Nabeaquam
BoTM Winner
Was he a king, like Ethel Red the Unhip or Knut the Boneless?It is a well known fact that I, LGF the Sane invented mountain biking as we know it
Fact
Was he a king, like Ethel Red the Unhip or Knut the Boneless?It is a well known fact that I, LGF the Sane invented mountain biking as we know it
Fact
Everything about this advert is wonderful, 'Lead the regular fellows...' , 'snappy new 1930 models', and especially the word "Bike" in quotation marks. It might catch on.Hi. Canada here. We've been building rugged bikes for a few years, probably did a little bit of racing too, eh?View attachment 762204
'"Out to the bush" whenever you feel like it!'
1930 CCM advertisement
"and 26 inches of mountain biking" must refer to the mid 1980s when US mountain bikes first appeared in Europe. Though maybe the 1990s when 26 inch wheeled mountain bike trend took off in Europe and 26" became more commonplace.Just had a look at https://confreriedes650.org/la-confrerie/historique/ - who I assume have a fair amount of knowledge, anyhow, here is a section which peaked my interest (translation to English):
"Alas, for low commercial reasons, in competition with the much more demanded 700C, a rewarding image of racing, and 26 inches of mountain biking, with an adventurous connotation, the 650B was in the mid-1970s pushed towards the exit and towards a disappearance. which some called for."
Reading this, it just seems a bit odd why anyone would even start fiddling with 650B in the late 1970s when the writing apparently was on the wall. Perhaps I'm making 2 + 2 = 5 and/or simplifying history. Thought I would share it all the same.
It's an interesting statement.
I guess a more complete factual answer would be scanning catalogues to see when the 650B was dropped. A very very quick none-exhaustive look says Peugeot's last serious 650B Randonneur for men was in 1978. Interestingly shown alongside a 700C tourer.
https://bikeboompeugeot.com/Brochures France/Peugeot 1978 France Brochure/Peugeot_1978_French_Catalog_Gentlemen_Randonneurs_BikeBoomPeugeot.JPG
I'd imagine the 650B was dropped much earlier for export models. A Mavic or Rigida catalogue would be interesting to find.
EDIT: Reading this, there seems a lot of bullshit said at the Ritchey stand
https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-ge...the-650b-godfather-revolution-and-650b-sales/
These were Hakkapeliitta winter snow and ice tyres were made in Finland not used there or produced all year round. When stocks ran out, buyers would have to wait until next winter's batch had been made. Just like with studded car ice tyres, they are normally only fitted in winter and not well suited to use on metaled roads.This godfather of mtb and wheelsize crap is so fecking boring. Whoop-ee do a man put 650b wheels into a cyclocross frame and used some flat bars to steer it. As for the russians buying up the worlds supply of 650b.....well i call bullsh!t.
I looked at a Richmond Cycles' catalogue from 1983 and the only 650b rim listed was the Model 58 Super Champion, and not one of the six Mavic rim types listed was 650b. The size is listed as being for touring and tandem use.I'd imagine the 650B was dropped much earlier for export models. A Mavic or Rigida catalogue would be interesting to find.