If you're a road bike rider, you probably take the 700C wheel/tire standard for granted. Haven't you ever wondered when that became the standard?

Here, we'll discuss the origins and details of 700C, as well as tire matching.

I think it's a good idea to know this as a bit of bicycle trivia.

A Brief History of Bicycle Wheels

The standards for bicycle wheels were chaotic, with France, England, Germany, and even the emerging United States each creating their own.

This continues to this day, with a mixture of British-derived W/O standards like 26-inch and 27-inch, French- and Italian-derived W/O standards like 700C, and even American-derived H/E standards like MTB's 29er.

The 700C size, which is the theme of this discussion, is a standard that has been used in road racing for a long time.

Since road racing originated in France and Italy, this is probably not surprising.

At least until the 1980s, tubular tires were the majority for road bike tires. The era of 700C + tubular tires lasted for a long time.

Clincher tires only became mainstream in the 90s.

I plan to discuss the reasons why general road bike tires shifted from tubular to clincher in a separate article.

About 700C Wheels

While MTB wheels are still a mix of 26-inch, 27.5-inch (650b), and 29-inch (29er) and discussions never cease, road bike wheels are standardized at 700C. (The 650C standard also exists, but this can be considered a special case.)

Over the long history of road racing, 700C has come to be recognized as the optimal size.

In fact, as a wheel size for sports bikes, 700C is very well-balanced and excels in terms of comfort, off-road performance, and stability.

While MTB wheel sizes in America are moving towards 29 inches, this is also roughly equivalent to the 700C wheel size.

700C Wheel Rim Height

700C wheels are available in a variety of rim heights.

Models with low rim heights of around 35mm are suitable for normal riding/climbing, while models with rim heights of around 40mm have a stronger aerodynamic focus.

Lower rim heights allow for lighter weight, making them ideal for lightweight bikes specialized in climbing.

Also, for those who want to ride at high speeds, high-profile aero wheels will be your ally.

The choice of rim height depends on the rider's judgment.

While a lot of information is available, complex factors are intertwined, so it's not a simple matter.

However, this is also one of the joys and pleasures of road biking. Take your time to consider your options.

700C Wheel Rim Width

In recent years, rim width has been trending wider.

This is for stability and comfort. You can understand that a tire firmly mounted on a wider, sturdier base (rim) is advantageous for rigidity.

However, the trend differs depending on the type of brake used.

While a traditional inner width of 17mm is mainstream for rim brakes,

for disc brakes, a slightly wider width of 19-21mm is common. Why is that?

This is because disc brake wheels do not put stress on the rim itself, allowing for weight reduction, and that weight can then be used to increase rim width.

One might vaguely see hints of the future of road bikes with the shift to disc brakes here.

Tire Matching

First, you should confirm whether the wheel is compatible with tubular, clincher, or tubeless tires.

Tubular tires require dedicated wheels, and tubeless tires may not be compatible with wheels designed for clinchers.

Next, let's consider the relationship between tire size and wheels.

Modern road bikes have become highly specialized, and in addition to regular road bikes, there are cyclocross bikes and gravel bikes with thicker, off-road oriented tires.

Let's look at each type of tire.

① Standard Road Bikes

They use rim widths of 20-27mm, and compatible tire widths are 23-28mm. Thicker tires can be mounted on the wheel, but road bike frames are built very tightly, so anything thicker may interfere with the frame.

② Cyclocross Bikes, Gravel Bikes

They use rim widths of 30mm or more, and can accommodate thicker tires like 38C and 40C. The frames are also built with more clearance.

As an aside, these bikes, which can venture onto slightly rough terrain, seem to double the enjoyment of touring. It's no wonder they've been popular recently.

ICAN's 700C Wheel Lineup

ICAN offers a diverse lineup of 700C wheels for road bikes.

All are high-quality products with a 2-year warranty.

・　Alu27

High-quality aluminum wheels. Achieves a lightweight of 1660g at a price of 24,914 yen. Entry-level bikes can expect an easy boost in performance.

・　CBW　

ICAN's entry-level carbon wheels. Rim heights from 38mm to 50mm are available. Disc brake models are also available.

・　Alpha　

Clincher/tubeless compatible carbon wheels. Rim heights from 40mm to 86mm are available.

・　FL　　

ICAN's mid-grade carbon model. Rim heights from 40mm to 86mm are available. Disc models and G3 models are available.

・　AERO　　

A modern-shaped upper-mid-range carbon model. Rim heights from 35mm to 86mm are available. Disc models are available.

・　DT　　

　ICAN's high-performance carbon model incorporating the best of their technology. Rim heights from 35mm to 86mm are available to meet various demands.　

Finally

Even within the single term "700C," there is a truly diverse range of products in terms of size, shape, and application.

The world of hobbies is indeed deep and enriching.

However, please don't take it too seriously and enjoy your fulfilling bike life.

ICAN supports you!