How would you outfit my 650b Trek?
 

My 1981 Trek 710 is currently under the brazing torch having 650b cantilever bosses, water bottle bosses, and downtube shift braze-ons added.

Since it's all torn apart, I've got an opportunity to re-build it in a couple different configurations. I have my own ideas on how I'm going to put it back together, but I thought it might be interesting to see what everyone else thought :D

I'm only looking at switching around shifting methods. Everything else I'm super happy about.

Option 1:
Campy Mirage 8 speed ergo shift/brake levers
Campy Mirage 8 speed long-cage RD
Shimano 7 speed 12-28 cassette

Option 2:
Non-aero brake levers
Sachs-Huret racheting downtube shifters
Miscellaneous Shimano or Suntour short cage RD
10 speed Shimano 12-28 cassette

This bike is my most-often-ridden out of any that I own, and is also my long-distance bike. Emphasis is definitely on comfort and versatility over speed.

It was previously configured as option 1 with Campy ergopower levers:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30fdf9e7bb.jpg

I know this is C&V and I typically outfit my bikes with 7-speed, but I think it would be nice to have closer spacing on the top half of the cassette in this case. A 12-27T (10-speed) would be even nicer in that regard if you can live with one less tooth on the big cog. :thumb:

Although you could make it work with Ergopower, it would be a lot easier to rinko with friction shifters. If you are at all interested in rinko as a thing to do with your bike, that is.

Rinko aside, the downtube setup is more robust and gives you more gears. I don't see the downside, personally, but I am a friction shifting die-hard. Have you thought about bar-end shifters as a halfway-house between Ergo and downtubes? Simplex made some retrofriction ones (hard but not impossible to find), the Rivendell/Dia Compe Silver shifter is fine, and even the old Suntour barcons work fine for me for 9 speeds.

I voted Sachs because they are a positive pleasure to use.

I set up my long distance machines 3 x 7 but there's a lot to be said for the closer spacing you get with more gears in the rear.

1t wouldn't be too bad to drop. I run a 46/30 in the front and that has been good enough to get me over all the hills I've found so far :thumb:

I think I would like the close spacing, but I know that I don't shift as much when I have downtubes as I do Ergos, so maybe I would only go to 8 speeds on the back. Reasonably close spacing, but also dirt cheap chains and cassettes!


No need or plans for rinko at this time. I've got a truck with a full size bed and unfortunately no good public transportation options so there's really no need. Agreed with the robustness and simplicity, though.

I do have a set of Suntour barcons on another bike that might be used at some point on this one. I've run them before and liked them, although they weren't my absolute favorite.


Oh don't I know it! I wouldn't be thinking of switching if I didn't know how lovely they are :love:


I've run a triple before in the past, but found myself only in the middle and small rings. So I switched to a 46/30 double setup. I haven't felt myself wanting closer spacing necessarily, but if it's available I'll take it!

The frame is back from being modified!

Off to powder today!

Tuesday I broke down the cockpit and installed some non-aero levers. Looking forward to riding this with downtube shifters again!

Sachs 8s Ergo

I'm a happy guy:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...527792c4b9.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8aaffe4641.jpg

+1
Either 7- or 8-speed Shimano cassettes are easy to disassemble, then reconfigure with the gears you want, using loose Shimano or SRAM cogs taken from alternate cassettes. Both bikes are Sachs Ergo triples with 1-tooth steps for the cogs in my “flat road” range, but wider steps above and below. Sachs New Success medium cage RD’s on both. Interestingly, one likes Shimano (4.8mm) cog spacing, the other likes Campy (5.0mm) spacing

I know you've already made your decision- and of course, you can always tweak and change everything- but having tasted the forbidden fruit- 10 speed is so awesome.

I'm looking forward to the additional gears, for sure. It will be interesting to see how the Huret rachet shifters do with friction shifting so many cogs. If it's a little too finicky, I might need to go down to 9 or 8.

I can't stop thinking of children of the corn

I love the Sachs/Huret ratcheting shifters- they're totally buttery smooth; but I would choose 10s over those shifters any day of the week.

How about "None of the Above"?

What would your preference be?

Back from powder coat!

Not the best powder coat I have ever seen, but for the low price I got color as well as clear coat. I really love the color.

Currently being frame-savered right now and should be built up by the weekend.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa3f23c753.jpg

I have dreams of doing this to my 614. Excellent choices so far!

I'm not aware of any combination that would let me use Campagnolo Ergo 8 shifters and derailleurs with a Shimano 7 speed cassette. TheJtek Shiftmate 1 would let you run Campy 8 shifters and derailleur with a Shimano 8, and for my taste in gearing ranges, I might consider that with a Shimano-compatible 8 speed 12-32 customized into a 13-32 with a 13T 1st position sprocket. I've got that cassette on my Jack Taylor Sports and I'm happy with it.

Campagnolo 8 speed and Shimano 7 speed use the same 5mm cog spacing. So you can use 8 speed Ergo shifters with an 8 speed Campagnolo derailleur and shift across a 7 speed Shimano hyperglide cassette. I was very happy with the shifting with this setup. Running 12-28 in the rear with 46/30 chainrings.

Quick question for JohnDThompson or anyone else really familiar with Treks.

The seat binder bolt is 1/4-20. Was this standard or has it been re-tapped? Kind of annoying to have to carry a single 3/16 hex when everything else is metric, but you've got to do what you've got to do.

Thanks!

Early Treks did use 1/4-20 binder bolts. This changed to M6 around 1980 or 81, IIRC.

Good to know! Thanks!

I've been dying to try a 650B conversion. Need to find the proper bike first, though.

I've used Campy Mirage Ergo shifters. I have not used a friction downtube shifter to shift a 10 speed derailleur. So I voted for the latter. Not a strong endorsement, but I can't recommend the Mirage at all.

My preferred setup is a friction shifter on the right side of the down tube to operate the front derailleur, and an indexed bar end shifter for the rear derailleur. It took me years to figure this out.