My 650b Bike

I should have done this last night - but it was late and I forgot. Here's my current 650b bike. It is based around a 44 Bikes SnakeDriver frame and currently set up rigid and single speed with a Salsa Cromoto Grande fork up front.

Bike also features some Hone Cranks, and Ragley Carnegie Bars.

Although I'm constantly fiddling and experimenting with different stem/bar combinations with it.

Very versatile bike that just shreds in 650b mode!

New Contributor - Thanks for the Invite Jeremy!

For my first post to the Palace I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Mark McGrath - many of you will know me as MMcG on the forums - and I'm psyched to be a contributor to 650B Palace. A Huge thank you to Jeremy for letting me contribute to the blog.

I'm stoked on this wheel size and excited to contribute to spreading the word a bit and sharing cool 650b related news and stories of interest for all of you.

I've been riding mountain bikes since 1999 or so (not that long compared to a lot of you guys I suspect) and I've really gained a passion for bicycles. I started to really get into mountain bike riding when I moved to CT in 2001 and that eventually led to a part time sales rep gig with Balfa Cycles. Some of you might remember the Balfa BB7 and 2Step as well as the Belair and Minuteman (their hardtail frame). After my Balfa stint was over due to Procycle pulling the plug after the 2004 frames were released, I then started to become interested in bigger wheels.

After various 26" hardtails and FS bikes, I finally got my first 29er in a Surly Karate Monkey. From there I was on various 29ers for a few years, including a brief stint helping out Ted Wojcik with his custom frame building business and helping to promote his new 29er frames - initially named the Monkeybutt 29ers and now called his Sof-Trac 29ers.

Then I heard about this new 650b wheelsize and I decided to give that a go. First it was a test and review of a Haro Beasley for www.ridemonkey.com and then it was on to a Carber Bumblebee long term test for Ridemonkey. This really helped me realize the good virtues of the 650b platform - especially for a guy like me who stands about 5'9" tall.

I'm now riding a bike built by Kris Henry - of 44 Bikes. My frame is Kris' original SnakeDriver prototype and it now sports 650b wheels and a Salsa Cromoto Grande rigid fork. I've got it set up in single speed mode right now, but the frame allows me the option of going 1x9 or whatever if I so desire.

I've found the 650b wheels to be the ideal configuration for this particular frame as it puts the bottom bracket height in a "sweet spot" - the bike really shreds turns now in this configuration.

I like it so much that I plan to add more 650b wheeled bikes to the stable over time.

In addition, I plan on posting to the Palace often about 650b news, 650b bikes, and 650b rumors etc. Probably even a feature or two on builders who are doing a lot of work with 650b wheels - like Yipsan, Watson Cycles right here in CT, 44 Bikes etc. etc.

So stay tuned for more MMcG updates folks!

Cheers,

Mark

Velocity's New Addition! The 650B Blunt SL

Designed to be lighter, stronger, faster. Velocity is proud to announce its newest rim, the Blunt SL. Bringing together the proven success and technology of the P35 and Blunt rims, Velocity has developed a new tubeless ready race day rim that weighs in at 420 grams in the 29”/700c platform. The Blunt SL can easily be made tubeless using Velocity’s Velotape kit. In addition to rims, Blunt SL Pro and Comp wheelsets are available. Each wheel is handbuilt by The Wheel Department at Velocity, which can custom build to rider’s specifications. Detailed information can be found at www.velocityusa.com. The Velocity Blunt SL rims and wheelsets are available through any local bike shop or from Velocity’s online store.

Shallower and more narrow than the Blunt OG the SL rims are available in 26”, 650b or 29” sizes, in black, silver or white color with 28, 32 or 36 hole drilling.

VELOCITY's WEBSITE

650b Flows from Stan's

They're here!!!!!!!! GO GET'M!!!!

Transition Bikes Trans AM 650B conversion.

Joe from Parrish FL, just south of 650B Palace just finished his Trans Am 650B conversion with success!  Read more about it at the TRANSITION BIKES BLOG

Rim Update!

No Tubes just received their final batch of ZTR 355 rims. Their 650B Flow should arrive within 3 months.

Velocity will be releasing a lighter version of the awesome Blunt. The new rim will be properly named the Blunt SL; no word yet if they will discontinue the original Blunt.

For our European riders, you'll be happy to find out about XXCycles offering of the Ambrosio KEBA in 650B. 20mm deep with a 18.5mm inside rim width with eyelets.

VIEW Ambrosio RIM HERE

Top Secret

Many things are ahappenin here at 650B Palace.  More news to come!!

WB Loop Video

Soma Returns! The 2011 B-Side hits the Market.

