I don’t know if QRs were made the same this year, but in years past they had 55cm models in both 650c and 700c wheel versions. My question is, how does the head tube on the two compare? The 700 has an 11.2, and the 650 has a 14.5. But with the wheel difference which one will allow for a bigger saddle to bar drop. By the way I’m 5’9", and kind of curious about 650s, would it be a worthwhile try? The main reason I am hesitant is being able to find race wheels for it for cheap.
If you are willing to utilize used parts, you can find used 650’s cheap. I THINK the 650 craze has cooled off somewhat…not that 650’s are bad or not as good as 700’s…but, 650’s were spec’d on some bikes “just because” in the past. I personally find the ease of using a more common size wheel a great benefit…plus, my geometric requirements don’t demand a 650.
Coincidentally, I just yesterday completed building up another 650c bike for my last few races of the year. It’s a 55cm QR Caliente. I scored the frame (it’s a new '04 model) for 325 bucks a couple of months ago, so I know that you can find them relatively cheap:
where’d you find that deal?
dan
New old stock from a bike store in Tucson that was dumping inventory. I just happened to be Googling bikes, frames and stores one day, and clicked on the hyperlink. It was blind, stupid luck…which is usually how I make my way through life, funnily enough 
T.
Damn, that is good luck. Yeah I am acutally looking at the exact same size frame and wheel size. Only, my total price range is $750 for all.
Good luck, for sure. It’s going to be my speed machine for Great Floridian. Like I said, I just finished building it up with some parts from my old QR Kilo Private Reserve (the brake calipers, the Syntace aerobars, the QR saddle and the Velocity wheelset) an Ultegra drivetrain that I bought off of Monk (rear Ultegra and front Dura Ace ders., Ultegra chain, Ultegra crankset and Dura Ace bar-ends) and a few new items that I had laying around (110mm stem, a Syntace base bar, a Bontrager 250mm seatpost and some Speedplay X5 chromoly pedals and some gray cable housing and little bits and pieces.
Probably about 600 bucks, total, for the whole thing. Seems to ride well, and it climbs and descends decently, so I’m not complaining.
T.