WikiPedalia is not endorsed or affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
650
From WikiPedalia
Careless or ignorant cyclists sometimes refer to "650" wheels. This short of "shorthand" causes endless confusion.
There is no such size as "650." There are four different sizes that include the number "650" as part of their designation in the French system :
- 650 is 597 mm, aka British 26 x 1 1/4" and Schwinn 26 x 1 3/8"
- 650A is 590 mm, a.k.a. 26 x 1 3/8" (Mostly used on English 3-speeds .)
- 650B is 584 mm, a.k.a. 26 x 1 1/2" (Mostly used on French loaded touring bikes and tandems, but lately experiencing a bit of a revival.) See: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/650b for more on this. As if 3 different terms for the same size weren't enough, now there's a wrong-headed move afoot to create a forth designation for the 584 mm size: Twenty-seven Five!
- 650C is 571 mm, a.k.a. 26 x 1" (Mostly used on time trial bikes and racing-type bikes for smaller riders.)
It is really best to use the modern ISO/E.T.R.T.O. designations (597, 590, 584, 571, etc.) to avoid confusion.
