Triban 500 SE looks good value - but 650 wheels?

bompington

Mrs Bomp is interested in a real bike to replace her MTB for commuting. She's not interested in spending a lot and the Triban 500 SE from Decathlon is looking good - but in her size (51 seems about right) it comes with diddy wheels.
At the risk of importing the muddy types' wheel size controversies, can anyone shed any light on the desirability or otherwise of 650s on a road bike?

bendertherobot

There's a piece on road.cc today!

bompington

Thanks, helpful. I hadn't realised that the idea was to have bigger tyres, I assumed it was just about making the whole thing smaller.

mrb123

I believe the new Cannondale Slate comes with 650 wheels as standard for that reason.

Anonymous

650c are great for youngsters but would not want it for Mrs.
Just ordered her a 48cm (not female specific) Cannondale and would not get 650c wheels even if it was an option.

Wheel and tyre choice/cost will be seriously affected, but if you never plan to change them then maybe it makes sense.

ugo.santalucia

650 s?

There's 650B and 650c... the former is for off road (27.5 inch) and there's plenty of choice for tyres, the latter is a small road size, for which there isn't much in terms of tyres, personally I wouldn't touch a 650c with a bargepole.

The two sizes are not interchangeable

Anonymous

I assumed he said 650's and meant 650c.
That's what small Tribans have don't they?

t4tomo

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19749394#p19749394]ugo.santalucia[/url] wrote:

650 s?

There's 650B and 650c... the former is for off road (27.5 inch) and there's plenty of choice for tyres, the latter is a small road size, for which there isn't much in terms of tyres, personally I wouldn't touch a 650c with a bargepole.

The two sizes are not interchangeable

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/road-race-tyres/650c-571-wheel-size/ not masses but still choice. The 650 looks more in proportion on the small frame size. My son has one cracking bike for the money bomp.

simon_masterson

I run a 650c front on my TT bike (tubs), the availability of tyres (and rims/wheels) isn't brilliant - though there are a couple of decent options for all rounder road clinchers. It does make sense for smaller riders, but as far as I can see, the choice isn't widening, so caveat emptor.

bompington

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19749394#p19749394]ugo.santalucia[/url] wrote:

650 s?

There's 650B and 650c... the former is for off road (27.5 inch) and there's plenty of choice for tyres, the latter is a small road size, for which there isn't much in terms of tyres, personally I wouldn't touch a 650c with a bargepole.

The two sizes are not interchangeable

Yes, I was referring to 650s as in plural. Website just says 650 and I wasn't aware that 650 could mean more than one size. Every day's a school day indeed.

Thanks to all for info and advice: currently trending a bit more negative than positive. I'm now thinking about going up the range to the 540, which doesn't have any of the weird wheel size malarkey - but does have clearance enough for studded tyres, something we find quite useful round here. A mere doubling of the price, but Mrs B is, for some strange reason, not keen :?

bompington

650th post!

dj58

[quote I'm now thinking about going up the range to the 540, which doesn't have any of the weird wheel size malarkey - but does have clearance enough for studded tyres, something we find quite useful round here. A mere doubling of the price, but Mrs B is, for some strange reason, not keen :?[/quote]

What is Mrs B not keen on, the doubling of the budget or the 540 bike vs the 500SE :?:

onyourright

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19749832#p19749832]bompington[/url] wrote:

650th post!

And apparently my last. The most bizarre thing happened: my account and all its posts vanished!

I was unable to contact anyone about this (the forumhelp email address bounced) and eventually I re-registered with the same username, fully expecting it to fail but hoping for some kind of explanatory note or error message. Instead, it created the account, thereby proving the system had no recollection of me at all. Surreal!