Slightly OT: does anyone still own...

[David Madina]

Just for conversations sake... the boulders bicycles thread got me thinking: does anyone still own and ride skinny tire road bikes consistently anymore? I know, I know... this is a 650b board. Gets me wondering if it’s just time to unload anything with wheels smaller than 700x30...

[rcnute]

I've been enjoying mixing it up.  I have 700cx28s on my fixed PX-10.  Fun, yet makes me appreciate 650B all the more when I get back on one of those bikes.

Ryan

[David Parsons]

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 8:03:27 PM UTC-8, David Madina wrote:

Just for conversations sake... the boulders bicycles thread got me thinking: does anyone still own and ride skinny tire road bikes consistently anymore?

Me?  Though I'm an adherent of the "every bike a (x)" philosophy;  I've got a couple of 700x28c randonneuses (3 if you count my xtracycle as a road bike) that I ride irregularly, and I swap 650x25b tires onto my emergency randonneuse depending on my whim and what sort of riding I'm thinking of doing.

-david parsons

[Steve Chan]

   I have a long delayed project disc brake bike, where I was thinking I would build up a 700x30c tubular wheelset as well as a 650B wheelset and see how they rode. But I don't ride nearly so much these days, and my other hobbies have been squeezing out bicycling.

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[Arthur Mayfield]

My road bike is 700Cx32 (can do 38 without fenders). Skinniest tires I ride.

[Andy Bailey Goodell]

I started at 700x23 and went through the sizes. 25 briefly, raced a lot on 28, then to 32 where I did all my randonneuring and offroad adventures, and finally 38 on a commuter which was comfy but felt very slow.

Then I converted to or bought 650b bikes. 38 felt pretty nimble, 47 for a few years and never had a flat and was super comfy but did feel like I was trading for speed, and now settled on 42 for most of my commutes. The winter commuter has 57mm, but that's a different beast.

I don't miss 700, and I don't foresee wanting to ride anything under 700x32 or 650x38 any time soon. I don't have much time for club rides, races, or randonneuring like I used to though, and I imagine that if my goal was speed in groups on paved roads, I might feel differently about using "narrow" tires on 700c bikes again, but until then I'm more about a comfy commute.

Andy in NH

On Sun, Dec 2, 2018 at 11:03 PM David Madina <dmad...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just for conversations sake... the boulders bicycles thread got me thinking: does anyone still own and ride skinny tire road bikes consistently anymore? I know, I know... this is a 650b board. Gets me wondering if it’s just time to unload anything with wheels smaller than 700x30...

[p k]

No, but I do plan on getting a Riv Roadeo at some point.

[Daniel MacPherson]

 My main commuter is a 1986 Univega Gran Rally with 700 x 28s tires on it. A joy to ride!

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11:03:27 PM UTC-5, David Madina wrote:

[Bill M.]

I have bikes running 700x32, 700x38, 650x42, 650x47 and 650x60.  The 32's go out on Sunday mornings when I ride on the road with other folks on skinny-tired road bikes, the 38's for solo road rides without a load.  In general I'm faster on pavement and plenty comfortable on my 700c wheels.

The 650b bikes all have some load carrying capability (shopping, errands), and greater capability off-pavement (not too often around here), both cases where wider tires are beneficial.  Only the bike with 42's is low-trail, BTW.

Bill

Stockton, CA

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 8:03:27 PM UTC-8, David Madina wrote:

[Evan Estern]

I recently rebuilt the Marinoni (Columbus SL) race bike I bought new in about 1980.  700c x 28mm Compass EL tires, Dura-ace 7700 9 speed hubs and RD (12-27).  Campy Centaur 50/34 crank.  It's a beautiful ride; precise, comfortable and stable.   Most of my riding is done on a fendered 650B x42 machine, but when the conditions are right and I'm feeling strong, I love riding it.

[Reed Kennedy]

I keep telling myself I’m gonna sell my 700x32 MAP rando, but then I ride it...

Shredded the sidewall of a Grand Bois Extra Ledger tire on Saturday’s all-paved 200k, though. Thinking about going back to standard casings, but if any bike deserves the most supple stuff it’s this one. Hm...

Topically, I currently have bikes set up with these tire widths: 32, 35, 38, 42, 48. All Compass or Grand Bois, but a mix of 700c (first  three) and 650b (last two). If I had to pick a favorite overall it’d be the 38 mm. But I sure am glad for the wider ones off pavement. 

