Really like your written content and glad to have come across this video! One thing thats a slight point to argue is that if you can fit 650b x 2.1" or bigger you open up a whole world of XC mtb tires which offers some interesting options some of which are pretty fast tires on gravel.
I have a set of 700c wheel with slick 35 tires wich i use for road and "light" gravel, and I have a 650b with 47 gravelking SK for trail or stupid stuff. Two different and completive bikes!
Camille Clrc Exactly my plan. 700c with decently wide road slicks for tarmac and some gravel. Knobby 650b for technical surfaces. My bike is coming standard with 700c so hoping 650b wheelset will be (should be?) less expensive.
Best guide out there! I decided to do both: Pirelli Gravel H 40mm on 700s for road and fast gravel on carbon wheels and Vittoria Barzo 2.1 650b on alloy wheels for the chunky stuff. The best of both worlds!
I got a cannondale slate xl size with 650b wheels set. Never felt comfortable on it and after crashing my lefty hard tail and destroying the frame a mate suggested putting the 29er on the front. Wow now I love it, as it’s a more relax setup and 2.4 tyres at the front just rolls over everything
That's sick! I loved riding the Slate but HATED those goddam slick tyres. How did they think any riding that would need suspension wouldn't need grip? Baffling. Putting a 2.4" knobbly in the front is a great idea.
I just completed my first century and it was on pavement. I ride a Kona Rove DL sporting 650b’s x47, Maxis Receptor tires and I have no complaints. The bike was just plain comfortable to ride which was really helpful by mile 90.
Best review on this subject. I have a 2022 crux, bike came with 700x38 tires. I use those for winter and early spring road and light trails. When spring to fall I run 700x40 from road to single track/gravel. When I did my math on this it makes more sense to go to 45 for anything rougher. But at that point I rather ride my hard tail and just have more fun.
Well stated, lowering your trail with the 650B is also helpful if you run a handlebar/Rando bag. Rene Herse makes great tires in every size up to 2.2's.
Awesome thoughtful review, with great guidance. One consideration when swapping wheel sets e.g. 700c to 650b vice versa is the hub. In my experience, different rear hub brands place cassette and rotor in slightly different positions which require minute derailleur adjustments (not a big deal) as well as caliper adjustments(pain in the rear). Out of convenience, I’ve just left the 650b wheels on since I end up doing a lot of trail riding and it’s worth the compromise , i.e. slower on the road and hard pack gravel road.
I'm running 700c x 50mm with a set of Gravelkings on my Soma Wolverine. It's plush, but yet doesn't take away the responsiveness of the Wolverine's front end. Another great video!
@@thomasmuller986 yeah, both front and rear fit. There isn’t room for fenders, but plenty of room for mud clearance. The key is adjusting the sliding drop out correctly. It’s a 54 V3 that I built last March. The stack is higher and the reach is shorter on the V4, but that’s the only geometry change between the V3 and V4, so you should have no trouble with 700 x 50 on the V4. I have a video of the full build on my channel if you want to check it out.
I have an Opus Zermatt which came 700 35 I swapped both rims to winter duty Schwalbe Winters studded and got a matching Alivio disc hub 700c front and a 650b rear and a 11-40 cassette. WTB BYWAY 40/47 and a TT bar and I'm good everywhere
Also consider stand over height. Maybe this is just an issue for shorter riders like myself. There is a significant stand over height difference between 650B x 45+ mm and 700C x 45+ mm. Due to stand over height on my Open U.P. if I want 45+ mm of tire I’m pretty locked into 650B.
Not even just the stand over, the seat height is up too I walk the dog on bike so multiple stops every road. Even comparing my 700x25c vs my 29x2.6 it's very annoying swinging the leg over a taller seat over and over.
Great video, would've been handy about a year ago lol. Busted my front wheel on my Niner RLT9 (had GravelKink SK 43) and went with 650 on my new wheels. I'm now running vitorria terreno 47 with the dry on the front and the zero on the back. Really like the feel and a big plus was having grey walls :)
Very good analysis. I completely agree that wider is better for tire and rim, it just rides much better. My bike could clear 700x50 and my rims are Velocity Blunt SS with a i26.6mm rim width. I have considered building a 650b wheelset but like you said it is pointless in most cases to change sizes. I think of it like this, if your switching to 650b perhaps you should do it if you’re interested in changing to overall fit of your gravel bike and change the way it rides to improve how it performs on your local trails, that may warrant this change.
For mud, thick gloopy mud in English Midlands, I’m finding the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Classics at 35c have tank like traction 👍 tubeless setup of course
I run a 650b x 2.1 inch MTB tyres on alu wheelset for touring and light trail/off-road, and 700c x 32mm on carbon clincher for general riding and light gravel. For trails, I ride my MTB.
