CTA is your 650b resource with the largest stock of 650b tires, rims and parts in Australia.

So what is the 650b? What is all the fuss about?

The 650b is an old French touring wheel size which is experiencing a worldwide revival. The 650b at 584mm ETRO falls midway between the 700c(622mm) and the 26"(559mm) and utilizes 30mm to 44mm tires. The 650b was used extensively by the best builders of touring and camping bikes, including Rene Herse and Alex Singer of France, during the 'golden age' of hand-built bicycles, as coined by Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly.

There are many benefits to the 650b wheel size including increased toeclip clearance when installing fenders and mudguards. 650b tires, especially in the 32mm to 38mm widths, are some of the finest tires made today, giving superior ride qualities without sacrificing speed and handling associated with the 700c. The 650b is especially useful as a conversion from 700c, since the reduced diameter allows you to install wider tires than possible when using the 700c, and often giving enough clearance to also install mudguards as well. It is the ideal wheel size for building 50cm to 58cm touring and city bike.

The 650b revival was initially spearheaded by Jan Heine of Vintage Bicycle Press, whose immense experience touring and randonneuring is almost without peer. Jan recently published what is considered by many the bible of fine bicycles, The Golden Age of Hand-Built Bicycles. Jan has been extolling the virtues of the 650b for many years through his quarterly publication, Bicycle Quarterly, simply the finest cycling rag published today.

Grant Peterson of Rivendell was the next convert to the 650b. Grant has a long and legendary reputation in the world of cycling starting with his work for Bridgestone USA. Grant has always embraced the tried and proven over the latest and greatest while insisting the most us were riding the wrong bicycles. Through Rivendell Bicycle Works, he continued to relentlessly keep the touring and 'country' bike alive. The 650b received a huge boost when Grant introduced the Saluki to the world, the first production 650b bicycle in decades. Since the Saluki, Grant has designed and produced the Willbury, the Glorious, and most recently in collaboration Quality Bike Parts, the largest bicycle distributor in the USA, the Bleriot, all utilising the 650b wheel size.

My own 650b experience came with the purchase of a Fuji tourer aka 'The Chocolate Croissant'. While you may find all the hype and hysteria about the 650b difficult to believe, I can assure you from personal experience, that 650b does offer unique riding and handling qualities to the discerning cyclist. The 650b is my wheel size of choice for touring, randonneuring and city riding.

But do not just take my word for it, here is what many other riders are saying about the 650b.

650b Wheeled Bicycles - a 650b primer
650b Conversion - Sheldon Brown on the 650b
Vintage Bicycle Press - Publisher of the Vintage Bicycle Quarterly and The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles
Confr?rie des 650 - Brotherhood of the 650 - French website with some English content
Rivendell Bicycle Works - The home of the Saluki, Glorious, Willbury and Bleriot
The Chocolate Croissant - My 650b steed
1970 Peugeot PE-8 - my 'new' 650b
650b Fast Tourer - A CTA 650b project
650b Bike List - Internet mailing about all things 650b

CTA has invested heavily in the 650b by having Velocity rims produce 650b rims expecially for CTA for worldwide distribution giving CTA has one of the largest stocks of 650b rims to be found anywhere. CTA imports 650b tires from France, Germany, and Japan, and stocks an extensive range of 650b parts for the Australian market.

CTA is your 650b headquarters.