750d (30”) wheels for Gravel Bikes

It looks like a new standard is on the way so the bike industry can sell more stuff.

 

I’m sorry, I dozed off.  Something about wheel size?

I can see some merit for two specific situations:

 

1) You already have a 29" MTB and want to use it as a gravel bike (same as using 650B to use a 700C road bike as a gravel bike).

 

2) You're very long and want a custom frame.

 

That said, the difference between 622 mm and 660 mm (plus tire height) is less than 6%.  That's about the same as between a 34T cog and a 36T cog, except cogs are a whole lot cheaper than custom frames and specialty rims and tires.  I'd expect a niche market with limited selection and high prices.

Wheel/tire mfgs: “Hey, look at the hot mess BB standards are! We need to get in on that action!”

I can see this for someone like 6'2" and taller.  Other than that, it's just another way to sell product.

The WTB test bike for these wheels is a 53cm.  There aren’t enough tall people buying bikes to justify a new wheel size just for them.  

I'm only 6' 1" but my bike is long with 44.5 cm chain stays and a 60 cm (effective) top tube.  With 40-660 tires seat tube and fork clearance would be OK but I'd have to file the chain stay and seat stay bridges a bit.  It would be a fun experiment but for me not worth the cost of new wheels.  Better for Bill Walton.

True and humongous bikes look terrible.  I feel sorry for people like 6'5" or taller that ride.  But a normal size bike with these wheels?  Na, no way, no how

Again, just another way to sell more product.

looks interesting to me.  If I did not already have a more normal gravel bike as well it might even make sense with my Mason InSearchOf (designed for 29 2.6) I could see slapping on some 700d's and skinny 38c rubber and use it for other applications. 

 

not like I have to buy buy so not overly concerned one way or the other. I am thankful forum posters do not create mountain bike product or we would all still be rolling around with rim brake 26" hard tails with steep HTA and crazy short reach.  

 

In mountain bike forums I read the same reaction about 29ers, then the same reaction with 27.5 wheeled bikes (we can all see how that went) I remember when disc brakes were the end of mountain bikes.... then again on road bikes.     I like options, I happy no matter what the bike industry thinks up....I might buy it I might not....no skin off my nose

 

my home grown 27.5er from 2009 called the 650Beckler... everyone hated it LOL