Reed

On Sun, Dec 2, 2018 at 8:03 PM David Madina <dmad...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just for conversations sake... the boulders bicycles thread got me thinking: does anyone still own and ride skinny tire road bikes consistently anymore? I know, I know... this is a 650b board. Gets me wondering if it’s just time to unload anything with wheels smaller than 700x30...

[Scott Henry]

I still have quite a few in the 700x25 category, including my next build.   For going fast on pavement, nothing else feels the same.

For feeling comfortable on all terrain, wide wins.

Cheers,
Scott Henry
Dayton, OH

On Sun, Dec 2, 2018 at 11:03 PM David Madina <dmad...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just for conversations sake... the boulders bicycles thread got me thinking: does anyone still own and ride skinny tire road bikes consistently anymore? I know, I know... this is a 650b board. Gets me wondering if it’s just time to unload anything with wheels smaller than 700x30...

[Alex Wetmore]

I have a rando bike with 32-622 tires that I ride reasonably often.  It's also the only bike that I get flats on though, so it tends to sit idle once it does get one.  One of the nice benefits of wide tires for me is that I can ride really nice tires and still get few flats when doing my daily commute.

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From: 65...@googlegroups.com <65...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of rcnute <rcn...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2018 8:12:53 PM
To: 650b
Subject: [650B] Re: Slightly OT: does anyone still own...

 

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[Toby Whitfield]

I have a straight up road bike that I use 700c x 30mm tires on. They are the GP4000IIS tires that are nominally 28, but are more like 30 in practice on Pacenti SL23 rims. I use that bike for shorter road rides and group rides. It is a lugged Miele made with Columbus SL tubing, equipped with 10 speed Ergo shifters. My randonneuring bike is 650b x 38mm tires, with friction downtube shifters.

I really like the narrower tire road bike for those uses. At 30mm, the tires are wide enough to not fit into the super harsh ride territory. I do think I get more flats on the narrower tires, though. Hard to be sure, because with only a few thousand kms on each bike over the last couple of years, and 4 flats between them in that time, it isn't conclusive.

As big an issue is that I like the Ergos for the type of riding I do on that bike. The setup is comfortable for shorter (sub 6 hour) fast road rides, when I don't need to carry much.

One final issue, as the slowest guy on my club rides, showing up on a fendered, downtube shifter bike with a dyno hub and a rack would really put me out of place. I'm already a weirdo with a steel (lugged, no less) bike. Not to say that the people on my club rides are snobbish or exclusionary - they are all super welcoming and great to hang out with. They are just mostly more interested in riding than working on bikes, skew younger, and ride what is current and available.

Toby Whitfield
Toronto, Canada

[rcnute]

I think I've gotten five or so flats over the last few years on 650B.  Then I took out the PX-10 with 28 Paselas and got a flat within ten miles on the maiden voyage!

Ryan

[Eric Nichols]

Between bikes and wheelsets, I currently span 700x26, 700x30, 700x32, 700x38, 650x42, 650x48, and 26”x4.8”.

It’s a bell curve, with the choices in the middle (700x38 rando and 650x42 allroad) getting the most use. I still like taking the racy 700x26 bike out on fast group rides during that blessed period of peak-summer fitness. Incidentally, my fastest brevets have also been on that bike, but it’s only a sensible choice when the weather is dry and the roads are smooth.

Like many on this list, I've experienced a gradual evolution in my riding. Once I decoupled speed from fun, and started including more dirt in my rides, the skinnier-tire options became less appealing. But they are still fun at times.

Eric Nichols

[Kieran J]

I just bought a Della Santa that only fits 700x30. I'm bringing skinny back, baby!

KJ

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 8:03:27 PM UTC-8, David Madina wrote:

[Evan Estern]

When I put that Marinoni back on the road I was unsure of what I'd end up with in terms of harsh ride, etc, but after I borrowed an old set of 30mm Challenge tires I was very impressed.  Ended up with the 28mm Compass tires which I run at 65-70lbs. It takes more concentration and effort to ride dirt roads, but it still does pretty well--though I did get a pinch flat at Peter Weigle's French Fender Day ride--embarrassing.  I agree with Toby--it's a bit easier to blend in among other road riders.  I'm really glad I have it even though about 90% of my riding is on the 650b machine.

