ride it the size seems perfect.  When I straddle it the top tube is right in my groin.  It makes me hesitant when riding it off road.  I have thought of switching it to 650b rims to gain an extra 2.5 cm but I'm not sure it's worth it.  Other option is trying to trade for a 58cm which I have never ridden.  Has anyone been in a similar predicament?  2.5cm seems insubstantial to make the switch to 650b.

[Eric Daume]

Rivs already have low bottom brackets, and dropping it another 20mm would make it too low, IMO. Especially for riding off road.

Anyway, the canti brake posts make this a difficult change, anyway.

Eric

On Sun, Jan 5, 2020 at 10:03 AM Friend <jtp...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Friends,

I ride a 62cm Appaloosa and love it.  When I ride it the size seems perfect.  When I straddle it the top tube is right in my groin.  It makes me hesitant when riding it off road.  I have thought of switching it to 650b rims to gain an extra 2.5 cm but I'm not sure it's worth it.  Other option is trying to trade for a 58cm which I have never ridden.  Has anyone been in a similar predicament?  2.5cm seems insubstantial to make the switch to 650b.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/108511a7-cb38-4635-a882-dcbca624973f%40googlegroups.com.

[Jonathan D.]

There are new sizes coming out but if you want 650B I would suggest the new Atlantis. I believe it is really just a 660B Joe.

[Eamon Nordquist]

Going from 700c (622) down to 650b (584) would require getting a framebuilder to move the canti brake posts down. The existing brake posts would be too high to reach the rims. Given similar width tires, you would gain a 19mm drop in the height of the bike.

Eamon
Seattle

[Tim O. (Portland, OR)]

Check out Bike Insights website. You can compare how geometry changes based on tire and wheel size. Gives you trail numbers and bb height and lots more. Super helpful for nerding out!

https://bikeinsights.com/compare

[Adam Leibow]

I have some bikes with virtually 0" standover which I ride fairly aggressively offroad. In my experience if you bail on a trail you do not sit down on the top tube with your legs perfectly extended downwards, rather throw the bike down sideways and dip off to the side in 99/100 cases. I had a 59cm MIT atlantis (too big for me) briefly that I rode on some rocky-rooty-muddy trails and did not feel concerned about the absence of standover. If I were you I would continue riding the 62cm especially if you find it fits you well. If you simply can't get comfortable with the knowledge that there is no standover, I would buy the size smaller before going through the hassle (and possibly botched geo) of having a framebuilder move the brake posts. just my opinion

[PaulS]

Unless you plan on riding down the trail straddling the top tube, I’d not worry about it. My Hunq is the same way. Fits great when riding, but no stand over. I’m not worried about it one bit. I’m done having kids anyway.

[Deacon Patrick]

Plus one for low to no stand over clearance and technical trail riding. This is the set up of both my Hunqapillar and QB and I've ridden Rocky Mountain trails with and without loads and bailed any number of times and never once had an issue. If you're bailing onto the top tube, you're doing it wrong anyroad. Gus Boots Willsen is a near mixte, and I really don't notice a difference in the top tube or not.

With abandon,

Patrick