Hi guys and gals,just trying to fish some opinions here…just merely based on my height being 5’3" and an inseam of 30.7",do you guys think that i would be better off on a 650c bike or 700c bike?
Thanks!
ask Khai.
Road bike or Tri bike?
Racing or Leisure?
jaretj
I’m 5’6 with a 29 inch inseam and ride a 700.
I’m the same height and have roughly the same inseam.
My tri bike is a 48cm with 650c wheels. I love it…It’s the perfect combo for me. I train and race on it. If I were to upgrade I’m not sure I’d be trying a 51cm with a shorter stem to have the 700c wheels. It would be nice to have the availability and swapping options of 700c tires and wheels tho.
My road bike is a 48cm with 700c wheels. The toe overlap is crazy, (I’m not sure if there would be much less overlap on a 51cm) and I don’t find it as quick or as comfortable. Sadly since the arrival of my tri bike, she’s been relegated to the cubby hole beneath the stairs… :O(
So I guess it depends on a few things, which type tri or road, use, fit, and whether or not you mind hunting for 650 stuff etc…
V
Hi there,firstly thanks for the inputs…am looking at a tri bike and if im not wrong,only felt and cervelo manufactures 48cm bikes with 650c wheels(correct me if im wrong).which will be better?
Will be targetting long dist. events like half IM and IM.
also i am not too worried about hunting for wheels and stuff.
Most people your height go with the 650 tri bikes, but thats where a good fitter comes in. Both Cervelo and Felt make great bikes, personally I like Cervelo a little better 
The Cervelo P1 and P2 come with great builds for the price.
-Adam
As a 5’4" rider with an inseam of 29.75" who just went through a couple months of tri-bike shopping, I’ll offer my .02. You need to get on a couple bikes for a decent ride and see how they feel based on your body size. I ride a 50cm road bike for training (with 700c wheels) and the toe overlap has never been a problem. I really wanted to stay with 700c wheels, but in the end I couldn’t justify switching brands/bikes to get the larger wheels. As far as wheels go, there is a smaller market for 650c wheels, but I was able to purchase a disc + 404 wheelset from a member for less than $500…so it can be done.
I rode a 48cm P3 (which I couldn’t afford, but I needed to know how Cervelo frames fit me) and a 51cm P1. I ended up going with a 48cm Cervelo P2-SL Ultegra (new old stock) because it was the right size according to the tri shop…but I’m definitely going to have to extend the cockpit in the near future. The 51cm frame was too large (again, according to the shop) but the cockpit felt great. The 48cm frame is great for standover, but my upper body is way to long for it. If I had to do it over again, I would have traveled to a shop with the bikes in stock so I could ride them, buy one, and have everything fitted to me on the spot. I saved several hundred dollars buying online, but the headache of getting things fitted is a definite trade-off.
Hope this helps!
Coop
Hi there, yeah it seems that the common consensus is that cervelo is a better bike.personally,of course i wouldnt want to have a bike that everyone has(just so to be different)well,just read the reviews on bikesportmichigan and frm the review,it said that the chainstays on the felt B12 are “a trifle frail in appearance”.hmm wonder if that will pose a problem on the bumps and humps?
definitely dont want a bike which fails me on the stays after riding regularly on bumpy surfaces:(
Same dilemma here… here is my short list of bikes…I already have 700 race wheels, so if I go 650, add a chunk of change to the purchase to get new race wheels:
48 Orbea Ordu (pretty pretty and my fave so far)
small Specialized Transition Pro (Currently on an 07 so already love this bike)
custom
if I figure a way to go to 650s and I don’t get the WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING from my fitter who knows my fit super well and knows my riding capabilities…
P3 or P4 (have to one up the hubby here…hehehe)
Let me know any more info you find out and I will do the same… I’m 5’3" (almost 5’4’"!!) and am long legged…I can comfortably standover a 54… but have zilcho in the torso department!
Hey no problem.
I have no experience with Felt bikes, the only other bike I’ve ridden was a Giant. Like most will say, it depends on which brand will fit you best.
Both my road (aluminum soloist) and tri bikes (2003 P2K) are Cervelo’s. Cervelo’s 48 roadies have 700c, 48 tri’s are 650c.
I’ve done one IM on each, Wisconsin on the road bike (not so good), and LP on the tri bike (much better). But part of that is just personal feel, preference. I’d rather spend 6 hrs on my tri bike than 2 hrs on my road bike. Backwards to most people here I think. I just do better with the tri geometry.
The P2K was a fluke buy, I got it for a song. Would I have paid the same amount for a Felt or a Trek? Most likely. So no Cervelo bandwagon there, just plain luck.
Add (if you have to) a carbon seat post, helps with the bumps too. Ottawa roads are pretty chewed up, no problems with the Cervelo seat stays…
Same dilemma here… here is my **short list **of bikes… Apropos of nothing, was that intended?
Hi guys and gals,just trying to fish some opinions here…just merely based on my height being 5’3" and an inseam of 30.7",do you guys think that i would be better off on a 650c bike or 700c bike?
Thanks!
You’re kind of a freak, measurements wise. Sure about that inseam measurement? I’m 5’5" with a 28" inseam. (maybe I’m the freak). I have ridden both wheel sized bikes for many years. For the past 3 years I have been on only 700 wheeled bikes simply because it gets harder and harder to find 650’d ones. What do I think? I think that proportion wise, the 650 size wheels are much more appropriate for smaller frames (under 50cm). small frames and 700 wheeled bikes look like clown bikes, all wheels, no frame. Also, 650 wheels are almost necessary in smaller frames so that toe overlap does not occur (where the front of your pedal stroke can overlap/hit the wheel).
I have had a 650 wheeled road bike custom made for me by Craig Calfee in 51cm frame size. Today I ride a 50cm Kestrel Evoke in 700c size. Both ride roughly the same, but one looks better - the Calfee. BTW, I’m talking road bikes, not time trial bikes. My time trial bikes have all been 650s.
Actually, the Cervelo RS 48 has 650s. I was so psyched when it came out – I was finally able to upgrade from my old Cannondale 47cm (650) frame!
I wish the rest of the Cervelo lineup came with 650s in the 48 size.
Maybe you should ride a Big Wheel. 
Your list should include bikes from Quintanna Roo.
Their 46 and XS have a lower stack height than the Cervelo P2 and Felt 48 cm bikes
It was one of the bike I was considering at my last purchase.
jaretj
Actually, the Cervelo RS 48 has 650s. I was so psyched when it came out – I was finally able to upgrade from my old Cannondale 47cm (650) frame!
I wish the rest of the Cervelo lineup came with 650s in the 48 size.
I did not know that… :O)
I’ve never actually seen a road bike with 650’s…
It’s really nice if you’re short. I hope more mfrs start to realize that there is a market for little bikes. There are so many bikes I would love to try …
I cant believe that no one has come out and said get the one that fits best…preferably determined by a capable bike fitter.
I believe I did. :O) Without the bike fitter part, which I believe is important, especially the first time around.