Confrérie des 650

650B tires not easy to find ?

Confrérie members often (too often!) report stories heard here and there about the difficulties or even impossibility to procure 650B tires. Wrong argument most often used to orient the beginner to 700/26” formats.

Trend reversed

Years 1990s saw growing difficulties for procuring 650B-specific components, to a point where devotees of this standard could legitimately wonder whether their beautiful machines would end-up grounded due to lack of appropriate envelopes. Some far-sighted ones even considered building sufficient stock in order to survive the next glaciation.

One of the first “industrial” actions of the Confrérie has been to negociate a partnership with Michelin and CPA (Centrale du Pneumatique et Accessoires, a wholesaler and stockist) to produce a quality tire adapted to the cycle touring practice. This initially lead to the Michelin “Axial Raid” produced from 1999 then followed by the Michelin "Megamium", an improved version.

Today, new offers have appeared covering a variety a requirements, from the high performance (Megamium, Cyprès "Skinwall” to robust models for the globe trotters (three Schwalbe models, Michelin "Worldtour"), through dirt road-oriented productions (Rivendell “fatty”, Panracer “Col de la vie”)

A market on the move to re-organisation

Scarcity times are now behind, 650B tires are readily available as long as one locates a suitable source. This actually follows the re-organisation of the market, with on one hand mass-market distribution networks supplying standardized products, and on the other hand specialists supplying (often via correspondence) targeted products aimed at exacting customers.

Despite the vanishing hope to find his/her Megamium at the nearest high street shop, any careful cyclotourer won’t have any difficulty procuring Mégamium, Cyprès, Schwalbe, or other more exotic brands, in France, USA or even Japan where articles most sold in the USA come from.

650B, an educated choice

Riding 650B is nowadays the option adopted by those who know what they want (a genuine touring bicycle, efficient and comfortable) and go the whole way to their choice. It’s deliberately opposite to “just good enough” or other solutions by default, to invest in a long-lasting machine which will provide them years of enjoyment. It’s also an approach to bicycle touring in its epicurean dimension.

Michelin Mégamium 32-584

A tire specified by the Confrérie des 650 and well adapted to a variety of cyclotouring practices.

Born from the cooperation between manufacturer Michelin and the Confrérie, meant to succeed the Axial Raid, it is the result of a move towards fast and efficient touring bicycles, and benefits from the manufacturer’s efforts to obtain a superior rolling performance.

However, rolling performance was not to be achieved to the detriment of the polyvalence which is the core of the Confrérie’s project : the Mégamium is durable and easily endures 8000 km. Occasional use of non-asphalted road is well within it’s capabilities, although a utilisation mainly in a all-terrain environment would rather call for a bigger cross-section.

Other advantages include a 365-gramme lightweight, and soft beads that allow the wary tourist to carry a spare unit at the bottom in the pannier.

The only imperfection sometimes mentioned arise from its uniformly black colour, which departs from the traditional two-tone appearance. That’s in the end a small downside compared to the virtues that make it an excellent choice for an intensive road use.

The "Cyprès" 32-584

Two American/Japanese tires made their apparition in France an are offering an interesting alternative.

The "Cyprès" owes much to Jan Heine who has developed the specifications together with his Japanese partner and ensures the distribution in the USA. Concerning the manufacturer it’s no big secret that this tire owes much to Panracer.

There are actually two different versions that share the same general appearance (classical with tan sidewalls), but different sidewalls.

Characteristics of the lighter one, nicknamed “green label”, sound appealing, as it is described as weighing 270 grammes and foldable, all this under a "traditional" appearance ! Of course, endurance remains low, as Confrérie testers noticed that on the preceding Cyprès (a bit heavier) the rolling efficiency was obtained to the detriment of durability, as our staff did not pass 1500 km before having to change the envelope, and not without several punctures on that distance.

It's clearly targeting fast tourers . According to tests conducted by Jan HEINE as well as the Confrérie, this light tire is not so much faster than the Megamium but in return is softer and more enjoyable on the road.

The second heavier (565 grammes) version is more robust and also less efficient and pleasant. This tire could replace the Megamium on long tours carrying heavy loads, accepting a somewhat lower performance. Besides, it will be uneasy to carry a spare unit in the pannier due to the rigid beads, which is a major downside.

Both versions are imported in France by Gilles BERTHOUD

Rivendell Nifty Swifty 33-584

Like other tires developed by Rivendell, this one is produced by Panaracer. We have got little information so far but the size suggests a road use. We are awaiting samples that will be visible on the Confrérie booth at the "Semaine Fédérale" 2007

Panaracer "Col de la vie" 38-584

Again a japanese tire commercialized mainly in the USA, targeting the expectations of this specific market, i.e. with emphasis on traditional appearance and comfort.

Traditional cycle touring has found in Japan a land of blossoming, so it is no surprise that Panracer successfully developed this excellent product.

Its relatively large diameter (38-584) necessitates some attention with respect to the available mudguard clearance.

Schwalbe HS-159

This highly respected manufacturer proposes different diameters (37, 44 and 54 millimeters) for their well known all-purpose tire. Its robustness makes it a good choice for those riding mainly on rough roads.

Rivendell "Fatty Rumpkin" 41-584

US bicycle specialists, thanks to their contacts with asian manufacturers, are able to offer tires designed to their specifications. The "Fatty Rumpkin" developed by Rivendell is a typical example.

As expected, this tire manufactured by Panaracer essentially targets the US market looking for comfort on gravel roads. Rivendell insists on the search for comfort which guided them throughout the development of this tire.

As for now, we know very little about this new product, except that it seems light (460 grammes announced) and that its dirt road capability would derive from an original inverted tread pattern producing a suction effect.

Publication of "Confrérie des 650" /// 57, avenue de Montpellier 34270 CLARET - FRANCE