Good article guys, I'm lucky to have two bikes I use for gravel, Kona Sutra LTD with 700 x 50mm and a Trek Crockett with 700 x 38mm but it will take a 45mm so don't feel the need for 650b at all.I do see the attraction for bikes with less clearance but I have always liked the bigger wheel size.
I purposely went for 650b as i wanted to run MTB tyres because of mud, snow etc. I run MTB xc combo : conti Xking front 50x584 and conti raceking back 50x584 gravel tyres on 700c for roady rides : schwalbe X-one speed 33-622
went from WTB Riddler 700x 40 to Panaracer Gravel King SK 700x 45. while i didnt notice anything with size difference i definitely noticed grip difference, and Panaracer's wont be on my next shopping list. less stable and flicked up 3 times as much gravel at me. look forward to shopping in 6 months time to see whats available then!
great videos and good help. Switched from 650B to 700c because it looked so stupid when your tall as me. Now I feel more that this was a good descision. (48 to 43 width)
I’ve recently had my newest gravel/all rounder bike specked out with the 650b 1.9 tyres. They feel small and spicy, I don’t overly trust them, my shoes strikes the ground when I feel I haven’t that much angle, they feel sketchy as, as an average rider, I really want to stay upright and avoid more broken bones and gear. Going to try and go up to a 2.2 and see the difference
Thank you so much for your work and the video! My frame allow up to 700Cx50mm tyres. So I will buy 700C and probably Specialized pathfinders 40mm tyres because I will be riding mostly commute and acasionally some not so rocky gravel roads and bikepacking touring adventures :D
Most sensible and fact filled guide on this subject on TH-cam. Something I discovered from MTB's, is that a larger diameter tyre of the same casing width, will hold up the same weight at a lower pressure. There's just more air in the system, thus allowing a more supple ride without rim damage. Not to mention better roll over. 700C all day for me.
I agonized over Pirelli H VS Pirelli M but went 700x40mm with the Pirelli H’ s since I think I’ll be on road 80% of the time. YMMV! Thanks for the 10mm rule. I plan to get a set of 650B’s with some 60mm’s. Unfortunately, despite ordering in late June my gravel bike is not here yet. I’ve had a lot of time to research tires.
I am glad to see a straightforward look at wheels and tires. I would love to hear what you think about bikes that are designed to handle well with both. I have the OPEN WI.de and 3T is another. I have sort of fallen into riding two set ups: 700C with Schwalbe G-1000 for road and light gravel. The WI.de will take a much wider 700C tire, but I opted to go with 650b Pirelli Centurata M 50’s for rougher terrain and bike packing. It is just so plush and love the tires grip. Thanks again for another excellent review.
When you go from a typical 700C ~40mm gravel tire to a 650B with a ~2"+ MTB tire the outer diameter of the tire doesn't tend to change much or at all, thus nor will gearing or handling or BB clearance.
Ive been looking for a 3rd wheelset in 650b on Fb and ebay, I run 700x42 (which measure out to 44+) Resolutes on one and 700x42 Sawtooths on the other for pavement, running a 650x47/50 wont be a big enough jump and with your 10mm rule now I feel allot better about not "needing" a 3rd wheelset in 650. Well onto to looking for a 3rd wheelset in 700c instead 😁😁
Great video. I'm making the migration from road biking to gravel and I found your info to be helpful in making my decision as to wheel size more than any other video I've watched on youtube. New sub here :).
Super helpful video thanks! Currently on a 2017 Raleigh Roker Carbon with 700c and 40mm tires. Based on current clearance I think 45mm wide would fit in the rear and 50mm in the front so I'll be upping the size once my current tires are done. I've been enjoying the Maxis ramblers which are fast on pavement and singletrack. My dream setup definitely is the Waheela C from Otso with 29x2.2 tires for bikepacking and 700x45 for gravel.
@@thegefster1988 I have a 23mm internal rim with rene herse nobbies 48mm 700c front and rear tubeless. They measure 49mm with sufficient but low clearance. A true 50mm wide tire is likely fine as long as you're not in sticky mud.
@@thegefster1988 I'd guess it's bigger but only a few mm at most on the front. It just doesn't get that much wider as you move down the fork or chain stays an inch.
A big part of the excitement of cycling is the climbs, but none of these videos say in depth wich wheel is best for technical climbs for a high degree if inclination climbs, etc. This video says the same thing that everyone says on this topic.
Thanks for the video. Good discussion. I also think the choose of 650 vs 700 can be discussed depending on the rider height size. smaller riders can get a better geometry with smaller wheels and the right frame.
Ride Adelaide great video. I am trying to decide if my next bike is a cervelo aspero with 650b wheels. I am doing all the research I can. Thanks for sharing your experience
I have a Focus Mares AX ciclocross bike with Mavic 650b Crossmax wheels and Panaracer Gravelking 43mm at the back and Hutchinson Black Mamba CX 2.0 at the front. Trying to squeeze the maximum volume tire possible on that frame 🤙🏼
Love your videos. Thank you. I have both 650b and 700c for my norco search. Basically i wanted a second set of wheels and so i chose the different size to get some variety. Max size diff is less than 10mm but as i was buying a second set anyway it seemed a sound choice to go for a diff size wheelset. I use the 2.0 650b set when i ride with my son on his mtb and run narrower tyres on my 700c wheelset for commuting on mixed surfaces .
