the Pack Rat - a 650b 'Rando' bike

[HappyHumber]

As bought to my attention by someone over at r/randonneuring

Surly introduces the 650b Pack Rat; though by reading the article; they seem more concerned with the rack mounting vs wheel versus actual audax & randonneuring.

Still a bit ambivalent about the 650b thing myself.

[Thoglette]

Looks bloody nice. Hope it's not too exxy.

And with sensible wheel choices. (For all intents and purposes, 48mm on 650b is the same size as 700C with 28mm just more comfortable in every way. And 2" on 26" is way better for small frames)

[Aushiker]

Thanks for the heads-up. Good to see Surly adding to the mix.

[HappyHumber]

Good to see you pair of ol' staples still occasionally flicking the intra-venous drip here on BNA

For all intents and purposes, 48mm on 650b is the same size as 700C with 28mm just more comfortable in every way.

Yeah, I was thinking this. If I was considerig dabbling in 650b I'd probably more seriously consider something with a disc option, so I could swap back to 700c more readily. Someone else at r/randonneuring linked the Masi Special-Randonneur which appeals a little more for this reason.

Shame the formalised Aussie availability of the Masi range seems even more elusive than Surly.

[singlespeedscott]

Not real keen on the dog leg bend on the fork, or the short chainstays which will make fitting mudguards with fat tyres very difficult. Weird geometry too. Very 1980's road race with the steep head tube and the shallow seat tube angles.

The Special Randonneur with its new fork with more offset and resultant lower trail really does look like a better option. What ever happened to the Masi dealer in Australia though?