Canyon announcing road bikes with 650b wheels

Canyon is releasing a new range of Canyon Women’s specific bike. The GCN video at 2:56 mentions that the smaller bikes will use 650b as opposed to 700c / 650c wheels. It appears that Canyon also got Conti onboard.

This will be interesting as mtb bikes already abandoned 26" / 650c wheels and are moving to 27.5" / 650b. We already got 650b gravel bikes. There might be economics of scale that can be leveraged here.

Canyon is releasing a new range of Canyon Women’s specific bike. The GCN video at 2:56 mentions that the smaller bikes will use 650b as opposed to 700c / 650c wheels. It appears that Canyon also got Conti onboard.

This will be interesting as mtb bikes already abandoned 26" / 650c wheels and are moving to 27.5" / 650b. We already got 650b gravel bikes. There might be economics of scale that can be leveraged here.

I predicted this years ago when 650b started to take off.
There was always a demand on small frames for a smaller wheel size.

What is the difference between “C” and “B”?

Great news, as while Carl at Trek is superb at answering questions, I already know that Carl doesn’t make bikes to fit me. If Canyon does, then they will get my business and I am looking to buy a road bike that fits.

What is the difference between “C” and “B”?

650b has 584mm bead seat diameter, 650c has 571mm bead seat diameter. 700c is 622mm.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rim-sizing.html

What is the difference between “C” and “B”?

650b has 584mm bead seat diameter, 650c has 571mm bead seat diameter. 700c is 622mm.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rim-sizing.html

Or, basically a 1/4" difference in the radii (the dimension you actually use in regards to bike geometry/handling)… :-/

But, yeah…I can see the logic in designing around B vs. C for small size bikes given the higher prevalence of 650B products recently.

Hah, thats almost funny.

After months of procrastination I finally pulled a tricker on the Men’s 2XS size (which was the same as the WMN upto now) Endurace SL CF Disc Di2 for my wife on Tuesday and learned TODAY that it has been shipped…

Oh well, the mens bike looks better anyway…

I wasn’t aware of any good road tires in a 650B
.

I wasn’t aware of any good road tires in a 650B

https://www.compasscycle.com/product-category/components/tires/650b/

:wink: Besides, tires are one of the easier things to tool up (as compared to other parts of the wheel/bike system related to wheel size).

Unfortunately illegal to race in UCI road racing events.

Unfortunately illegal to race in UCI road racing events.

Ummm…why? Last I checked, the only restriction is front and rear need to be the same diameter (within a wide diameter range).

Unfortunately illegal to race in UCI road racing events.

Ummm…why? Last I checked, the only restriction is front and rear need to be the same diameter (within a wide diameter range).

That’s what it was when I had a USACycling Official’s License.

Love the idea of 650b wheels for my gf’s bike. But more importantly, when are they going to start distribution in the good 'ol USA?

I find it funny that there’s such a positive vibe around tooling up for 650B when 650C seems to have fallen so far out of favor*. 650C was hot, the tooling should still be there, all we need is more tire widths around that diameter. The only non-23mm that I know of is the 25mm Pasela, and I can only find that in wire bead.

  • For the record, I really like 650C for anything small, needing quick acceleration, climbing specific builds, or needing a decently low front end. And I ride a 54cm frame.

I’ve been desperately trying to find a good reason to use 650B instead of 650C but can’t think of any.

The tooling is already done for road bike wheels, why make a change for 1.3 cm in diameter (.65cm radius). Seriously, a person could put a 650C disc brake wheel on there and probably not even notice. It just may change the trail a little bit (I haven’t calculated which way but intuition says lower).

There are already good tires developed for 650C bikes. Developing another size would likely reduce availability for both.