FROM SOMA
"The version 2 B-Side still features our custom spec of double butted Tange Prestige heat-treated CrMo tubing. It does boast some notable upgrades, including Tange/IRD stainless steel sliding dropouts. These offer the rider single-speed and geared set up options with fewer hassles than a track-style "dropout" and lighter weight than an eccentric bottom bracket. The dropouts include eyelets for fenders, but there are no rack mounts. We don't expect too many to run fenders on this bike, but it doesn't hurt to include them."
We also tweaked the geometry so tall riders don't have to raise the seatpost quite as much (a comment from some owners). Some riders will still need a 400mm post. Other geometry changes include a shorter chainstays overall and a longer top tube on the 16.5". Integrated seat clamp is gone (again at the request of our fans).
The bike is still designed around the length of a White Brothers 80mm travel 650b fork; however we expect most folks to fit a 100mm travel 26" fork on the B-Side, which is about the same length.
If you are looking for top shelf hardtail option for 650b that's versatile, too, look no further than the new B-Side in its stately matte Gun Metal Blue finish. Sizes medium and large available now (no ETA on the other sizes) Geometry is posted below. We will not be including on the main site, until the new page design is ready. Sorry about that."

www.somafab.com

Rawland Strikes Back!

I absolutely failed to bring the Drakkar to the spotlight at 650BPalace, so I REALLY didn't want to pass up Rawlands redesigned Sogn. Dubbed the "rSogn."
This time around the rSogn is still geared specific, offers a pump peg, f&r rack ready and rim brake only. It has a lighter gauge steel tube set, TIG welded main frame, stainless steel dropouts, added headtube rings and the good ol' Rawland Bi-plane fork. The headtube has been modified, whereas previous models the headtube extended high over the toptube joint. The rSogn will be offered in 5 sizes, C-C being 43cm, 51, 53, 55, 57, all will be 650B specific. Ready for road duties with Pacenti's Pari-Moto and will easily accept the 2.3" Neo-Moto.
The rSogn hasn't yet landed, and is still in PRE-ORDER mode, but expect to see it soon. Retail is currently $625.

Photos from http://www.rawlandcycles.blogspot.com/

650B Pr0n

Watson Cycles
Retrotec
Ground-Up Design
Groovy Cycleworks (x2)

White Bros Loop 650B fork.

White Brothers no longer have the profile they once did in the mountain bike suspension fork market, with RockShox, Fox and Marzocchi having a virtual stranglehold on aftermarket sales. But if first impressions of the new Loop are anything to go by, they could soon regain a foothold.

The Loop looks very different from previous White Bros forks, with stiffer one-piece cast magnesium lowers and none of the CNC machining that used to be their trademark. It's available in a variety of different configurations to suit different wheel sizes, head tubes and types of riding.

All models have 32mm aluminium stanchions and come with the Colorado-based company's new QtapeR15 system – their take on the 15mm quick-release through-axle, which uses a tapered head and dropout to ensure a secure fit.

White Brothers' new Aura TCR damping is used throughout the range. All models have adjustable spring rate (via an air valve on top of the left leg), rebound damping (bottom of the right leg), compression damping and (magnetic) lockout threshold (top of right leg).

Forks are available with either 80/100/120mm of internally adjustable travel or 130/140/150mm. When you buy a Loop, you can specify how much travel you want it set to out of the box. Adjusting it simply involves changing the position of a circlip – this takes roughly 15 minutes.

Versions are available for 1-1/8in and tapered (1-1/8 to 1-1/2in) head tubes, and 26in/650B and 29in wheels. The Loop is available in black or white. There's no word yet on weights.
By James Costley-White

STOLEN SOMA B-SIDE ALERT

A Soma B-Side was stolen this weekend in FT Collins, Colorado. Stock colors, 2x6 gearing and a White Bros Fork. If you see it, contact me: Jeremy@650bpalace.com
Thanks riders!

Soma Fab-ulous

The SomaFab Shop is blowing out their remaining B-Side cross country frames for only 299.99
That's over $100 off an already affordable high quality Tange Prestige steel frame.
This is absolutely the best deal on a 650b frame right now.
Those considering should jump in with two feet.

http://store.somafab.com/greatdeals.htmlx

My BSibe has become my "Winter overhaul project" and at 299.99, you too can have a sweet 650b preject too. Sick deals they're throwing out over at the Soma factory. Get on it!

SALES!

Pacenti's NEO-MOTO 2.3 on sale from $59(ea) to $38!
NEO SALE

Alex XD-Lite rims from $40(ea) to $27
RIM SALE

Kenda Nevegal 2.35 from $55 to $37
Nevegal Sale

Taking the BSide to a new level.