I'm sticking with 700c. Have 35 Cinturato H for higher speed on roads and light gravel. And 2nd set with GravelKing SK 700x38 for more off-road riding. I might consider something wider than 38mm for 2nd set. Would be nice to see your speed tests between narrow speedy and wide off-roady tyres to see how much speed you sacrifice for comfort
Very good video. I ride a Cannondale Slate so I have a set of 650x38 Panaracer Gravel King slicks for day to day ride which is mostly pavement and some very light gravel. When I go a bit more serious, I put the Panaracer Gravel King SK 650 x 43. Being a light rider and having a front suspension, this size is more than enough for what I do.
Biggest I can fit in the back is 700x38 (front 700x40), but having ridden other bikes with 700x45, I have to say that 45-50 mm does seem to be the sweet spot (at least anecdotally).
I found a pair of 650b wheels for 129.00 and would be a great winter/mud set up vs my 700x44 which is what I use in the drier months. Not a 10mm difference but worth the fun factor and different fee1.
On the Soma, 650b with 2.1 is my jam. Currently running Crossmark2's and they're great! Had WTB byways on before, but they're slippery when cornering and I didn't trust them.
Pascal my man! You should give the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms a go in 650x50. I reckon you'll love that tread pattern. They are still caught in a covid production backlog though and won't be here for a few months 😭
@@JustRideAdelaide maybe next time. But with my neck and shoulders ATM, the bigger the volume the better. Also I really cannot risk an off. That's why we pretend to have a MTB!
Very good video, one of your best! Thanks. I am running 700c x 40mm G-One or Conti Terra and was considering another set of wheels as 650b with 48mm, for slightly more burly riding, but sounds like that's not going to make it through your "10mm test"? Interesting!
Thanks mate! I'd say your spend to gain 8mm falls beneath the requisite 10mm. I'd take the 700x40 out of the two options because you can roll over the bumps nicely even with less air and rubber beneath you 👌
Not all people are of the same height. A petite 5'2" woman would have an easier time riding a 650b bile than a 700c. A 5'10" man would have an easier time riding a 700c bike than a 650b.
Hi. Thanks for that. It would be interesting to know your different BB drop dimensions so as to ascertain a safer clearance from pedal strikes that may occur more from switching to the small diameter 650b wheels. Cheers.
Cannondale Topstone 3 cf w/ roval terra c 700c and cinturato grvl M 45's . For comfort, bikepacking ready and mostly 'exploration' gravel (really off the beaten track and technical) as I am a half not bad MTB rider. Best part is heartrate, power etc. Is of no importance during riding- only the experience and views
The only stuff I find even remotely lacking on 700x42c WTB Resolutes (and I've done anything except black downhills) is downhill rockfests. Everything else is great. Happy to look at Cinturato except for $100 premium! Fuck 650b!
Right now I am riding 700cx42 if I switch to 650bx42 am I going to see any difference in rolling resistance in road and "light" gravel riding. Thanks for help nad great video
650 b x 2.1 are definetly more capsble and comfortable when the trails get rougher....but I find they slow me down on climbs. I ride b better on long rides on 700c wheels.
Hi there! I am thinking to have a double set up with 35mm cinturato H on my 700C and cinturato M 45 mm on a pair of 650B.. the 10mm rule is respected, i would use the 700 when i do more road and light gravel and the 650 when i take my bike to our local mountains where trails are becoming more aggressive... what do you think abou it?
I am going to be building a custom gravel build with a frame originally made for 650b x 50. I am thinking of building the frame up with 700c, but it will only accept a 40 tire. What do you think? Go to the 700c x 40 or build up with the 650b x 50 that the frame was made for?
Hello, I would like to get on my bike: Triban GRVL 520 Sram Apex 1x11 buy rims DT Swiss G 1800 Spline. And according to the manufacturer, I can use 650x47 or 700x42 Please advise, What option would you choose from my options?
Generally speaking I consider disc brakes better across the board. I've stuck with a rim brake road bike though because I only ride it in nice weather and Shimano brakes + good aluminium rims are all I need. Off road and gravel bikes are disc brakes all the way.
Hey just wondering if you have tried any of the teravail tyres? The cannonball , rutland or sparewood? They are the best ive found to date but havent tried the cinturatos.
Hey Patrick, I haven't hit the Terravails. I've had a look through their range and they sure do interest me. The problem is I keep getting tyres sent and I can't wear them out fast enough 😂
Am I understanding the 6m44s bit right? As far as tire config go, from least favorite to favorite, you say: 700x40, then 650x50, then 650x2.1, and 700x45.
