After many delays, most of which were far outside of our control, we’re pleased to announce that our first production run of Bealsey 650B bikes are in our warehouses! This is a very small run that consists mostly of 1 x 9’s with a few 20″ SS bikes. The balance of the SS bikes are due to ship any day so we should see those in a couple of weeks.

That means if you haven’t ordered yours yet, get at it!

It seems that Mike has teamed up with Devise Solutions to help build his brand and network out.  This has also caused some back time (but long term up time) in the design/build process of the bike.  With almost 24 CNC parts to make I hope he has multiple CNC teams in line!

From the blog :

Here is a brief overview:

Constructed with 7005 aluminum alloy

Compatible with both 26″ and 650B (27.5″) wheel sizes

150mm rear wheel travel achieved through modified four-bar linkage

Rear axle path moves in an upward/rearward direction

Zero chain/chainstay growth is achieved through ‘Semi-URT’ design

Low BB height also achieved through ‘SEMI-URT’ design (as rear wheel moves through its travel, the BB height increases for additional crankarm-to-ground clearance)

Concentric rear-axle pivot minimizes brake jack

Designed around Fox 15QR front fork in 140-150mm travel range

Compatible with Fox RP23 and Fox DHX 5.0 rear shocks (7.875″ overall length and 2.25″ stroke)

ISCG-05 mount comes standard

Shimano Direct-Mount front derailleur (uses ISCG-05 mount)

Front derailleur follows swingarm path for superior front shifting

Shimano Press-Fit Bottom Bracket shell > 92mm width

Shimano Press-Fit bearings used within Main Pivot housing

Rock Shox MAXLE 12mm bolt-thru rear axle system for superior stiffness

135mm rear hub spacing

Rear ‘international standard’ disc mount

Hand-formed rectagnular chainstays maximize heel clearance

Front triangle has low standover height and low center of gravity

Widest bearing spacing possible at every pivot point; ENDURO MAX bearings used throughout

Interrupted seat tube enables rocker arm to pass through for shock actuation

Swingarm components easily serviceable

Replaceable rear derailleur hanger

Yes! After 4.5 months of logging saddle time on this Ventana El Bastardo I can simply say yes.  From there is the complicated details. I’ve spent some decent time on 5″ travel bikes.  The mountains of Pisgah are one of my favorite places to visit and that was the goal for this El Bastardo.  Could I climb things that I had climbed on a geared 29er and also navigate rocks, small drops and technicals like I had on a 26″?  I did, and better than I had on either of those bikes.

To say I’m out of shape right now is an understatement.  Trips to Pisgah or Dupont that once were normal afternoon rides after work at Cane Creek felt like death marches on my hardtail 29er.  The big wheels didn’t want to turn when you are way over your riding weight, your legs lack the muscle and your lungs are sucking like a smoker.  The Ventana was completely the opposite.  The slacker angles due to the offset of the XFusion fork made climbing a breeze. No need to move forward on the saddle, gear down and the bike went up like a billy goat.  Clearing many rocky sections that I had never cleared before, even when I weighed less and faster.

That slacker angle also helped on the decents. Drops that I normally wimped out due to not being able to pull the front wheel up were manageable.  The front wheel easily pulled up for a safe landing.  My issue with the rocky technical sections was always momentum. Yes 29ers roll better but you need to keep them at that certain speed to use that momentum.  If I got stuck and had to do a pedal stutter on a 29er I most likely would be done.  The Ventana propelled forward quickly like a 26″ but rolled over those rocks and logs close to a 29er.  It was rather eye opening getting in certain sections, preparing myself to clip out and put a foot down and the bike simply going by itself.

Now about the Ventana as a bike, not just riding it.  One word that I have is durable.  The welds, gussets and bearings are all beefy and strong.  For ‘09 the El Bastardo is coming stock with the quad bearing like that was installed on my test frame. The detail on the linkage and welds are first class.  See attached photos for evidence.

This bike will constantly be in the back of my mind as I take my hardtail back to the same routes.  Long term if I make trips to the mountains 2-3 a month it will warrant me buying one. For now the 1 or 2 trips I can suffer on a hardtail.

Boy was the bike fun to ride, if you get a chance test ride one.

If you remember the photos from Interbike I also had some concerns about the staff’s knowledge of 650b and it’s purpose.  I’m very excited for these tires and think they will be a great all arounder due to the volume and tread.  I really have enjoyed the tread on the Pacenti Quasi Moto but the volume has left me desiring more, especially on a fully rigid bike.  These tires should really fit this bill.  Plus this Racing Ralph used to be one of my favorite 29″ tires.

Yummy, triple compound!

The tread looks good from here.