I spent the better part of today in the shop working on non-bike projects when I pushed my Soma BSide next to my custom cyclocross bike. I currently have a coverted 650b bike with a mustache bar but none with an off-road dropbar setup. Yeah yeah, this isn't exactly uncharted territoy with 650b, but it is on a personal level. SO. I've decided to drop the BSide and add gears to the rig.
My debate lies with the rim choice. I'll likely be running Quasi-Motos or the Schwalbe RR. BUT. I may toss on the 700d x 2.0 knobby tires I picked up a while back. Otherwise, mech disc brakes, Salsa Bell Lap bars, tektro droplevers for disc, shimano Rd cranks- 105 or Ultegra, 9 speed with bar cons, uletrga deraileurs.
Thoughts, anyone?

Across the Pond: MBUK demo's a Pipedream with Pacenti Tyres

Creating the Perfect 650B Bicycle

I greatly apologize for the lack of content, once again, here at 650B Palace. Frankly, I have just been lazy. I have been using my iPhone WAY too much and haven't really sat myself down to post updates and promote and buzz in the industry. I've given myself a slap on the wrist and taken away 2 "Cool Points" and learned my lesson.
I'm back in full gear and haven given The 650B Palace a little face lift. As far as I can tell this remains to be the most direct source of 650B info on the web, along with MTBR's "650b, 69er and new wheel trends" forum. We've come a long way in the 650B dept for the MTB industry, as well as the rando/touring side of things. Rawland Cycles has designed some great, and interesting rigid bikes, and Haro gave us the geared Beasley with a White Bros suspended front end; along with the 650B Sonix - then came Jamis with their Dakar with 650Bs. Yet, which bike rules the 650B roost? Is there supremacy to be had? What would make the perfect 650B bike?
Short Travel Full Suspension? Long Travel Boinger? Long Travel Hardtail? Steel - Aluminum - Geared - Single - WHAT????? Riddle me this. i'd like to build up another 650B frame and have a 130mm travel steel hardtail single speed in mind, but want to also dabble with some rear suspension. What's a guy to do? Help me out. Drop some comments on what your dream 650B bike would be.

Here's some help, fill out this survey:
Frame Material:
Frame Travel:
Fork:
Travel:
Handlebar:
Wheel-
Rims:
Hubs:
Front Tire:
Rear Tire:
Brake Set-
Lever:
Caliper:
Bottom Bracket and Style:
Crankset with chain-ring choice:
Headtube (ie, 1.5, 1.125, Tapered):
Headset :
Stem:
Pedals:
Grips:
Shifters:
Front Derailleur:
Rear Derailleur:
Cassette/Cog:
*If you prefer a singlespeed, place N/A where gears are applicable.

Meech Custom Cycles

Dimitri Harris from Meech Cycles has been busy creating custom bikes for his customers and friends, but still had time to build this beauty for himself. A fillet brazed steel frame featuring American Classic BXC wheelset along with FSA bits and a Gates Carbon Belt drive.
A short blurb from the Meech Homepage
"Custom frames start around $1000 and $1250 w/steel fork,if you want to throw a carbon fork on to save a little weight I can do that for you as well. All my frames are handmade by me here in Mountain Home, Arkansas and come with a 20 yr. warranty so if you are in the market for a custom steel frame I would be glad to build it for you. Thanks for checking out the blog and you can email me at meech151@hotmail.com or call (870)897-6703."

The Pacenti Mini-Moto revisited.

Pacenti Cycle Designs really got the ball roling for the 650B offroad market. In 2007 Pacenti showed up to NAHBS with a titanium hardtail sporting a custom White Bros suspension fork and rims rolled by Cane Creek. the chosen tires were also a custom made bit. The original tires were 29er WTB tires with a chunk cut out then stitched back together with a liquid rubber concoction I'd rather not detail (so folks don't start thinking it is absolutely safe). Shortly after that debut Pacenti Cycle Design released the 2.3" Neo-Moto, a legitmate 650B offroad tire made in the Panaracer factory in Japan.
In 2007 there was also talk of Pacenti's future releases in the Quasi-Moto and Mini-Moto. While the Quasi-Moto manifested, and then the 2.1" Neo-Moto the Mini-Moto was placed on the back burner while companies like Kenda, IRD, and Schwalbe also released tires, all 2.1" and above. Where has the Mini-Moto idea gone? Well, it is back, and the PRE-SALE has begun.


From the Rawland Blog
"Lately there has been discussion about the Pacenti Mini Moto, a 43c wide knobby 650b tire with a classic block pattern. I decided not to wait any longer for this phantom 650b cyclocross-type tire, so I talked with Kirk Pacenti, the designer and manufacturer of the excellent Pari Moto, Quasi Moto, and Neo Moto 650b tires. We agreed that the Mini Moto would go into production if I receive pre-orders for a total of 300 tires, or 150 sets."

Visit the Pre-Order page

HERE

RAWLAND BLOG