Hi! I bought a used gravel bike for cheap but I find the frame is slightly higher than my preference (ie. when I stand with the top tube in between my legs, the tube slightly touches my crotch but not too much as to exert force on the family jewels), do you think switching from 700c to 650c would help? Thank you!
Bottom bracket shouldn’t drop too much, right? Larger diameter tires in the 650b should offset the smaller distance from the center of the axle to the edge of the rim…. RAM - radius as measured…. Compared to a normal 700 setup…. 700x28…. So when using road tires, you would expect to see a similar height bb…
650b x 47 or 2.1 every time all the time, even very tall folks. If you want a road bike buy a road bike. You purchased a gravel bike, enjoy the supple ride and lower crank height frame design. WTB Byway if you must ride road on 650b, pedal strikes is due to poor form, get better lolz.
Can you enlighten me... I was thinking of getting the Giant Toughroad which have 700x50c. Based on your guide, there is no point on switching to a 650b for whatever reason since it's almost grant a wide tyre right? My reason for switching are, I'm only 165cm tall(short) and would love to ride with low pressure for comfort.
Hey Art, the rationality of switching for low pressure depends on what tyre size you're switching to. 700x50 is already a substantial tyre with a lot of air volume in it. To find more air volume, which would allow you to meaningfully drop the pressure, you'd have to run massive 650b tyres. Like, maybe 650(27.5")x2.4" or something. Chuck all your tyre data into this tool and see whether you're running a ballpark appropriate tyre pressure: axs.sram.com/tirepressureguide
I've been running 700x50 in the front and 700x45 in the rear (I wanted 50 in the back too but not enough room for wider). Anyone else have such a set up? :)
I have a bike that can fit both 650B and 700C, largest 700C tires it can handle are 42mm, and 650B can handle 2.1 at the back and 2.2 at the front. I have been using only the 650B combo and don't see a reason to go back to 700C, the ride is just not that fun.
You are my replacement for GCN. So techy, but still flowy! Thank you.
Thanks so much for the huge compliment! If only I had more time to make videos 😂
What a great notion of the 10mm rule. Makes so much sense! Thx!
Really like your written content and glad to have come across this video! One thing thats a slight point to argue is that if you can fit 650b x 2.1" or bigger you open up a whole world of XC mtb tires which offers some interesting options some of which are pretty fast tires on gravel.
I have a set of 700c wheel with slick 35 tires wich i use for road and "light" gravel, and I have a 650b with 47 gravelking SK for trail or stupid stuff. Two different and completive bikes!
Camille Clrc Exactly my plan. 700c with decently wide road slicks for tarmac and some gravel. Knobby 650b for technical surfaces. My bike is coming standard with 700c so hoping 650b wheelset will be (should be?) less expensive.
Thank you! The 10mm rule saved me a lot of time and effort. Also, glad your video wasn't another Gravel tire 101 lesson.
Best guide out there!
I decided to do both: Pirelli Gravel H 40mm on 700s for road and fast gravel on carbon wheels and Vittoria Barzo 2.1 650b on alloy wheels for the chunky stuff. The best of both worlds!
With your videos you bring light into darkness ! Thanks !
Glad you like them mate!
I got a cannondale slate xl size with 650b wheels set. Never felt comfortable on it and after crashing my lefty hard tail and destroying the frame a mate suggested putting the 29er on the front. Wow now I love it, as it’s a more relax setup and 2.4 tyres at the front just rolls over everything
That's sick! I loved riding the Slate but HATED those goddam slick tyres. How did they think any riding that would need suspension wouldn't need grip? Baffling. Putting a 2.4" knobbly in the front is a great idea.
I just completed my first century and it was on pavement. I ride a Kona Rove DL sporting 650b’s x47, Maxis Receptor tires and I have no complaints. The bike was just plain comfortable to ride which was really helpful by mile 90.
Best review on this subject. I have a 2022 crux, bike came with 700x38 tires. I use those for winter and early spring road and light trails. When spring to fall I run 700x40 from road to single track/gravel. When I did my math on this it makes more sense to go to 45 for anything rougher. But at that point I rather ride my hard tail and just have more fun.
The tire size deferential really makes this video sooooooo helpful. Thank you. I think I'm going to switch back to 650b x 2.35 from the 700 x 47mm
Well stated, lowering your trail with the 650B is also helpful if you run a handlebar/Rando bag. Rene Herse makes great tires in every size up to 2.2's.
8:05 Granted that in general there are fewer options at
Thank you for posting this video. I find it very informative.
Thanks again.
Fine work sir.
Awesome thoughtful review, with great guidance. One consideration when swapping wheel sets e.g. 700c to 650b vice versa is the hub. In my experience, different rear hub brands place cassette and rotor in slightly different positions which require minute derailleur adjustments (not a big deal) as well as caliper adjustments(pain in the rear). Out of convenience, I’ve just left the 650b wheels on since I end up doing a lot of trail riding and it’s worth the compromise , i.e. slower on the road and hard pack gravel road.
