Mountain Bike Wheel Size 650b
These size labels come from an old french sizing standard which we ll cover in more detail in the french sizing section.
Mountain bike wheel size 650b. So which wheel size is right for you. After all the best way to test a bike technology is to take it for a ride. Most mountain bikes today are offered in one of two wheel sizes. Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings.
26in 650b and 29in explained. These widely used measurements refer to the tire s diameter and are typically paired with a tire width in inches when written out i e. With changes in wheel sizes come changes in performance and this greater variety of wheel sizes helps manufacturers build bikes that are better suited to a variety of different riding purposes and they also help you have more fun on your bike. His calculator uses an pre defined diameter for every rim tire combination and his diameters are almost always different than what the math would predict.
This compares to 26in for a standard mountain bike wheel and 29in for so called 29er wheels 700c road wheels are also 29in in diameter. The venerable sheldon brown has a gear calculator that uses a different method to determine wheel size. Consider the following pros and cons of each and decide which size to test drive first. 27 5 wheels or 650b as they are also known started appearing on production bikes approximately five years ago and looked at first like a niche option that would stay that way.
Eager to repeat the new bike sales surge created by 29er wheels fast reacting companies jumped on the new 650b size the new bikes looked better handled better fitted more people and more riding. We only have to look at the world of mountain bikes where everyone knows that the larger 29er wheel tends to roll better over obstacles than the smaller 27 5 the classic 26 inch. The 650b wheels measures at about 27 5 and much like 29 mountain bikes this intermediate size is growing in popularity. A mountain bike with 650b wheel tire size fits right in between the other two readily available mountain bike wheel sizes 26 and 29.
As the saying goes the great thing about standards is that there are so many to. 27 5 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes. Mountain bike wheel sizes.