The top choices for 650b tires (especially if you don't need extra puncture protection) are the Compass tires: Babyshoe Pass 650x42 Loup Loup Pass 650x38
and their older Grand Bois versions: Hetre 650x42 Lierre 650x38 My current favorite is the Panaracer/Pacenti Pari-Moto. They're super fast and light, and only $32 each from Mike Kone at Boulder Bicycles <http://boulderbicycle.bike/In-Stock-Pari-Moto-650b-x-38-tire-black-tread-w-tan-sidewall-by-Panaracer.html>. 650x38 gives you a little more room for a fender. The above tires are the lightest tires with very low rolling resistance. Other tires, with a bit sturdier casings: Panaracer Pasela 650x42 Soma New Xpress 650x38 Panaracer Col De La Vie 650x38 Fatty Rumpkin green 650x41 and quite sturdy: Fatty Rumpkin blue 650x41 Schwalbe Marathon 650x42 For fenders, the SKS P45 is easy to install, and has the least-obtrusive hardware. On the VO fenders I have now, the stay attachment bolts intrude into the tire clearance. SKS chromoplastic fenders have the stay bolts on the sides, out of the way. For wheels, I built my own with Pacenti PL23 rims (on clearance for $40 <http://www.pacenticycledesign.com/index.php/products/rims/pl23/pl23-650b-36h-detail>), a dynamo hub, and the VO Grand Cru touring cassette hub. Tim On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 7:57 AM, alan lavine <cigar...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Sunday, July 5, 2015 at 6:44:47 PM UTC-4, alan lavine wrote: >> >> Hello to the group, I'd like to pick y'alls brains (sp?) >> >> I have a 64 cm Ram that I bought used, and I'm trying to see how it fits >> into my stable. I have Compass tires 700 x 32, measures 30, on it now, and >> I realize that I can either put larger tires on it OR fenders but not >> both. I wanted both so that it could be used as my credit card touring >> bike...looking for 38's with full fenders. >> >> Would a 650 conversion achieve that? Would it change the ride at all? >> I've never ridden 650's before. Besides new wheels and possibly brakes, >> depending on available reach, what other modifications are required? >> >> The serial # is R038...any idea as to date of manufacture? >> >> Thanks in advance for your wisdom. I've not been much of a contributor >> but I read this blog daily and always enjoy it and learn from it. >> >> Alan LaVine >> NYC >> > > As usual, the group has responded in an exemplary fashion, thanks to all. > -I currently have 11 mm clearance at the closest point, which is where the > end of the rear fender would attach to the frame between the chain stays. > Not much with tires that measure 30. > -Not too concerned about pedal strike, not sure if I even pedal thru a > turn, but I'm not an aggressive rider to begin with. If this works, I will > be changing cranks anyway, so I can go from a 175 to 170. > -Currently have Riv silver brakes and the pads are at the highest position > in the slot. Measuring, I can get the extra 19 mm needed for 650's in the > the lowest point in the slot. Front and rear are the same. > -Plan would be for 42 mm tires...any recs for a comfy tire? Flat > protection not an issue. > > So it seems with new wheels and tires, maybe crank, this can happen > easily. Any recs for wheels that won't break the bank? The VO ones look > quite nice. > > Also, for a bit of background: I had a Surly LHT that I used for fully > loaded touring, and it was excellent. But with a light load, or none, the > bike was rigid as hell and my aging, arthritic body and butt were not > happy. I stripped it, donated the frame, and put the wheels and components > on a vintage Fuji Saratoga made with Ishiwata tubing. More flexible yes, > but comfy, and just fine for CC touring. I have 38 Compass tires on it, the > largest I've ever used, and love it to death. So I'm just trying to > maximize the possibilities with the Ram, and further explore the world of > fat tires. > > Again, heartfelt thanks to all. > Alan > - > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