I'm running 700c x 50mm with a set of Gravelkings on my Soma Wolverine. It's plush, but yet doesn't take away the responsiveness of the Wolverine's front end. Another great video!
Yasssss proud thicc setup that one 👌👌👌
Would love to know if the 700x50 fit in the front and back of the wolverine.....Still some mud clearance? Is it the new v4 version of the wolverine?
@@thomasmuller986 yeah, both front and rear fit. There isn’t room for fenders, but plenty of room for mud clearance. The key is adjusting the sliding drop out correctly. It’s a 54 V3 that I built last March. The stack is higher and the reach is shorter on the V4, but that’s the only geometry change between the V3 and V4, so you should have no trouble with 700 x 50 on the V4. I have a video of the full build on my channel if you want to check it out.
I have an Opus Zermatt which came 700 35 I swapped both rims to winter duty Schwalbe Winters studded and got a matching Alivio disc hub 700c front and a 650b rear and a 11-40 cassette. WTB BYWAY 40/47 and a TT bar and I'm good everywhere
Also consider stand over height. Maybe this is just an issue for shorter riders like myself. There is a significant stand over height difference between 650B x 45+ mm and 700C x 45+ mm. Due to stand over height on my Open U.P. if I want 45+ mm of tire I’m pretty locked into 650B.
Not even just the stand over, the seat height is up too
I walk the dog on bike so multiple stops every road. Even comparing my 700x25c vs my 29x2.6 it's very annoying swinging the leg over a taller seat over and over.
Great video, would've been handy about a year ago lol. Busted my front wheel on my Niner RLT9 (had GravelKink SK 43) and went with 650 on my new wheels. I'm now running vitorria terreno 47 with the dry on the front and the zero on the back. Really like the feel and a big plus was having grey walls :)
650B x 38 is my fav set up but I do mostly road riding/pothole jumping.
Thanks for this, by far the most helpful comparison I've seen it's helped me a lot
Nice work! I almost fell for the 650B thing myself, but happy to have stuck with 700C and a set of WTB Riddler 37’s.
Go slightly wider with a Raddler/Riddler combo and you’ll be even happier and more capable
Love my Hunt All-Season X-Wide hoops!
Very good analysis. I completely agree that wider is better for tire and rim, it just rides much better. My bike could clear 700x50 and my rims are Velocity Blunt SS with a i26.6mm rim width. I have considered building a 650b wheelset but like you said it is pointless in most cases to change sizes. I think of it like this, if your switching to 650b perhaps you should do it if you’re interested in changing to overall fit of your gravel bike and change the way it rides to improve how it performs on your local trails, that may warrant this change.
Extremely well done! Yes totally agreed this argument has been absolutely beat to death but your perspective is very valuable. Thank you
I agree with you on the 10mm dif when you are over 42mm, but the difference between a 38mm and 42mm on gravel is super significant.
For mud, thick gloopy mud in English Midlands, I’m finding the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Classics at 35c have tank like traction 👍 tubeless setup of course
I run a 650b x 2.1 inch MTB tyres on alu wheelset for touring and light trail/off-road, and 700c x 32mm on carbon clincher for general riding and light gravel. For trails, I ride my MTB.
Good article guys, I'm lucky to have two bikes I use for gravel, Kona Sutra LTD with 700 x 50mm and a Trek Crockett with 700 x 38mm but it will take a 45mm so don't feel the need for 650b at all.I do see the attraction for bikes with less clearance but I have always liked the bigger wheel size.
Toe overlap or lack thereof for 650b is the biggest benefit for us shorter folks
I purposely went for 650b as i wanted to run MTB tyres because of mud, snow etc. I run MTB xc combo : conti Xking front 50x584 and conti raceking back 50x584
gravel tyres on 700c for roady rides : schwalbe X-one speed 33-622
went from WTB Riddler 700x 40 to Panaracer Gravel King SK 700x 45. while i didnt notice anything with size difference i definitely noticed grip difference, and Panaracer's wont be on my next shopping list. less stable and flicked up 3 times as much gravel at me. look forward to shopping in 6 months time to see whats available then!
I love your videos and thank you I was debating between those wheels and Im going to stick with my 700c
Glad I could help!
Thank you, Subscribed !
great videos and good help. Switched from 650B to 700c because it looked so stupid when your tall as me. Now I feel more that this was a good descision. (48 to 43 width)
I’ve recently had my newest gravel/all rounder bike specked out with the 650b 1.9 tyres. They feel small and spicy, I don’t overly trust them, my shoes strikes the ground when I feel I haven’t that much angle, they feel sketchy as, as an average rider, I really want to stay upright and avoid more broken bones and gear. Going to try and go up to a 2.2 and see the difference
Thank you so much for your work and the video! My frame allow up to 700Cx50mm tyres. So I will buy 700C and probably Specialized pathfinders 40mm tyres because I will be riding mostly commute and acasionally some not so rocky gravel roads and bikepacking touring adventures :D
Most sensible and fact filled guide on this subject on TH-cam. Something I discovered from MTB's, is that a larger diameter tyre of the same casing width, will hold up the same weight at a lower pressure. There's just more air in the system, thus allowing a more supple ride without rim damage. Not to mention better roll over. 700C all day for me.
