My calculations say that a 650 wheel is 25.6". How similar are these wheels?
There is a common and understandable notion that a 26" wheel is somehow 26" in diameter. It is not.
Also, a 650c wheel is not 26" in diameter, nor is it “650” of any unit. In general, these references are somewhat arbitrary designations not related to dimenions, which is immensely confusing. It is the same expectation that a 53cm frme is 53 centimeters. I have a 53 cm frame parked behind me that measure exactly 56.5 centimeters.
Additionally, there are quite a number of “26 inch” wheel sizes in the bike industry- each of them different. For instance, 26" road also refered to as 650c somewhat interchangeably is absolutely not he same size as 26" for MTB.
Confused yet? It gets worse.
Don’t forget 26"X 1&3/8", a completely seperate diameter from the others despite the same 26" designation.
Perhaps a more important nomenclature is the ERTO dimension, or, for 650c, 571 ERTO. You’ll notive the ERTO for MTB is completely different despite the shared 26" common designation.
650 c is 25.59055118. So it is not 26 but 650/2.54.
Tom, in contrast to most of your posts which are a beacon of light and clarity, this…I mean, do you need a trip to Taco Bell or something?
What the heck is this?
Let me rephrase. I have a Softride with 650c wheels. If I were to buy new wheels or components to build wheels, is there a notable difference in 650 and 26" or are the terms used sometimes interchangably? Or do I just stick with 650 stuff?
Thanks guys.
There you go, and that is where the confusions is also.
People interchangeably refer to one wheel size as both 650c and 26". I will go so far as to say the 26" vernacular is technically not accurate.
What you are looking for is 650c, sometimes less-correctly refered to as 26", with an ERTO of 571.
I hope that helps…
There is a difference. See the above computation. 1inch is 2.54cm.
Technically they are different but in reality many people use the terms interchangably.
For example, if somebody on ebay is advertising a pair or 26" Hed Jets, you can be sure they are 650’s.
Not only technically. Physically too. I will repeat for the last time. 1 inch is 2.54 centimetres.
Therefore, a 26-inch will be equivalent to 660.04 which is slightly larger than 650.
650c and 26" are both labels, only marginally related to the actual dimensions, therefore the actual conversion between cm. and in. is irrelevant.
efernand and baruch spinoza are two labels. Therefore replying to me is irelevant.
“Also, a 650c wheel is not 26” in diameter, nor is it “650” of any unit."
Your mathematical heavy-lifting is impressive, but you overlooked something important - that 650 doesn’t mean anything (centimeters, inches, clicks, whatever) and that 26" doesn’t mean much either. You just wrap up an undergrad Modern Philosophy course or something?
Exactly. Those numbers are not related to any dimensions of the wheel itself. They might as well (and would be less confusing) by calling the sizes “small”, “medium” or “large”.
Okay,
Well let me chime in. As others have said you need to stop trying to relate the numbers (650 and 26) to any dimension. For the purpose of buying parts (rims, tires etc) here is what you need to know.
Assuming that the bike was bought in the US or Canada in the last few 5 or so years:
700C refers to “big” roadbike rims and tires.
27 refers to some older road bike rims and tires - very similar in size, but not interchangeable with 700c. 27 is only found on some older road bike touring frames
26 is mountain bike size rims and tires
650c is for tri bike rims and tires, also some roadbikes. This is the smaller size commonly found (the bigger size for these bikes is 700c)
29 is a rare size used on some newer mountain bikes. It is exactly the same size rim as 700c roadbikes. The reason it is refered to as a different size is purely to piss me off.
Older bikes and some euro bikes may use many, many other designations. The best bet is to take your current bike with you when you are purchasing parts. If you are buying form ebay or mailorder be sure of what you are buying or pay more for the LBS expertise.
Styrrell
smtyrellagent99 wrote: 29 is a rare size used on some newer mountain bikes. It is exactly the same size rim as 700c roadbikes. The reason it is refered to as a different size is purely to piss me off.
hilarious!
A 650C rim has a bead seat diameter of 571mm. A 26" mountain bike rim has a bead seat diameter of 559mm. So the difference is 12mm.
I like the info that Sheldon Brown has. I’m surprised that nobody has linked to it yet.
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html
jaretj
I don’t think this is correct. 700c certainly doesn’t mean 700 centimeters, 700c is a size. Same with 650c, the “c” isn’t cm.
There are 650b wheel sizes as well.
-SD
For fun , get a set of the narrow 26" mountain bike wheels . Mount a set of narrow 1 1/4 smooth tread tires, on a NON suspension frame. They come very close to a road bike in an odd hi bred way. Great up to the store / rainy day / local bike.
Because Sheldon Brown is the devil and should only be referenced in plots to remove his influence from cycling altogether.
-sD