I don’t know if you have experience in all of these areas, but could you tell me the difference in running fat slicks on 700(29), 650B and 26.  I have a 29er with 2.0 Big Apples and a 26er with 1.5 marathon racers.  The 29er is too much work to do lots of distance on and the 26er doesn’t climb particularly well.

The other question I have is the difference between mountain bike and road bike geometry on 650Bs.  I kinda want a utility-ish bike that can eat up the miles, take a little trail and jump down a flight of stairs.  What kind of bike would work best?

Having ridden slicks on all three of these bikes I feel pretty comfortable to answer this question.

29ers with 2.0 tires to me still feels sluggish.  It rolls over things well and gobbles up any ruts in the road but the taller wheels with thicker rubber is very slow to start up, and can the slow speed handling leaves something to be desired.  (You can track stand very very well!)

26″ with 1.5 or even 2.0 tires don’t roll very well or keep momentum.  Riding a fully rigid 26×1.5 slick tire with high air pressure is very jarring. If you can lower the air pressure its not too bad but I would chose the 29er over a 26″ for this purpose.  The slow speed handling is very twitchy if you have a normal head tube angle, now you can slow down the handling by either putting a longer axle to crown fork or changing out the stem.

650b is a good medium to me.  Much like Goldie Locks - not too much but not too little.  Right in the middle!  I’ve ridden 650b wheels on mountain, road and cyclocross.  My personal favorite tires are either the Fatty Rumpkins which are fat road tires or the Pacenti Quasi Moto.  The Quasi Moto for “all arounder” and the Fatty Rumpkin for rides that are 90% on road.  The wheels hold energy rather well. Not as well as a road bike, but better than a 26″ wheel.  Both of the tires I enjoy aren’t too heavy like a Big Apple.  The cracks in the road are really smoothed over with the slightly larger wheel but don’t feel too sluggish with cornering.

For a utility bike I would recommend a mountain bike or something with more relaxed angles.  I recently converted a 26″ Salsa Ala Carte into a 650b Xtracycle.  The larger wheel made the handling a bit slower which I needed for the the long tail bike and the mountain bike geometry also helped with that.   One of my favorite “utility” or “all arounder” type bikes right now is the Rawland Sogn Disc.  The bike is designed around 650b wheels, but say you want to go with 29ers for a day, they fit and it handles well with them.  Several folks are actually racing cross on these frames with 700×32 tires. Here’s a link to Ben of Milltown Cycles blog where he writes all about riding it with 29er mountain bike tires.

I hope this answers your questions, and if it doesn’t feel free to post below.  There are many 650bers out there now, maybe one is somewhat local to you!

Hello.

We’re having a one day sale.

Every 650B P/R frameset is on sale for $495,
for today only.  That’s $105 off the everyday
price.

The 61, 59, 56 and 53cm sizes are all in stock.

So if you’re thinking about becoming an owner,
there’s never been a better time.

Call now: 952-288-6165

Matthew Grimm / Sales

Kogswell Cycles
Post Office Box 683
Shakopee, MN, USA 55379

Of course what interest me is the 650b.   His argument for 650b is first off - options.  Customers want and need options.  The example he gives is suspension and handlebars.  Do we only have two options for these? No.  People want more choices.   His second argument - sizing.  No compromising for a smaller rider like a 29er.  The smallest 650b frame is a 14″ compared to a 29er in a 16″.

The 650b frames come with full housing guides and sliding drops for geared or single speed use.  Priced roughly around $450 (depending on the market of course) they will be well priced for someone getting into the new wheeled mindset. If Mike’s frames are anything like his personality and shop I think we will have a great bang of a 650b.

Rivendell Bicycle Works prides itself on designing and selling only lugged steel bicycles, and the rideable art from the 16-year-old California company is meant to be ridden in all ways possible. A lug is a sleeve of metal that surrounds the frame tube at the joint, strengthening the joint. Most modern frames don’t have them, but most used to up until the early 1990s. The heart of the Bombadil is its US$1,600 frameset, with its investment cast lugs, fork tips, dropouts and bottom bracket joined together by master craftsmen with a heated torch and silver. One of the paint options is no paint, just clear coat, which shows off the curly Q lugs and handiwork. The unique double top-tube design stabilizes the frame, which was designed around the decades-old standard French 650B-designated wheel diameter.

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Disclaimer: This is a 700c Xtracycle kit.

Here are some photos to show the clearance :

The ride on the road was suprisingly comfortable.  My commute up to work, with 45 lbs of gear and 2.0 knobby tires, only took 40 minutes longer than on my geared commuter biked.  2 hours and 15 mins vs 1 hour and 30 mins.   I don’t think that is bad at all, even if it didn’t have the knobby tires on it I think the time would be good.

I’m really impressed how the 650b handles on the Xtracycle.  I’ll be throwing something comprable on in a 26″ for a week or two soon to be able to really judge.