I agonized over Pirelli H VS Pirelli M but went 700x40mm with the Pirelli H’ s since I think I’ll be on road 80% of the time. YMMV! Thanks for the 10mm rule. I plan to get a set of 650B’s with some 60mm’s. Unfortunately, despite ordering in late June my gravel bike is not here yet. I’ve had a lot of time to research tires.
I am glad to see a straightforward look at wheels and tires. I would love to hear what you think about bikes that are designed to handle well with both. I have the OPEN WI.de and 3T is another. I have sort of fallen into riding two set ups: 700C with Schwalbe G-1000 for road and light gravel. The WI.de will take a much wider 700C tire, but I opted to go with 650b Pirelli Centurata M 50’s for rougher terrain and bike packing. It is just so plush and love the tires grip. Thanks again for another excellent review.
Good information to the point! Cheers.
I run the 1.95 (48mm) Gravelking SK on my 650b hunt wheels, but found they actually went to 52mm on that rim.. Very versatile tyre and very comfy..
how have you found the hunt wheels? there is a 2 month wait for them now and I'm thinking whether it's worth it :)
@@moustaphabaya7887 they've been great, not a single issue in about 9 months of riding..
Very informative and useful video! Thank you :)
Thanks man best video on this topic I have seen to date 📅
Thanks a lot mate, glad to help 😁
When you go from a typical 700C ~40mm gravel tire to a 650B with a ~2"+ MTB tire the outer diameter of the tire doesn't tend to change much or at all, thus nor will gearing or handling or BB clearance.
Ive been looking for a 3rd wheelset in 650b on Fb and ebay, I run 700x42 (which measure out to 44+) Resolutes on one and 700x42 Sawtooths on the other for pavement, running a 650x47/50 wont be a big enough jump and with your 10mm rule now I feel allot better about not "needing" a 3rd wheelset in 650. Well onto to looking for a 3rd wheelset in 700c instead 😁😁
haha, glad to have saved you an unnecessary purchase!
Thank you and yes I’ll stick with 700c and 29er
Great video. I'm making the migration from road biking to gravel and I found your info to be helpful in making my decision as to wheel size more than any other video I've watched on youtube. New sub here :).
Super helpful video thanks! Currently on a 2017 Raleigh Roker Carbon with 700c and 40mm tires. Based on current clearance I think 45mm wide would fit in the rear and 50mm in the front so I'll be upping the size once my current tires are done. I've been enjoying the Maxis ramblers which are fast on pavement and singletrack. My dream setup definitely is the Waheela C from Otso with 29x2.2 tires for bikepacking and 700x45 for gravel.
I have the same bike. Did you get the 50's in the font and 45's in the back. Is that as big as you think it will go? in 650b 2.1 or 2.2 in front?
@@thegefster1988 I have a 23mm internal rim with rene herse nobbies 48mm 700c front and rear tubeless. They measure 49mm with sufficient but low clearance. A true 50mm wide tire is likely fine as long as you're not in sticky mud.
@@alecfotsch3533Thanks! I have a 23mm 650b wheel as well. Any guess of max clearance for those? Thank you again for responding. Appreciated.
@@thegefster1988 I'd guess it's bigger but only a few mm at most on the front. It just doesn't get that much wider as you move down the fork or chain stays an inch.
That is true. My 700 wheels have a narrower internal width so that may make some differnce
A big part of the excitement of cycling is the climbs, but none of these videos say in depth wich wheel is best for technical climbs for a high degree if inclination climbs, etc.
This video says the same thing that everyone says on this topic.
Thanks for this breakdown
Thanks for the video. Good discussion. I also think the choose of 650 vs 700 can be discussed depending on the rider height size. smaller riders can get a better geometry with smaller wheels and the right frame.
Ah yes, that was an omission on my part. 650b does really help the tiny little bike sizes!
Ride Adelaide great video. I am trying to decide if my next bike is a cervelo aspero with 650b wheels. I am doing all the research I can. Thanks for sharing your experience
@@RAG0407 Oh nice! I've seen a few of those around Adelaide, particularly getting used at CX races. They sure look fast!