[Sukho Goff]

One of the benefits of having limited bike storage space is it makes you think hard about what your needs are for the majority of your riding. This plus the fact that I ride 53-54cm frames and I've been all-in on 650b for all of my (three) bikes. 42 BSP on the vintage rando-ey bike (25 lbs dynamo/lights/fenders/rack), 53 Tburts tubeless on the BMC Road+ (24 lbs w fenders) and 44-ish GK Slicks tubeless on my custom disc commuter/all rounder (23 lbs dynamo/lights/fenders). 

I don't race but I'm not slow on any of those bikes. They are fast enough, very comfortable, sexy as hell, and overall amazing bikes that do most things really well. Would I enjoy owning a light (steel) no fendered, summer only go-fasty? I guess so? Actually, I did build up a 700x28 vintage Bertoni for this year's Eroica CA, but after riding it around for a few weeks, I ended up leaving it home and taking the fendered/racked/bag rando instead. Boy am I glad I did. Those roads were rough, the climbs were steep (46x30 gearing) and sheesh that bike sure got a lot of attention riding around a sea of gorgeous vintage bikes! In a large group of fairly strong riders on vintage light steel race bikes, I usually finished around the middle of the pack at each rest stop. Damn that was fun.

Sukho in PDX

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 8:03:27 PM UTC-8, David Madina wrote:

[djm323]

I have an old Raleigh that I recently upgraded to "fat" 700 x 26s — thats all that will fit between the chainstays.  Its fun to ride on smooth roads as long as you keep an eye out for potholes.

Dan

Chicagaux • USA

[earlethomas]

Finishing a conversion to 650b on a Univega mixte, c. 1981. Clearing 42mm with room for fenders, My previous ride was a Trek 400 Elance mounted w/ 28 mm which rode fine over everything but grapefruit gravel. Next bike will be rando and I want to fit 35 to 38's. What do you consider 'skinny' and why are you asking?  What do you want to know? I wouldn't 'unload' anything I liked unless my riding was being compromised.

thomas

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11:03:27 PM UTC-5, David Madina wrote:

[Scott Stulken]

For the first time I've owned them, I put 0 miles on either of my 700C bikes this year.  I was pretty content to use my 26"-wheeled fixed-gear for my commuting, and my 650B bike for all of the longer rides.  Sure, I feel a little guilty when I look at said 700C bikes in the basement, but as neither of them can fit tires bigger than 28mm, I just don't get a lot of joy riding them on my roads anymore.

- Scott

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 10:03:27 PM UTC-6, David Madina wrote:

[Kevin Smith]

You all got me at 'Marinoni'

I have a project going now to convert my beloved 94 Marinoni Special to 650b so I can try and fit the widest tire I can and remake the bike as a rando-type ride for the upcoming brevet season.  I just can't fit anything larger than 25s on this bike and I just don't ride it anymore.  My Hampsten on 28s is sublime for centuries or shorter/go fast fun rides - but it can't take fenders.

My intended Marinoni rebuild is:

Reuse Campy Chorus 8 speed hubs

Velocity A23 rims

Tektro 559 brakes (trying to keep close to similar style of origninal Campy Chorus brakes)

Tires and fenders will be the real trick though.  Currently thinking of the Grand Bois 650b x 32s lite version.  Also considering Grand Bois 650b x 36s but have questions about what their actual width will expand to.  If only someone made a supple 650b x 35 i'd be in heaven.

I bought the Compass Cycles Tire Fitting Tool and measured the frame for 650b x 38 tires (it comes with a set of plastic discs of specific tire widths).  I had ~2-3 mm of space on each side of the tire under the fork and at the chain stay.  I have much more space under the rear brake bridge.  I don't think this is enough space to squeeze the 38s into and mount some fenders.   BUT - I think I could get 32s on it with fenders...and just maybe the 36s.

More to come as the build develops

Kevin

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 8:03:27 PM UTC-8, David Madina wrote:

[ViveLemond]

Hell no! I wouldn't ride anything skinnier than my 42mm Babyshoe ELs.
As a smallish/medium sized dude at 5'9, the 650b wheel size is just better - looks better, feels better. I ride a loop with a lot of carbon framed skinny racer wannabes, and I can say with no question my 42's are as fast or faster on the down hills as we coast along. And then in corners...no comparison.

[somervillebikes]

I've got a few 700c bikes that I still ride around on. The skinniest is 700x28, on my 1971 Jeunet w/ 531db frame, my three season commuter. They're not the plushest, but the frame sort of makes up for it. My other two vintage frames roll on 700x30 extra-lights and one of them (JT Tour of Britain) is downright regal smooth but not quite up to 650B standards of posh. I wouldn't get rid of any of my 700c bikes. But yeah, every time I switch back to 650B it's like ahhhh.....

