My CB wheel is a 650B. Worth keeping?

[wheelbender6]

I recently bought a fixer-upper coasterbrake wheel (shimano hub) from a guy and it had a 1" wide chrome rim.
No standard tires fit. It falls between 26" and 27" dia. A visit to Sheldon Brown's site indicates that it is a 650B based on a bead circumference measurement.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
Should I keep this euro rim or have a 26" rim laced to the CB hub?
Are the tires tough to get?
Can I use a 26" tube?
Any advice is appreciated.

 

[user 135]

Are you able to measure the Bead Seat Diameter? There are quite a few sizes labeled as 26". It could be a 26x 1 3/8 too. Are there any markings on the rim?

650b are the "new" rim for touring bikes or smaller people on there road bikes. It is making a comeback and tires should be easy to find but not in many styles.

 

[wheelbender6]

I measure 72-3/4" bead diameter with a steel tape. No markings found on or inside the rim.

I did enough research on mtbr.com forums to determine that 26" tubes fit the 650b and the tires are not to hard to find; but not much variety, as you pointed out.

I ordered a Kenda cruiser tire from Long Leaf Bikes in NC for $21 (includes shipping) so we will see how it goes.

 

[wheelbender6]

I was able to wrestle the 650B onto the rim, but it was too tight. I would not be able to install and remove the
650B without pinching the tube.
It looks like CMAN was right. Next size up is 26x1 3/8, aka 650A.
Here we go again.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I have found a method that works pretty good when I run into non standard size parts . I drive down a deserted farm road at about 60 mph and throw them out the window. Now you may say this is littering .....but sombody will find that part and try to rescue it. Just watch in a few days it will show up on fresh finds. :roll: :lol: :roll:

 

[wheelbender6]

I found a 26x1 3/8 tire (at Walmart of all places) and it fit well. The tire is kind of skinny for a cruiser tire, but I'll give it a try. Pics below. The front wheel is a 27" from my fixed gear bike.

 

[Buck Masterson]

Amazing what can be found at Wally World.

 

[Bicycle808]

650a is AKA known as 26x1 3/8", but NOT the same as the Schwinn-only "s 6" 26 x 1 3/8". The s 6 measures 597mm in bead seat diameter; the standard "650a"measures 590mm. (fwiw, the 650b is 584mm.) The chances of finding a 650b with a CB hub at random are pretty slim, as you found out. BITD, the 650a size was very common on many "lightweights" in the UK and the USA, so finding 3 speed and CB 650a wheels is commonplace, which is also why you can find 650a tires at wally-world.

The 650b explosion in the elegant-bike world has actually led to a fairly wide variety of tire sizes and styles, from fairly skinny 32mm fast road bike tires, to supple 42mm touring tires, to 2.35" full-on knobbies. 650a? Not so much. These will almost all be in the 37-38mm (1 3/8" inch, naturally) range, with an all-rounder style tread. You can get Schwalbe Delta Cruisers in 650a in bsw, white-wall, or cream.

hth
-rob

EDIT: how on Earth did I end up resurrecting this long-dead thread?

 

[socal_jack]

EDIT: how on Earth did I end up resurrecting this long-dead thread?

The bigger question is why? :shock:

 

[Bicycle808]

yes, indeed. how, why, and what can i do to prevent myself from doing it again? (I'm guessing it helps to not drink-n-post)

-rob

 

[deorman]

Post by Buck Masterson on Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:30 pm

reading is fun duh mental.