hey guys,
Im looking into 650cc wheels. I am probably going to use them for both training/racing. I dont really have the money to get both right now. Anyways, 650cc wheels seem to be hard to find. Any budget recommendations?
Regards
trev
I’ve got these over in the classifieds. : )
A quick search on Ebay resulted in:
I’d go with used trispokes. I was patient and got both of mine for $600. I have now added a 2006 he’d disc to the arsenal for $250. So for 850 I essentially have any combination I want. You will hear alot of folks talking about the trispokes being hard to handle but I weigh <140 and do not have a problem handling them.
In 1999, I bought a QR Kilo. My first race bike. It came with Velocity wheels. After crashing the bike in 05, I noticed a small dimple under the top tube, to the side a bit, about 5 inches behind the head tube. Of course I freaked and bought a Kestrel carbon KM40 frameset. Well, I never liked it.
I eventually rebuilt the QR. I like the stiffer bottom braket of that bike. The big change. Go with carbon wheels. It changes the bike dramatically. Not only lighter, but more importantly, it provides a really smooth ride. I have Zipp 400s. THe picture in my profile is of this bike.
So, if you can swing it, get a training wheel set and a race wheel set. I have the Velocitys and the Zipps.
It’s kind of cool at races to be the only one riding 650s and on an old bike with round tubes and a normal helmet. But the bike has little to do with total performance. The rider’s position and power output is most important. In two races this year, no one has ridden through me. And I get out of the water in good position. If I can only bring the run up! But I am working hard on that.
I don’t have much advice for wheels on a budget, but your search might come up iwth more options if you used 650C, not 650cc.
The 650C is an actual tire size (ISO 571mm bead). It has nothing to do with a volume of fluid.
Just as 650B is a tire size, 700C, 700D, etc…
I had http://wheelbuilder.com/ build me up a rear wheel with a powertap hub. I throw on a disc cover for races. Been training/racing with this wheel for a few years with 0 issues.
I have 650c Easton Vistas and have been real happy with them. Decent price, moderately aero profile, pretty durable. I weigh 140 pounds, give or take.
What wheels do you have now? Why do you want a new set?
If you can be patient, there are deals to be had out there. My Litespeed Saber (bought used a few years ago) came with 650c Velomax wheels.
I keep a sharp eye on the classifieds on ST, Ebay and Craigslist.
The Velomax wheels would no longer stay true, so I started acquiring wheels last year.
This is what I have bought and use currently:
Front Trainer - Bontrager Race - bought used on Ebay for $15.00. Lower end wheel, but it’s true, spins well and works great for training.
Front Race- Spinergy Stealth PBO (43mm deep). Not the “most” aero wheel, but I use this on the front for races. Almost brand new as it was a replacement for a wheel that was crashed. Bought it on Craigslist for $120.00.
Rear - Indoor Trainer - I use the Velomax wheel for indoor rides. Got sick of swapping tires back and forth for trainer/outside
Read- Outdoor Training Rides - I just picked up a Easton Vista (brand new, take off of a new bike) for $60 + $15 for shipping on Ebay.
Rear Race - Over the winter, I found a Renn 575 on Craigslist locally. Wheel was owned and ridden by a tiny female and she had only ridden it in TT’s for a year. I bought it for $150.00.
The Renn and the Spinergy also came with used tires that I use for trainer rides.
So for less than $400.00, I have 2.5 complete wheelsets. All are clincher.
I am now on the hunt for HED3 for the front.
HED Alps are excellent wheels … especially in 650c. Hed doesn’t make them anymore, unfortunately. You can often find them used. I just came across this ad. I don’t know the seller or the listing website, so I’m not vouching for anything.
http://www.cyclebanter.com/showthread.php?t=106296
.
I have 700c wheels right now, but I am looking to purchase a Cervelo P3, which is a 650c (gonna look weird…5’10" guy biking on 650s. its going to be adorable. 
)
I’m the same size as you and ride 650s very happily - doesn’t look weird at all IMO. I got Velomax Vistas on the bike and have trained on them exclusively for 4 years without even needing to true them (and that’s in NYC). I race a Hed3 and Renn disc both of which I also love.
I have a 650C (not cc ) Cervelo P2K and I train on spoked Velocity Aerohead wheels (20 spoke front and 24 spoke rear I think) with 40mm? deep rims.
I race on HED3 clinchers. I think the HED3’s are fine for training (although you will likely get plenty o’ stares) but for me and my budget, I think that regular riding and the increased number of flats that will entail, could reduce the life of them due to the ali rim running on the road more often.
If you are buying used, then not likely a major problem, but I bought new at retail price so I protect my babies!
The HED3 front is still used a lot by some very good cyclists in TT’s and is still a damned fine choice!
…And don’t ever mistakenly get the 559mm (approximately) 650C tires! You will bust tire levers, fingernails and damned near forearms trying to get them on. ALWAYS check for the 571mm on the sidewall.
don’t ask how I know this!
…And don’t ever mistakenly get the 559mm (approximately) 650C tires! You will bust tire levers, fingernails and damned near forearms trying to get them on. ALWAYS check for the 571mm on the sidewall.
don’t ask how I know this!
See, that was your mistake, 559mm ISO is not a 650C tire.
There are other 571mm ISO tires out there however, so it is possible to get a tire that is NOT 650C that will sort of fit your rim. Those older S-7 middleweight
Schwinn rims uses the same diameter, but the tire width was 1 3/4".
Ah yes, the bicycle industry, we LOVE a good standard.
…And don’t ever mistakenly get the 559mm (approximately) 650C tires! You will bust tire levers, fingernails and damned near forearms trying to get them on. ALWAYS check for the 571mm on the sidewall.
don’t ask how I know this!
See, that was your mistake, 559mm ISO is not a 650C tire.
There are other 571mm ISO tires out there however, so it is possible to get a tire that is NOT 650C that will sort of fit your rim. Those older S-7 middleweight
Schwinn rims uses the same diameter, but the tire width was 1 3/4".
Ah yes, the bicycle industry, we LOVE a good standard.
TWICE I have been given a 559mm tire, with 650C on the box! by pimple faced bike store geeks. The first time I took it home with the aforementioned “issues”. The second time I noticed the mistake and told the guy and he said, “but it says 650C on the box”. In both cases it was a Continental GP tire, but that was about 5-6 years ago. I’m much wiser now