Anton

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11:03:27 PM UTC-5, David Madina wrote:

[satanas]

Hell yes! Most recent is a 2008 Lemond currently undergoing an aimost total parts swap; the brake calipers just turned up. 700x28 is enough for short, intense, hilly rides (and IME climbs faster), but 650x38+ copes better with bad surfaces. Horses for courses, there's room for both, no need for jihads, etc.

Later,
Stephen

[Jon B]

I don't think this particular forum is likely to provide an accurate answer.  They are still selling lots of 23 and 25 mm tires, and there are lots of road bikes out there that won't take anything bigger, so clearly they are still being ridden, despite the trend toward wider tires.

Jon B.

[Mark Anderson]

I’ve got a shiny Italian road bike with 700 x 23, biggest it will fit. It shore does look purty hanging on the wall in my studio. But it doesn’t see road time more than once or twice each year.

After that, my ‘66 Paramount fixed gear is on 28’s and my “fast” road bikes are 32’s and 35’s. My ‘71 International sports 38’s - it’s my Cadillac. After that, we’re back into 650b x 42 country in my house.

If I’m not in a hurry, these last two are my bikes of choice. My “distance” bike is my Boulder with 700 x 32 tires; honestly, it’s my “go to” for everyday riding too.

When I first got the roadie bug in the late 70’s, I really never considered anything other than skinny 23’s. Like everyone else, I rode them for years. Funny enough, I still have a bunch of those tires and wheels. Maybe a decade or so ago, I began to use wider tires and loved em. And that was the beginning of my slippery slope toward 650b. Today, the skinniest tire I will consider is 28... 32, if I’m honest with myself.

Mark Alan Anderson
Liberty, Missouri USA

[John Clay]

I don't.

I very much enjoy riding my CX bike with 700x33 Clement MXPs. Pressure in the middle/upper 30s typically.

My 650b fixed has Col de la Vie tires that measure 34mm wide. Occasionally I'll install my Grand Bois Cypres tires that measure about 29 or 30. I don't know which is faster and I don't have precision tire gauges or log my tire pressures (or remember them with enough accuracy for this discussion) but I tend to enjoy riding the CdlV more; and that's on pretty smooth, recently paved trail. On any other surface the CdlVs seem quite a bit more capable and comfortable, and I never feel like the tires are slow.

I built a fendered road frame for 700x32 or 34 but it's been hanging on the wall, unpainted, for a couple of years because I realized that a 650x42 suited me and the roads I ride far better; I built one but I need to do something with the 700 bike, if only paint and sell it.

The frame that's getting its paint right now is for the 559x52 (48 on my rims) RTP tire. As I increasingly bias towards unpaved roads (we have tons of them around here) I think this will be superbe. The BSP bike looks kinda “skinny tire” to me these days.

I don't see myself ever wanting a bike for tires narrower than 30mm, regardless of the wheel size.

I don't tend to want to over-do things that really don't matter but increasingly I see the value in paying more attention to tire pressure, if only for educational and personal calibration purposes. That makes sense, what with the wider and lower pressure tires I use now. I'm pretty close to fitting an accurate, industrial process pressure gauge to my Husky Zefal floor pump, getting an accurate hand gauge and maybe start logging pressures. 

John Clay

Tallahassee, FL

[Evan Estern]

Kevin--I'd be interested in knowing how your 650B Marinoni turns out.  I considered converting mine, but I'm really happy with how it turned out with 700Cx28.  I like the differences in acceleration and handling over my 650bx42 bike.  I probably ride ride it about 15% of the time with other 85% of my time spent on the 650B machine.  I think I could actually fit Compass 30mm tires on it, but that will have to wait until I wear out the 28s (if I ever do!).

[cmontgo...@gmail.com]

If I'm touring, fully loaded, on pavement, and then hit dirt, my weapon of choice in 700x35/38's on a real honest-to-goodness touring bike (that's a bike made to carry loads and you wouldn't want to ride it without said loads). If it's mostly dirt roads I'll go 650x42's though sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the 38's and 42's. If I'm on dirt and hit rough stuff, jeep tracks, and hikenbike then it's 26" RTP's. Just regular ol' "Hey I think I'll go out for a ride around the neighborhood", it's my HR Morris or Dave Russell with 700x32 Compass (whatever damned pass they are) or the 650x38 Parimotos on my converted Mercian Audax. It's kinda like fittin' the clothes to the weather. 

Craig in Tucson