In a message dated 10/23/03 6:00:26 AM, heine93@earthlink.net writes:
>By the way, I am not sure whether there is a "critical threshold"
>between the tire sizes of 26" and 650B (as a very experienced tandem
>team from Boston with lots of experience with both sizes once
>claimed), which makes one handle great, and the other mediocre at
>best, or whether it is that all 26" bikes I have tried were poorly
>designed. It may well be that great bikes can be built with 26"
>wheels... and I just haven't ridden them. (And I think 26" wheels
>existed in Britain on lightweight bikes during the CR timeline, but I
>gladly stand to be corrected on this.)
>
First, I am certain the modern incarnation of the 559 wheel existed during
the CR timeline-I have a MountainBike that I bought from Charlie Kelly in 1981,
well within the timeline.
Second, great riding bikes can most certainly be built around the 559 wheel.
I have one that I've put many miles on. It's just a matter of getting the
design-most particicularly the trail-correct.
Phil Brown
Nice today in San Rafael, Calif.