Subject: RE: 650 wheels I don't know enough about the specific geometry of this bike, or you preferred riding position, but at 5'10", I prefer (nay, DEMAND!) 650's on my tri bike. I like to ride steep, and the only way to get the chainstays short enough to keep the weight balance properly on the rear wheel is to use 650s (or have a ridiculously long front-center). In a TT/Tri, there really are no advantages to 650's over 700's. I have both, have ridden both extensively, and really find no performance or comfort difference between them. Gearing on a 650 bike as opposed to a 700 is not rocket science -- think 2 teeth more on the 650's chainrings over the 700 (a 52 on a 650 will be pretty much the same as a 50 on a 700). When I first got 650's, it was on a custom track bike I was having built. Being a triathlete and roadie, I knew I didn't have lightning acceleration, and needed all the help I could get in that regard. 650's have a lower moment of inertia, meaning they'll spin up to speed easier. Handling is more a function of the frame design than the wheel size. Tires and tubes can be harder to come by in an emergency type situation (meaning taking a trip to the LBS), but if you stock up when you see them, it's not an issue. Hope that helps! |