I have a Focus Mares AX ciclocross bike with Mavic 650b Crossmax wheels and Panaracer Gravelking 43mm at the back and Hutchinson Black Mamba CX 2.0 at the front. Trying to squeeze the maximum volume tire possible on that frame 🤙🏼
Love your videos. Thank you. I have both 650b and 700c for my norco search. Basically i wanted a second set of wheels and so i chose the different size to get some variety. Max size diff is less than 10mm but as i was buying a second set anyway it seemed a sound choice to go for a diff size wheelset. I use the 2.0 650b set when i ride with my son on his mtb and run narrower tyres on my 700c wheelset for commuting on mixed surfaces .
Oh wow...I thought I was the only one who bought a Norco Search! Lol
Pretty sure I'm the only one who HASN'T bought a Norco Search! They're flippin everywhere!
Ride Adelaide And here I am, finger on the trigger, for a Norco Search!
I'm sticking with 700c. Have 35 Cinturato H for higher speed on roads and light gravel. And 2nd set with GravelKing SK 700x38 for more off-road riding. I might consider something wider than 38mm for 2nd set.
Would be nice to see your speed tests between narrow speedy and wide off-roady tyres to see how much speed you sacrifice for comfort
Very good video. I ride a Cannondale Slate so I have a set of 650x38 Panaracer Gravel King slicks for day to day ride which is mostly pavement and some very light gravel. When I go a bit more serious, I put the Panaracer Gravel King SK 650 x 43. Being a light rider and having a front suspension, this size is more than enough for what I do.
Biggest I can fit in the back is 700x38 (front 700x40), but having ridden other bikes with 700x45, I have to say that 45-50 mm does seem to be the sweet spot (at least anecdotally).
Great video, like the 10mm rule, Love your 2x Grove, when are we going to see more detail of that new model?
I found a pair of 650b wheels for 129.00 and would be a great winter/mud set up vs my 700x44 which is what I use in the drier months. Not a 10mm difference but worth the fun factor and different fee1.
At that price, you're very much a winner 🏆
On the Soma, 650b with 2.1 is my jam. Currently running Crossmark2's and they're great! Had WTB byways on before, but they're slippery when cornering and I didn't trust them.
Pascal my man! You should give the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Ms a go in 650x50. I reckon you'll love that tread pattern. They are still caught in a covid production backlog though and won't be here for a few months 😭
@@JustRideAdelaide maybe next time. But with my neck and shoulders ATM, the bigger the volume the better. Also I really cannot risk an off. That's why we pretend to have a MTB!
Had a wash out with the Byways also in 650x47. Switched to the Soma Cazadero in 650x50 and they worked great.
Give me a 29er gravel bike with wide tires for fun and comfort not a racer just want to have fun and ride long distance!
Very good video, one of your best! Thanks. I am running 700c x 40mm G-One or Conti Terra and was considering another set of wheels as 650b with 48mm, for slightly more burly riding, but sounds like that's not going to make it through your "10mm test"? Interesting!
Thanks mate! I'd say your spend to gain 8mm falls beneath the requisite 10mm. I'd take the 700x40 out of the two options because you can roll over the bumps nicely even with less air and rubber beneath you 👌
Shawn Walsh that’s exactly what I run and the difference is significant for me. I rode my local t
Not all people are of the same height. A petite 5'2" woman would have an easier time riding a 650b bile than a 700c. A 5'10" man would have an easier time riding a 700c bike than a 650b.
Brilliant video
Thanks mate!
Hi. Thanks for that. It would be interesting to know your different BB drop dimensions so as to ascertain a safer clearance from pedal strikes that may occur more from switching to the small diameter 650b wheels. Cheers.
650b x 47c Specialized Pathfinder Pro with tan sidewalls
im currently building a cheap but good quality single speed gravel bike these videos you make are perfert
Cannondale Topstone 3 cf w/ roval terra c 700c and cinturato grvl M 45's . For comfort, bikepacking ready and mostly 'exploration' gravel (really off the beaten track and technical) as I am a half not bad MTB rider. Best part is heartrate, power etc. Is of no importance during riding- only the experience and views
I wish I watched the video before buying my 650B wheels... but I will fit 53 into them, to take full advantages of them
Thanks for the analysis. How do you calculate the 10 mm rule?
I'm using 700cc hunt 4 season x wide with 44mm wtb raddlers.
Well done!
Would love to see a 650b vs the Kona ULTD with 29x2.25 💯🇺🇸
Great article thanks. I am thinking of an upgrade to carbon wheel set on my Norco Search XRC. How are you finding the Hunt wheels?
Cheers
No worries! And the Hunts are going strong. Absolutely no issues to speak of. Just a solid set of carbon hoops 👌
You might also want to consider the Light Bicycle WR38 wheelset. That's what I'm rocking on my Search XR!
Phoebe Tan We needs pics! ;p
@@francoisrdt If only there's a way to post pics in TH-cam comments. :)
The only stuff I find even remotely lacking on 700x42c WTB Resolutes (and I've done anything except black downhills) is downhill rockfests. Everything else is great. Happy to look at Cinturato except for $100 premium! Fuck 650b!
