less expensive 650b wheel options for inexpensive conversion/commuter bikes?

[Brian O]

Does anyone know of any inexpensive wheels for converting a cheap old road bike?  I would actually even probably prefer a freewheel wheel.  Also maybe an inexpensive dynamo front?

Thank you,

Brian

[Rob Riggins]

I have a strategy to acquire a used 650B wheelset.

I found an old Schwinn Mirada womens bike for sale at $90 that had 650B wheels. I don't know how many years they produced this model with 650B wheels, but they seem uncommon. The bike is low end and the wheels are too -- single-wall alloy.

I bought it and used the wheels. I had to respace the rear hub, but it worked well enough for me.

Rob 

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Rob Riggins

[Brian O]

that is not a bad idea, think there are many of those bikes around?  and are the rest of the parts worth anything?  I would like to find a $150ish dollar pair.  I have a mindset for this bike, that a freewheel wheel would play well into.  I have nice bikes that use expensive parts, but for commuting, why not a $15 freewheel, and a $10 chain instead of a $150 cassette and $50 chain.  It will be ridden in the winter and bad weather here in the PNW and that grime and dirt off the road just wears stuff out so quick, anyway, love to hear thoughts on the wheels and anyother brilliant cost effective commuter tips and tricks..

Brian

[Justin]

Handspun wheels are cheap but good quality.

-j

[Brian O]

Who, what, where, is handspun?

[Rob Riggins]

I don't know how many were made. The other parts on the bike were just low end. I took nothing from the bike but the wheels. Later, after building good 650B wheels, I returned the cheap ones to the original bike and sold the whole thing.

I watched Craigslist for one of these.  You need to see the bike in person to determine whether it has 650Bs or 559s. Most Craigslist sellers do not know the difference, although you could ask them to read the sidewall information.

[Mark Chandler]

http://www.handspunwheels.com/

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[lungimsam]

Here you go:

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/w700btwin-18312.htm

[Brian O]

I want 650b not 700c, and I really want freewheel not cassette if I can find them

On Wednesday, February 5, 2014 3:26:41 PM UTC-8, lungimsam wrote:

Here you go:

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/w700btwin-18312.htm

[Brian O]

I don't see anything 650b on this site

[Daniel]

They used to have 650B wheels with Synergy and Dyad rims as part of their Pavement series. I don't see them listed currently.

If you google 650B Handspun, you'll still find some stuff, like this beauty on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Handspun-Pavement-Series-Shimano-Velocity/dp/B0055V52NE

Daniel

[John Clay]

If the Col de la Vie tire interests you then 650a is virtually identical; no meaningful OD difference. Rims are about half the cost of 650b and the CdlV is an excellent tire and value. Hubs and spokes are obviously unchanged.

[David Banzer]

In Chicago I've been able to find a few Miradas. Wheels are lower quality overall, but I've been lucky enough to find complete bikes for around $50 or so. Part out the rest of the bike locally for about $5 a part and that can make the wheels close to free overall. Good if you want to mess around with trying out 650b or build up a beater.
David
Chicago

[Ryan Watson]

On Feb 5, 2014, at 17:25, John Clay <nice.c...@gmail.com> wrote:

> If the Col de la Vie tire interests you then 650a is virtually identical;

Not true! The 650A CDLVs are SO much nicer than the 650B ones! They ride like a 650B Trimline. They're also a couple mm wider. I guess they're made in a different factory with a more supple casing or magic rubber or something.
As a bonus they fit 700D rims and 700D wheels from old funky GT bikes can often be had for cheap.

I think I have a few low-end 650B wheels from Schwinns and Raleighs laying around plus a 700D wheel or two, so email me if you're still looking.

Ryan in Albuquerque

[Brian O]

That looks like a nice wheel, unfortunately I don't shop online. I am thinking something that isn't necessarily on that expensive velocity rim though.

[Brian O]

Would like to hear some more opinions on lesser dollar component builds for a daily bike. Maybe you guys are already doing this?

[lungimsam]

Oops, meant to send you the 650b set link.
But I see you are looking for freewheel able hub.

[somervillebikes]

You can also keep your eye out for a Raleigh Portage, which was a 650b touring bike, and scavenge those wheels (which came with freewheel hub). You don't find them often, but they're out there and I've seen them go for not a lot.

Anton

[js212]

On Wednesday, February 5, 2014 11:12:15 PM UTC-5, Brian O wrote:

That looks like a nice wheel,  unfortunately I don't shop online. I am thinking something that isn't necessarily on that expensive velocity rim though.

Sta-Tru makes dirt cheap replacement 26 x 1 3/8" / 650a alloy wheels.  Online they are about $35-40 per wheel.  Rear takes 6/7 speed freewheel.  I'm sure any bike shop can order, hell they may already have some lying around.

http://www.bikewagon.com/sta-tru-26x1-3-8-ea3-front-alloy-rim-wheel

http://www.bikewagon.com/sta-tru-26x1-3-8-ea3-rear-f-w-alloy-wheel

For tires either the Col De La Vie or maybe the cheaper Michelin World Tour wouldn't be bad.

Could be decent for a cheap-as-chips beater conversion, and no waiting around for craigslist/ebay finds. 

[Andrew]

have a look on XXcycle in France - they have some solid axle 650B wheels with the rear threaded for freewheel, for just over $90 delivered internationally.  I just saw them when i was buying something else on their site.  They are a bit haphazard on labelling - to see all the 650B goods in their store you need to search on both 650B and 650 B with a space between the 650 and the B.  The tubes might look to be as cheap as chips - but then be wary, as you add each tube to the order the postage goes up by about 5 or 6 euros!

[Andrew]

And they had 4 or 5 different cheap tyre options around $10 as well as the nice but a bit narrow Hutchinson 32mm tyres for a good price.

[Andrew]

Brian,  this forum is on the net and so are the suggestions that others and I have mentioned to help you get cheap wheels.  The $90 price I mentioned that I had seen below for solid axle freewheel-threaded wheels was per pair, and I have good news on XXcycle's  delivery time - 6 days to Australia for their standard postal delivery for some 650B rims, so you might even have a marginally better experience in the US, being a bit nearer to France.

On Friday, February 14, 2014 8:50:19 AM UTC+11, Andrew wrote: