[Forum Team]

Pacenti Cycle Design

Kirk Pacenti of PCD is at NAHBS showing some pretty amazing new developments. As well as the first outing for new lugs and fittings, including his great new Mini-Six lugs, there’ll also be the first public showing of his Heavy Mettle tubeset, designed for the likes of expedition touring, 29’ers, downhill rigs and any other frame requiring a tough, durable and reliable tubeset.

There’s also the premiere of his latest range of custom-built frames with both Road and MTB versions on display; built with Pacenti-developed size specific tubing and fitted out with - naturally - Pacenti dropouts and other frame components.

But perhaps the most exciting development from Pacenti - and perhaps that of the show - is his all-new 650b concept hardtail. It’s built around the 650b wheel size, for over a century the preferred size of French cyclotouristes.

But this is no Porteur, it’s a whole new concept in MTB design. Sized in between the current 29” and 26” MTB standards, this “27½” size offers significant advantages over other sizes. Its reduced rolling resistance and greater stability offers advantages over a 26” wheel - making it a winner on hardpack and singletrack trails. It comes up smaller than a 29’er; meaning it’s suitable across a full range of frame sizes. Added to this, gear development is not so different to a 26”, so existing off-the-shelf MTB transmission will be a better fit. Then there are the advantages of having a wheel size proven by millions of French riders to be just the right combination of speed and comfort on the tarmac; 650b is still the 'tried, tested and trusted' choice in Brevets and Sportifs making it ideal for town bikes. This new application puts 650b right back in the picture as an “allrounder” wheel size.

In all, the advantages are immense. It’s one of those "why didn’t they think of that before" ideas; so perfectly obvious and fit for purpose from the minute you see it. Already other manufacturers are planning 650b-based models and the tire manufactures have embraced the concept. Pacenti already has a Panaracer-manufactured off-road tire in production, demonstrating that every aspect has been covered in the development process.

We’ll be giving the design much more in-depth coverage over the coming weeks, but for now, make sure you get along to the show so you can lay claim to "having seen the first one" in years to come.

Pacenti stand at NAHBS 2007; center stage goes to the new “27½”