Right now I am riding 700cx42 if I switch to 650bx42 am I going to see any difference in rolling resistance in road and "light" gravel riding. Thanks for help nad great video
650 b x 2.1 are definetly more capsble and comfortable when the trails get rougher....but I find they slow me down on climbs. I ride b better on long rides on 700c wheels.
I'm 6'4'' and I look like a fool on a 62 framesize with 650B. Switched to 700x43 Gravelking SK
OMG you really would! You'd have the bike equivalent of a sausage dog.
@@JustRideAdelaide hahahaha foolish like giraffe on a unicycle
Hi there! I am thinking to have a double set up with 35mm cinturato H on my 700C and cinturato M 45 mm on a pair of 650B.. the 10mm rule is respected, i would use the 700 when i do more road and light gravel and the 650 when i take my bike to our local mountains where trails are becoming more aggressive...
what do you think abou it?
I am going to be building a custom gravel build with a frame originally made for 650b x 50. I am thinking of building the frame up with 700c, but it will only accept a 40 tire. What do you think? Go to the 700c x 40 or build up with the 650b x 50 that the frame was made for?
Is there no mentione of rider height? I'm currently thinking of switching from a 29er MTB to a gravel bike and clearly 650b are not for me...
Do you recommend using a setup of 700x45 in the front and 700x40 in the back using the cinturato m tires?
Hello, I would like to get on my bike: Triban GRVL 520 Sram Apex 1x11 buy rims DT Swiss G 1800 Spline. And according to the manufacturer, I can use 650x47 or 700x42 Please advise, What option would you choose from my options?
Now no more 650B for me.. thanks for the heads up.
this might be OOT from your vid but, seeing your allez I am keen to know wether your prefer rim or disc brakes for road rides
Generally speaking I consider disc brakes better across the board. I've stuck with a rim brake road bike though because I only ride it in nice weather and Shimano brakes + good aluminium rims are all I need. Off road and gravel bikes are disc brakes all the way.
Hey just wondering if you have tried any of the teravail tyres? The cannonball , rutland or sparewood? They are the best ive found to date but havent tried the cinturatos.
Hey Patrick, I haven't hit the Terravails. I've had a look through their range and they sure do interest me. The problem is I keep getting tyres sent and I can't wear them out fast enough 😂
Am I understanding the 6m44s bit right? As far as tire config go, from least favorite to favorite, you say: 700x40, then 650x50, then 650x2.1, and 700x45.
Would be a good combination 650bx50 for winter and 700x38 for summer?
Hi just want to ask I want to change my MTB Trek Marlin 5 Tire to gravel tire w/c one I will choose 700x45 or 700x50? Pls. advise and thanks :)
There are Specialized Pathfinder Pro in 650 B 47 mm witch i like btw. Specialized has not just 700c....just to know.
So if I swap 700x by 32 with a 650b x 33 how much will this make my bike height alter ?
Hi! I bought a used gravel bike for cheap but I find the frame is slightly higher than my preference (ie. when I stand with the top tube in between my legs, the tube slightly touches my crotch but not too much as to exert force on the family jewels), do you think switching from 700c to 650c would help? Thank you!
29x2.0 continental race king for my monster gravel hehehe
My frame has higher tyre clearance in 700c lol, I can fit up to 29" x 2.6" tyres but only 27.5" x 2.3"
Bottom bracket shouldn’t drop too much, right? Larger diameter tires in the 650b should offset the smaller distance from the center of the axle to the edge of the rim…. RAM - radius as measured…. Compared to a normal 700 setup…. 700x28…. So when using road tires, you would expect to see a similar height bb…
650b x 47 or 2.1 every time all the time, even very tall folks. If you want a road bike buy a road bike. You purchased a gravel bike, enjoy the supple ride and lower crank height frame design. WTB Byway if you must ride road on 650b, pedal strikes is due to poor form, get better lolz.
Can you enlighten me... I was thinking of getting the Giant Toughroad which have 700x50c. Based on your guide, there is no point on switching to a 650b for whatever reason since it's almost grant a wide tyre right? My reason for switching are, I'm only 165cm tall(short) and would love to ride with low pressure for comfort.
Hey Art, the rationality of switching for low pressure depends on what tyre size you're switching to. 700x50 is already a substantial tyre with a lot of air volume in it. To find more air volume, which would allow you to meaningfully drop the pressure, you'd have to run massive 650b tyres. Like, maybe 650(27.5")x2.4" or something. Chuck all your tyre data into this tool and see whether you're running a ballpark appropriate tyre pressure: axs.sram.com/tirepressureguide
I've been running 700x50 in the front and 700x45 in the rear (I wanted 50 in the back too but not enough room for wider). Anyone else have such a set up? :)
I have a bike that can fit both 650B and 700C, largest 700C tires it can handle are 42mm, and 650B can handle 2.1 at the back and 2.2 at the front. I have been using only the 650B combo and don't see a reason to go back to 700C, the ride is just not that fun.