Advice re: Lynskey R230 conversion?

[Ben Feigert]

Looking for a little realistic advice: 

I ride and love a Lynskey R230. Most of my rides are 3 hours or less, but I also enjoy the all-day epic in the mountains around Denver. Would love to extend those rides on dirt connector roads to make for mixed loops. 650B seems like the way to do it, I think. 

The bike currently runs 26mm Compass Cayuse Pass tires, with just enough clearance for me to feel comfortable. They're nice on pavement but probably not enough width and cushion for the dirt roads I've been scoping out. In my size M, the Lynskey has 70mm BB drop and it seems to have enough clearance to run wider tires on 650B. Would it be foolish or smart to convert to 650B with the goal of fitting 32mm or 35mm tires? 

(Also germane: I have an old-model Salsa Casseroll set up as a commuter with a rear rack. It could easily run 700x35. Maybe I just ride that bike instead on the long days?)

Thanks for any guidance!

[Igor Belopolsky]

I'd ride the Salsa. Yes, 650B on the Lynskey would work, maybe, but IMO it's annoying to to go through all that to run 650bx32. I wouldn't bother with 650B unless I could do 38 at a minimum, but that's just me

[Ben Feigert]

Thanks, Igor. I agree--it does seem like a lot for not much gain in flexibility. Likely the caseroll will do the job. I appreciate the perspective.

[Max]

I tried this on a couple of bikes. In my experience, the ride quality of a 650x32 set up is inferior to that of a good 700x26 set up, where the circumference is greater on the latter, smoothing out the surface irregularities better. By 38 mm on 650b it's starts feeling appreciably less jarring than 700c -- for me. If you have the opportunity to run 700x35 or 700x38 on the Salsa that's already there, I think you'll be happier, both in terms of ride quality and speed. I would also guess that whichever bike has a longer wheelbase (and, particularly, chainstays) will feel the more comfortable on rough roads.

Bike fit is another matter altogether - I'm assuming both fit equally well.

(By "good 700x26" I mean a supple tire on a reasonable width clincher rim with a box section, or even better - a sew-up on a box section tubular rim.)

- Max in A2

[Ian A]

The thinking man's approach would be to leave the Lynskey in its current configuration, but convert the Casseroll to 650b so you can run 42s with fenders.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/hiawathacyclery/2301536248/

Not sure if Jim Thill is on this list, but he would know what brakes would work for that.

Also, the Casseroll with 35 mm tires would be a great bike for long distance rides.  It's handy being able to put a pannier on the rack if you're the sort who likes to picnic.  

Ian A/Canada.

(Post edited).

[Ian A]

That is to say the Casseroll with 700x35mm tires would be great for long distance rides.

Ian A/Canada (where it's cold, dark, snowy and icy and I'm a little stir-crazy)

[Steven Frederick]

Outside the box thinking-sell both and get one of Lynskey's new gravel bikes?

https://lynskeyperformance.com/road/touring-commuting/gr-250/

steve

On Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 12:32 AM, Ian A <atte...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The thinking man's approach would be to leave the Lynskey in its current
> configuration, but convert the Casseroll to 650b so you can run 42s with
> fenders. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hiawathacyclery/2301536248/
>
> Not sure if Jim Thill is on this list, but he would know what brakes would
> work for that.
>
> Also, the Casseroll with 35 mm tires would be a great bike for long distance

> rides. It's handy being able to put a pannier on the rack if your the sort
> who likes to picnic.
>
> Ian A/Canada.

>
> On Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 2:48:17 PM UTC-7, Ben Feigert wrote:
>>

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[Harald Kliems]

To offer a different opinion: I converted my Gunnar Roadie to 650B, getting me from 25mm wide tires to Pari-Motos in 38mm (nominally; in reality they're narrower, and if they stretch to 38mm, clearance will be somewhat problematic). This blog post has some perspective of how tire width relates to tire volume: https://janheine.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/tire-width-how-much-difference-do-a-few-millimeters-make/ I'm very happy with the conversion, and I think the difference is quite pronounced. I think the first step would be to determine how much clearance exactly you have. If it's really 35mm, keep in mind that to my knowledge there are no good 650B tires available in that exact width, meaning you'd have to run 32's. This then raises the issue of BB drop and pedal strike. With a 32-584 tire your BB may end up too low. But I think if you can fit a 26-622, you'll probably be able to make a 38mm Pari-Moto work. 

 Harald.

[David Cummings]

Nashbar has the 2015 Lynskey Cooper CX frameset on sale for $1375. Disc brakes allow multiple wheel sizes. Just sayin'...

[Justin Hughes]

Nashbar's return policy is tops, but you can buy the same frame on eBay from Lynskey for hundreds less. 

[Igor Belopolsky]

all of those are 'sold' listings..

[Justin Hughes]

Showing the prices of what actual frames have sold for was precisely my intention. Here are some current Urbanos (essentially the same frame, different cable routing). 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynskey-Urbano-Titanium-Frame-Size-Medium-34082-/162330517499?hash=item25cba71ffb:g:fKoAAOSw8w1X2Zz5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynskey-Urbano-Titanium-Frame-Size-Medium-34080-/152366012486?hash=item2379b8d846:g:fKoAAOSw8w1X2Zz5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynskey-Urbano-Titanium-Frame-Size-Large-33680-/162329111342?hash=item25cb91ab2e:g:fKoAAOSw8w1X2Zz5

[Kieran J]

Lynskey always has a full selection of models up for auction. Some amazing deals there. I've thought about picking up a 29er frame just cause ..

KJ

[Ben Feigert]

Thanks to all for the advice, both in-the-box and out-. The short term, I think, is to ride the casseroll with the widest 700c tires I can fit, and see how I like it as an all-day adventure bike. It'll be a good trial, and a good way to see some new roads.

Long term, I'll likely end up with a one-bike solution that can run 700c or 650b. That bike, it seems safe to say, would have disc brakes, with the associated ease of switching sizes. Tons of options there, huh?

Thanks again, and many happy miles in the new year.